Using Online Branding to Create Business in the Offline World

Let's face it - online branding is necessary for doing business, from the smallest reseller to the largest corporation. The big reason for this is that most consumers browse online first, before ever obtaining goods or services in person. Whether looking at Angie's List, Yelp reviews, or customer feedback on Amazon; your online brand is your first impression for your customer. But how exactly does your online brand affect people? Understand these guideline to explain the importance of online branding.

• Recognition - Get out there. Get noticed. People can't purchase if they don't know who you are.

• The Right Stuff - Display your amazing product or service. Give the customer exactly what they want.

• Loyalty - Create loyal customers with an experience they can trust. Consistent quality and service are key in gaining trust.

• The Unique You - Differentiate yourself from competitors by your online branding identity. Do you have the fastest service, biggest selection, or provide the most entertaining experience?

• Recommendation - All the studies say that customers read reviews before purchasing. Your online brand experience can effect whether people recommend you or not.

• Save Advertising Money - Online brand management is the most cost effective advertising method, when compared to the time and cost involved with traditional advertising.

• Eco Friendly - Save the trees. Save paper.

• Be Memorable - Online branding helps customers remember you. Online shopping habits often involve frequent browsing. Create the product that makes people want to come back to your page.

Understanding why branding is important is a start, but where do you begin? Your website will always be the most important impression for customers viewing your online brand. Create a user friendly interface, recognizable logo, and "make it pretty". The average consumers makes part of their shopping decisions based on how the site looks, regardless of the product or service offered. Add a blog to provide useful information.

Companies with blogs are shown to generate many more leads than companies without blogs. Make sure your content is crafted to provide the consumers an added benefit, not just brag about boring company details. Finally boost your online branding with social media. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are all great ways to increase brand awareness. Use online branding to generate real world interest in your company. Generate attention and provide information to bring your customers online to your offline store.