At the time of writing, there are approximately 1.13 billion websites on the World Wide Web. While it’s true that many of them are inactive, there is still significant competition – irrespective of how niche a website’s focus might be!
One of the best ways to launch a business or even a side gig is by setting up a website and getting customers to purchase goods and services through it.
E-commerce websites make it convenient for consumers to buy what they want, and you don’t need a physical shop for it, making it a relatively inexpensive way to earn a living.
You’re likely here today because you want to launch a new online brand and want people to visit your website and buy stuff from it. Of course, your customers need to know you exist, and it’s a challenge that poses a significant stumbling block for many online entrepreneurs!
With that in mind, take a look at the following 15+ killer ways to promote your new online brand:
1. Optimise Your Website For Organic Search
Did you know that Google alone has around nine billion searches? People search for all kinds of things daily, and many click or tap through to relevant links from the returned results pages.
You want people to visit your website when they search for the types of products and services you sell, and you also want them to visit if their search relates to solving a problem that your brand can help with.
That’s why you should ensure you fine-tune your website for organic searches. Writing relevant landing page content is a top example of how you can achieve that goal.
2. Get On Social Media
It’s no secret that social media is a popular way for people to learn more about the world around them and keep in contact with their friends and family. Many social networking platforms exist these days, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Set up profiles for your online brand on the social networking platforms your target audience will most likely use, and ensure you keep all content fresh and relevant.
3. Collaborate With Social Media Influencers
Have you ever noticed how some social media users have thousands or even millions of followers? What might surprise you is that most people aren’t even celebrities like film stars or music artists!
Consider contacting some popular social media influencers and asking them to review or endorse your products and services.
4. Embrace Content Marketing
It’s no secret that embracing content marketing is one of the best ways to boost your online brand’s visibility. It’s a broad term that covers many of the ideas shown on this page, and they offer proven success rates for website owners.
Some examples of content marketing include:
- Having popular blog owners write about and link to your website – you could use platforms that offer networking for bloggers to get different blogs connecting to your site;
- Creating and sharing podcasts;
- Using shareable videos to promote your brand and its products and services.
5. Create Profiles At Online Directories
You might think Web users only work with search engines when they want to find something out. But people often use online directories as well, and that’s why it makes sense to create profiles on ones that cover your brand’s niche or industry.
They categorise sites based on location and genre and help build your online brand’s credibility. Moreover, they provide links to your website that help build its SEO (search engine optimisation) standing.
6. Join And Engage In Relevant Online Communities
You might not realise it, but the Internet is home to millions of online forums and communities. These places gather people with common interests, and they can be great for helping you build your brand awareness.
Signing up for relevant online forums and communities enables you to talk directly with your target audience, help them solve their problems, and promote yourself simultaneously!
7. Do Some Offline Marketing
It might seem like a strange concept, but marketing your online brand away from technology is another excellent way to boost its awareness! You can represent your brand in all kinds of offline settings, such as:
- Networking events;
- Industry fairs;
- Community sponsorship.
8. Sponsor A Podcast
Podcasts are downloadable audio clips, usually part of a series or theme, and often produced weekly. They cover a broad range of topics and genres and tend to attract large audiences.
Did you know that it’s possible to sponsor podcasts? Getting your brand mentioned in each podcast relevant to your niche helps to increase its awareness, and you could even incorporate them on your website to boost your brand’s credibility.
9. Host Webinars
Webinars are the next step up from podcasts. An analogy can be like attending a workshop or seminar, except you can participate from the comfort of your home or anywhere else in the world.
Attendees can ask webinar hosts questions and talk to others in real-time. Hosting webinars is a good way for consumers to learn more about your brand and how your products and services can help them with their individual needs.
10. Create Some Killer Blog Content
Many business leaders know they should have a blog on their websites, but they’re unsure why or how they can help.
Blogs can provide your target audience with insights into your brand, learn more about what you sell, and discover ways to interact with your products and services that are relevant to their lives. They’re also helpful for SEO if you publish fresh, unique blog content regularly.
11. Provide Other Bloggers With Sponsored Posts
A sponsored blog post is where you have a blog owner publish an article relevant to your brand that links to your website. Either they could write the article, or you could do it and have them upload it to their blog.
You would typically have to pay the blog owner a fee for this service, although it’s possible to compensate them in other ways, such as giving them freebies.
12. Use PPC Marketing To Your Advantage
PPC or pay-per-click marketing is typically where you pay to advertise on search engine results pages.
Your ads would appear when a user searches for one of your predefined keywords and phrases, and you “bid” on the position on those pages (such as right at the top of the first page).
PPC ads can also get shown on display networks – websites that display ads from a PPC provider like Google – and help obtain paid relevant traffic to a website.
13. Launch A Referral Programme
Sometimes the best way to promote your online brand is by having your customers do the hard work for you! One way to achieve that goal is by offering a referral programme on your website.
For example, each customer has a unique link with a tracking code attached that they share with others. When people sign up to your site via those links, the referer and new customer could get something for free, such as no delivery charges for a future order.
14. Create Relevant Content On YouTube And TikTok
Most people that use the Internet regularly will consume video content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Watching all kinds of content on video-sharing platforms is possible, and it doesn’t cost you a penny.
As an online brand, you should set up accounts on YouTube and TikTok and start publishing regular video content on them. What you put in your videos is up to you, but some valuable examples that’ll help boost your brand awareness include the following:
- Product demonstrations;
- Humourous “shorts” depicting funny situations involving your brand;
- Case studies.
15. Work With Popular Product Review Websites
Some blogs and websites exist solely to put products through their paces and document the journey. These review platforms often scrutinise products offered to them by brand manufacturers or retailers in exchange for an honest and fair review.
If your online brand sells physical goods, consider having some leading review blogs and websites review your best sellers and include details on where people can buy them!
16. Set Up An Affiliate Marketing Programme
You already know about the benefits of launching a referral programme where your customers can effectively act as salespeople on your behalf. Another way you can do that is by creating an affiliate marketing programme.
Customers or interested parties with relevant websites can promote your brand, products and services via their sites. Each time you get a sale through one of their affiliate links, they get a commission.
17. Write And Distribute Some Press Releases
One final idea for you to consider is writing and distributing some press releases. Do people actually read press releases, you might ask yourself? The answer is yes!
Media organisations consistently scour the web for news to report on, and if you’ve got something newsworthy to announce to the world, a press release is an excellent way to do it.
When your press releases get picked up, you achieve the goal of increasing brand awareness, equating to increased sales!