A stronger online identity

I’ve been creating content and sharing it online since 2008. During this time, I’ve written and photographed for magazines, collaborated with brands and in 2016, I won an industry award for innovative blog content. I love to create inspiring and engaging content and I work hard to maintain the consistency of my brand.

Today I’m sharing five simple and easy steps to a stronger online identity. See it as a quick spring clean to help you look objectively at your website and social media channels. I’m sure you will already have much of this covered, but if you haven’t, I hope this post will help you to get started.

A simple spring clean

1. Reconnect with the heart and soul of your business

Before you start this process, it’s a good idea to revisit your business and marketing plan and any other documents you use to support you and your business, for example, customer profiles, brand guidelines, mood boards, SEO keywords etc. Now open your social media channels as well as your website and grab a cup of tea or coffee!

2. Website – first impressions

When someone lands on your website, is it obvious who you are and what you do? If not, perhaps include a strapline or a short statement giving an overview. Looking at your homepage objectively is a great way to see your site through the eyes of a new visitor and potentially a new customer. Take a moment to look around and check all the information, images and links are up to date. You could even go a step further and create a quick survey for friends/colleagues to complete. This will give you some valuable feedback and help you to make an excellent and lasting first impression.

3. Social media platforms

When it comes to social media, it’s wise to keep your name and profile image (avatar/logo/photograph) consistent on all platforms. This will link everything together making you and your business easy to find. Social media is a busy place, so it’s wise to strengthen your online identity whenever you can. Being consistent is one way of achieving this.

Another thing to consider is your social media biography. Does it say who you are and what you offer? Is it repeated on all platforms? Have you included contact details or a link to your website? You may also want to include a call to action, for example, ‘join my mailing list’ or ‘read my latest blog post.’ You only have a few moments to catch people’s attention so make those moments count.

4. Creative content

Try to keep your tone and what you share consistent, for example, if your website is a calm place because you are selling yoga retreats, make sure your calming words and tone carry across all platforms. This will give you a stronger online identity and better communicate your brand and story. It will also help you to attract the right people.

When it comes to images, you want to use ones that build up a picture of who you are and what you do. Perhaps ask yourself, do my images support and enhance my brand message? And are they consistent across all platforms? When it comes to sharing online, I often find a ‘less but better’ approach yields better results in terms of engagement, leads and sales. Try things out and see what works best for you.

5. Consistency

And finally, there’s a lot of noise online which can make it a challenge to stand out. Take a moment to consider everything you post and share to see if it supports your business. Being strategic with your messages and storytelling will help you to grow the right audience. In my experience, it’s better to have a small and engaged audience than hundreds of people who have no interest in what you’re offering. When it comes to running a business, one size never fits all so try things out to see what works for you.

Further reading

How to process your inbox and unlock more time
Practical tips to help you reach your goals
How to improve your blog’s user experience

Thank you, as always, for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day. Until next time, I’ll see you over on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.