Take Control of Your Listings

June 4, 2009

There are a lot of local business listings out there—ThinkLocal®, Yahoo!® Local, and YellowPages.com™ are just a few. Thanks to these online business directories, it’s easy for your clients to find information on your business, which is great. But sometimes the information that is gathered by local directories is incorrect or outdated, which in no way benefits your business. Fixing this situation is easy, however, by simply taking control of your listings.

Take the time to look up your business on some of the top local search engines (click here for the top 5). By taking ownership of your listings, you can take control of what searchers find. In addition to changing or updating existing information, you can also add a link to your website, a description of services offered, your business hours, an email address at where you can be reached, and much more. We suggest taking ownership of your listings at the top 5 directories first, then expanding to the rest when you find time.

1 Comment | Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Keep Your Online Business Listing Updated

May 20, 2009

Have you updated your ThinkLocal® listing lately? It’s a good idea to keep your online business listings as up-to-date as possible. If you add or change your business’ phone number, make sure this is reflected in your online listings—you want your customers to be able to reach you quickly and easily, without having to search for the correct number.  Does your business have multiple locations? Be sure to create listings for each so that all locations show up in local searches. If the online business directory offers a description field, fill it out and include any promotions or special offers that are currently going on. Your business listing can drive a lot of traffic to your Web site; if there’s a particular page you’d especially like your customers to see, use that as your business URL instead of directing traffic toward your home page.

The best thing about local search directories and online business listings is that most of them are 100% free. Take advantage of this cost-effective way to spread your online presence, and optimize your listing as often as you can.

1 Comment | Community, Local Search, Small Business, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Do You Have High Online Visibility?

April 16, 2009

If you haven’t physically placed any information about your business online, then chances are, your online visibility is practically nonexistent. Having online visibility will soon become a necessity – something you need to have if you want customers to walk through your door.

So, what are some things you can do to achieve online visibility?

1. Get a Web site.
A Web site gives you a Web presence and the ability to tell potential customers about your business and why you are better than the competition. On top of that, you can use it to tell consumers how to contact or locate your facility. Of course, if you want to ensure that your site will be seen by ideal prospects, you must promote your Web site using online marketing strategies, such as link building, search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising.

2. Blog about your industry.
Blogs seem more time-consuming then they really are. Blog articles are short and to the point, and you don’t have to be a professional writer to write them. You simply must have industry knowledge. You can post more than one blog article every day, but it’s also OK to post just two articles per week. You’ll get exposure either way.  It’s also a good idea to read other people’s blogs and add your comments, along with your URL, of course. This will help you gain even more exposure.

3. Join social networking sites.
Sites like Twitter™ and Facebook® allow you to connect with your target market, showcase your expertise and provide information about your business. Many businesses have also begun to use them as customer service tools.

4. Take ownership of as many online business listings as you can (They’re FREE!).
Online business directories are like the new yellow pages. However, they cost you nothing and they give you more exposure. In fact, studies have shown that today’s consumers regularly use online directories and prefer them to paperbound directories. Therefore, if you aren’t listed, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to reach your target audience.

Leave a Comment » | Community, General, Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, marketing | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Even Bad Customer Feedback Is Good

March 24, 2009

According to a Forrester Research report referenced in an article I recently read, 71% of online shoppers read reviews prior to making a purchase decision. This large statistic illustrates the influential power of customer reviews.

I must say I truly depend on reviews for a variety of reasons, not just online shopping. I use them to find out which Mexican restaurant in my neighborhood makes the best margaritas or which dry cleaner offers the fastest turnaround.  I also use them to determine whether a certain mechanic is trustworthy or if a particular spa is as luxurious as it claims.

As a business owner, you should encourage your customers to search for your online business listings and submit their reviews. Positive customer reviews are beneficial to your business because they give consumers who are leaning toward doing business with you the little push they need to finalize their decisions.

Sure, some previous customers may leave negative feedback. However, use their comments as constructive criticism. Once you fix your weak areas, you’ll receive good feedback that contradicts the bad ones.

Leave a Comment » | Community, General, Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, marketing | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

The Power of the Customer Review

December 11, 2008

Local search directories offer many benefits to a business owner: they’re effective at extending a business’s Web presence, they provide potential customers with the important contact and location information they need, and they can drive traffic to a business’s Web site. While these features can ensure that your business will be found, that is only half the battle; converting your listing’s audience into actual business is another thing.

Many online business directories, including ThinkLocal®, provide a platform where customers can leave their ratings and reviews for each business that is listed. The great thing about customer reviews, in addition to extending a business’s online presence, is their power of persuasion. Customer ratings and reviews make your business stand out from the crowd, and people are more likely to choose a business with a positive review over a business that lacks a customer review. If the search for “sushi restaurants” in your local area brings up multiple results, the restaurant with a 5-star rating and descriptive review is going to grab your attention; it may even convince you to choose that one over the others.

Customer reviews not only help to bring new customers to a business, they also provide business owners with valuable feedback on their business’s performance. Positive reviews point out features that a business owner might want to highlight in their next advertising campaign, and negative reviews let the business owner know which areas need improvement.

If you manage an online business listing, get the most out of it: encourage your patrons to review your business, and then use that feedback to your advantage.

Leave a Comment » | Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, Social Media | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Cut Business Costs by Taking Advantage of Free Services

December 8, 2008

The recent labeling of the U.S. economy as “in a recession” has brought a new wave of panic over most Americans, especially business owners; unfortunately, many of us have legitimate reasons to worry. Each new day seems to bring word of another business closing its doors, or news that yet another company has been forced to let go of employees in an effort to cut costs. Although it is easy to get discouraged during times like these, we all have to try to focus on the actions we can take to improve our situations instead of dwelling on the worst-case scenario.

All business owners know that to stay afloat during an economic downturn, they must focus on reducing their costs. Many choose to reduce the budget allotted for advertising and marketing efforts, but this can be very detrimental to building and expanding their customer base. And when you don’t have customers, you don’t have revenue. So what’s a small business owner to do?

In addition to online business listings Web sites like ThinkLocal®, there are more free resources that business owners can turn to reach out to their customers and build a strong Web presence for their company. One of these resources is blogging. Blogs are an easy and effective way to build Web presence and keep your customers aware of what’s going on with your business. Instead of spending money on advertisements that show off your new product or inform your customers of your business’s new services, just blog about it. Blog posts allow you to go into as much detail as you’d like, you can load them with keywords that will help them show up in search engine results, and best of all, there are many blogs that are 100% free. Web sites like WordPress®, BloggerTM, and LiveJournalTM are just some of your free-blog options.

Once you’ve got your blog set up, check out some of the micro-blogging Web sites that are available. Sites like TwitterTM and Plurk allow you to give quick updates on what’s going on with your business, and they’re a great way to spread links to your blog posts. Twitter and Plurk also allow you to associate a personality with your business’s web presence; this alone can give you an advantage over your competition since consumers tend to choose companies that they know or feel comfortable with.

Be sure to also check out free social networks, including Facebook®, MySpaceTM, MySolutionSpotTM, and LinkedIn®. Social networking is a great way to connect with other business owners, current customers, and potential customers. Through social networks, you can get feedback on what your customers are looking for, build relationships with them, compare business strategies with other small business owners, and so much more.

1 Comment | Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, Social Media | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Advertising Is More Important Than Ever!

December 4, 2008

This year, Black Friday sales were steady, and Cyber Monday numbers exceeded expectations. How did retailers manage to achieve such satisfactory results during the current economic slump? They offered several cost-saving specials and heavily advertised those specials.

If you are a storeowner, now is the time for drastic measures. Analysts believe retail sales – both online and offline – will drop drastically by the end of the holiday season. Therefore, storeowners must step up their game and continue to offer savings great enough to motivate reluctant consumers.

Online storeowners, as well as offline retailers who own Web sites, should set aside a portion of their budget to advertise online. Pay-per-click advertising is a wonderful promotional strategy because it allows advertisers to target locally. Pay-per-click ads appear only when a user is searching for the products and/or services offered by the advertiser. Additionally, pay-per-click advertising can be seasonal. So, if a storeowner wishes to advertise online only during the holiday season, he or she has the option to do so.

Some businesses may not have the budget available to create an online advertising campaign. Every storeowner, however, can afford to take ownership of their online business listings. Online business listings are similar to yellow page listings, but they are more targeted and they provide more value to the consumer. An online business listing appears only when a user is searching for a specific business category in a specific town. The listing not only provides the interested consumer with a business’s address and phone number; it also provides them with a map of the business location, driving directions to the business and business reviews written by past customers. The most amazing thing about online business listings is that they are free. Sites like ThinkLocal® and Yahoo!® Local are great online business directories that will provide any business with the additional exposure they need during this crucial period in retail.

Leave a Comment » | General, Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Why Include a Link to Your Business Website

September 3, 2008

Today, many consumers research their options on the Internet. They search online for business names, business addresses, driving directions to businesses and business phone numbers. They also read business reviews and browse various business websites to learn more about the history, staff and offerings of a particular business.

Business websites have become influential in that they have the power to sway undecided consumers. While the Web site content is quite persuasive, the mere existence of a site can demonstrate the quality of a business and their ability to meet expectations.

Because business websites are so convincing, all businesses should include links to their websites in their online business listings. This inclusion will help their listing stand out and persuade consumers to choose them over their competitors.

1 Comment | Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal

Support Your Business Listings by Networking Online

July 24, 2008

For years, local search Web sites like ThinkLocal® and Yahoo! Local® have helped businesses of all sizes gain visibility online. Now there is a new Web site specifically designed to help small and medium-sized businesses develop their online presence.

MySolutionSpot™ is a new professional networking Web site. While still in its beta phase, this site has already acquired hundreds of members. Like LinkedIn® and other professional networking sites, members of MySolutionSpot are given the opportunity to promote their business using free online profiles. The difference is MySolutionSpot members may also endorse their expertise and build authority status in their industries by submitting trade articles and participating in a variety of business forums.

Joining online business networking sites like MySolutionSpot is a great way to promote your business, support your online business listings and strengthen your online visibility. Through active participation on these sites, you will not only be able to stay abreast of the latest trends in your industry, but you will also be able to expand your professional network and increase public awareness of your business.

Leave a Comment » | General, Local Search, Small Business | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal