

Once you’ve registered your company’s domain name, there are a few ways you can use it to build your business’s online presence. Two popular options are 1) redirect or forward your domain name to a social media business page that acts as a temporary stand-in for your website or 2) to build and launch a business website.
Let's explore each method:
If you’re looking for an option that’s quick to implement and comes with immediate benefits, one simple technique is to register your own web address via a domain name, and redirect it to the social media page of your choosing. This method (also referred to as domain forwarding) enables you to have a business-branded web address that offers credibility and ease when promoting your online presence – much better than saying “follow me on Facebook.”
There are many multimedia platforms to leverage when using social media as your online presence, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest.
It may be best to simply start with 1 or 2 platforms that reach your target audience. Remember to try to reserve accounts or claim your branded profiles on all sites/platforms you plan to leverage to avoid confusion. And if you do engage on more than one social media site, try a management tool like Hootsuite that will save you time updating all your social media accounts.
68 percent of small businesses said websites are the most effective online marketing tool for creating awareness and strengthening customer relationships, more than any other online marketing tool.
With a bevy of options, both paid and free, for creating a website for your business, it is easier than ever to build a high-quality website to showcase your products and services and establish your brand in a form you can control.
Ideally, your website and social media channels should work together. Your website should be the center of your online presence, while you use social media (and other marketing channels such as email and paid search) to engage and drive customers back to your website.
Remember, it’s okay for your social media page to have some of the same content as your website. Social media can help increase your chance of reaching customers who might not visit your website on a daily basis.
Download our checklist that will help guide you through building a website.
i. TechCrunch. With Over 15M Site Built, Weebly Launches New Planner And Mobile Editor, Brings Website Creation Service To Android, accessed Oct. 19, 2016.
Verisign is the registry operator of the .com top-level domain. Trusted by global companies, savvy startups, and local merchants, a .com domain name can help businesses of all sizes connect with customers and partners.
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