There’s no denying that it’s harder to make a name for yourself online today than a few years ago (and it wasn’t exactly easy before the pandemic). However, building a solid online presence and successfully marketing your business is still possible.

Not sure where to start? Download this complimentary workbook to implement 5 BONUS marketing ideas this week! You can also buy the FEMPRENEUR book available on Amazon to read more of my business-building secrets.

1. Update Your Website

As I mentioned in this article, detailing how my own marketing changed after the pandemic, it’s not enough to just have a website. Sixty-four percent of small businesses have a website, but they’re not all equal. If it’s been a while since you updated your website, I suggest doing so as soon as possible.

Focus on improving the UI/UX design to make life easier for your online customers. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, too, so those searching for your brand online can find your site and check out what you offer.

2. Increase SEO Efforts

Search Engine Optimization helps people find your website online and learn about your brand. To stand out in a post-COVID world, you need to prioritize SEO.

Here are some of my favorite ways to do this:

• Conduct keyword research and incorporate relevant keywords into your website content
• Use headings, bullet lists, and short sentences to make your website and blog content more readable
• Update your website on the backend to ensure it loads quickly and is bug-free
• Focus on originality and eliminate duplicate content
• Add videos to your website (businesses with videos on their websites are 53 times more likely to show up on the first page of Google)

Don’t sleep on local SEO, either!

Use keywords that include location-specific information, such as your state, city, or neighborhood. You should also claim your free Google Business Profile and keep it updated.

3. Provide More Value

As I mentioned above, consumers are less concerned with brand loyalty than they once were. To navigate this issue, you need to provide value. If your audience sees you and your team as authorities in a particular industry, they will be more likely to stick with you and keep using your products or services.

How do you provide value? Start by writing informative blog posts, recording exciting videos, and posting regularly on social media.

4. Strengthen Online Relationships

You can also increase customer loyalty by building stronger relationships with your online audience. When someone comments on a social media post, respond. When someone shares your video, reach out and thank them.

When you engage with your audience, you show them you care and appreciate their support. As a result, they might be more inclined to continue giving you their support.

Marketing your business a few years ago looked and felt very different than today… that’s why I want to ask you a few questions about your current marketing strategy. Specifically, what’s on the line for you if your marketing is not successful? Please complete this brief questionnaire.

5. Create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan

Consumers care about diversity, equity, and inclusion more than ever. However, they also care about authentic DEI attempts. Consider your current audience and brainstorm ideas for how you can expand your reach, cater to a more diverse clientele, and create a more inclusive online presence.

6. Invest in Paid Ads

Some business owners think paid ads are ineffective, a waste of money, or both. However, when they’re used strategically, I’ve found that they’re pretty effective. The key to a successful paid ads strategy is targeting.

When creating ads, target specific audience members to ensure your ad shows up on their social media feed or at the top of their search engine results page. Get to know your audience and create ads that are likely to appeal to them.

7. Assess Analytics Often

I’m always shocked at how many entrepreneurs don’t monitor their online analytics! You have so much data at your fingertips. Why aren’t you using it?

Check out your website and social media analytics regularly. The more you monitor them, the easier it is to learn about your audience, identify patterns, and make informed decisions when creating new marketing plans or adjustments to your strategy.

Don’t forget to download this complimentary workbook to implement 5 BONUS marketing ideas this week!

8. Master Online Marketing Today

Regardless of their business’s size, almost every entrepreneur can agree that their marketing plan looks very different today than it did a few years ago. If you’re still struggling to adapt your online marketing strategy after COVID-19, start with the low-cost tips discussed in this article. They’ll get you on the right track and help you stand out from the crowd.

9. Boost Your Online Presence

As many of you know, we have a membership designed to provide media leads, and public relations coaching to hold you accountable each month. However, over the last year, we have received a ton of feedback from our community that they need additional support to build their overall visibility plans, especially after the pandemic. There are a few key strategies you should be using to grow your online presence, and you need to build momentum with an accelerated timeline.

We are thrilled to be adding a new program to the Public Relations Academy designed to further support ambitious women that want to learn how to design a marketing plan and have the opportunity for our team to review the plan in detail.

It’s been a challenging time for many companies, and we believe that our community will benefit from expert support, and guidance to strengthen our collective marketing efforts, leadership, and overall career success.

That’s why we’ve designed the brand-new Public Relations Accelerator, for ambitious women in an in-house communications role, who want to work on their companies marketing strategy and develop innovative ideas that bring efficient results. This is a crucial time to demonstrate your leadership potential, grow your company online, and navigate the changing marketing landscape with our support.

If this sounds like the program you’ve been waiting for, click here to save your spot. You can also buy the FEMPRENEUR book available on Amazon to read more of my business-building secrets, as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women in PR North America. 

10. Surround Yourself with Successful Female Leaders

Trust us, when you’re a woman with big dreams, there’s no shortage of benefits to being around other female leaders and executives. The examples above only scratch the surface of how you stand to gain. If you’re ready to find a group of like-minded and supportive women in public relations and similar high-ranking roles, then we encourage you to join Women in PR North America as a member. If you want to work on your own publicity strategy to grow your influential personal brand, join us inside the Public Relations Academy.

The Organization of Canadian Women in Public Relations Ltd. (Women in PR Canada®) is an influential network of leading business women striving for excellence in the field of public relations.  American Women in Public Relations (Women in PR USA®) is a division of The Organization of Canadian Women in Public Relations Ltd. Together; our organizations form the networking group Women in PR North America®.