When a potential customer checks you out online, you have seconds to prove you’re worth their attention. One wrong move can cue them to take their business somewhere else, and here’s a fact for you: It’s easier to win people over with a killer first impression than it is to convince them to give you a shot after they’ve made up their minds and moved on. We know first impressions matter, so here are five tips for how to impress people with your online presence from the start.

1. Know who you’re trying to impress.

It’s hard to make a good impression on someone when you know zero about them. So the first step for making a great first impression: know who you’re impressing. Start by asking yourself some questions about your target audience: Who are they? What do they want from you? How do they communicate? What are their expectations? Once you know what’s important to your audience, you’ll know what it takes to wow them.

2. Monitor your reviews.

It sucks but it’s true: The first thing someone could see about your brand is a bad review. Negative reviews are inevitable, but what you do with them makes all the difference. Monitor your reviews and respond to comments. If you get a review from a disgruntled customer, apologize publicly and explain how you’ll fix the situation. That way when people stumble upon a not-so-positive review, they’ll focus on your excellent customer service instead.

3. Keep your social media up to date.

You already know the importance of having a social media presence, but it’s not enough to just create an account. Companies with inactive social media profiles don’t look good, so post regularly and keep the information on your profiles up to date. If the first thing people see about you is your social media, an active and engaging presence will show them you’re the real deal and that you care about building relationships online — a win in our book.

4. Make sure your site is easy to use.

If people visit your site and find it difficult to use, they won’t stay long. People lose patience quickly online, so check that your site loads quickly, is free of broken links, and is easy to navigate. And since more and more people are using their phones to look you up, make sure your site is mobile-optimized — this guarantees your site will make a good impression on every device.

5. Be yourself.

To make a good impression online, you need to stand out. And if your brand is like everyone else’s, that’s not going to happen. The best way to capture (and keep) people’s attention is to be yourself. Develop a unique voice and branding style that show you’re unlike any other business out there.

Helping business owners stand out is what we do — between beautiful sites designed to convert and tools that help you capture more business, we’ve got you covered. Email hello@mopro.com to learn how we can help you win people over online.