Can Customers Find Your Business Online?

Last updated 2 hours 18 minutes ago

Do you know where your customers are right now? With mobile web browsing on the rise, there is a good chance that, no matter where they are?at a kids? soccer game, at a restaurant, or at home?your customers are online.

Small business owners who want to stay top-of-mind in an increasingly online world, should ask themselves two questions:

1. Can customers find my business online?
2. Can customers share their visits to my business online?

Business owners can work with an internet marketing consultant to tap into geolocation features on popular websites and apps. Below we?ll list a few of the web properties that business marketers should leverage in order to be more easily found online and allow ?check-ins.? As an added bonus, many of these websites will help bump your business higher in the Google search results.

Foursquare

A new trend in online marketing involves geolocation apps like Foursquare, which allow mobile users to leave a digital breadcrumb trail of where they?ve been for all their social networking friends to see. Foursquare encourages users to visit certain businesses and share their location by offering them special rewards and badges. By making your business accessible on Foursquare, or even running a Foursquare promotion, you can gain a new stream of word-of-mouth marketing and greater visibility on social networks. Facebook has a similar check-in system. If you already have a Facebook page, then find out how to claim a place for your business on their help site.

Google Places

When you search for a brick-and-mortar business online, the top result is often a Google Map with a red marker pinpointing the location. Make sure your business has a Google Place listing by first Googling your own business. If your business does not return a result with a red marker, then visit the Google Places website and follow the instructions to register your location. This will greatly increase your visibility at the top of the search results.

Yelp

Yelp.com is a very popular online review site with millions of unique visitors. Every business should do a Yelp search to see if they are already listed and to read through any customer reviews. This website can be a great place to monitor customers? sentiments about your business and even reply directly when someone has a positive or negative experience. The Yelp app for mobile devices now features check-in functionality. To claim your business page and get started, you can visit the Yelp business site here.

To take advantage of geolocation apps and successfully implement other online marketing tactics, contact Brad Sharenow. Brad is an internet marketing consultant who helps New York City businesses increase their visibility and their bottom lines.

Get started today with a free consultation, by calling (877) 411-3777.

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