Gyutae Park, of Winning the Web, has a great post today about online branding. I’m not going to butcher the post, but just want to highlight the seven steps to a “strong” online brand presence.

1. Don’t focus on SEO and keywords alone. Make sure your site’s focus is on the visitors and their experience on your site. Then go back and optimize.
2. Tie your brand to your niche or specialty and your core competency. Examples: Google = search; Xerox = copy;  and Band-Aid = bandages. Keeping your brand niche also helps with #1.
3. Stand for something. I couldn’t agree more and tell this to clients all the time. Tell visitors why they should buy from you over competitors.
4. Looks matter. Get an updated site that’s attractive and looks professional. Don’t be cheap with your site.
5. Credibility. Toot your horn on your site, telling visitors again, why they should buy from you because of third party validation.
6. Get people talking and be in the conversation. Get on social media sites, not just once a month, but get in the conversation as much as you can.
7. Get exposed. The more that people see your brand, the more likely they will be of remembering you and buying from you.