How important is your online business profile? Let’s just say an online business without a great business profile is like a brick and mortar store with stunning window displays and no front door. You know it’s there, but there’s no easy way in so off you go to the store next door. Online businesses have to have a great business profile on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other popular networks in order to stand out and bring customers in. So, how do you craft that killer online business profile? Follow these 5 tips.
- Forget the logo: Well, don’t “forget” the logo, you do need it for online branding purposes. But a great photo is better. If you’re a small business, a photo of you and the team is perfect for providing a human touch. If you and the staff look friendly and welcoming, it gives users a view of who stands behind the company facade and makes them feel comfortable doing business with you. Add a small logo in one of the photo’s corners to provide branding.
- Write a great description: Most users see your business description before anything else. To be effective, the description has to be concise, understandable and motivating. For example, in approximately 20 words, this company description explains who its customers are, what the company does and why they are the best choice. This is not the place to spout “sales” speak.
- Write with style: We’re not talking about showing off your technical writing skills here, but writing with your own distinct flavor while speaking to your target customer. Do you have stories about how you went the extra mile to help a customer? Or how about that time you satisfied a customer’s unusual request? Write the experience up in a personable, friendly style and shout it out for the world to see.
- Contact information front and center: Amazingly, in the excitement of creating a profile that knocks the socks off readers, many companies forget the essentials — like including contact information. Or, worse, they provide too much contact information. Some profile writers include every company phone number down to the janitor’s hotline. Keep it simple — one website, email address and phone number. The only permissible addition is a blog site address if it’s different from your website.
- Shake it up: It’s going to be oh-so-tempting to write that perfect business profile and copy and paste it everywhere. Tempting yes; smart no. Every business profile you post from Crunchbase to Dun & Bradstreet has to be unique. Unique doesn’t mean you have to start from scratch, but tweak each description to fit the specific website’s style. For example, your Facebook profile can be fun and playful. Your LinkedIn profile should be a bit more serious.
As if all that weren’t enough, updating your various profiles has to be on your to-do list. If your company wins an award, add it to your profiles. If your business meets a milestone, makes a difference in the community or has a staff member who went all-out, add it to your business profile. Show potential customers where your door is and welcome them in.