With over 3.7 billion people connected to the internet today, you and your business can’t afford to be left behind in the digital age. Every single one of those people (about 40 percent of the world’s population) could potentially become your client – or, at the very least, help spread the word about your products or services. In order to convert as many of them as possible, you’ll need to solidly establish your business’ online brand.

What is online branding?

Online branding involves getting as much exposure as you can for your business’ brand through all online means, including digital marketing methods to ensure your site is easily discoverable on search engines and the use of social media platforms that help put your brand in front of as many eyes as possible.

Apart from creating brand recognition, online branding help you become an authority on your product or service.

How do you build online branding?

There are a number of ways that you can build your business’ online brand. Here are 5 important things you can do to get started right away.

1. Create a blog.

Blogs are effective tools that help cultivate awareness about your products or services. Write posts with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, so your brand site tops the list of search engine results. Search engines love blog content that is:

• Value adding and informative – The more informative your content, the more return visitors you will have. Higher engaged traffic will further endear your site to search engines.
• Filled with media – Include images, videos, quizzes, long form content, short form content and more. This will make it more engaging to users and more reputable to major search engines.
• Shareable – Make sure you have content that is shareable by including social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. If you write something good, people will automatically want to let their friends know about it.

Blogs are one of the most common ways of building a brand. If you don’t have one, it is time to get writing.

2. Create a great logo.

Your business should have a logo that is easily recognizable. People will only give you about 8 seconds of their attention when they arrive on your website, so you have to capture that attention immediately. The bright, beautiful colors and design of a logo is one of the first things they’ll see, so make sure your logo makes a lasting impression.

Find a professional logo designer who will create a work of art for you. As your business develops and time passes by, make sure you review your design. Most major companies have changed their logos over the years to keep up with the times.

3. Use the word Free a lot.

We all love freebies. Make a habit of offering free goods, free promotions, free samples, free anything! When the promotions are hosted on your website, people will return often to see what new free item is being offered, increasing brand awareness and brand retention.

4. Provide news and updates.

If you don’t have a mailing list, start building one now. Email is one of the leading online marketing tools, so be sure to engage with anyone willing to share theirs with you. Once they’ve opted in to communication from your brand, you can email them with precise, targeted offers that are relevant to them – their demographic, their interests, their shopping history, and more.

Know the difference between constantly reminding your clients about news or updates and spamming them. Keep the messages short and the designs clean and modern.

5. Brand yourself in the real world, too!

Yes, you can promote your digital brand in the physical world. Billboards, commercials, community event sponsorship and more can help build your digital presence. Be sure to always drive these real eyes to your website and social media platforms.

And remember: always use the same logo, colors and fonts to create a lasting impression of your brand in people’s minds.

Start your brand building today.

Although it might take some time and effort, continue to build your online presence as long as your business has its doors open. If you haven’t already started, now is the time!