GetSocial
Jan
13

Online Visibility: If You Want To Be Found You Have To Be Seen

By | Blogging, Business, Networking, Social Media

73 Comments

Print Friendly

Sounds pretty obvious, doesn’t it?!

However, think about this …

Given your particular niche and the keywords people are likely to use to search for information about your expertise, where will your target audience “see” you online?

Many entrepreneurs who market their products and services online follow a similar online visibility “flow”.

And the flow goes something like this …

1.) They start a blog and produce consistent, valuable content.

2.) They go on to set up accounts and profiles on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube, and Google+ with the goal of starting conversations and sparking interest.

3.) They might choose to add some article marketing to the mix and direct readers back to their blog or send them off to a landing page via their author/resource box.

4.) They wait for the magic to happen!

But is that going to do the trick? Is that going to be enough to help online marketers be seen by potential customers or clients online?

Only YOU can be the judge.

Are you following a similar flow and getting the positive results you desire?

If not, here are some tips to …

Boost Your Online Visibility

1.) My BEST suggestion for where to begin: Rely on the wisdom of Denise Wakeman (Founder of the Blog Squad and Online Visibility Expert) and grab a Free 7-part visibility boost e-course. I’ve been following Denise for years. She’s credible and knows more about creating a presence online than the next ten experts you’ll encounter!

2.) Submit your blog to blog directories: 23 blog directory sites

3.) Expand your blogging horizon and look for guest posting opportunities: BloggerLinkUp.com.

4.) Bookmark your blog and follow other bloggers:

  • BlogEngage.com
  • BlogInteract.com
  • Serpd.com
  • Blokube.com
  • BizSugar.com

5.) Don’t stop at You Tube — Share your videos all over the net! Take advantage of this Free video distribution service: Tube Mogul

6.) Start your own internet radio show for free: BlogTalkRadio.com

7.) Create audio marketing messages, share them on social media venues, and network with fellow entrepreneurs:

  • SoundCloud.com
  • ipadio.com
  • AudioBoo.com
  • Cinch.fm
  • Chirbit.com

Denise Wakeman, Online Visibility Expert, Says …

“If you want to have a successful business online in this day and age, you need to be willing to be out there. You need to be willing to put your business, your personality, everything you want to do to serve people out there by participating, connecting and sharing. Otherwise few people will find you and it will be difficult to have a successful business.”

Bonus Visibility Tip

When you comment on blog posts or articles, “Like”, Tweet, +1, Stumble, Digg, share a video or podcast, etc., not only are you acknowledging and helping your fellow entrepreneurs, you are increasing your own visibility and putting yourself in front of a new audience.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
About Melanie Kissell

Melanie shares the entrepreneurial mindset and shoestring marketing strategies with tenacious mompreneurs and moms who want to say goodbye to the corporate world, work from home, and design a life that's right for them. Come by and knock on her door at Solo Mompreneur. The coffee pot is always brewing!

Comments

  1. William Veasley
    Twitter:
    says:
    February 20, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    I am trying to find more time to write guest articles. That is my favorite way to expand my word!

    God bless,
    William Veasley
    William Veasley recently posted..BoyVeasley: Brb.. never gone for longMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Chris from Austin Home Search
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 28, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    Great tips to get exposure to your blog. Especially the 23 blog directories. Going to start submitting now!
    Chris recently posted..How To Search For Austin Homes & Real EstateMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Keith Davis says:
    January 23, 2012 at 2:50 pm

    Well well well.
    Yet another side to the multi faceted Ms Kissell.

    Fabamundo post and the replies to comments are brilliant!

    I like to see bloggers practise what they preach and nobody does it better than you Mel.

    As you full well know… I embraced social media from the start…… LOL
    Keith Davis recently posted..Premise – WordPress Landing pages made easyMy Profile

    Reply
  4. pawpoint says:
    January 23, 2012 at 8:42 am

    I never considered audio marketing messages before. I already have youtube videos, but completely overlooked audio only. Thanks for those links…..more work! Lol
    pawpoint recently posted..Dog welfare and website promotion from Pawpoint dog clothes and pet accessoriesMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Singapore News says:
    January 23, 2012 at 12:26 am

    The steps are really simple, but really effective. It’ll increase traffic in your blog (and even your website). Keep it active and be patient. I’m becoming your reader now! Great post, great blog! Now, there only one thing left for me to do, register my blog or submit my site to directories, just like what you said on number 2.

    Reply
  6. Abhi Balani
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 20, 2012 at 10:39 am

    I didn’t know serpd and bizsugar. Thanks for that.
    Abhi Balani recently posted..Good Blogger And A Good Blog: What Are The Signs?My Profile

    Reply
  7. Cleaners in Northampton says:
    January 20, 2012 at 5:46 am

    I totally agree with you what’s the point in being on line if no one can find you. Your tips are really valuable a great read

    Reply
  8. online business says:
    January 20, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Guest posting and submitting to blog directories works for me. Interesting post.

    Reply
  9. Michael Belk
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 19, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    I believe in trying something different. I have a Blogtalk Radio account it kept me too busy, but I am into trying new avenues. If anyone is interested in swapping links look me up. Michael
    Michael Belk recently posted..Career as a Medical Assistant | An employee’s perspective.My Profile

    Reply
  10. Ellie
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 17, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    Great discussion on online visibility. Your suggestion to start your own internet radio show for free using BlogTalkRadio.com was especially insightful and I believe presents great possibilities. Thanks for the information.

    Ellie
    Ellie recently posted..Dealing With Panic AttacksMy Profile

    Reply
  11. For Rent Niceville FL says:
    January 16, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    “And the flow goes something like this …”
    Your original 4 are what 95% of people do. Thanks for the information on how to excel.

    Reply
  12. Arjee says:
    January 16, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Thanks for posting such very relative information. This is a big help for those who struggling in this field. It’s very hard to capture the whole market. Patience is a virtue, so we have practice it in order to take some steps forward.
    Arjee recently posted..Happy New Year To All Of You And Hope You Like The Aquarium Fish Photos Here …My Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 16, 2012 at 5:31 pm

      “It’s very hard to capture the whole market.”

      Actually, Arjee, I’d have to say it’s “impossible” to capture the whole market!

      But you can certainly get your fair share of the market by working on boosting your credibility and visibility. :)

      And, yes, being patient is very important.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..Help Me Fill “The Brag Bag”My Profile

      Reply
  13. Shannon from DualEagle says:
    January 16, 2012 at 9:12 am

    This article is really informative. The steps are really simple, but really effective. It’ll increase traffic in your blog (and even your website). Keep it active and be patient. I’m becoming your reader now! Great post, great blog! Now, there only one thing left for me to do, register my blog or submit my site to directories, just like what you said on number 2. Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Rohith says:
    January 16, 2012 at 5:57 am

    Thanks for the useful tips and the resource.. I really liked 6th and 7th point as I was not known about that and now with all of the methods I’ve been doing this is new addition and am gonna start using this :)
    Rohith recently posted..Types of Red wine | Classification of Red wine | Different kinds of Red wineMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Michael Belk (calculators)
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 16, 2012 at 12:19 am

    Great information, good tips. I can use this info.
    Michael Belk (calculators) recently posted..You do not speak English as well as you think.My Profile

    Reply
  16. Matt Kinsella says:
    January 15, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    Some brilliant tips, I am always reading these type of articles but rarely find REALLY useful info so I was glad to find this, thanks for the advice I am going to bloggerlinkup.com to have a look now.
    Matt Kinsella recently posted..Work Life BalanceMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Teresa T. Bruce says:
    January 15, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Hi Melanie,

    Great tips! Two thumbs up, I mean I totally agree with you. Because of the competition in online market you must be very creative that people will see you and maybe will notice your worth, This tips of yours are very helpful. Thanks for posting this.
    Teresa T. Bruce recently posted..Criminal AttorneyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 15, 2012 at 3:03 pm

      Thanks for your comment and compliment, Teresa.

      The competition online is fierce … and can’t be ignored!

      Not only do you need to give your target audience lots of opportunities to “see” you online, you also need to continually find ways to outshine your competitors — by letting your potential customers or clients know what sets you apart from the crowd. :)
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..Help Me Fill “The Brag Bag”My Profile

      Reply
  18. sandy says:
    January 15, 2012 at 4:23 am

    Hey I personally feel social bookmarking sites are the best way to promote your blog and there by increasing traffic. Of course directories are also there but they are not so popular now…..
    sandy recently posted..Interview Tips for FreshersMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Ashok says:
    January 14, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    There is no point in being on Internet if you’re not properly visible, i.e., if others cannot find you. Sitting in one isolated corner of Internet is of no use. Your tips are really valuable in that regard.
    Ashok recently posted..How many websites and web pages are there in world?My Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 15, 2012 at 1:05 am

      Thanks, Ashok!

      Glad you found some value in this post. And you’re absolutely right about “sitting in one isolated corner of the internet” being of no use!

      The only time isolating yourself would be beneficial to your business is if your target audience hangs out in that location … and that location alone. The chances of that are pretty darn slim.
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..Help Me Fill “The Brag Bag”My Profile

      Reply
  20. Lynn Brown
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 14, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    That is an awesome list Melanie! It just proves how much social media continues to grow and become a huge factor in bringing visibility for any reason… personal, business, charity, etc. I visited one of the sites you recommended – BlogInInteract.com and signed up to be a member. Looking forward to interacting and connecting! Thank you for taking the time to share this information as it is a really good resource.
    Lynn Brown recently posted..Is Follow Friday Hurting Your Online Marketing EffortsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 15, 2012 at 1:13 am

      Happy to see you here, Lynn!

      And I’m excited that you made the decision to join “Blog Interact”. It’s a great way to get more “eyes” on your posts and connect with awesome fellow bloggers to support one another — Win-win all the way around. :)

      Thanks for catching my post and I’ll hope you’ll visit WBB again soon!
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..Help Me Fill “The Brag Bag”My Profile

      Reply
  21. Hajra
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 14, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    Hey Melanie,

    Thanks so much for this! This might especially be true for people like me who disappear suddenly ;)

    Online visibility is a tough thing to maintain. If you have ever been to Bill Dorman’s blog you must understand why we tease him as the invisible blogger. He started off with his blog and named it invisible blogger but he could be seen EVERYWHERE! Yes, almost every blog a person went to, Bill had already left his wonderful comments there. So he turned out to be anything but invisible.

    Online visibility can be tough to manage and maintain and even tougher to increase. Also, with such awesome amount of talent everywhere around, it is hard to carve a place for yourself. But thanks to such wonderful suggestions; it has been made a lot easier for us! :)
    Hajra recently posted..Will they call you over for a bloggers party?My Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 15, 2012 at 1:43 am

      Howdy Hajra!

      Bill Dorman is a hoot, isn’t he? And we’re always teasing him about being quite the “lady’s man”. LOL

      Online visibility goes hand in hand with blog promotion. It’s one thing to write a darn good post … maybe even something EPIC … and a horse of a very different color to promote the doggone thing!

      Despite what anyone tells you …
      Blog post “visibility” is challenging.

      That’s why it’s crucial to give all the millions of people on the internet LOADS of opportunities to “see” your work. You don’t necessarily have to be active in every location, but you should strive to plant a stake all over cyberspace!

      Creating a strong presence online is a step-by-step process. For bloggers, I always recommend starting with submissions to blog directories first and branching out from there.

      And it doesn’t hurt to submit your site to 120+ search engines for free with one click: http://www.freewebsitesubmitter.com :)

      Happy Blogging and hope to “see” you soon!
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..Help Me Fill “The Brag Bag”My Profile

      Reply
  22. Iva Stecker says:
    January 14, 2012 at 4:18 am

    Paying attention to your astounding post, I locate it is of the extraordinary experience and appropriate suggestions.

    Reply
  23. JohnL says:
    January 14, 2012 at 3:18 am

    Great tips and something I have been looking at recently and experimenting with. Too soon to tell yet what the impact will be as I have only been at it for a week or two, but you have provided some extra dimension that can be added to what I am already doing.

    Something I learned elsewhere is the power of leverage. You can’t be everywhere at the same time, but you can leverage what you do to increase exposure. If you have a video, post it on your blog, facebook, twitter and embed in articles on article sites that accept it. That way one piece of work can add up to 4-5 points of exposure on the web. We need to look for opportunities to leverage as much as possible to increase visibility.

    Great post and thanks for the tips.
    JohnL recently posted..Will You be Recognised by God?My Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 14, 2012 at 3:43 am

      Hi John

      I appreciate your input!

      I think “leverage” should be THE word for 2012. It ties right in with a couple other favorites of mine …

      “Repurposing” and “Recycling”. :)

      You can reuse a blog post in SO many ways (Leverage your work!)

      1.) Turn it into an article and submit it to article directories like Biznik, GoArticles, or Ideamarketers.

      2.) Record an audio of your post and share it on social media venues.

      3.) Transform your post into a series of slides at Slideshare.

      4.) Take several related posts and turn them into an ebook or special report.

      5.) Create a Squidoo lens or Hub page with your post.

      You get the idea!

      Thanks again for visiting WBB today and I hope you’ll return again soon.
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..My Biggest Marketing Mistake In 2011My Profile

      Reply
  24. doug_eike says:
    January 14, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Developing an online presence is indeed important. Doing everything at once, though, is not necessary. Each blogger should work on four or five areas of promotion that contribute to online visibility. The suggestions made above are excellent, but attempting to do all of them would probably cause a lack of focus and result either in burnout or a dilution of effect. Thanks for raising an interesting question!
    doug_eike recently posted..Ten Wonderful Things To Give AwayMy Profile

    Reply
  25. Kristen says:
    January 13, 2012 at 11:51 pm

    Thanks for the great tips. I have always wondered if adding the blog to blog directories is helpful for increasing the visibility of a blog. Thanks for providing information about that and other ideas.
    Kristen recently posted..Stress and Technology: What Do You Do When Your Devices Fail You?My Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 14, 2012 at 12:01 am

      Sweet of you to stop by, Kristen — thanks!

      The rock bottom line on visibility …

      I think you’d agree it’s impossible to be “active” all over the internet at once, right?

      But it’s important to “lay a foundation” and then give your target audience as many chances as possible to stumble upon you as they traverse the internet.

      So, yes! By all means, at least get your blog submitted to Technorati — the largest blog directory. And then when you have a few minutes, here and there, continue to submit to the other directories. Maybe even set a goal of submitting your blog to one directory a week — easy peasy!
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..My Biggest Marketing Mistake In 2011My Profile

      Reply
  26. Jeff Wise says:
    January 13, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    Ah! I had no idea Tube Mogul had a free tier to distribute videos! This is great news!

    I’ve also heard a lot about BlogEngage but haven’t joined up yet. Thanks for these two nuggets. They are going on my to-do list right now.
    Jeff Wise recently posted..Overcoming Negativity And My Small Business Online Marketing DreamMy Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 13, 2012 at 10:56 pm

      Hey Jeff!!

      Long time no “see”. :)

      Ya gotta join Blog Engage! Don’t hesitate for one second … just head over there and sign up!

      You made my day today. I was hoping someone would click the anchor text for Tube Mogul and I’m happy it was you. Enjoy using their fab free video distribution! (I think they call it “One Load” — catchy name, wouldn’t you say?) LOL

      Thanks so much for joining the conversation and it’s wonderful to connect in the blogosphere again! I miss the heck out of our blogging challenge days but I just can’t weave a challenge in right now.

      Are you participating in Michelle Shaeffer’s UBC this time around?
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..My Biggest Marketing Mistake In 2011My Profile

      Reply
  27. Tushar from BloggersEthics
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 13, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    it is so stupid on the blogger’s part not to make him/her visible on the blogosphere. In this busy world, nobody going to find you; it is you who will have to force everybody to look into you, whether with a good headline or a controversial post
    Tushar recently posted..Incorporating Professionalism in Your Blogging StyleMy Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 13, 2012 at 2:37 pm

      Hello Tushar and thanks for swinging by today!

      ” … a good headline or a controversial post” is definitely attention grabbing. And one of the biggest challenges bloggers face is finding ways to rope people in to read their posts.

      But once you start building a community of loyal readership, your readers will be more than happy to share your posts.
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..My Biggest Marketing Mistake In 2011My Profile

      Reply
  28. Dave Lucas
    Twitter:
    says:
    January 13, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    It’s smart to be visible in as many places as possible! A great blog is a combination of sweat, tears, marketing, branding and promoting!
    Dave Lucas recently posted..Tebow TimeMy Profile

    Reply
  29. Will Davies says:
    January 13, 2012 at 12:01 pm

    Thanks for the share! A lot of people have started to use audio and podcasting to grow their online presence. I think this is the wave of the future.

    Reply
  30. Denise Wakeman says:
    January 13, 2012 at 10:40 am

    Thanks for the shout-out Melanie, and recommendation of my free visibility tips. You’ve laid out a clear, concise flow for anyone who wants to boost their online visibility. Not hard, just takes action and implementation…blog on!
    Denise Wakeman recently posted..How to Become a Kindle Bestselling Author in Record Time [webinar replay]My Profile

    Reply
    • Melanie Kissell
      Twitter:
      says:
      January 13, 2012 at 2:22 pm

      I may be a little biased, Denise, but a post about online visibility wouldn’t be worth a hill of beans without your name and expertise highlighted! :)

      Many thanks for catching this post and taking some of your valuable time to leave a comment.

      You’re right …
      None of these online visibility steps are hard but without implementation, you’re toast! (And likely to remain “invisible” online)

      Blog On back at ya!!
      Melanie Kissell recently posted..Answering Your Social Media TelephoneMy Profile

      Reply
  31. term papers for sale says:
    January 13, 2012 at 10:27 am

    Excellent post! Thanks a lot.

    Reply
  32. Adrian says:
    January 13, 2012 at 6:24 am

    Thanks Melanie for this one of the useful e-book. I am much surprised that whatever I used to do for my blogs was not enough to gain the visibility and this has led to me a serious question. Was I really doing in right way of promoting My brand? And here I got the answer.

    Reply

Speak Your Mind

*

CommentLuv badge
This blog uses premium CommentLuv which allows you to put your keywords with your name if you have had 3 approved comments. Use your real name and then @ your keywords (maximum of 3)