A thriving local business is one where; there is consistency and predictability in new leads, clients, and revenue generation, Customers chase the business (not the other way round) and there’s an automated lead-generation system in place, that delivers new customers (highly-qualified prospects) on-demand with minimal human effort.
For the above things to happen for a local business that has an online presence, there are 4 basic/foundational services such a business has to use. These services are sequentially stated as follows;
1. Local Directories Listing
The first service a local business (that seeks to generate traffic from the online space) should use is the Local Directories/Listing. Local Directories Listing, otherwise called Citations is simply having a company’s Name, Address and Phone number (NAP) found all over the web on directories. It has to do with making or ensuring that these details (NAP) are exact on all the 20 top local directories.
The benefit for local businesses getting this done is that it will help them get reviews and traffic from all those sites. In addition to this, Google looks at each citation (exact match NAP) as a vote to give the company’s website and listings authority, making the company rank better in search engines.
2. Listing Optimization
After a business has been properly listed on the directories, the second service that ought to follow is Listing Optimization.
Optimizing a listing is more than just creating a listing with Name, Address, and Phone number. It entails optimizing the listing with photos, videos, correct categories, optimized description, hours of operation, etc. A local business stands a chance of being above their competition when they optimize their listing
3. Local Citation
Every link that links back to a local business’ website is a vote and the more votes it gets, the higher the ranking. More votes got from authority sites results in more ranking. One of the ranking factors Google and other search engines look out for ranking local businesses are reviews. Other than that, they (Google & co) want to see the N.A.P of a local business all over the web in places other than local directories – videos, blogs web 2.0 properties, etc
4. Review Response/Engagement
After Directories Listing, Optimization and Citations have been taken care of, the next important or fourth service a local business needs is REVIEW RESPONSE/ENGAGEMENT SERVICE. This has to do with responding to all reviews on all the top 20 directories.
Normally, when someone says something about us – positive or negative, we are inclined to respond. This is not what this is about. With this service, the response isn’t just to the actual reviewer but it is geared towards the hundreds, if not thousands of people, who will read that review and response. This is what will convert more customers.
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These services as outlined above will be very useful to start-up local businesses in particular as they would be building their business on a proper foundation. Established businesses can also benefit by making necessary adjustments.
Other marketing efforts such as PPC, SEO, etc coupled with what has been looked at here, will be added fuel which will result in good Return on Investment (ROI) as conversions will be immensely increased.
Contact Us today to get these services set up for your business
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