Too often I see individuals struggle with their online marketing efforts. Most of the time, the cause is immediately apparent. In fact is the first impression that’s causing the failure.
If you are trying to do business online, even a work from home business, most people have some basic expectations. I think of it as online credibility. Your prospects are “checking you out” online by just performing a simple search. What will they find?
Some sure credibility killers:
- The only internet presence is an email account. “Send me an email and learn more.” But no website or company can be found.
- Their email box is full. Like leaving your phone off the hook and complaining no one calls.
- Their email “name” is over personal or unprofessional. “susiesdad@afreeisp.com” does not inspire confidence.
- They have public content associated with their name or profile that is rude, inappropriate, or obscene.
- They are present on various networking sites, but they provide little to no profile information and no profile picture.
- They have a profile picture of someone or something else – a cat, their kid or an animated icon.
- Website or profile has obviously old or bad information on it.
Successful marketing, especially online marketing, only works when someone trusts you enough sign up for your newsletter, contact you about your service, or give you their credit card number. The items above can kill trust or erode it so badly that the deal doesn’t close.
Most of these are easy to fix:
- Use a more professional email address. It doesn’t have to be your own domain (like @bobsautos). Gmail (@gmail.com) is more than OK, and its free.
- Get a LinkedIn Profile. Make sure that you fill out the basic LinkedIn Profile information.
- Review your online presence. How would it appear to a stranger? If it might not pass the test, reset your privacy settings. If you want to keep that profile, consider building a new, professional, profile.
- Fill out as much profile information as possible on all the sites you belong to. Add a picture if pictures are allowed.
- Find a suitable picture for your profile and upload it. If it needs editing (like cropping out your ex, I recommend Web Photo Resizer – its free and works)
- Review all your online presence regularly and keep it up to date.
If you are having problems with mastering profiles or setting the privacy on various sites, get help.
One last thought: I advise my clients to regularly “Google” themselves. Type in your full name and see what appears.
