Your Small Business Needs an Internet Presence
It is not too often today that a small business doesn't have a website but I still find when searching for local services, businesses think they don't need one for numerous reasons.
A common reason is they have gone so long without a website without that much of a negative impact on sales.
The thought is why get one now, we've gone years without and are still in business.
But what if you did have a web presence? What would your sales be? The crucial factor that most small businesses owners miss is once you set up a website and claim your internet presence, the heavy lifting is done as well as the costs.
To update your site it takes minutes, to engage in social media, it is free, the return on the small amount of time involved is much higher than traditional advertising costs.
Here are 4 tips to help you claim your internet presence without breaking the bank: 1.
Get a website.
It doesn't have to be fancy or enormous.
The most effective small business websites are often 5 pages, that contain contact info, an about page, photos of your business and a list of your services.
Websites of this size cost only a few hundred dollars and you control the content.
Even if you are heavy into social media, your prospective customers will still turn to your website for final purchase and decisive information.
Websites will also out-rank social media in nearly all cases and you need one to rank high in Google Places.
2.
Add a blog.
Blogging takes relatively little time and adding just a post or two a week can drive hundreds to thousands of new customers to your business each year.
It gives you another way to interact with your customers and present yourself as an authority in your field.
3.
Take advantage of social media.
New Google updates places social media results in the first page of its' listings.
If you are active with updates that target local search terms.
Just being active on a couple sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursqaure or Gowalla will provide you the long term customer growth you need.
4.
Engage your reviewers.
You can respond to your reviews, positive and negative on Google Places, Yelp and other similar sites.
People who read your reviews and see an active business owner responding and taking an active role to constantly improve their business for the customers will look favorable in prospective customer's eyes.
The days of ignoring the internet and your web presence are long over.
You don't have to invest thousands to claim your space, just a few hundred dollars and some time is all it takes to realize a great return and the results will last for years.
A common reason is they have gone so long without a website without that much of a negative impact on sales.
The thought is why get one now, we've gone years without and are still in business.
But what if you did have a web presence? What would your sales be? The crucial factor that most small businesses owners miss is once you set up a website and claim your internet presence, the heavy lifting is done as well as the costs.
To update your site it takes minutes, to engage in social media, it is free, the return on the small amount of time involved is much higher than traditional advertising costs.
Here are 4 tips to help you claim your internet presence without breaking the bank: 1.
Get a website.
It doesn't have to be fancy or enormous.
The most effective small business websites are often 5 pages, that contain contact info, an about page, photos of your business and a list of your services.
Websites of this size cost only a few hundred dollars and you control the content.
Even if you are heavy into social media, your prospective customers will still turn to your website for final purchase and decisive information.
Websites will also out-rank social media in nearly all cases and you need one to rank high in Google Places.
2.
Add a blog.
Blogging takes relatively little time and adding just a post or two a week can drive hundreds to thousands of new customers to your business each year.
It gives you another way to interact with your customers and present yourself as an authority in your field.
3.
Take advantage of social media.
New Google updates places social media results in the first page of its' listings.
If you are active with updates that target local search terms.
Just being active on a couple sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Foursqaure or Gowalla will provide you the long term customer growth you need.
4.
Engage your reviewers.
You can respond to your reviews, positive and negative on Google Places, Yelp and other similar sites.
People who read your reviews and see an active business owner responding and taking an active role to constantly improve their business for the customers will look favorable in prospective customer's eyes.
The days of ignoring the internet and your web presence are long over.
You don't have to invest thousands to claim your space, just a few hundred dollars and some time is all it takes to realize a great return and the results will last for years.
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