Does Your Digital Footprint Need Testing?
“Leave no trace” is the mantra amongst hikers, but not so much when it comes to exploring the online world. It’s all too easy to leave deep and indelible digital footprints stamped in cyberspace for all to see. If you have ever searched for your name on Google (and we strongly recommend that you do), you will find a long list of areas that your name is listed or mentioned online. It could be that embarrassing 5K race time from 3 years ago. It could be the blogs that you have written or made comments on, social network activity or directory listings. REMEMBER, you are online globally.
Imagine a potential customer finding you online (yes!), and landing on your website, blog or social network sites. Are you creating the right impression? For example, landing on a Facebook business page that has not been updated for weeks, and has no/inconsistent branding, will not encourage anyone to explore further. They may even think you have gone out of business if you are not updating it, even though the real reason may be you have been too busy to even think about it.
To assess the alignment of your digital footprint for your business you must put yourself in your potential customer’s shoes. If you had no knowledge at all of your location, products, services, mission or objectives, would your digital footprint pull you in to read more, contact and buy, or would you click away onto the next business to purchase elsewhere? You only have seconds to explain your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) efficiently and compactly.
Find yourself an honest friend or two, and ask them to review your business online. Promise them you will not take their evaluation personally, and that they will remain on your holiday card list even if they deliver a negative review of your digital footprint. Ideally they should Google your business and peruse your website, blog, and social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. Can they deduce what your business is, what is sells and why they should buy from YOU? What did they like or dislike? Obtain at least two evaluations if you can, then step back and take notes on what you need to change. It may be some minor nips and tucks needed, or it may be time for a major facelift.
Do review your digital footprint periodically to confirm that it is aligned. Don’t become another “plain vanilla flavored” business online. Stand out from the crowd, fulfilling a consumer need with a consistent message and branding that will have your customers lining up around the cyberspace block to buy YOUR products and services.
To find out if your digital footprint is aligned please contact Aligned Marketing at 800-707-9150. We specialize in marketing your business so that you are found easily AND stand out from the competition.