What Else Do I Need Besides a Website to Have a Successful Online Presence?
So, you’ve got a website—awesome! But if you think that’s all you need for a strong online presence, think again. A high-quality website is just the foundation. To actually get traffic, build credibility, and convert visitors into customers, you need a few more key tools in place.
Here are five essential things every business should have to complement their website and maximize their online success:
1. Google My Business (GMB) Profile
What is it?
Google My Business (now part of Google Business Profile) is a free tool for managing your business’s appearance on Google Search and Google Maps.
Why do I need it?
If you want to show up when people search for your business or services near them, a GMB profile is a must. It boosts local SEO, helps customers find you easily, and builds trust with reviews and up-to-date business info. Without it, you’re missing out on free visibility from potential customers actively looking for what you offer.
2. Technical SEO
What is it?
Technical SEO involves optimizing your website’s backend to make it easier for search engines to crawl, index, and rank your pages. This includes things like mobile responsiveness, page speed, structured data, and fixing broken links.
Why do I need it?
Even if you have the best-looking website, search engines won’t rank it well if it’s slow, hard to navigate, or not appropriately optimized. Technical SEO ensures that your site loads fast, is mobile-friendly, and meets Google’s requirements so you can appear higher in search results and attract more visitors.
3. Google Analytics
What is it?
Google Analytics is a free tool for tracking and reporting website traffic. It provides insights into how visitors interact with your site.
Why do I need it?
Without data, you’re flying blind. Google Analytics helps you understand where your traffic is coming from, what pages perform best, and what areas need improvement. This lets you make informed decisions, optimize your website, and improve conversions.
4. Social Media Pages
What is it?
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok provide a way to engage with your audience, share content, and drive traffic to your website.
Why do I need it?
A website alone isn’t enough to reach your audience—people spend hours daily on social media. Having active social pages helps you build brand awareness, interact with customers, and establish credibility. Plus, platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow you to run ads that can bring in even more traffic.
5. Professional Business Email with Your Domain
What is it?
A business email (e.g., yourname@yourbusiness.com) is an email address that uses your website’s domain instead of a generic provider like Gmail or Yahoo.
Why do I need it?
Using a professional email adds instant credibility to your business. Customers are more likely to trust and respond to an email from info@yourbusiness.com rather than yourbusiness@gmail.com. It also helps maintain brand consistency and keeps your communications professional. Plus, many email hosting services come with added security features to protect your data.
🔥 Bonus: Customer Reviews & Reputation Management
What is it?
Customer reviews are testimonials and feedback left on platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, or industry-specific review sites.
Why do I need it?
People trust real experiences from other customers more than any marketing pitch. Reviews build credibility, influence purchasing decisions, and improve local SEO. Businesses with positive reviews stand out, and responding to reviews (both positive and negative) shows you care about customer feedback. Make it easy for satisfied customers to leave reviews—this small step can have a big impact on your reputation and conversions.
Final Thoughts
Your website is the starting point, but to truly succeed online, you need a strategy that includes local SEO, data tracking, social engagement, professional communication, and a strong reputation. By setting up these five tools (plus customer reviews!), you’ll be in a much stronger position to grow your online presence and turn visitors into loyal customers.
Want help implementing these strategies? At GGILabs, we specialize in setting up and optimizing all these elements so you can focus on running your business. Let’s chat!
