Can you recall a time when you went to purchase a product or service, yet refrained because you weren’t too sure how legitimate the business was? This happens often in online retail; delivered products are a far cry from the quality and design of the advertised product. Now, this same level of unprofessionalism has become increasingly present in the service industry as well.

Whether you’re an online only business or a brick and mortar establishment, there is money to be made via the Internet. However, it’s all about how you present your business on the web. Something as simple as listing your hours of operation can make a world of difference on your business profitability. With that in mind, here are a few simple tech strategies to help differentiate your business.

For starters, you should own your domain name. Your domain, or URL, is the online address for your company’s website. It’s the link at the top of your browser that connects you to your audience and customers. This URL should be something short and easy to remember. Many website builders allow you the option to host your website on their site for free; however, that often means having a long and impersonal URL associated with it. For example, there’s a difference between “yourbusinessname.com” and “yourbusinessname.wordpress.com”. Sticking with the latter is okay for blogs for example, but when it comes down to making your business legitimate, you should own your domain in full.

Integrating online scheduling and calendars is one of the best ways to take your business to the next level. Gone are the days of asking clients, “What time works for you?”. Instead, incorporating online booking software or WordPress booking plugin – if you are using WordPress – into your website makes the booking process seamless and stress-free.

Online booking software – like Bookeo – is ideal for small businesses wanting to grow as well as larger businesses wanting to streamline. Putting the power of your customer’s time in their own hands makes your business more legitimate and trustworthy in the eyes of your consumers.

Another strategy to make your business more legitimate is getting on social media. Simple, yet fun. There are over 3 billion users on the Internet. Of that 3 billion, 2/3 of them are active on some social media. Some of the larger social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even LinkedIn, allow for companies to create professional, verified accounts and utilize premium marketing tools and services. Whether you’re a brand new yoga studio looking for brand awareness or a decade’s old tour group wanting to expand, social media is a powerful tool.

When done properly, social media not only increase business visibility and value, but also provide a level of authority over a competitor – and not only on social media. Social media for businesses is the standard and no longer optional. If your business isn’t on social media, it’s time to join.

It’s easy to get fooled on the Internet. That’s a major fear of online consumers who shop online for products and services. With these simple steps, building online authority in your business can help take your photography studio, spa or any business to the next level.