A lot has changed in the past year. Social media continues to boom at an alarming rate and in sometimes unexpected directions. Here are seven strategies for your business to keep up:
Update your website
The first place a potential business partner will go is your website, and nothing can fix a bad first impression. Having one that is easily navigable, professional in appearance and user-friendly is important. An out-dated home page, however, will send your would-be client running for the hills of more professional-looking pastures. The online b2b market is competitive and keeping your website fresh will maintain a good reputation.
Have clear, concise and compelling content
One of the tell-tale signs of unprofessionalism is a website riddled with bad English. For a potential client, bad grammar and a surplus of typos will not help you sell yourself or your business. Ensure that your copy is tight, trimmed, and relevant — attention spans aren’t long, and you need to get your point across as efficiently as possible.
Keep up your social media presence
An online reputation can be easily destroyed with a lacklustre Facebook page, an ailing Twitter feed or a poorly linked Linkedin page. Maintain an active presence in your social media outlets of choice, and be sure to respond to contact. If you are followed on Twitter, follow someone back. If someone looks at your Linkedin page, be courteous and return the look; returning likes on Facebook is also important.
Be the most mobile friendly business you can be
Business decisions are increasingly made on-the-go on smartphones and mobile devices. Ensuring that your business’ website has a mobile page is vital, as is making sure the mobile version of your site is simple and swift to load.
Maintaining a reputable online presence is essential to your business, and this applies to any platform, whether it is your desktop site, mobile site or social media platforms. Make sure they’re solid.
Build relationships
Link building is perhaps becoming out-dated as Google continues to penalise it, but search engine optimisation is as important as ever. The compromise? Building online relationships with other websites and bloggers.
Keep up with trends
Currently, the Harlem Shake is out, and the Vine social network is in. This may change by next month. What won’t change is the importance of trending and social media. Read marketing news and make sure your company does its share of b2b market research.
Don’t forget face-to-face interaction
Our interactions are increasingly online and global, and that’s great — but an essential part of b2b marketing is still face-to-face. When that isn’t possible, a simple personal touch may suffice: making a phone call and speaking to another person may be the deciding factor for a potential client.