3 Ways to Build a Strong Online Presence
The competition online is growing every day. If you want to stand out as a content creator, you need to curate your online presence. You want to build a relationship with your audience by telling the story of who you are and what you stand for. The quality of content will make or break your online presence. With millions of other content creators online, you want to develop a strong and recognizable online presence. Read on to find out more about how you can build your online presence in three simple steps.
Storytelling
The only way to stand out is to tell your story. Take a moment to picture this. There are 5 companies selling red apples. The company that has the biggest online presence will naturally attract a larger number of customers. Their online presence doesn’t mean they are naturally the best producer of apples. One of the five owners may wake up every morning and be committed to producing the freshest apples.
What this apple producer should do is to tell their story online. They don’t have to spend a six-figure marketing budget or use the latest technology. At the heart of your digital marketing strategy should be storytelling. It’s the bridge that connects everything. People want to know the story behind the companies they’re supporting. They want to know who you are and what makes you tick.
Every person and company has its own story. Just like your personality, your story is unique to you. Instead of creating generic content, you want to be producing photographs, videos, and written content that tells your story.
Instagram has almost a billion monthly active users, with Facebook coming in with 2.8 billion users. These two stats alone show you the sheer scale of the competition. The thing to remember is that while these platforms are full of competition, it also represents a unique opportunity to capitalize on these active users.
If you want to build a strong online presence, you have to tell your story through engaging content that will help you develop a relationship with your audience. Audiences love to see behind-the-scenes content. Your social media allows a unique insight into the story behind your brand. Having a story behind your content allows you to give it meaning and stand out from the crowd.
With a billion users on Instagram, you want to use storytelling to show why your content is worthy of someone hitting the ‘follow’ button.
Producing High-Quality Content
The chances are that you’re reading this article on your smartphone. Did you know that the camera in that is the same one almost every other content creator is using? While your smartphone camera is ideal for capturing behind-the-scenes content, you want to stand out from the crowd.
Some photographers and videographers specialize in digital marketing. They work directly with content creators to help them curate their photos and develop photographs that enable them to tell their stories online. Just like you’ve been tailoring your craft as a business owner or content creator, these videographers are also masters of their craft.
Hiring a freelance videographer or photographer means you can upgrade the quality of your content and produce the most professional-looking content. Your audience expects to see content that could rival that of a magazine editorial. Just as you might want to invest in equipment for your day-to-day work, investing in professional videography is key to success.
Creating consistently high-quality content can help build brand awareness and grow your following online. Your content should all tie in with each other. If you look at the Instagram feed of a high-profile brand, you’ll see that each piece of content complements the other. Whether it’s the choice of font or the preset you use on your photos, your content should tie in together. While each piece is a high-quality post on its own, it feeds into your overall storytelling.
Building Relationships
Success is a two-way street. As a content creator, you’ll work with brands, companies, and other creators. If you want to be successful, you have to help make these collaborators successful first. While you may only work with these individuals and brands for a one-time gig, you want to stay in touch and continue to support them. Content creators grow together. Whether you’re a digital marketing expert or an influencer, you don’t want to underestimate the importance of the relationships you develop along the way.
Another relationship you don’t want to underestimate is the one you have with your own audience. If you’re a brand or an individual, the community you build around your online platforms is the secret to your success. You want to put a human face to your content as much as possible.
Your content is more than just photographs, videos, or graphics. Everything you produce should give value to your audience, whether it’s educational or something fun. Your digital marketing strategy should involve community building, along with content creation. It’s not as simple as just posting your content online and leaving it there. You want to take the time to respond to comments, answer your DMs, and engage with your followers.
Your success as a content creator relies on the support of others. Building relationships is just as powerful as the content you create. The two should go hand-in-hand. While you need to make high-quality content, you want it to be engaging and encourage your followers to interact with your content.
These three things should form the philosophy behind your content creation. For your content to build your online presence, it has to be high-quality, tell your story, and help develop relationships with your audience.
Incorporating them into your digital marketing — whether you’re a brand or an individual — will help you build a strong online presence. The future of marketing is digital — whether it’s through social media or with the help of influencers. It’s never too late to start growing your online presence.
