With people being more and more connected through the internet, it has been crucial to creating an online presence for a business, may it be big or small. People use the net for reviews, recommendations, and searching for other useful information about a business that they would use. A business found online helps make the product or service known and helps prevent or curb negative publicity that can also spread throughout the internet.
However, gone are the days when having a website was enough for a business to have an online existence. A website's problem is that people would not usually visit unless they are actively searching for it. Just as marketing in real life makes the product come to the people, other methods help bring the business’s online presence to where the people are.
One of the more prevalent ways is to use social networking sites. Some sites, such as the popular Facebook.com, actually included provisions, via the “Facebook Pages,” for creating a profile for business. Through these pages, the owner can see the number of “fans” of the services he is offering and bring out announcements, clarifications, and even receive comments about the products and services they are offering.
A business could then choose to have their own company blog installed on the social networking site. A blog could outline the recent events and happenings about their services. Compared with a static website wherein an owner would have to update and organize various parts, a blog lends itself to easier updates and hassle-free posts.
Another way to create this online presence is to have representatives join in forums and bulletin board systems. Through the forums, questions, and criticisms levied about the product can be answered and clarified immediately. This can help in preventing the spread of nasty and potentially damaging rumors about the business.
Having information available through a few clicks has made people more discerning about the business that they use. As such, ensuring that the people are informed about your services and products by going to the sites can pay dividends to grow the business.
