Have you ever walked into a business and been surprised by great presentation? The décor is on point, it’s clean, organized, there's a cohesive theme—a fantastic first impression for you as the customer. But have you also walked into a business and been a little…well…let down? Appearance is a huge reflection of your business—and that extends to your online presence as well.
We've said this before, and we’ll say it again: People know when you’re not trying very hard. If your Facebook page has small blurry photos, lengthy text posts, and a bad habit of not responding to users that engage with you there—that’s a bad first impression to someone who comes looking for you online. It’s highly likely you’ll be written off and the user will look elsewhere for someone who can fit their needs.
A sloppy social media presence shows that your attention to detail, aesthetics, and customer service are lacking. If your Twitter feed is full of links to other social networks, what’s the point in following? There’s no quality content. If a person comes to find images of your restaurant’s food but only finds poorly-lit, unappealing photos on your Instagram account, will they be enticed to come in and try it? Again, an interested party has taken the time to find you—so what will they find when they do?
Here are five quick tips for cleaning up your online presence:
1. Make sure your photos are properly sized for the image requirements of the medium. Here’s a cheat sheet for your social media outlets.
2. Respond ASAP to users who ask questions, comment on posts, and serve as your online cheerleaders.
3. Be interesting and showcase your best features with high quality images that give a unique perspective.
4. Don’t push social media streams through to other social media platforms. Unlink your Twitter from Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram—each platform should offer something tailored to its appropriate user base.
5. Customize your profiles with current links and as much information as possible.
Even if you don’t have the time to post content every day, make sure that when you do, it counts. Quality content that’s well thought out speaks volumes for your brand and is a positive reflection of you and your business.