How To Thrive Online With Your Service Business

Written by Tammy Durden

Digital Marketing

Starting an online service business is not for the faint of heart is saying something. Most (who do not try or know anything about it really) do not understand what it takes to be an online service entrepreneur. In fact, many, probably including your family members do not even consider it a business. So, how do you thrive online with your service business?

After sixteen years of providing online services including virtual assistant, digital marketer, and coach, I’ve learned a few things. And I would like to share them with you today because being seen online isn’t easy today, let alone shining online so that your audience sees you above the others.

Thriving Online

Thriving online, I have found, involves five things. The five ways I have thrived online are by doing these…

Have a Website
Write SEO Blogs
Have A Social Media Presence
Do Guest Appearances
Be Featured In Online Magazines

You are probably asking, “What? That’s It?” So let me put you at ease because I am going into more depth for each one as we continue.

Have A Website For Your Online Business

There are those who tell online service providers that they do not need a website. And I suppose many have made money without one, however, I believe a website is important. A website helps you in several ways.

Ways A Website Helps You Thrive

How does a website help your service business? In a number of way including the following:

Gives You Creditability – with Google and with your potential clients.
Shows You Are In It For Long Haul – clients want to know you will not just disappear. If you do not have a website they may feel you can just vanish after you are paid and before your client receives services. A website is a way to show that you are professional and do business the right way.
Lists Out Your Services And Offers – allowing you to show off your services and packages easily. This makes it much easier for prospective clients to understand what you do and how you deliver your services.
Helps Your Prospective Clients Find You – it is an easy way for clients to be able to find you by your business name.
Helps Google Find You – and registers an active website with them for SEO purposes and to share that information when someone searches and you can help.
Allows You To Blog – This is something people take too lightly. It is one of the easiest ways to be ranked by Google Search. See More Below.
Testimonial Opportunities – a website gives you the opportunity to show off a little with all of those reviews and testimonials. The best part is that you can edit – no not change it – but if it is a little long or you only want to use a snippet of one you can because you control the narrative on your own website.

SEO Blogging

As I mentioned earlier SEO Blogging is one of the best ways for you to rank on Google’s Search engine. Today I’m sharing my best steps for blogging.

Use a Content Planner. You can create a simple one in an Excel or Google worksheet. Break it into sections for published (to ‘x’ off when completed), topic or theme, main points (have 5-7 bullet or numbered points), your CTA (call to action) focus for the article, and notes.
Choose a Title That Your Prospective Clients (in other words, your audience) will likely be looking up in Google Search. There are many title optimizer software systems you can use to help you come up with your title after you choose your topic.
Outline Your Article – use the main point (from your content planner). Then you will copy the points (remember those 5-7 items) into your blog. This should help you begin writing. Do not fret if it doesn’t start the creative juices flowing just keep reading because I schedule I use.
Yoast SEO Plugin – is one of the best plugins to help your website with SEO. It also grades your articles and will indicate what to correct for your SEO and your writing. I highly suggest using this plugin, especially for WordPress websites. And best of all it is free, you do not need the paid version unless you do SEO professionally.
Split Up Action Steps – has become the best way for me to manage my time, creativity, and productivity. My normal schedule is to take my topic form the planner and add it to that ‘new’ page on my blog. That blank page that usually stares back at you will soon be very populated! Then grab those points (yes, the 5-7 we talked about) and copy them from your planner onto your blog page. I do all of this on Monday. Let me share the rest of my action steps for blog.

Download Your Content Planner

I’ve specially prepared a quick simple worksheet for you. Simply download and start using it, please.

Blog Action Steps

The way I handle some tasks, especially if they are daunting, is to break them down into micro-tasks or steps. This is how I schedule my week for writing the blog.

Monday – Copy the theme/topic over to the blog page. I also copy the bullet or numbered main points. I also add the keywords to my Yoast SEO plugin. I may also do some research on the topic if I’m able.
Tuesday – I set up the headings from the points I copied in yesterday. Then I begin writing (if I did not on Monday). If you felt creative on Monday and have the time then certainly write. On Tuesday I get most of the writing done, however, if I have a client session or a meeting I may write part of it. I also copy part of the opening paragraph into the meta description in the plugin.
Wednesday – I finish my writing up. I may also need an additional quote so I research for a few minutes (usually under 30 on this day). I grab the quote and enter it into the blog. I will also add one of my links or a quote with a link if appropriate or related. I try to add at least 2-3 quotes total (1 outbound link and the rest inbound). I schedule the blog to publish in the morning if possible.
Thursday – Is the day it should be published for me. So, if I did not schedule it to publish yesterday I need to go back in and finish up any writing. Add the photo and any buttons (if needed). Then I preview and proof it. If it is ready at this point, I schedule my article to publish that evening.
Friday – creative day to come up with more topics. Of course, I have many other items scheduled for this day.

Now, this is my schedule for the week. It is driven by the fact that I #1 publish on Thursdays and #2 that I send out my emails on Friday morning. If I wanted to send my emails out on Wednesday for instance I would have to start moving my content over on Thursdays. Make a schedule that will work for you. Of course, there are other things on my schedule for those days and this is a great way for me to break up the activities I should do each week so that I get a blog written and out to my audience.

Social Presence

You know by now you must be on social media – it is not optional for most businesses. My suggestion is that you use a good social media scheduler as we’ve discussed before. If you are too busy or simply have a dislike for it then hire someone or an agency to help you. If you reach out I have some really good names I could share with you.

When sharing content on social media you should use a scheduler, however, you must also be present at least one platform daily and comment, answer questions, and share posts of others (not competitors). You must choose one platform that you enjoy or the one that your prospective clients are on the most. That will be the platform where you need to be the most active. Yes, you can still post to all if you want but you have to engage as well.

What do I mean by engaging? You should engage with others. Comment on other people’s posts (not competitors) and share their posts from time to time. Most of all make sure you answer any direct messages and those who comment on your social media.

Videos

Creating videos for YouTube is a great option as well. Unlike the other social platforms, the SEO is valid in the search for years not only a day or minutes in the feed. It is a good idea to create videos on YouTube and then share them on other platforms. You can also utilize these as blogs if you do not like to write. Simply do a short introduction and then add your YouTube video (most website platforms give you a way to embed them).

Guest Appearances

Another great way to thrive online is by getting guest appearances. On What? You can have guest appearances on podcasts, interviews, videos, whatever you can. The most common are podcasts and interviews via video.

Do research and find those who have a similar audience and who are doing podcasts and interviews, etc. You never know what some of these collaborations can do for you and your brand. Share channels and most request that you share through your email marketing as well.

Online Magazines

The last thing I want to discuss is online magazines. Whether it’s a great magazine or not it helps you to be presented or featured on one. Of course, getting featured in nationally or even globally known publications can catapult you to the top (often too quickly) but even the small ones help you.

Add them to your ‘As Seen On’ page. If you do not have one put a section on your about page. Always share them online through all of your social platforms, we’ve said to add them on your website, and of course, in your email marketing.

Whew, that was a lot! I hope you understand a little better what it takes to thrive online. I cannot forget one of the biggest tips of all.

TIP:

The best and biggest tip you probably already know but here it is in case you do not. You Must Be Consistent! Otherwise, it is all for nothing. If you suddenly stop writing and engaging you could lose your audience and the attention of those who are potential clients. So, please make sure you are consistent in producing content.