Marketing Local Business ~ The Hunter or The Hunted?

In part one of this series “Marketing Local Business – The Path” we suggested what path you should choose for your small business to go to the next chapter of growth.

Today we will tackle identifying if your business is The Hunter or The Hunted in your marketing efforts.  Let’s begin with The Hunter. According to Wikipedia “..is the practice of pursuing.”  If your business is The Hunter your spending most of your marketing efforts (time and money) chasing down your prospects or leads using the traditional methods of building your bottom-line.

According to Brian Halligan, Hubspot, “… most small businesses still use outdated and inefficient marketing methods … – that people increasingly find intrusive.”

Chances are your business is following this method of marketing which we call Outbound Marketing or playing the role of The Hunter.

In today’s world if you’re The Hunter in your marketing efforts there is good news.  It’s easier and more effective to evolve into the role of The Hunted.

The Hunted is what we call Inbound Marketing.  It’s customers and prospects searching for your product or services.  The traditional thought of becoming The Hunted can create an uncomfortable feeling, however, in this case The Hunted works diligently to be found.  If you become The Hunted you place yourself where The Hunters can easily find your business using inbound marketing.

As an owner marketing using local internet search for your business the choice between the role of The Hunter or The Hunted will make all the difference in your bottom line.

Tomorrow in part three we will conclude with Marketing Local Business ~ The Difference.

GET COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION

LAB Small Business Services online complimentary evaluation will reveal how past, current and future consumers view your business online.

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Marketing Local Business ~ The Path

In this 3 part series we are going to discuss the basics in marketing your products and/or services.  This series will share with you, the local small business owner, why the next chapter in your local business growth is internet marketing.

Let’s start with “The Path”.  The old path once driven in acquiring new customers locally has changed and has become the road less traveled.

The old path is the traditional forms of marketing local business such as,

• directory advertising
• trade shows
• full and half print ads
• cold calling

This is the old path due to the high cost and it’s becoming less and less effective in producing leads compared to the new path called internet marketing,

• website
• mobile marketing
• social networking (facebook, twitter, etc)
• blogging

The new path, internet marketing, is less expensive and potential customers are seeking your business/service.

That’s two reasons (less expensive and customers seeking you) to consider switch from the traditional path or at least expanding to include marketing online.

Oh, there’s one more important reason to consider internet marketing it’s called visibility.  Claiming your piece of your local online real estate.  You want to be there when your local customers are looking for your products and services.  Don’t disappointment them.

Tomorrow, in part two of Marketing Local Business find out if you are the “The Hunted or The Hunter”.

GET COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION

LAB Small Business Services online complimentary evaluation will reveal how past, current and future consumers view your business online.

 

Did You Hear The News?

Google updated a few things. In case you didn’t hear the news.  It’s less than 2 minutes and will keep you current.

 

GET COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION

LAB Small Business Services online complimentary evaluation will reveal how past, current and future consumers view your business online.

 

Monday Stats – Consumers Searching Locally

Today I came across the infographic below called “Local Search Evolved” by MDG Advertising.  This is yet another powerful reason why local small business owners not visible online are missing the boat. Great information!

GET COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION

LAB Small Business Services online complimentary evaluation will reveal how past, current and future consumers view your business online.

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• Small Business Internet Marketing (lorriebrown.wordpress.com)
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Friday Basics – Managing Your Reputation Online

Reputation management for local small businesses may not have been a big issue in the past, but, today the internet has drastically changed the rules. If you are a small business owner managing your reputation online is definitely something that cannot be ignored.

Online reputation management is simply a process of monitoring and addressing anything that is written about your business online. The actual “managing” of your reputation involves using strategic online techniques to promote positive and neutral content about your business.

Just about EVERYONE uses the Internet to research local businesses these days, but it doesn’t stop there. They are also using the Internet to voice their opinions about your products and services.

The growth of various avenues – such as forums, blogs, and social networking – has created an instant way for consumers to share their opinions about the businesses and services. While some people do provide “positive” feedback online, more and more people are using the Internet to voice “negative” feedback as well.

Therefore, as a local business owner it’s in your best interest to start monitoring what is being said about you online. It’s one thing to KNOW and do something about it… but it’s another thing to not even know what’s being said.

GET COMPLIMENTARY EVALUATION

LAB Small Business Services online complimentary evaluation will reveal how past, current and future consumers view your business online.

 

Hello… I Can’t Find You!

There is nothing more frustrating than searching online for a local flowershop, mechanic or beauty salon and can’t find them.  When you type in their business name nothing comes up.  Or you get incorrect information on an out-of-date directory site.

How about this one, You type in your city and a service (like plumbing) and you get results for business’s 20 to 30 miles away and it takes hours for them to service your need.  When you know you have many local plumbers in your area. 

Everyday there are local customers or potential customers searching on line for your product or service and can’t find your business.

If you are business owner that is invisible online then make this 2012 your year to get your business visible online.  It’s really simple to get started.

1. Get an evaluation.  You don’t know what you don’t know.  Get a snapshot of what your business looks like when someone is search for your product or service local.  You can do this yourself by typing in your business name, service or product in Google Search
2. Next take the necessary steps to build your business’ visibility so your local market can find you.  It’s that simple.

Now, I do understand with so much information coming from everywhere regarding small business’ getting online it can be overwhelming.  So, do be afraid to ask for help.  That’s why I’m here and created LAB Small Business Services.  If you want to run your business and let me assist you then call me today.

If you have the time and what to do it yourself you can start with the basics.  Google has an excellent guide called “How-To-Guide For Getting Your Business Online.”  It’s a step-by-step guild that provides you will all the information and tools to get your business online and visible to your local market.

Whatever you decide, it’s important to your business to get visible online as soon as you can.  It’s important.

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all small local business owners.  

May 2012 be your year to shine online in your local markets.

 

Is Your Local Small Business Ready For Mobile Coupons?

As a small local business owner you have probably from time to time used coupons or special discounts.  If so, the following information will give you another option for marketing coupons to your local target market.  If you are not mobile marketing it’s time to embrace it because your local consumers are ready.

As a small business owners offering a local service or product engaging customers online today is not an option any longer it’s a necessity.  If you are not communicating with your customers online someone else will and that’s not good for your business.

This is great news for you, the small business owner, because it gives you a place to begin and my job is to help you build your online presence using this priceless information.

It’s time to get started…..

Get your FREE Consultation Today!

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When To Engage With Your Customers Online

Check out the graph above from Argyle Social sharing the best time for a business to engage with their customers online.  This information is priceless if you are a local small business owner building your image online. And the winner is:  WEEKENDS!

As a small business owners offering a local service or product engaging customers online today is not an option any longer it’s a necessity.  If you are not communicating with your customers online someone else will and that’s not good for your business.

This is great news for you, the small business owner, because it gives you a place to begin and my job is to help you build your online presence using this priceless information.

It’s time to get started…..

Get your FREE Consultation Today!

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Small Business Marketing Strategy Online

The most powerful small business marketing strategy online, I believe, is building visibility and credibility in the local marketing.

Search around the Internet for local businesses in your neighborhood.  Search for your business online.  What do you find?  If you find …

• Incorrect or missing information
• Wrong address
• Bad, out dated or no reviews
• No consistency
• Outdated website
• or don’t find business

Then, your local consumer is finding the same thing.

Many small business owners work hard to keep solid visibility for their business location and create a professional atmosphere that is pleasing to their customers and remain clueless to how their business is viewed online.

This strategy begins with the business owner typing in keywords (2-3) into the search engine (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.) that a local consumer would type if they were looking for your product or service.  Are you happy with what you found?  Chances are you do not like what you found.

Next, type in your competitor(s) into the search engine with the same keywords.  What do you see?  Chances are they are clueless as well.

Now, start cleaning up and building your image and also increase your visibility.  You will be amazed at the results.  Here’s a tip:  If you find that one of your local competitors uses this strategy then just become more visible and reach out to your local consumers using mobile or maybe social networks.

Start now and do not wait to begin using this powerful small business marketing strategy. Do what your competitors are not doing, yet.  Remember, you are not alone.   We are here to assist you with affordable online marketing and image solutions.

Get your FREE Consultation Today!

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