Being invisible on the internet is going to get in the way of your small or medium business’ success.
I’ve heard the excuses – it’s too hard, it’s too expensive, I’ll never figure it out, etc. I’m telling you right now, its not.
Here are 5 things you can do to build and take control of your web image:
- Build a profile for yourself and your company on LinkedIn. Being on LinkedIn adds instant credibility with business and professional contacts. Connect with friends and colleagues – let LinkedIn search your contacts to see who’s out there. Don’t add mere acquaintances yet – learn the ropes first. Don’t have any friends? Get LinkedIn with me (put in your request for a connection that you’ve read my blog post on being visible on the net).
- Get a domain name. Consider it carefully, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. If you own Bob’s Autos and sell cars in Sioux Falls, bobsautos.com is probably already taken, but siouxfallscarsforsale.com might not be. GoDaddy.com is cheap and easy to use. I also like HostGator. I have domains and web sites on both, my current favorite is HostGator, but the control panel is a little less user friendly.
- Get a real email address. Nothing says I’m not serious like using “bobsautos@anyoldhost.net”. Get an email address that ends with your own domain name like “bob@siouxfallscarsforsale.com.” Use the email tools provided by your hosting/domain service to set up an account. In most cases, its free. It’s easy to integrate the account into a client like Outlook, or you can use the web interfaces provided by all the major hosting services.
- Get a web site. Most web hosts have a cheap and easy web site product that will help you get a site up and running. Generic and simple is better than nothing at all. Again I like HostGator and GoDaddy.com. Hosting only costs a few dollars a month – it shouldn’t break any budget. If you want to get great control over your site, use a blog to set up and manage your website yourself. The major hosting services all offer no hassle installation of major blogging software. I suggest WordPress. Free, easy to use and reliable. Pony up for a decent template, like Thesis – they have a great tutorial on how to use the Thesis template to create a company web site.
- Now you are on the internet – go ahead and let everyone know. Make sure it’s on your LinkedIn profile, email signature, business cards, stationary, and traditional advertising.
Credibility is an imperative for the future. Don’t lose out because you’re invisible.
Full Disclosure: Expect some links in this post to go to one or more affiliate programs and know that I get paid a nominal fee for referring you to those resources if you make a purchase.
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