Techblog
6 must-haves to boost your professional brand image online
Creating a good image online is just as important for SMEs as presenting a good personality while facing customers in the real world. Here are a few attributes to significantly enhance a brand’s image online.
Businesses can set up an online presence in quick time these days. But is that enough? Given that customers today move seamlessly between the real world and the internet, how a brand presents itself virtually is an important part of how customers perceive it.
Consequently, a business needs to invest time and resources in building a professional image online. Here are a few key online assets every SME should have.
1. An online address for your business
The domain name is how anyone can identify your business online. Just like choosing a good location for your physical office, owners and managers need to brainstorm to select a domain name that is relevant and easy to remember so your partners and customers can find you online.
A good domain name also has to be memorable, SEO friendly and either reflect brand values or be product relevant. If it has been used previously, its history should be verified for any negative associations. The business must also make sure to register the chosen domain name.
2. A trusted source for all professional communications
Informal exchanges on social media platforms are a great way for a business to respond to and engage with customers. But official interactions, such as customer service or business opportunity enquiries are best carried out via email. A customer or client will prefer receiving an email from an address that is comprised of a name or function together with a domain name that is evocative of the brand.
In other words, when people hear from a business, they would be more likely to trust the information and pay attention if it comes from a professional email like customerservice@business.com or marketing@sme.com and not a personal email ID or one that’s from a free service.
3. An always-up email hosting service that can handle large email volumes
Given the speed of doing business in the digital era, a fast-growing SME cannot afford downtime caused by an email hosting service with limited features. The answer is to make sure you choose a hosting service that does not choke with ‘mailbox full’ errors when (large) emails are exchanged every other minute. This is especially crucial when customer support needs to be ready and available. Getting a mailbox full error when people try to reach your support service is just going to spoil the customer experience.
4. A mobile-responsive website to cater to the 'one-thumb one-eyeball' generation
In a bid to cater for today’s mobile-friendly generation, Google’s search results have been optimised for mobile devices. With Singapore having one of the world’s highest smartphone penetration rates, if a business does not come to a customer’s search results for their product or service on a smartphone, that’s a huge opportunity lost.
A quick solution for creating mobile-optimised websites is to go with a Content Management System (CMS) that provides mobile-friendly templates. Combine this with a good hosting service and you have a website that is ready to be populated with content your customers are searching for.
5. A platform to practice thought leadership
Thought leadership content is widely recognised as a highly effective in raising brand awareness and earn mindshare among customers. This can be done through a simple blog to share the business’s point of view on industry relevant topics. Committed blogging helps the business build a loyal community and also it attracts traffic to its website.
This should also be complemented by sharing across social channels where your customers might spend time. Look for social media widgets so readers who land on your website then have the option to follow the business on other platforms or share content from your site.
6. An always-up website.
In an era where a lot of business happens online and at great speed, there is no leeway for downtime. When setting up a website, a business has to look for a reputable hosting provider who will provide reliable technical support and also essential features such as backup, security and protection from viruses and other kinds of attacks. The hosting service should also be capable of packing sufficient storage space so that your content-rich websites can function smoothly without a crash.
In today’s digitally driven world, a business has to pay careful attention to its digital assets to present the best image possible online. To be noticed easily, businesses must have:
- A distinct domain name and professional email addresses.
- A reliable hosting service.
- An always-up and mobile-friendly website with blogs and dynamic, shareable content.
The myBusiness PASS (Professional Assisted SaaS Solutions) packages provides businesses with a suite of SaaS services that comes with professional setup assistance. The Domain, Email and Web hosting package allows SMEs to easily set up their online presence in less than 3 working days.
At only S$428 (U.P. $499) for the first year, you can enjoy the benefits of a professional online presence without the hassle. For more information on how myBusiness PASS packages can help with your brand image online, visit https://mybusiness.singtel.com/pass.