If You’re Not Mobile Ready – You’re Unprepared

The prediction has been in the air for years. But now the stats show that people are searching on the their phones and growing speeds, with no sign of slowing down.  While 71% of businesses see the mobile value 78% of businesses are not mobile ready.  It’s a great advantage to  go mobile right now and stay ahead of your competition.  While many business owners cite cost as an issue most businesses have seen a decline in advertising expenses with the demise of yellow page phone books.  Recognizing a website is now the cornerstone of any and all advertising the shift is beginning.  While pay-per-click is still scary to most business owners investing in your organic website structure is building on solid ground.

Google News for Local Businesses

Recent changes make your Google+ page more helpful to your business.  Google used to display about 7 local businesses in its “maps” section on search results. That number will now be cut to 3 as Google gives more preference to its Google+ pages.  Google set guidelines to optimize the business pages.  Take advantage of it – give Google what it wants, don’t be the business that ignores helpful suggestions from Google.  Too busy to handle this yourself?  Inquire about my Webmaster Services.

Freshen Your Website

If your business is service related make the most of your images.  If your site is more than a few years old at that time keeping images small was the best strategy for user friendly load time on each page.  Now there are many ways to showcase your work with much larger sized images – still optimizing for download speed. There are many options to make your photos interactive (click to enlarge).  Read more.

It’s your website – your business online – grow it, make it shine – freshen it – make it work for you.

Frustrated with Yelp?

Businesses have tried to make it easier for customers to review their business on Yelp, by having a laptop set up in their place of business.  Problem is with reviews coming from the same IP address (an address  related to your internet connection) these are snagged as fake reviews by Yelp and thus, filtered aka “not recommended” and do not factor into your overall star rating.  Be aware of what is acceptable, and do not purchase services claiming to remove your negative reviews.  Deception and gaming Yelp does not work.  Here’s Yelp’s idea of how to garner reviews.  Read more.

Ignoring your Yelp reviews sends a poor message to potential clients.  Responding gives you control.  A disgruntled reviewer opens the discussion to explain your business practices and customer satisfaction goals.  When you have tried unsuccessfully to rectify an unhappy client there are so many opportunities to put out a positive message – seize it.

A free listing on Yelp is a good value.  If you don’t have the time to manage your online reviews (Yelp and all others) give me a call to discuss my Webmaster Services.

drive-your-website

 

Online Reviews

Reputation management has always been part of every business.  Online reviews have changed the playing field.  Instantly any review is live, with many platforms.

Recent statistics tell us 79% of customers trust online reviews.  Despite controversy over their legitimacy online reviews continue to gain momentum.  Consumers’ comfort is being fostered in part by businesses nurturing their online reviews and improving their internet presence.  In turn consumers use reviews as part of the information about your business in making their decision.

New businesses have sprouted offering to sell you reviews, or “Likes” on Facebook.  Yelp takes serious action against business posting fake reviews.  Don’t pay for reviews.

Yelp has broadened its scope to include not only photos, but now videos.  Clients can post a video taken at your business and upload on your listing page.  You can’t remove these.  Business owners need to be aware and perhaps set policies in place as appropriate.

Yelp has also opened its reviews to more apps and developers, which means Yelp reviews will be popping up on websites and mobile apps more and more.

If you’re feeling vulnerable take heart – there is plenty to leverage here to promote your business.

Reviews help drive your website.  People talking about your business (reviews, adding photos to your listings) catch search engines’ attention.  It’s a good way to stand out.

Managing your online reviews can be a chore.  Happy customers are wonderful and painless.  Any negative review is where you’ll spend your time.   Unfortunately unscrupulous competitors have taken to leaving negative or false reviews.  Taking a proactive approach keeps maximum control in your hands.  Responding to a negative review lets you send a positive message out to potential clients.  Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with your clients.

With so many platforms meet your clients where they are active:  Facebook, Yelp!, Google Business, Pinterest, Instagram…stay connected.

Online Reviews

Website Marketing

Your website has become the cornerstone of your business.     All roads of marketing point to your domain.

Website RedesignIt’s not uncommon to want a new look for your website. A “refresh” can be the solution. Change photos, add a JavaScript slide show, update the page content and a critical step: review the SEO. Google changes rules more than 500 times in a year.

Thinking about blogging? A blog is a huge asset to driving your website. You know your business, who better to write short articles and post periodically? Sites adding new relevant content are seen as reliable and this, in turn, improves your rankings. A blog on your website is an easy way to add regular content while expanding your web presence. Give me a call if you have any questions. ph 909.595.0610

 

Mobile MarketingIt’s hard to ignore the usefulness of “going mobile”. Our phones have created a new market place for businesses.

Your mobile website needs to feature the most important aspects of your desktop website in the most user friendly way with quick download time. Equally important is giving the user a quick way to view your full website and avoid a frustrated user experience.

Give me a call if you have any questions. ph 909.595.0610

Online Reviews Your online reputation is part of your internet presence. It’s an opportunity to engage with customers via websites they trust to to be accurate.

You may get negative reviews, but you can turn this into a positive, by addressing any issues. The fact your business has responded to a negative review  often is the tipping point for a potential customer. It’s an opportunity to  build customer confidence in you and your company.

I have created Webmaster Services to help you fine tune your online presence to make it a more effective marketing tool. Give me a call for more details, or read online.

Google Reviews

Many of you know Google reviews changed once Google+ became a push-for Google.  There is no longer a name associated with the review until the reviewer goes back to his/her old reviews and updates.  Still they have been working for the business owner.

You may have also noticed the “star rating” – up to four stars, but you don’t see any rating for your business.  Until recently Google only displayed a rating when you had more than 30 reviews, then giving a rating.

New rules: Google now will only show a 4 star rating when you have 30 or more reviews within a 12 month period.

Good to know the rules!

Reviews

One of the major changes online has been for customer reviews. These can come from any number of sources:
Facebook
Yelp!
Search engines now cull these into their search results, particularly on Google Places (used to be Google Maps), Bing and Yahoo Local listings. These help drive your website.  Think of it as a “buzz” – someone is talking about your business. Even the negative can be a positive.

There are reviews services which charge a monthly fee to get reviews for your business. As a business owner you supply your clients’ email address or phone numbers and the company will contact them. (You can also put this review info on a note attached to each invoice you give to a client.) Once your client reviews your business the reviewing service contacts you and you can approve or disapprove allowing the review to be posted.

That can be the pitfall: if you never have any negative feedback – the believability factors in: are you screening your reviews? IF you have negative feedback and you address it – which most open source (Yelp!, Google, Yahoo! etc.) are now allowing you bring legitimacy to your business.

Everyone knows not every customer will be happy, but the way you engage an unhappy client speaks much about your effort in customer service. Thus the negative: becomes positive.

At this time of year I am reflecting on my business.  I am looking to improve my business and offer more to my clients.  I invite my clients to review my services online – on Facebook, wherever you are comfortable. Thank you to all this past year and your continued trust in me to help you make choices for your online business presence.

Merry Christmas!