Building authority and trust online acquires trust from your clients and prospects, which as a result prompts more deals and sales.
It makes you to build up regard among your competitors and peers and could prompt beneficial partnership and several business opportunities.
It empowers and enables you to turn into an industry source (making you that ‘go-to’ kind of person that everyone looks up to), which can lead to traffic and connections to your website/ blog.
It allows you to get footing on new projects and ventures much faster; helping you to reduce startup marketing costs as well as attract more online and offline referrals.
However, building ‘Authority’ for your website is certainly not a one-and-done project; it’s a continuous procedure and it’s an ongoing process that requires significant time, energy and investment. What you gain certainly justifies your diligent hard work—being seen as an authoritative organization in your industry will support your effort to achieve your ultimate business objectives/ goals.
You can accomplish this through the following ways:
1. PRODUCE POWERFUL CONTENT:
One of the most effective ways to build brand authority online is through your written content.
This is what is visible to your audience, and this is how they will learn about you and communicate with you.
A blog will allow you to make and create new content that will reach out to your audience and demonstrate to them the degree of your expertise (as a leader in your industry).
It will show your clients that you are knowledgeable and professional and are seeking ways to help them improve in a particular area.
Not having a blog is definitely a digital marketing pitfall, and you need to avoid making that very mistake at all costs.
In view of the above stated facts, you have to build on point, relevant content that conveys the appropriate responses your readers are searching for.
You need to show that what you have to say matters; show them that it will benefit and profit them in some ways and you will most likely help them further when they need it.
You’ll at that point find that they will return hurrying back to you consistently; and will help you get the message out to other people, as well as discus and talk about you online.
In any case, it’s not just about the content you make on your blog.
It’s about every bit of content you produce.
Every single piece of content you place online will have an effect on your brand authority.
2. BE CONSISTENT:
It’s often very easy to launch an online “authority-building” strategy, but difficult to sustain it.
Consistency is key to success on social media, where posts often have a shelf life of as little as a few seconds. The best way to stay consistent is with a solid plan, schedule, and dedicated social media team.
3. CREATE THE BEST CLIENT EXPERIENCE:
Your “Brand” is everything. It’s your face, it’s your name, it’s your voice, it’s your identity.
It’s all about showing your audience the depth of your expertise; not just by the way your brand appears online but also how it functions.
Is your site simple to explore and navigate? Is it spacious, clean and easy on the eye? Does it transfer correctly on different platforms (on a tablet, mobile device, PC), or does it lose it’s makeup when looked up on a smartphone?
How your website/ blog functions will to a very large extent determine how your brand image functions, so it’s vital that you make sure your site is a place where users will enjoy spending time on (just be sure to make the experience memorable for them).
When you draw in clients through with your brand experience, you will see the benefits. Their trust in you will thrive, and the line of communication with them and your brand will become more solid and grow stronger.
Controlling every one of your brand touch points and ensuring consistency will always go a long way in building an authoritative and trustworthy online and digital presence (this is a principle that never fails).
Make sure to make it a habit to create experience that not only resound with your brand but also make your brand resound with your clients. Be sure to remain consistent with your brand uprightness by staying true to your brand integrity and show your audience that you own it when it comes to your expertise.
4. BUILD UP REPUTABLE LINKS:
Building brand authority online also includes getting Google to like you.
An incredible method to accomplish this is by getting yourself connected to different websites and blogs online. This should be possible by just leaving a testimonial for somebody who has worked with you, or perhaps by writing guest posts or being featured on other people’s social media and websites.
5. SHOW CASE YOUR SERVICES:
Remember to show case your brand online.
You need to show your authority, not just tell; you have to let others know what you’re doing well and that you can help and support them.
Try as much as possible to always post your services online. Give others a chance to see for themselves how good you are!
The best and great way to do this is to use your website to promote your services, adding testimonial, reviews on your products, and the likes. Endeavour to add any certificates, qualifications, and experience you have so you can prove yourself worthy, as it were.
Furthermore, above all, show you are sure about yourself as an entrepreneur.
Most clients expect you to say things to please them. They may even detect a little desperation. A bit of bootlicking. And they blow you off.
This is one reason you shouldn’t make yourself appear cheap, hungry or desperate during negotiations and dealings.
If you do that, your clients will detect that you’ll do anything for cash. They’ll presume you couldn’t care less about quality or integrity. In other words, you can be bought cheaply.
You do your clients and prospects a greater service when you maintain your independence and integrity, defending your hard work and turning down requests.
People will see that you really have their best interest in mind since you’re not falling over yourself to kiss their ass.
7. BE CONFIDENT
In order to be successful in business, your brand need to be one that people trust.
You need people to be confident about your services, your products, and in you.
Having brand authority will totally change the way the world sees you.
You will stand out as a brand that knows its stuff — one that will merit putting resources into and invest in.
What’s more, to finish it off, Google will reward your brand with a higher positioning and ranking meaning that people will be attracted and drawn to your brand in an instant.
What better approach to improve your business than to prove your abilities, qualities, talent and strengths?
This is the ideal time and opportunity to build brand authority online and watch your business thrive.
The more confident and “self-sure” a communicator you are, the more likely people will accept what you say. Say what you think. Also, say it with backbone.
Audience want people with conviction. You will please the people who matter to you, presumably piss off those who don’t.
This is just the bottomline; and it’s the truth.
I hope you got value?
Patience Ekle (Pekle Africa)
