Take Control of What Your Online Presence Says About You
5 steps to make your online presence work for you — not against you.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Before anyone steps into your business, they're already walking through your digital front door.
And that front door? It's not just your website. It's your Instagram bio, your LinkedIn header, your last three Google reviews — and whether you like it or not, people are judging.
This isn't just a real estate issue. It's a modern business challenge. In today's digital age, every entrepreneur, regardless of their industry, faces the same scrutiny. Whether you're a therapist, a founder, a coach, or a solopreneur, you are being Googled. And more often than not, that quick online search becomes the reason someone either clicks through or clicks away.
Related: Want to Build Trust in Your Business? It All Starts Online
The first (digital) impression is everything
Years ago, if a home looked rough on the outside, potential buyers wouldn't even bother stepping inside. That's curb appeal.
Today, your digital presence is your curb appeal. If your website looks like it hasn't been updated since 2014, if your LinkedIn headline is vague, or if you've got a highlight reel of blurry social posts and broken links, you're leaving opportunity on the table.
And the scariest part? Most people don't even know what's wrong.
That's why my company started doing brand audits. Think of it like a digital home inspection. We review everything: social bios, website copy, email footers, profile photos, consistency, tone, messaging — and yes, even the typos. Because your online presence doesn't just speak for you. It is you.
What most people get wrong
Thinking is good enough. A decent headshot and a few blog posts do not build trust. People want to see you show up with consistency and confidence.
Ignoring alignment. The tone of your website, the energy of your social media, the words in your emails — they all need to point in the same direction. If your audience feels like they're getting mixed messages, they'll walk away.
Treating your brand like a one-time project. Your digital presence isn't something you "set and forget." It's a living, evolving asset. And it needs regular care.
Why digital trust matters
In the world of entrepreneurship, trust is the currency that drives business success. Your online presence is often the first interaction potential clients or customers have with your brand. If they don't trust what they see, they won't engage further.
Building digital trust involves more than just having a professional-looking website. It's about creating a cohesive and authentic online persona that resonates with your audience. This includes consistent branding across all platforms, engaging and relevant content and a clear message that aligns with your business values.
Steps to enhance your digital presence
Audit your online profiles: Start by reviewing your social bios, website copy, email footers, profile photos and overall consistency. Look for areas that need improvement and make necessary updates. Consistency is key: Ensure that your tone, messaging and branding are consistent across all platforms. Mixed messages can confuse your audience and erode trust. Engage regularly: Your digital presence should be dynamic. Regularly update your content, interact with your audience and stay active on social media. This shows that your business is alive and thriving. Professionalism matters: Invest in high-quality visuals, well-written content and a polished website. These elements reflect your professionalism and commitment to your business. Seek feedback: Don't hesitate to ask for feedback from your audience. Understanding their perceptions can help you make informed improvements to your digital presence.
Related: How to Build Trust and Transparency With Your Customers While Taking Their Data
The role of digital trust in business growth
Digital trust isn't just about attracting clients; it's about retaining them. When people trust your online presence, they are more likely to become loyal customers and advocates for your brand. This trust translates into repeat business, positive reviews, and word-of-mouth referrals — all of which are crucial for business growth.
Moreover, a strong digital presence can differentiate you from competitors. In a crowded market, your edge isn't just what you offer. It's how clearly and confidently you show up online.
Today, your digital presence is your curb appeal. It's the first impression that potential clients have of your brand, and it can make or break their decision to engage with you. By focusing on building digital trust, you can ensure that your online presence reflects your brand's credibility and professionalism.
So, take the time to audit your digital presence, ensure consistency, engage regularly and seek feedback. These steps will help you build a strong and trustworthy online persona that attracts and retains clients.
Because in business, your edge isn't just what you offer. It's how clearly and confidently you show up online.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Should You Buy Gold After Its 60% Increase in Value? Here's What Warren Buffett Has to Say About It.
The value of gold has soared more than 60% since the start of 2024, outpacing the S&P 500. With a weakening dollar and shaky political environment, gold still looks appealing at this price. Buffett and Munger suggest an even better asset for capital preservation. 10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway › The value of gold has increased faster than both stocks and bonds since the start of 2024 as growing uncertainty has led investors to seek safe havens. Despite the strong performance of the asset, many still feel it could be a great investment today, considering the world's political environment looks just as shaky as ever. But if you ask Warren Buffett if you should invest in gold, the answer is a clear and resounding "No." Analysts at J.P. Morgan disagree. Despite gold climbing about 60% in the last 18 months, they see the precious metal rising another 25% in value through the end of 2026, reaching $4,250 per ounce. But over the long run, there are some very good reasons why the asset will likely underperform stocks. Here's what Buffett thinks about gold, and how long-term investors can easily outperform it. The investment case for gold is that it's a hedge against inflation. If the dollar declines in value (as it has in recent months) the value of gold will increase relative to the dollar. That's because gold is rare. While gold mining companies are constantly digging it out of the ground, the process isn't cheap or easy. Buffett suggests there are much better ways to maintain the value of your dollars. "Gold would be way down on my list as a store of value," he told investors at Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) 2005 annual shareholder meeting. "I would much prefer owning a hundred acres of land here in Nebraska, or an apartment house, or an index fund." Charlie Munger, Berkshire Hathaway's longtime vice chairman and Buffett's friend, was much more blunt. "Gold is a dumb investment," he told the audience. Both of their points were that there are better opportunities, specifically assets that they would call "productive." That is, they have some level of utility beyond looking shiny, being highly conductive, and never corroding (which can be great for jewelry and electronics, but not much else). An ounce of gold will still be an ounce of gold in 100 years. An acre of farmland will still be an acre of land in 100 years. The difference, Buffett says, is that you got to use the land to grow crops and generate income during those 100 years while your ounce of gold probably just sat in a safe somewhere. A good business, like a farm, can protect against inflation because the value of what it produces won't change substantially. As such, in times of inflation, the price of its produce will increase, and the value of the asset will increase as well. Better yet, if you take the income from the asset and reinvest it in expanding (buying more farmland, adding another apartment, finding a new business to start or invest in), you can grow your wealth dramatically. Berkshire Hathaway itself may be the ultimate example. When Buffett took over Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, gold was worth about $35 per ounce. It's increased nearly 100-fold in the 60 years since. Berkshire Hathaway, on the other hand, is up about 58,664-fold. Buffett's advice for average investors is straightforward and simple. The best investment for the average individual is an index fund like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO). While Buffett points out examples like farmland or apartments, those investments require management to be truly productive. He personally prefers to invest in individual companies. But those require attention as well, even if every publicly traded company has a board of directors and management in place already. If you want returns better than the market average, you'll have to do a lot of work. Even then, the best and brightest minds on Wall Street still struggle most of the time. So, for most people, a passive investment style where you simply buy and hold an index fund works best. A person who consistently adds money saved from their earnings to an index fund portfolio that produces average returns can end up with a level of wealth that's well above average. There's no need to diversify with other asset classes for long-term investors who can weather the ups and downs of the stock market. Even if you agree with J.P. Morgan's analysts that gold will continue to run higher through the end of next year, it's highly unlikely an unproductive asset outperforms a portfolio of productive assets over the long run. Those looking to tame the volatility of stocks may do better with government bonds. Buffett certainly thinks it's a better place to park cash than gold while he looks for Berkshire's next big stock purchase. Before you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $881,731!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Adam Levy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, JPMorgan Chase, and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy Gold After Its 60% Increase in Value? Here's What Warren Buffett Has to Say About It. was originally published by The Motley Fool
Bloomberg
18 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
What's Next After the Initial Fallout from US Strikes on Iran
What's next? The unprecedented US airstrikes on Iran have set traders and governments worldwide on edge, as the Islamic Republic warns of retaliation and Israel shows no sign of letting up in its assault. Asian currencies and stocks fell, European stock futures declined while oil advanced, then erased gains, after Washington struck Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend. China and Pakistan were quick to condemn — even though China hasn't yet offered substantial assistance to Tehran besides rhetorical support and Pakistan is at the same time taking steps to build stronger ties with the White House. The US State Department issued a ' Worldwide Caution ' alert for Americans. More critically, President Donald Trump's decision to deploy bunker-busting bombs — in Washington's first direct military action against Iran after decades of hostility — has pushed the Middle East into uncharted territory. Did the end justify the means? While the US attacks have set back Iran's nuclear ambitions and dealt its clerical regime a humiliating blow, the program hasn't been completely destroyed. The move may ultimately lead Tehran to end international monitoring of its nuclear program and consider going ahead to develop a bomb. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hasn't been seen in public in 11 days but remains in control. Even as diplomatic allies Russia and China have stayed on the sidelines and its network of armed proxies in the region remains weakened, Tehran still has ways to inflict pain on the US as it plans its retaliation. Two supertankers, each capable of hauling about 2 million barrels of crude, U-turned in the Strait of Hormuz after the US airstrikes on Iran raised the risk of a response that would ensnare commercial shipping in the region, according to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The two empty freighters then sailed south, away from the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The turning oil carriers offer the first signs of re-routing, something that oil traders will scrutinize. Any disruption to traffic through the strait, a major artery for global crude and natural gas, raises the specter of a spike in energy prices. That's bad news for Asia, which buys more than four-fifths of all the crude produced in the Middle East, 90% of which goes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Wall Street Journal
20 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
Stocks to Watch Monday: Exxon, Tesla, Northern Trust
↗️ Exxon (XOM), Chevron (CVX), BP (BP), Occidental Petroleum (OXY): Energy stocks gained modestly in premarket trading after the U.S. attacked Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. Investors are watching for signs Iran could block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. ↘️ IAG (UK:IAG), Air France-KLM (FR:AF), Singapore Airlines (SG: C6L): Global airline stocks edged lower. Carriers including Air France cancelled some flights to the Middle East after the attack. U.S. airline stocks were little changed ahead of the open. ↗️ Tesla (TSLA): The electric-vehicle maker launched its long-awaited robotaxi service over the weekend. Shares rose 1.5% premarket.
