5-Step Online Presence Management Guide for Beginners

Many small business owners believe that they only need "a website" to be present online. But that’s only the start. In 2025, customers expect a lot more.

Your brand needs to show where your customers spend their time. Be it Google, social media channels, or review platforms.

For this to happen, you need to build and managing your online presence. It's not just about being seen online; it's about making your brand feel the same everywhere to build trust.

Back when most people spent hours watching TV, big brands made sure their ads appeared on all popular channels. Their goal was simple: to be seen, remembered, and hence trusted.

Now, most people spend their time online. And brands that have built a consistent online presence across all channels stay at the top of customers’ minds.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to build, improve, and manage your brand’s online presence the right way. Whether you're a business owner, freelancer, or creator, this guide will help you establish your online presence.

What is an online presence? (And Why Do You Need It)

Your online presence is everything that shows up about your brand on the web. When someone searches your brand name online, whatever they find about it, such as your website, blogs, reviews, and social media pages, it's a part of your online presence.

People decide whether to trust or contact a business based on what they find in those first few clicks about your brand. If people can’t find you online, they’ll likely choose someone they can.

Why is it Important to Have an Online Presence?

A strong online presence helps you build trust, attract the right audience, and grow your business faster:

It helps people trust you: When someone hears about your brand, the first thing they do is Google it. If they see a complete and consistent online presence, they’re more likely to trust you. In fact, 85% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

It influences buying decisions: Most buyers check a brand online before making a purchase. If you’re not there or you look inactive, you lose the sale. 84% of people say a business’s online reputation plays an important role in what they buy. In fact, One study found that even a one-star increase on Yelp can boost revenue by 5 to 7%.

It helps you stand out from competitors: When your competitors are already building an online presence, not showing up at all makes your brand look outdated. A complete presence puts you ahead. Studies show 77% of small business owners believe being online helps attract new customers.

It makes your brand visible where it matters: Your customers are online, scrolling social media. Today, over 62% of the global population uses social media, and many check a business’s online presence before even visiting in person. If you’re not showing up in all those places, you're not staying on their mind.

Real Life Story: How Alabama Smilax Grew with Online Presence?

Alabama Smilax is a business that sells greenery and plants. For years, they worked offline with no real online presence; they just had a website. They were known only to the people in the area.

In 2021, they felt the need to reach a wider audience. They decided to take their online presence seriously. To do so, they revamped their website and increased their social media presence (Facebook and Instagram).

Results: In just 18 months, their website got over 19,000 clicks, and their Facebook page grew to nearly 6,000 followers. This led to a significant boost in orders and sales.

What are the Different Types of Online Presence?

As mentioned, there are various types of online presence. Besides the website, some major types of online presence are:

Search Results (Google, Bing, etc): This includes your website, listings, and any mentions that can be found by directly searching on web browsers like Google or Bing.

Mentions on Other Websites: It includes guest posts, articles, blogs, news, etc that include the information or talk about your brand. It also shapes your online image.

Social Media: Your accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. These show your activity and help people connect with you.

Online Reviews: Online presence also includes what people say about your brand on platforms like Google Reviews, JustDial, or Trustpilot.

Business Listings: Profiles on Google Business Profile, IndiaMART, Yelp, and other local directories.

Emails and Newsletters: Emails you send to your audience, including updates, offers, or helpful content that are also published online.

How to Build and Manage Your Online Presence (Step-by-Step)

If you want people to trust your brand and choose you over others, you need to take complete charge of your online presence.

You need to understand everything about your online presence by viewing it as a customer. You can follow this simple step-by-step process to get started with online presence management:

1. Start by Googling Yourself

Yes, really. Search for your business name on search engines like Google and see what shows up. Look at your website, social profiles, and any listings or reviews.

Check if you are visible. If yes, check whether your brand is recognizable across all the platforms. It will help you understand where your brand stands today.

2. Set Up or Clean Up Your Website

Your website is the first impression of your brand. If you don’t have one yet, it’s time to set up your website development.

If you already have a website, visit it like you’re the customer. Check if it loads quickly and works well on mobile? See what it offers? Read the content. Check navigation.

Think about how you browse other websites. Ask yourself would you trust this business based on what you see?

Your website should be easy to use, updated, and reflect your brand clearly. Around 75% of users judge a business’s credibility based on its website design.

If it looks outdated or confusing, refresh its layout, content, or images. Not sure if your website needs a refresh? Read our guide on 10 Signs Your Website Needs a Redesign.

3. Choose Social Media Platforms That Fit Your Brand

In 2025, social media is a core part of every brand’s online presence. There are various social media platforms, but every platform isn’t for every brand.

If you want to build an online presence that works for you, you need to create an account on the top two to three platforms where your audience spends most of their time.

For example, if your business is related to food, fashion, or home décor, Instagram or Pinterest can be your best bet. However, if you're targeting professionals, LinkedIn is a better option.

Once you create a profile on the chosen platforms, make sure to use the same brand logo and tone of voice. Also, post consistently with helpful content and reply to comments.

4. Get Listed and Ask for Reviews

85% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. It means your online reviews can directly influence your customers' purchasing decisions.

To strengthen your online presence, you need to make sure your business is listed on top review platforms like Google Business Profile.

It helps you appear in local search results and makes your business easier to find on Google Maps. Next, you must get listed on trusted directories like JustDial, IndiaMART, Sulekha, or Yelp—whichever fit your business type.

You must keep your name, contact info, and website the same across all platforms. This consistency helps to build trust and better online presence management.

Lastly, you don’t need to wait for the reviews. You must ask your happy customer to share their experience. Good reviews from real people can help a lot in building trust and attracting new leads.

5. Stay Active and Keep Improving

Building an online presence is a one-time job, but online presence management is not. Once you're visible, you need to keep your brand updated.

If your last blog or post is from a year ago, people might think you're no longer in business. You can use a monthly reminder to check and update all your platforms.

You can also take the help of the free tools like Google Search Console or even your website analytics to keep track of what is working for your brand.

Here are a few tips to help you with online presence management:

• Test your contact forms and chat buttons regularly

• Refresh your homepage visuals every season

• Add your social links to your email signature and invoices

• Track which platform brings the most traffic, and double down on it

• Use your customer FAQs as weekly content ideas

Tools for Online Presence Management

Managing your online presence can become a lot easier with the help of the right set of tools. Here is the list of best online presence management tools you can use in 2025 to check your performance:

Google Business Profile: It helps you manage how your business shows up on Google Search and Maps. You can update hours, respond to reviews, and post updates directly.

Google Search Console: This tool shows how your website is performing on Google. You can see which pages people visit, what keywords they’re using, and fix technical issues.

Buffer or Later: Tools like Buffer or Later help you schedule posts in advance for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Staying active becomes easier when you can plan content ahead.

Moz Local: You can use Moz Local to ****manage your listings across multiple directories. They help keep your business info the same everywhere, which supports strong online presence management.

Lately, you don’t need to use all of these at once. Pick one or two that match your current needs and save your time.

Final Thoughts: Start Managing Your Online Presence Today

Your online presence is not only about being seen but it's about being remembered, trusted, and chosen. Whether you’re running a small business, building a personal brand, or freelancing, showing up online the right way can make a big difference.

You can start with small steps like setting up your Google Business Profile, fixing your website, and choosing one or two platforms to stay active on. From there, keep things updated and consistent. These small steps can help you in the long run.

If you need help in building or managing your online presence, our team at Better Marketing is here for you. We help businesses, freelancers, and creators to set up their online presence.

Want to make your online presence work better for you? Let’s talk.

FAQs on Online Presence Management

1. How does online presence help a small business?

Online presence helps small businesses get noticed without spending a lot on ads. People can find you on Google, read reviews, and follow you on social media. This all of helps you grow your business.

2. What is a weak online presence?

A weak online presence means your business is either hard to find online, looks outdated, or doesn’t appear trustworthy. This can cause people to ignore your brand and choose someone else.

3. How can I improve my online presence?

Update your website content, keep your social profiles active, respond to customer reviews, and make sure your business information is correct on all platforms.

4. How do you monitor your online presence?

Search your brand name on Google, check your reviews on different platforms, and use tools like Google Search Console or social media insights to track how people are finding and engaging with you.

5. How do I check my online presence?

You can simply Google your business name and see what shows up. Visit your website, review sites, and social media pages as if you were a customer. Make note of anything that looks outdated or confusing.

6. What is the best way to clean up your online presence?

Update your profiles, delete old or unused accounts, untag yourself from unrelated content, and ask websites to remove or correct any inaccurate information about your brand.

7. What services are included in online presence management?

It usually includes website management, social media updates, business listings, reputation monitoring, review management, SEO, and performance tracking to keep your brand consistent and visible.

8. What are the benefits of a professional online presence?

It builds strong first impressions, earns customer trust, increases visibility, and makes your business look reliable. People are more likely to choose a brand that looks professional and active online.

9. Which companies help clean your online presence?

Reputation management firms like ReputationDefender, NetReputation, Better Marketing, and BrandYourself help remove harmful or outdated content and improve how your brand appears online.