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.

 

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• Outdated website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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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

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Mobile Marketing for Small Business Owners

According to Wikipedia Mobile Marketing is broadly defined as “the use of the mobile medium as a means of marketing communication” or “distribution of any kind of promotional or advertising messages to customer through wireless networks”.

Mobile marketing provides something no other form of advertising can – instant traffic.  It offers the ability for small business owners to advertising and create instant business like no other type of advertising.

Mobile Marketing = Real-time Marketing = Real-time Customers

Customers receive a message or promotion instantly. 90% of text messages get opened, and most get responded to within five minutes.

How does this form of marketing work for the business owner?

First, using a SMS (Short Message Service) advertisement text messages are sent to prospective customers who have requested to receive them. The prospective customers are given a special keyword to text to a number (similar to a phone number).

Second, when the prospective customer replies, they are asked if they would like to subscribe to receive promotions, coupons, etc.

Third, when the business owner wants to send a promotion they can do so. For example: If you are a pizza restaurant and are having a slow Wednesday, you can instantly text your prospective customers that anyone who buys a large pizza before 6:00 pm gets three free toppings. Before you know it, you may find people lined up outside the door to buy a pizza.

Mobile marketing is the fastest growing marketing strategy these days to promote businesses and services. Dentists and Doctors can save time and money by texting their patients to remind them about their upcoming appointment. Conventions can text participants about last-minute meeting changes, or special deals from restaurants. A market can instantly text out their ‘blue light special’ for the day the possibilities are unlimited.

When comparing mobile marketing to other forms of advertising mobile marketing is inexpensive, real-time and personal. When a local consumer leaves the house they take with them three things – their purse or wallet, their car keys and their mobile phone. There is a solid connection between a business and a customer when sending a text message.

Mobile marketing is a growing new way to create customer loyalty, increase awareness and boost sales.

Are you ready to surf the mobile marketing wave to build your small business locally?

For more information schedule your FREE Consultation TODAY!