When it comes to first impressions, your online presence is what is making that first impression. Specifically, your website. And sometimes this is the only impression they get of you, so it makes sense that you need it to be a good one.
A sleek website, engaging and active social media account, and informative content are all crucial elements in creating a strong online first impression, which is of paramount importance in today’s digital age.
However, creating this strong impression takes time, resources, and skills that not everyone possesses. The key is knowing when you can do it alone and when you need to bring in help. Let’s take a closer look.
DIY
There are numerous aspects of your online presence that you can and should handle yourself. This not only allows you to have a greater say in the image you project but also provides an opportunity to enhance your skills, especially if you’re working with a limited budget. The more personalized your online presence, the more it will resonate with your audience.
But what should you attempt yourself?
- Social media engagement—you know your audience, you know what they want, and now they want to engage with you. For this reason, targeting over engagement and preceding comments is a great way to keep and build your digital impressions. On top of this, you need to share behind-the-scenes updates, teasers of new products or content, and display your personality for all to see.
- Blogging is an amazing way to inject some of “you” into your online presence. People appreciate more personal views and opinions and want to read what you’re about, not generic content they can find anywhere.
- Basic design tools—Take this time to get a grip on these simple and easy-to-use design tools, which can help you create graphics and branding without needing a graphic designer.
Outsourcing
In some cases, outsourcing absolutely makes sense. As your business grows or aspects need more technical knowledge and skills, you will need to consider outsourcing of experts to deliver the services you need.
Tasks such as SEO, which require more technical know-how, keyword research, and ongoing monitoring, etc, can be time-intensive and not something everyone is up to date with, especially as the URL changes frequently, making it ideal to outsource.
Other areas where outsourcing can be beneficial include content scaling, web development, and finding expert developers who can deliver a greater ROI than trying to do it alone or using generic tools and templates. The best website developers can help you build optimized, user-friendly websites to reflect your brand, ensure your website loads quickly and is mobile responsive, and much more. But it’s crucial to find the right developer to ensure your investment is secure and your website is in good hands, which is where Nathan’s best development companies list can be a valuable resource.
There are pros and cons to both going DIY or outsourcing, and it’s important you understand the benefits you can gain personally from choosing either option to get the best results for your business.
