How to start your online visibility journey in Ireland
Starting your business? You're not alone in feeling overwhelmed
You've just started your business and now it's time to attract customers. You want to showcase your products and services online: after all, that's where you'd search for things yourself, right?
But where do you begin? How expensive is it going to be?
Here's where I can help you jumpstart your online visibility. The good news: the basics are completely free!
Sure, top companies spend millions on digital marketing every year. That's the price they pay to stay at the top. But you don't have to worry about that yet. You can gradually upgrade, step-by-step, as your company grows and your budget allows.
Let's start at the very beginning with the most important (and free) step: your Google Business Profile.
Your Google Business Profile: The foundation of everything
Google remains the go-to search engine for Irish consumers. While AI has changed how some people search, Google is still the primary place people look for products and services.
Creating a Google Business Profile helps you stand out in search results and puts you on the map in Google Maps. This step is absolutely worth your time.
Here's why: According to a 2025 analysis of local search click-through rates, the top 3 results in Google Business Profile listings capture 68.7% of all clicks. The higher you rank, the better your chances of being found
Get started here: https://business.google.com/en-all/business-profile/
Three tips to optimise your profile immediately:
Fill out every single field. Not only does this look more professional, but Google also ranks complete profiles higher than incomplete ones.
Add lots of high-quality photos. Google prioritises businesses with more than 15 photos. If you have a physical location, show it off. A 30-second video will boost your ranking even further.
Respond to customer reviews. Every single one. Thank people for positive reviews and address concerns in negative ones professionally.
Social Media: Your free marketing platform
Register your social media profiles under your company name right now. Even if you're not ready to post yet, it's worth reserving these handles.
If you don't have a website yet, social media becomes your free storefront where you can showcase products, share your story, and communicate directly with potential customers.
Two simple ways to get started:
Start writing. Share short articles, tips, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business. People connect with stories, not just products.
Use free design tools. Canva offers beautiful templates for social media posts and simple graphics. You don't need to hire a designer to look professional.
Business Listings: Cast a wider net
Get your company listed on free directory sites like Yelp, Golden Pages, and other Irish business directories. Each listing is another chance for potential customers to find you.
This takes time upfront, but once it's done, these listings work for you 24/7. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are identical across all platforms.
Google Keyword Finder: Understand how people search
Knowing how people search for your specific product or service is essential for getting found online. This is called SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
Use Google's free Keyword Planner to discover which words and phrases your customers actually use when searching. Then sprinkle these keywords naturally into your Google Business profile, social media posts, and business listings.
Don't stuff keywords everywhere: use them where they make sense and sound natural.
Know your ideal customer inside and out
When you're writing social media posts or website content, you need to know who you're talking to. People respond much better when you address them directly and understand their specific concerns.
Ask yourself: Who buys your product? What problems are they trying to solve? What words do they use when describing these problems?
Write this down as a customer profile. The clearer your picture of your ideal customer, the better you can speak their language.
Secure your domain name now
Even if you're not ready for a website yet, register your domain name today. This prevents others from grabbing it and gives you time to plan your website without pressure.
Choose something simple and memorable. Your business name is usually the best choice, but if that's not available, consider variations that are still clearly connected to your brand.
Email Marketing: Your direct line to customers
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your customers. It's personal, direct, and completely under your control.
Start collecting email addresses from day one. Add a simple "Stay in touch" form to your social media profiles or ask customers for their email when they make a purchase.
Free tools to get started:
Mailchimp offers free plans for small lists. You can create simple newsletters, send updates about new products, or share helpful tips related to your industry.
Even sending one email per month keeps your business fresh in customers' minds. Share what's new, offer exclusive deals to email subscribers, or simply tell the story behind your business.
As your business grows and your email list expands, you might want to explore more sophisticated email marketing strategies with automation and advanced segmentation: services that we at Spryter Solutions can help you implement when you're ready to take that next step.
DIY Website Builders: Your digital storefront
Once you're ready for a website, several user-friendly platforms let you build one without any technical knowledge.
Popular options include:
Wix offers drag-and-drop simplicity with lots of templates designed for different industries.
Squarespace provides beautiful, professional-looking designs that work well on mobile devices.
WordPress.com gives you more flexibility and is excellent for blogging, though it has a slightly steeper learning curve.
Start simple. A basic website with your contact information, services, and a few photos is infinitely better than no website at all. You can always improve it later.
Essential pages for any business website:
- About Us (tell your story)
- Services/Products (what you offer)
- Contact (make it easy to reach you)
- Testimonials (social proof builds trust)
As your business grows, you might need more advanced features like e-commerce, custom forms, or bookings. When you're ready, we at Spryter Solutions can build advanced, smart, personalised websites that adapt to your visitors and stay simple to manage, among the most innovative in the Irish market.
The next level: When you're ready to grow
Everything I've covered so far costs nothing but time: your most valuable investment as a new business owner.
These free strategies will take you surprisingly far. Many successful Irish businesses started with exactly these steps and grew from there.
But here's what happens next: As your business grows and succeeds, you'll naturally want to reach more customers and compete more effectively. That's when you might consider professional digital marketing services.
Advanced SEO strategies can help you rank higher for competitive keywords. Professional social media management can free up your time while maintaining consistent, engaging content. Smart, personalised websites from Spryter Solutions can gently tailor content to each visitor to improve experience and turn more visitors into customers.
These services exist when you're ready for them, not before. We at Spryter Solutions specialise in helping established businesses take their digital presence to the next level: but only when the business is ready and the investment makes sense.
Your action plan for this week
Don't try to do everything at once. Here's your priority order:
Day 1: Create your Google Business Profile and fill it out completely.
Day 2: Register your social media accounts and domain name.
Day 3: Get listed on three business directories.
Day 4: Research your keywords and understand how people search for your services.
Day 5: Write down your ideal customer profile.
That's it. Five days, five foundational steps. Each one is free and builds on the last.
Remember, every successful business started exactly where you are now. The difference between businesses that thrive online and those that struggle isn't budget: it's taking that first step and building momentum.
Your online visibility journey starts with a single click. Choose one thing from this list and do it today. Tomorrow, come back and do the next one.
You've got this.
