Having an online presence is important because it’s often how your future audience will find you.
So, it’s a great way to communicate with potential customers or new members.
Online is where many customers are. That’s where they’re looking for you.
As a result, an online presence is important to increase overall awareness of your organisation and your brand. At the very least having a website is essential, as it presents your image as professional.
Your website is what people will search for to find you, to learn more about you.
Building trust with your audience
The more visible you are online, the more people will trust you. And building trust is how you foster loyal supporters.
It shows you care enough to make the effort to communicate with a wider audience. That’s one way your organisation can grow.
Further, engaging with your audience through social media keeps you relevant. It lets them know you are looking to connect with them. That it’s a priority for you.
An online presence helps you find those who are interested in what you do. It’s a great place to grow your audience by interacting with them. The more you learn about the people who like what you do, the more you’ll learn how to better serve them.
Communicate easily and effectively
An online presence also allows you to engage more easily and efficiently with your audience. It’s a good place where people will reach out to ask questions. Being prompt with your responses, especially to email inquiries from new individuals, can make all the difference.
An organisation that is growing, is an organisation that engages efficiently and effectively with new interest. They also follow up later.
For quality communication, it’s about consistency, not perfection. Your response doesn’t need to be perfect, but there does need to be one. People need to feel heard. Especially if they’re new, they need to feel that responding to them is a priority for you.
The communication systems you have in place, or don’t, will determine whether you retain that new customer and have them grow into a loyal supporter. Or whether you lose them.
Don’t let them fall through the cracks
When interested parties ask about your organisation, but they don’t get a response, that potential support ends up slipping through the cracks. You lose a possible new member and the people they could have shared your message with.
Online responses can be so much more efficient than waiting and trying to catch up with them at your next event. Plus, if they don’t hear back, they may not be there next time.
You certainly don’t need to focus all of your day on answering questions. But you never know when that one email or that one message could have led to a dedicated supporter, or a regular and reliable volunteer.
Reach more people in less time
Having an online presence is also a cost-effective way to reach more people in less time.
Plus, online is where you can bring people along with you as you build up to your next big event or sale. Invite them in, and show them what they’ll be missing if they don’t take part!
Social media, in particular, can help you create intrigue and increase the interest in the event you’re planning or service you’re offering. Or it can be where you let people know you’re looking for volunteers. You can even show them what they’d be doing or where to sign up.
An online presence can be one of the most significant, and affordable, investments your organisation makes to grow your community.
Online is where you can communicate your message to an audience that may not otherwise find out about you.