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  Or you get incorrect information on an out-of-date directory site.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.

 

Small Business Internet Marketing

For today’s small business owners, Internet marketing has become a necessity.  Without using this method of promoting your products or services you are leaving money on the table and allowing many of your competitors to benefit from consumers located right in your own backyard.

In today’s market, if a consumer located in a 5-mile radius of your business cannot find your business or service when they search for it online then you are doing an injustice to your business and your local consumers. It makes no sense for small business owners to miss out servicing their local consumers because they have not listed or did not properly list their business online.

For example: If a local consumer types in veterinarian and the only listings that show are 7 to 10 miles away and there is a veterinarian within 2 miles of their home that is not listed.  The consumer will contact the veterinarian outside of their neighborhood to get service when there is a choice of a veterinarian right in their own backyard.

I remember as a child, there was a neighborhood store where everyone that lived within a few blocks shopped.  Not to mention it was the hot spot for candy.  Everyone knew about this neighborhood store.  There was also the neighborhood hardware store, doctor, dentist, etc. Today, as a small business owner, using the local search engines, you can build local visibility and credibility in your neighborhood.

Just like the neighborhood corner store, everyone in your local area should know your business and think of you when they are searching online for your product or service.

This is the definition of small business Internet marketing; building visibility and credibility online so local consumers can find and develop trust for your business.

Of course, there is a lot more to Internet marketing. There is a process and different ways to advertise your business on the Internet.  However, the foundation for small business Internet marketing is building a strong visible and credible presence, which begins with search engine listings so your local consumers can find your business.

Internet marketing for small business owners is just like traditional forms of marketing except you are advertising online where consumers are searching for products or services

Related articles

• What Is Local Internet Search? (lorriebrown.wordpress.com)
• The Big Shift For Local Search (lorriebrown.wordpress.com)

 

Maps Enhanced – Street View

Check out the instructions for using the new street view enhancement of Google MapsGL. I remember just a few short years ago asking for landmarks to make sure I would not get lost when following directions.  Today, with tools like Google Maps, we get access to detailed directions and real-time images of our destination.

 

What Is Local Internet Search?

As a small business owner in today’s world, you know that local Internet search is big and plays an important part in your local consumers finding your business.

Increasingly, your local consumers (within a 5-7 mile radius) are searching the Internet to locate businesses in their own communities. In fact, there are nearly 60% (20% online + 40% from mobile devises) of local Internet searches entered each month. The Internet has surpassed the traditional Yellow Pages and newspapers as the first source for local consumer service information and that trend is on the rise.

With these kinds of figures, it is imperative for you as a small business owner to understand the importance of the Local Internet Search. A great to begin is with a definition from Wikipedia –

LOCAL SEARCH

To get a clear picture for your small business and local search schedule your FREE 30 minute consultation today.

 

You May Have A Problem And Not Know It!

As a small local business owner seeking more customers and profits LAB Small Business Services was started to educate and service you on a problem you may not know you have.

Events in the last year have changed the game.  Right now people are searching on the internet for your local services and products online. And, if they’re not finding your business online with a current professional image then YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

The days of picking up the Yellow Pages and newspapers for local searches are a thing of the past.

But by contacting LAB Small Business Services today not only are you taking the step in the right direction for your business you’ll get a head start advantage over your competitors.

I will show you how to develop an online professional image that will surely bring more customers and revenue to your small business.