For instance, some of your customers may like to ‘hang around’ on social networks.  You want to make sure that you, at least have a presence there (we will discuss specific strategies later).  Some of your customers like to spend time on their mobile device.  Therefore, you will want to make sure that you have a presence in having a mobile website and mobile app.  Still others do most of their web activity by surfing the internet on their personal computer.  Therefore you will want to make sure that your website presence is inviting.

The fact of the matter is that you will need a strategy for all of the basic areas of online promotion; but even before you develop one, you need to establish a presence in the following areas:

Mobile: Mobile Websites, Mobile Apps
Search Engines: Blogs and Websites
Search Directories: Google Places, Yahoo Maps, etc.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Publication: Kindle, Traditional Publication
Public Relations: Online News and Press Releases
Online Communities: Niche Forums and Bulletin Board

This is the most basic of internet promotion where you will definitely need to make sure that you have a profile and presence.  Eventually, each one will require its own strategy.  However, when your marketing is working systematically along with the 7 foundational methods, you will find that you will be able to get people to see your website and come to your location.  In our next lesson we will talk about one aspect of promotion that is growing today that you will want to consider using in your marketing efforts.   Call us today and we will make sure that your basic promotions are in place in the online medium.

The post Lesson 8 – Basic Internet Promotion appeared first on wLw.

Because Google Places’ directory listings often show up first before the top ten web pages, it is an important opportunity for every local small business to participate.   In our last lesson we discussed the importance of making sure that you fill your Google Places profile out completely and carefully, so that you get the maximum advantage from your most productive keywords.

One aspect of Google Places that every business owner needs to be aware of is that consumers are encouraged to share their reviews of the businesses that are listed.  That means that if a customer has an exceptionally good experience at your business, they will have the opportunity write a review.  That review will show up in your actual Google Places listing.

However, the opposite is also true.  When customers have a bad experience, they will be empowered to leave a review about your site on the Google Places page.  This scenario is now amplified because Google has now tied their social network to their business directory.  Therefore, the customer who reviews your business will be potentially sharing that review with their personal or professional network.

The nature of reviews online is such that most of the people who respond tend to do so when they have a bad experience.  Those who have the experience that they were expecting or that they feel they paid for are unlikely to respond.  Therefore, you will need to make sure to either have a staff person monitor your Google Places listing, or you will need to make it part of something you do personally if you don’t have a staff.  One bad review on your Google Places listing could be enough to discourage a prospect from trying out your product or service.

When you do get a negative review there is no need to panic.  Google Places gives you the opportunity to answer the person who left the review.  Additionally, Google is taking steps to make sure that the review that is left is authentic by connecting the permission to write a review to their social network.

In our next lesson, we will discuss what you can do when you have negative information that appears in the other business directory listings as well as in the top ten search results.  Call us today if you have already noticed negative listings near your keywords or in your Google Places reviews. We will share the best practices of other companies like yours when they too have received negative reviews.

The post Lesson 19 – Google Places – Online Customer Reviews appeared first on wLw.

You may have been thinking, “What is Google Places?” when you read that.  Google Places (Places) is Google’s version of the online business directory.  Some say it is the online yellow pages for business (even though the Yellow Pages company has its own directory site).  ‘Places’ is most important when it comes to being visible in the search engines, because Google favors the directory when it is determined that people are searching for local businesses.  In other words, when consumers search for a plumber in Chicago they will see Places a listing of local plumbers before they see anything else.  That means that even the top ten search results are pushed down the page while Google Places listings display on top.

It is beneficial then to make sure that your Google Places profile is filled out completely and carefully in order to maximize your presence on your company’s most lucrative keywords.  You’ll also want to make sure you have integrated your social networking account from Google into the completion of your Places profile.  While this may be an involved process it is a very important one.  It can mean the difference between consumers routinely finding you or your competitors.

In our next lesson we will dig a little deeper into Google Places since it truly is an important component of marketing online.  Call us today so that we can help you maximize Google Places and all of the directory sites for your most lucrative keywords.

The post Lesson 18 – Google Places – Online Local Business Directory appeared first on wLw.