Personal Branding Tip 7 - Getting Prospects To Connect With You Online

blog 2017
Written By Andrew Ford

One of the most common and overlooked mistakes that we see from clients is not displaying their contact details online or having outdated or incorrect information. 

It’s a simple mistake due to lack of care and attention to their profiles but has big ramifications for their lead generation and revenue lines. Making it hard for prospects to contact you - find your phone number and email address online - is pretty simple to fix so read on to see how best to do it. 

Fix your contact information

Imagine you have worked hard to get your name, your business and products on the front page of Google, a prospect clicks through to read about you, loves your brand and wants to call you, but can't - what a waste! 

It's a simple problem to fix, but many people don't think about it or check their digital assets regularly enough. Follow this simple 5 step process to complete a thorough review.

Step 1: Start with a review of all your online sites. Google yourself to make sure that you don't miss any you are mentioned on. Review the first 3 pages of your name in list view AND image view. Images are based on a different algorithm so you will find any sites you forgot about, especially that pesky MySpace that still pops up once in awhile. Make a list of them and check them off systematically. 

Here are some of the biggest sites and tips for each:

  • Google Business listing: make sure the address is up to date, it has the correct business hours, a photo of your office, phone number and website.

  • Personal LinkedIn Profile: update your contact details under the Contact tab, on the right-hand side of the screen. Check your email address, is it your business one? If you are looking for a new job perhaps you want to use your personal email instead. The same applies to your contact number, do you want your office number or your mobile, it's your choice. And make sure you take advantage of the three website links by pointing people to your personal website, business website and your best social media sites. Also place your details at the end of your biography and in any current roles you have. (For more on LinkedIn get our free eBook here)

  • Facebook: make sure you include your website and contact details on both your personal and business accounts.

  • Twitter: make sure your profile is pointing to the correct website.

Step 2: Write down the preferred contact information you want people to find. This might differ if you have multiple businesses or between business and personal social media. Ensure you create a clear path for customers to follow from your social media to website assets, to yourself or team to complete the sale. If they want to buy, don't make it hard for them!

Note: In most social media sites there is a place for you to put a URL, email and phone number. Make sure this on your business and personal media. Why put it on your personal social? Two reasons, friends often become clients or refer others to you and secondly, personal social still appears in Google search results so prospects might see these sites and you can direct them to your business website. If you don’t tell them where to go, they might just find someone else.

Step 3: Give people multiple options. Just because you like people to call you doesn't mean they like to talk on the phone. Some like to email or instant message. Have multiple ways of connecting to you.

Step 4: Put your details in multiple places. As with the LinkedIn example, don't make clients search for your contact information, put it in multiple places so when they have the urge to contact you the information is right there.

Step 5: Ensure that your website has plenty of contact options. The basics are to have the company phone number, address, email address on the front page of your website. Where you put it will depend on your business and sales process. However, as a general guide, the top right of the screen is a great place and again in the footer. 

Put a contact tab in the header as people are used to having that link there, so don't be tricky and put it somewhere hard to find. If it is in the header it appears on each page so if they like a blog or particular piece of contact they can always contact you.

If you have a team, ensure their individual contact information (and links to social media) is under their photo and bios. It shows a sense of openness and confidence to give access to people on your website.

How much information to put online?

One challenge of putting all of your contact information online is that everyone can easily access you, whether you like it or not. We believe the benefits of being contactable, outweigh the detraction. That said, in some industries, it might not be appropriate to put your mobile phone number on your website, or your personal email address on your Facebook page. Each profession has it's own nuances so use your discretion, but make your decisions intentionally, not just by accident.

I hope you found this blog useful and stay tuned for next week when we will discuss effective calls to action in your content.

Regards, Andrew

P.S. If you are looking to boost your career or business in 2017, come along to our Make Your Passion Your Careerevent Monday 17th July 2017- 6:00 Pm to 9:00pm

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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