This is an article “How to Boost Your Online Presence in the New Normal” by Marc Warren
Nobody can really say what the new normal holds for all of us, but what we can all look forward to are drastic changes to the way we live and interact. For those who are working to strengthen their online presence, social media, personal blogs and websites are still the prime channels to do so, albeit with adjustments in order to address the disruption.
Right now, what’s most important is to understand how social listening works and how it could help boost your online presence via the use of data. Finding the right approach and creating a culture in social media through content that is both relevant and helpful can make you stand out online.
With the following insights, you can recalibrate your online presence in a way that’s perfect for the new normal and the latest digital trends.
Social media will change
There is no denying that the current disruption that COVID-19 brings has altered the landscape of social media unlike ever before. More people have found themselves engrossed online either for doing work or searching for the latest news. ‘Work from home’ has literally turned into a household term as the internet has become one of the most important tools for connection.
With these changes, we have also seen changes in schedules for the most ideal time of day to post content. According to Sprout Social, 11 a.m. daily is the best time to post on Facebook; the same time on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays are the best hours to post on Instagram; Friday at 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Twitter; and Wednesdays at 3 p.m., Thursdays at 9 a.m., and Fridays at 11 a.m. on Linkedin. This is attributed to how work schedules and engagement have also shifted, having both start and end times coming a little later than the usual 9 to 5.
Customers are expecting new things
In how audiences have also changed their expectations on the way brands and influencers interact with them on social media over the years, so too do they expect new things to emerge during the new normal. And rightfully so as the current situation has shifted everyone to prioritize their financial, physical, and emotional well-being over more trivial stuff. In strengthening your online presence, you have to be ready to listen to the voice of your audience, and make a firm yet neutral stand when it comes to social issues.
These days, most social media followers are becoming more sensitive given how so many are divided regarding issues surrounding COVID-19 and how governments are handling the pandemic. With this, try to come up with facts and helpful solutions rather than simply picking sides as doing so can also lessen your followers if you are an online influencer. If you offer a product or service, address your market’s pain points instead of engaging your followers in discussing current issues. That way, you can deliver more content that shifts your audience’s focus on brand awareness and relationship building.
Online listings are as important as before
It’s important to note that there will always be competition when you try and create an online presence. That means getting good positioning on your online listings via Google, Yelp, or any other social media account are as important as ever as it could lead to wider audience reach. Try to enlist in even the smaller online directories out there which can still help your visibility then reinforce it with SEO strategies on relevant keywords that can drive traffic to your site.
Also, take note that keeping information on your listings accurate and up-to-date especially during these times is equally important as your target audiences will always go for updated sites and those that match their search intent. If you have made a couple of adjustments that you think your audience should know about (say you’re a restaurant who now caters delivery services), then make sure you put it out there. Draft concise descriptions and put them in your meta tags at least or on your social media accounts so that your followers will know how you’re planning to cope with the new normal.
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