Tools To Get Your Local Business Online
LOCAL BUSINESS, GLOBAL TOOLS: HOW A DIGITAL PRESENCE IS YOUR KEY TO BOUNCING BACK POST-PANDEMIC
The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a multi-faceted impact, not least of which is the effect on the business world. Small business owners have had to close their doors, lay off staff, and appeal to the government for support with varying levels of success.
Now that we are hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the changing face of business and the way we interact as a society will continue to impact on our local businesses and the way they attract consumers.
But it’s not all bad news! Whether you’re in the process of re-opening your physical storefront, transitioning to a full online presence, or completely starting over, there are tools available that you can employ to get your local business online.
GOOGLE MY BUSINESS
Utilising this free tool from Google gives you prominent online real estate when people are looking for you or similar businesses. You can use Google My Business (GMB) to advise would-be consumers of your location, business hours, contact details, busy times, and so much more. This is a fantastic way to advise your loyal customers that you are back in action and also advertise to newcomers, tourists, or people visiting your area.
GMB also gives you visibility on Google Maps, so you can reach even more potential customers travelling into and through your location. It’s easy to update, and can even let other consumers see great reviews and testimonials. Lastly, a fully-optimised GMB profile will boost your organic listings in Google searches. With so many details and connections to other Google apps, it’s a great way to give your local business an online presence!
FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGES
Facebooks pages are another free and easy tool you can use to stay in touch with your customers and clients. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people log on to Facebook once per month. Estimates also indicate that 1.66 billion people across the world are daily Facebook users. This means that your potential customers and clients are on Facebook on a very regular basis, and they want to communicate with you!
Similarly to Google My Business, you can update your contact details, business hours, and product range easily and instantaneously. It differs in that you can visually engage with your audience in rich and interactive ways that are not always about selling yourself, but also about building your audience.
Share images, videos, host live chats and demonstrations of your products and services. You can cultivate customers and enthusiasts who will help spread the benefits of your products and services to others they are connected to.
PAY PER CLICK ADVERTISING (PPC)
Using the targeted approach to advertising is paramount if you want to reach the right people at the right time. Pay Per Click advertising on platforms like Google Ads and Bing Ads makes sure that your services are seen by the people who are looking for them, at the time they need them.
You have complete control over when your ads show, how much you pay for each click, and even what searches trigger your ads to show. If you combine this with targeted locations, you can be extra relevant to your local community.
LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOU’RE BACK IN BUSINESS
Now more than ever, your digital presence could be the key to moving forward with your local business in our ever-changing society.
Give your business the best chance of staying on-trend, viable, and up-to-date by getting yourself online. It will help you make sure you’re available to your audience and customers when they need you!
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or would like a free strategy to help you get your business online!
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Written by Kristen Boucher.
Originally published on our website: Vine Street Digital
