Getting Found and Standing Out in a Competitive Online Environment

This entire website is about this topic. Yes, I recommend and work with WordPress; however, getting found and standing out is essential regardless of your website’s platform.

I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years, and I can tell you that very little has changed regarding the efforts, knowledge, and skills required to have a successful online program. And in that time, those who want a website/blog/estore to produce income still underestimate what is involved.

This post will summarize what you need to do and include links to my other articles on each topic to give you the specifics you need. Yes, it is overwhelming, but it is what it is.

Embrace the Suck

“Embrace the suck” is a phrase often used, particularly by Navy Seals, to encourage people to accept and deal with complex, unpleasant, or challenging situations. It implies that by acknowledging and accepting the hardship or discomfort, one can endure and overcome it more effectively. This mentality is commonly promoted in military training, sports, and other high-stress environments where resilience and perseverance are essential.

And, for those with online businesses — this applies to you, too.

Nothing happens by osmosis. You have to make it happen by marketing and keeping up. While some are familiar with the most common marketing strategies, they rarely go all in and sometimes overlook the most critical contributors—branding and analytics.

So, let’s cover them all. (Ctrl +D to bookmark for future reference.)

Marketing Strategies:

Standing out in a crowded e-commerce landscape requires a combination of effective marketing strategies and consistent effort. Here’s a detailed look at critical tactics to help your online store get noticed:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is crucial for driving organic traffic to your site. You’ll hear this a lot. But SEO is hard work that never stops—it is not a set-and-forget issue. It involves optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results based on ongoing data interrogation.

Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush* to find relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your product titles, descriptions, and blog content.
On-Page SEO: Optimize each page of your website. Ensure your meta titles and descriptions are compelling and include your primary keywords. Use header tags (H1, H2, etc.) to structure your content and improve readability.
Quality Content: Regularly publish valuable content such as blog posts, how-to guides, and product reviews. This not only attracts visitors but also establishes your authority in your niche.
Backlinks: Acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable sites. This can be achieved through guest blogging, partnerships, or shareable content. It’s not as easy as it sounds—it’s challenging to accomplish.

Social media is a powerful tool for building brand awareness and driving traffic to your site.

Choose the Right Platforms: Focus on platforms where your target audience is most active. For visual products, Instagram and Pinterest are excellent choices. For broader engagement, consider Facebook and X.
Consisten t Posting: Develop a content calendar and post regularly. Share a mix of product updates, customer testimonials, behind-the-scenes content, and user-generated content.
Engagement: Actively engage with your followers by promptly responding to comments and messages. To increase interaction, run contests, polls, and Q&A sessions.
Influencer Partnerships: Investigate whether collaborating with influencers in your niche will help you reach a larger audience. They can provide authentic endorsements and reviews of your products.

3. Email Marketing

Email marketing helps in nurturing relationships with potential and existing customers.

Build an Email List: Use sign-up forms on your website, offer incentives like discounts or free guides, and encourage social media followers to subscribe.
Segment Your Audience: Divide your email list into segments based on purchase history, interests, and engagement level. This allows for more personalized and relevant email campaigns.
Engaging Content: Send regular newsletters with promotional content, product updates, and valuable information. Use attention-grabbing subject lines and clear calls to action.
Automation: Set up automated email sequences for welcome messages, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-up. Be careful not to automate too much and lose that personal touch that can set you apart from your competitors.

4. Paid Advertising

Paid ads can give you immediate visibility and drive targeted traffic to your site. But they can add up fast! You must do your due diligence first to avoid throwing good money after bad.

Google Ads: Run search ads targeting specific keywords related to your products. Use display ads to reach a broader audience and remarketing ads to re-engage past visitors.
Social Media Ads: Platforms offer highly targeted ad options. You can define your audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Budget Management: Start with a small budget and gradually increase it as you see what works. Monitor your ad performance closely and optimize your campaigns regularly.
A/B Testing: Test different ad creatives, headlines, and targeting options to see what resonates best with your audience.

5. Branding and Customer Experience

A strong brand and excellent customer experience will set you apart from competitors.

Brand Identity: Develop a unique brand identity with a standout logo, consistent color scheme, and a compelling brand story. Ensure all your communications reflect your brand voice.
User-Friendly Website: Make sure your website is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and has fast loading times. A smooth user experience can significantly improve conversion rates.
Customer Service: Offer excellent customer support. Provide multiple contact options (email, live chat, phone), respond promptly, and resolve issues effectively. Happy customers are more likely to recommend your store to others.
Reviews and Testimonials: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and testimonials. Display these prominently on your website and social media profiles to build trust and credibility.

6. Analytics and Continuous Improvement

Regularly analyze your performance and make data-driven decisions to improve your strategies.

Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to track website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. Identify which marketing channels are driving the most traffic and sales.
Social Media Insights: Use social media platforms’ analytics tools to monitor engagement, reach, and audience demographics.
A/B Testing: Continuously test different elements of your website, emails, and ads to see what works best. Optimize based on the results.
Customer Feedback: Regularly collect and analyze customer feedback to understand their needs and preferences. Polls work great to get this level of valuable information. Use this knowledge to improve your products and services.

By implementing these strategies and continually refining your approach, you can improve your visibility, attract more visitors, and convert them into loyal customers.

Wow! That’s a lot!

Yeah, I get it. But we don’t get to decide what we are willing to do or spend if we want online success. That is why I’ve linked to other articles on this site to guide you further, so bookmark this page. (Ctrl +D to bookmark.)

Read, learn, and follow through. Rinse and repeat. That’s the only way to a hefty bottom line — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

At your service,

*Some of the links on this page are to companies I have a professional affiliation with.
Read my full affiliate statement here.