If someone can’t find anything about you online, they’ll quickly assume you’re not good enough to be talked about.

Your business (and you, too) needs to have an online presence. In this day and age, you must have a website to appear genuine in the eyes of your potential customers. But, even your website itself no longer makes up your total online presence.

Ready to have a successful online presence? Here are some places to start:

1. Website: This is the primary source of your content. It can help establish you as an industry leader, or show the flaws that place you beneath your competition. The truth is, you don’t have to invest a ton of money in your site making it the best design out there. But, you do need a website, and you need it to look credible.
2. Directories listing: Getting your company info (name, number, website, address, etc.) on the top online directories is a critical piece to you being listed above your competitors on major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.
3. Social Presence: Having a consistent social presence is essential to reinforcing your role as an industry expert. On social platforms, your potential customers will learn more about not only your business but also your industry as a whole.  Your social channels should operate with the intent to build your brand’s personality as well as display your knowledge of your industry and address your customers’ biggest problems.
4. Content Written by You: The words author and expert can often be used in place of one another. If you write on the subject, then you must know a lot about it. Start by creating a table of FAQ and a stream of blogs on your website. For ideas on these forms of content, try reading trade journals, magazines, or other blog producers related to your industry. The more credible your sources are the better, but any kind of content marketing will help make your website and social presence flourish.
5. Content Written about You: While content written by you is impressive, it’s even better to have articles written about you. There’s no better example of credibility than an endorsement from outside your business. A local paper, magazine article, or industry blog highlighting you or your business will show potential customers that you are knowledgeable and credible–someone whom they should do business with. On the other hand, make sure your business doesn’t land on the negative side of this spectrum as it will greatly damage your brand’s reputation.

You are the expert of your business. You have so much knowledge to share, and the visitors to your website and social sites expect you to share it. Don’t worry about giving this knowledge away for free. When you’re giving away such great advice, people are bound to want to buy what you are selling. Potential customers will always flock towards an expert in the industry, and understanding why your business needs an online presence will set you on the right path.