Why Growing Online Brand Awareness Is Vital for Small Businesses in Charlotte

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North Carolina has a global reputation for business, with some of the biggest technology companies and startups calling it home. According to Elaine F. Marshall, the Secretary of State for NC, 2021 was a record year for new companies. In total 178,300 organizations filed for creation.

Spurred on by the Great Resignation, businesses are springing up all over the state. Yet it is not all good news. A study by the University of North Carolina found that 50% of small businesses here close within five years. So once the doors of your business open, how do you get people to visit?

What Is Online Brand Awareness?

Brand awareness is a measure of how well known and recognizable your brand is to your target audience. It is a key step in building and retaining customers. People are more hesitant to use products and services by a company they know nothing about. However, they will revisit brands they already have a relationship with. Once you build brand awareness, this transfers to online sales and footfall in brick-and-mortar establishments.

You only need to look at the world of entertainment to see how an online presence can build brand awareness. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), once famous for movies alone, has used a digital presence to build an all-encompassing online brand. They now have holdings in music, television, animation, and streaming. Recently, they expanded into the world of online casinos and reinforced their stellar reputation by producing one of the best casino apps available on mobile devices, according to CasinoSmash. A recent merger with Amazon has only enhanced its presence in the digital realm. 

Improving Online Brand Awareness

So how does this transfer to small businesses in Charlotte? Luckily, you don’t need a glitzy app to improve online brand awareness. If you have already opened social media accounts, then you have begun the process.

Get on your social networks and start creating relevant and informative posts. Don’t make the mistake of being on every platform. Pick one or two, talk to your customers, and build a natural rapport with them.

Another way to build online brand awareness is to register your local business on search engines, particularly Google Business. When people type queries into Google that might relate to your company, you may appear as a search result. The aim of every business should be to appear in the top three results, known as the Google Three Pack.

Understanding Local SEO for Charlotte Businesses

Climbing to the top in local searches is known as Local SEO. If you opened a small store, you would never be able to compete with major global chains like Starbucks. But with local SEO you can compete with local businesses.

Once your online brand awareness grows, you will inevitably increase the footfall to your physical store. If it seems overwhelming, then search for a local digital marketing company to help. If you can combine online sales with in-house ones, you should have the formula for a long-lasting business in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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