Online Marketing Action Kit
How to Build an Online Presence
As a startup, one of your last communications considerations may be your online presence. The time, effort, and the budget required to have a presence may not be a priority. However, for those who may be interested in what you are doing - investors, future employees, customers, it is essential to have a website and to begin building a social media presence.
The simplest place to start is to have a website. This can be one page or have a significant part of your business on it.
If you have a website then the next step would be to begin building a social media presence with a Facebook Business page and/or an Instagram Professional page.
SHORTCUT: 4 Steps to Building Your Online Business
Create a website for your business
Create a Facebook business page
Create an Instagram professional page
Complete your business listing on Google My Business
Options for creating a website
There are a number of ways to build a website. For those just getting started, building one for free is a great first step. You can do so through Google My Business. Start by creating your Google My Business listing, then create your website. (For information about creating a Google My Business listing, go here).
When you are ready for a business website with expansion capabilities, you can build a simple website with any of the many website providers. Here is an example of a few:
Here is an example of our website - FlytoSoar.com on SquareSpace:
Creating a Business Facebook Page
Why is it important to create a Facebook Business Page? Doing so helps you to start building a community prior to needing customer engagement. It takes time to build a following. Facebook is a key place to form your community of current and potential customers.
Before you begin you will need:
Your exact business name and description. The recommendation is to use the same name throughout all your social media accounts so customers can find you
Profile photo - you can use your logo
Cover photo - use something customers will identify with such as pictures of your product, or a photo of your company
(Optional) Decide what ‘call to action’ you want users to take and add that as a button on the page
Here is an example of our Facebook Business Page - Fly to Soar
SHORTCUT: Setting Up a Business Page, Using a Desktop Browser
1. Go to Facebook Business Pages. Click on Create A Page button
2. If you don’t have a Facebook account, create one with your business email address
3. Add in your Page Name and Category, these are required fields. You will have a preview of the Desktop or Mobile page on the right of your screen
4. Add a photo for the top banner
5. Let your customer know about your page. Share the news on your own Facebook page, email your customers and put the Facebook icon on your website for ease of access.
Creating an Instagram Page
Instagram was initially released as a photo app so it is the right place to put beautiful, emotion eliciting photos and videos. It also responds well to photos with people’s smiling faces. Any photo of your product or a person using or benefiting from your service will be the best post to put on Instagram.
Before you begin you will need:
Your exact business name for your user name, and description. You can also register with your Facebook account. The recommendation is to use the same name throughout all your social media accounts so customers can find you.
Your bio or business description
A link to your website if you have one
Profile photo - you can use your logo
SHORTCUT: Setting Up a Business Instagram Account within Instagram.com
1. Create an account then change the setting on the account to a Professional Account
2. To switch your profile to a business account:
Go to your profile and tap the icon in the upper right corner
Tap Settings
Tap Account
Tap Switch to Professional Account
Tap Business
If you’d like, you can follow the steps to connect your business account to a Facebook Page associated with your business. This step is optional, and will make it easier to use all of the features available for businesses across the Facebook family of apps. At this time, only one Facebook Page can be connected to your business account.
Add details, like your business category and contact information.
Tap Done.