How to Bring Your Local Business Online Effectively

TL;DR

To establish a strong online presence for your local business, start by creating a Google+ page. Expand to relevant channels like Yelp and Facebook based on customer usage, provide clear basic business information, and encourage customer reviews. Best practices include cross-linking your profiles and considering a website for further online reach.

Transcript

Hi. I'm Maile Ohye. This video is our fourth in the series to help you bring your local business online. Having covered the preliminary steps, the goal for this video is implementation. My best advice is to begin by creating or expanding a Google+ page for your local business. Creating Google+ pages require little technical skill and they're fairly... Read More

Key Insights

• Creating a Google+ page is a simple first step in establishing an online presence for your local business, offering a platform for customer interaction and reviews.
• Expanding your online presence to relevant channels like Yelp, Facebook, and LinkedIn can help reach potential customers more effectively.
• Prioritizing channels based on customer usage and your resources ensures efficient use of time and effort in online marketing.
• Basic business information, such as address and contact details, should be clearly presented as a call to action for potential customers.
• Encouraging customer reviews and engagement can enhance your business's online reputation and attract more customers.
• Cross-linking between your online channels helps unify your online presence and makes it easier for customers to find you.
• Consider building a website if existing channels do not meet your business's online goals, providing more control over your online presence.
• Best practices include facilitating a referral loop, avoiding review duplication, securing login details, and seeking feedback from tech-savvy individuals.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the first step in establishing an online presence for a local business?

The first step is creating or expanding a Google+ page for your local business. This platform allows for customer interaction through posts, photos, and reviews, serving as a lightweight homepage especially if you don't have a website. It helps reach Google searchers on both desktop and smartphones.

Q: Why is it important to expand to other online channels?

Expanding to other online channels is crucial because it increases your business's visibility to potential customers who use different platforms to find businesses. By identifying the most effective channels based on customer usage, you can prioritize your efforts and resources to reach a wider audience efficiently.

Q: How can businesses prioritize which online channels to use?

Businesses can prioritize online channels by referencing customer journeys to determine which platforms are most commonly used by their target audience. Estimating the time and difficulty of developing a presence on each channel can help prioritize those that are most effective and align with the business's resources and technical expertise.

Q: What basic information should be included in an online presence?

An online presence should include basic business information such as address, phone number, hours of operation, rates, and the areas served. This information acts as a call to action, making it easy for potential customers to contact the business or visit its physical location.

Q: How can customer engagement be increased online?

Customer engagement can be increased by encouraging reviews and interaction on your online platforms. Letting customers know that you value their feedback and are present on their favorite channels can motivate them to engage more. Additionally, addressing common customer questions and showcasing your business's value-add can enhance engagement.

Q: What is the purpose of cross-linking between online channels?

Cross-linking between online channels helps create a unified online presence, making it easier for customers to find and interact with your business across different platforms. For example, linking your Google+ page to your Yelp and Facebook pages ensures that customers have access to all relevant information and reviews in one place.

Q: When should a local business consider building a website?

A local business should consider building a website if its online goals cannot be fully met with existing channels. A website provides more control over content and branding, allowing for a more comprehensive online presence. It can serve as a central hub for information and customer interaction, complementing other online platforms.

Q: What are some best practices for maintaining an online presence?

Best practices for maintaining an online presence include facilitating a referral loop by encouraging customer feedback, avoiding duplication of reviews across platforms, securing login details with strong passwords, and seeking feedback from tech-savvy individuals. These practices help enhance your business's online reputation and ensure a secure and effective online strategy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• This video, the fourth in a series, provides guidance on implementing an online presence for local businesses. It emphasizes the importance of creating a Google+ page and expanding to other relevant channels like Yelp and Facebook.

• The video highlights the need to prioritize online channels based on customer usage and your available resources, ensuring efficient marketing efforts. It also stresses the importance of presenting basic business information clearly.

• Best practices for online presence include encouraging customer reviews, cross-linking online channels, considering website development, and seeking feedback from tech-savvy individuals to enhance your online strategy.