The Importance of Online Visibility as a Small Business

We know there can be an overwhelming amount of tools to choose from when it comes to marketing your small business. You already wear so many hats, and it can be hard to grasp new marketing concepts when you have so much more to focus on. That’s why we’ve compiled a simple list of effective tactics to help your business be seen by your target customers, and why it is so important in today’s digital world.

Your online first impression matters!

Small businesses have found themselves in a unique era of digital branding, transparency, and customer interaction. This means that you have more opportunities to share your brand with potential new customers and strengthen the bond with your existing customers.

Make your small business visible on social media platforms using cohesive branding and messaging. Take the time to think about how you would like to introduce your business on these platforms in a way that new customers will find attractive. You can start by sharing your business background, mission, expertise, and something interesting that will leave people wanting to follow and learn more.

For example, if you’re a baker, posting a sub-par photo of a cupcake in bad lighting might not be the best first impression to your followers. Instead, you might post a photo of yourself with your latest cake, sharing a story of why you started your business, and plans to make others happy through your delicious confections!

Leaving a lasting first impression online could plant the seed for 10, 20, or 100 more new customers!

Reviews are key.

Many times for small businesses, gathering written reviews from customers is an afterthought. However, it is one of the best ways to make your business visible online with minimal effort, time, and money.

When someone searches for your business online, reviews are one of the first things they see, and the more positive reviews, the better. This will help your business establish credibility, build trust, and impact new customers purchase decisions. In addition to gathering reviews from customers, your response to the reviews also shows that you care about their experience and strive to provide the best for your customers.

Next time you find yourself talking to a customer that loves your product, ask them to write you a review on Google if they have time, or perhaps offer a promotional discount to your customers in exchange for a review. 

A rave review from a loyal customer is a great way to leverage content- plus, it’s free!

Google Search is your best friend!

Even in a local setting, Google Search can bring in more customers that may not have heard of your business yet. Almost half of the searches on Google are seeking local information or using ‘near me’ searches to find the closest business around them to visit for a specific need.

Though Google may have seemed too grand of scale for small businesses in the past, it has been tailored towards small businesses much more, especially in the past year. We live in a digital age, however relying solely on social media to bring in new customers will only take your business so far. By creating a Google My Business profile, you can make your business visible to more local customers, stand out from businesses that aren’t visible online, and build an online presence to grow your business.

Simply adding your business to Google will rank you higher in search results and increase web traffic!

Click here to have us help connect your brand, get set-up with Google My Business, and leverage your content starting today.