To grow a business, you’re going to need more customers. This is something we all know and is unlikely to surprise you. However, what you may not know is how exactly to acquire these customers; after all, there’s no singular blueprint on how to become successful.
We want your small business to be a success, so we've put together our top tips for how to promote it online. These tips won’t necessarily guarantee client acquisitions, but they will certainly help get your name out there. And hopefully this heightened profile will increase leads, which you can then convert into happy customers!
1. Make Sure your Google Business Profile is Up-to-Date
A Google Business Profile allows you to manage how your company appears on platforms such as Google Maps and Google Search. By providing information such as your hours of business, your phone number and your location, you are essentially helping customers find you. After all, the best part about ranking on Google Maps or perhaps appearing in the local search, is that your business is able to promote itself 24/7. You don’t even have to do anything!
To reap the maximum benefits, it’s a good idea to fill out every field in your profile. So, if it asks you to add photos, add photos. If it adds to collect reviews, collect and list your reviews. It’s quite straightforward, but these simple things might make all the difference.
Another advantage of a Google Business Profile is that companies that are verified on Google are thought to be ‘twice as likely to be considered reputable’.
2. Promote Your Business with Online Directories Other than Google
Online listings can be a quick and excellent way of enhancing your online presence. Besides the fact that most people using online directories have a specific purpose and are actively searching for a business that will fit their needs, directories are also beneficial as they can sometimes help you improve your Google ranking. This is because most online directories tend to be high-traffic, long-standing websites with high domain authority. As a consequence, it’s not uncommon for your profile to appear near the top of Google through these domains.
Below, we have collated a list of some of the major directories that you could start with:
- Yelp
- Glassdoor
- Yellow/White Pages
- TripAdvisor
If you’d like to look further into possible online directories, we’d recommend Jamie Pitman’s HubSpot article listing his 50 Online Local Business Directories.
Please be mindful that inclusion in less-reputable directories might actually have a negative effect on your SEO if the directory itself has been marked as untrustworthy by search engines. Stick with the type of directory that you as a consumer would use yourself.
3. Monitor and Respond to Reviews on Online Directories
Continuing with the theme of online directories, our third tip concerns the monitoring of reviews on these online platforms. By responding to reviews, you are positively promoting your business.
However, it’s not as simple as monitoring directories that you yourself have added a listing for. A lot of online directories allow anyone to add a listing. It might be the case, therefore, that even if you didn’t list your business, it may still be on there, gathering reviews. You need to be aware of this and monitor these sites frequently.
Resolve any negative feedback, showcasing your brand’s values, and gather any positive feedback that may be useful for other marketing campaigns.
4. Keep Social Media Channels Up to Date
We all know that social media is one of the best ways to promote your company online. Not only does it allow you to reach new customers, it also allows you to keep in touch with existing customers. Nevertheless, channels such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are of no use if they lack content. It’s vital to show your clients that you are active and on top of recent trends. You could also join online communities and groups that are relevant to your business.
If you’d like some more advice on posting on social media, Kevan Lee’s article exploring social media frequency is definitely worth a read!
Even if you haven’t got the time to post every day, it’s a good idea to like other people’s content and share anything that may be relevant.
5. Community Advertising
Many small businesses will find that their community is a critical component of their success. After all, we’re all much more likely to support a book shop that’s based down the road than a random book shop we’ve never heard of!
It’s a good idea to look into promoting your business in your local online community. For example, try and reach out to the local press. Get in touch with your local news sources and see if you can contribute an article or be featured in one of theirs!
Local networking events can also be a great opportunity. Meet new people and get your company buzzing with local support! Even if you don’t get any new clients from the events, you may find new local suppliers or learn something new. It’s also bound to give you lots of material for social media content!
We hope you have found this blog useful, and it has given you some food for thought! We know we have only just scratched the surface of how to promote your business, and we’d love to hear your ideas. Please get in touch via social media!
Guest post by Charlotte Graver
