I work with hundreds of small business owners or their representatives/managers. Throughout our various meetings during the year, we discuss their digital presence, or where they "rank" on Google. There is so much confusion for the small business owner and they really don't have the time to constantly study and stay up to date on the changing landscape of the internet. So, they rely heavily upon my experience, knowledge and assistance to make sure they have their bases covered online.
One thing I have identified for the majority of my clients is that they have not claimed their Google+ page. I know, you are thinking, "What is that?" Right? Well, Google entered into the social media game and over the past year and a half or so Google+ has morphed into a primary player in the social media game. Also, since it's owned by Google, it is becoming more and more critical to a small business that they have and manage their Google+ page as it is affecting the rank of their website in the organic listings and ads on the Google SERP.
So, what are the benefits to the small business owner? Here are just a few:
- Ratings & Reviews are all linked back to a page that the business owner can manage, approve or disapprove. Any business owner will tell you that the ability to manage and respond to reviews is critical.
- Coupons & Offers can be posted and shared directly through Google and in the Google local listings through the Carousel feature.
- When searching a local business, the consumer can link directly to the Google+ page and see all those reviews and offers.
- Although Google says that having a Google+ page bears no weight in the SERP results, when logged into my Google account I see more and more Google+ posts in the SERP rankings.
So, hopefully you, as a small business owner see the benefit of claiming and managing your Google+ page. I'm here to help and assist. I don't profess to know everything, but I have great resources and can get answers to any questions you may like answered via this blog.
Thanks!
Yellow you ask? Is that still being used? Do people really use those Yellowbooks? Is it relavent today to my business?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes!!
All across America the phone book is still being used by millions of people on a regular basis. See, perception and reality simply do not match on this particular instance. Just ask one of the hundreds of thousands of business owners who still advertise their business in the local phone book and they will tell you the same thing. Yes!!
Now, has usage declined? Has usage changed? Are the leads as good as they once were? Are people using them less?
Yes, yes, yes and yes!!
That's right, I said "yes" to the fourth question. Usage of the yellow pages has declined. Industry data shows this to be true. However, my opinion is this... Yellow page advertising is by and far one of the least costly forms of advertising when you look at cost per lead. One call to a patio contractor for instance, pays for his entire year of advertising and likely the next few years if he lands a great customer. So, does declining usage mean that nobody uses the yellow pages anymore? Of course not!
Business owners have a responsibility to their customer base and to local consumers to advertise their products and services. What's the old phrase, "Inquiring minds want to know?" When a consumer looks into their local directory and your business isn't running an ad there, guess what, they are going to look to your competitor. If nobody is advertising what they need or want, they will seek in other ways. You just lost a customer!!
Remember this... one new client/customer/patient is worth the $1200 or $3000 or $500 you spend in yellow page advertising. One new customer is also a referral source to your business and you must consider the lifetime value of that new customer. If you do a great job, they will come back time and again, right?
Invest in yellow! You will be glad you did!
