The digital marketplace has emerged as the new “main street”. Thousands of businesses and freelance professionals compete for the same attention span a few seconds to make an impression.
However, although the competition is fierce, there is still room for those who have a basic understanding of how both trust and visibility intersect in the digital landscape.
Your profile is the beginning point for building your digital storefront. Potential customers will look at your profile before they contact you. Unfortunately, many businesses describe themselves vaguely and/or leave out important information that would help them stand out from their competitors. Great profiles use concise and confident language that clearly states what the business does, and for whom the business provides services. Keywords also serve a useful function in creating profiles. Keywords assist search engines and users alike to ensure the services provided by your business are displayed to those searching for the exact type of service your business offers.
Photos, logos and videos provide an additional form of visual storytelling that can immediately increase credibility. Many people prefer to trust photos of faces and professionalism rather than verbal commitments. Reviews also act similarly; once clients are satisfied, they turn into brand ambassadors whose opinions are far greater than any marketing phrase.
However, digital visibility is about more than just being seen. It’s about being proactive. When responding quickly and thoughtfully, clients know you’re reliable and that you’ll likely respond quickly if they need something in the future. Businesses have been given the ability to meet clients halfway through platforms such as Clitch that include features (such as the “post a request” feature) that allow experts to find new leads rather than waiting for a client to find them.
Lastly, the last step is to share your story. Share your journey, your projects, or even your lessons learned. Your audience connects with authenticity, not perfection. Behind each service is a person with experience and a sense of purpose and it’s that which creates a relatable brand.
You don’t have to shout the loudest to get noticed in a crowded digital space. Consistency, care and clarity will all contribute to earning the most valuable currency in the digital space trust and ultimately winning.