April 14, 2009
It’s no secret that modern technology has changed—and keeps changing—the business world. Paper filing systems have been replaced with electronic folders, and waiting for a check to come in the mail has been replaced by online bank transactions that take seconds to complete. The business practices of yesterday are radically different from those of today, and the effects can be seen just about everywhere. Small business can get more done in a shorter amount of time, and they can keep in touch with their customers and clients through more means of communication. Networking is easier for small businesses thanks to the Internet, and cost-effective solutions like webcasts and email newsletters ensure that business owners can communicate with their staff without a financial sacrifice.
According to the Small Business Success Index, an ongoing study conducted by Network Solutions, LLC, and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, “Small business owners rely on a range of Internet business solutions and computer technologies to succeed, including online customer service via e-mail, a company Web site, online advertising in directories, a shared computer network for employees, and internal communications by e-mail. Between 30-60% of businesses use the items above.” Here at ThinkLocal®, we want to know how your small business utilizes modern technology. Do you use computer and Internet technology to communicate with your customers? If so, which do you use, and how have they helped your business? Do you take advantage of webcasts or internal email to communicate with your employees, or do you prefer the traditional method of phone calls, meetings, and so forth?
*The Small Business Success Index, an ongoing measurement of the overall health of U.S. small businesses, was commissioned by Network Solutions, LLC and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. To take the survey yourself, click here.
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General, Local Search, Small Business, Social Media, marketing | Tagged: online business directory, Small Business, small business success index, technology, web presence | 
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April 2, 2009
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Community, General, Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, marketing | Tagged: domain name, email, free domain, hosting packages, web presence, web site, web site building tool, web site hosting | 
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January 7, 2009
It’s a new year. It’s time to make some changes. Whether or not you believe in New Year resolutions, you should set some goals for 2009. It’s time to realize that if you want to improve your business, you’ll have to embrace the Internet’s ability to help.
Start By Creating a Free Online Business Listing
No matter what kind of business you have, it is good to have some form of Web presence. So what are some things you can do to develop a Web presence?
The first step you can take is to create an online business listing on one or more local search sites. Popular local search sites include ThinkLocal®, Yahoo!® Local or Yellowpages.com™. Whether you own a fruit stand at the local farmer’s market or a chain of shoe stores, these business listings can help increase your visibility and bring customers to your door.
…Then Build a Website
You’ve probably heard it time and time again, but it’s true; a business Web site can help drive sales, particularly if you promote it. You may have gotten this far without having a Web site, but you will need to create one if you want your business to remain strong in the years to come.
Today, numerous consumers rely on business Web sites when making their purchase decisions. They use the information provided on the sites to determine the businesses’ abilities to satisfy their needs. They even evaluate the visual aspects of the sites to signify the level of quality or professionalism each business can offer.
Business Web sites are influential marketing tools. On your site, you can provide persuasive content that will convince consumers to choose your business over the competitor. In addition, you can announce limited-time specials to stimulate purchases and solicit feedback to ensure that customer needs are met. Lastly, you can use your site to establish your brand.
Retailers can also use their Web sites to increase their market share. By integrating a secure e-commerce platform, these businesses can make their products available nationwide, or even worldwide if they choose. The 2008 holiday shopping season should be proof that the Internet is more powerful than ever. As a result of the poor economy, almost every retail store suffered a decline in sales, but overall, online sales remained fairly stable.
Establishing a Web presence is among the best things you can do for your business. Remember, you have the power to help your business grow. It’s time to take action.
Leave a Comment » | General, Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, Uncategorized | Tagged: business web sites, e-commerce, marketing tool, online business listing, thinklocal, web presence, web site, yellow pages | Permalink
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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.
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Internet Yellow Pages, Local Search, Small Business, Social Media | Tagged: advertising, business directories, business listings, customer feedback, Local Search, online business listings, thinklocal, web presence | 
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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: Add new tag, advertising, advertising online, business listings, micro blogging, online business listings, small businesses, social networks, web presence | Permalink
Posted by thinklocal
October 22, 2008
Network Solutions® has teamed up with ooVoo®, a popular online video chat and conference network, to present:
Solutions Stars Video Conference
October 29, 2008
1 p.m., EST to approximately 3:30 p.m., EST
This video conference will educate small business owners on how to effectively use the Internet to improve their business performance and boost their business’s overall visibility. The conference will include the following topics:
- Building Web Presence
- The Social Opportunity
- Start with Listening
- Strategy Drives Outreach
- You Need Social Networks
- To Blog or Not to Blog
- Visibility Through Search
- Rising Above the Noise
- Time Demands
Participants can choose to watch the entire conference or view only the videos that interest them.
For additional information about this free event, please go to: http://www.solutionsstarsvideo.com/
Leave a Comment » | General, Local Search, Small Business | Tagged: blog, business owners, Small Business, social networks, web presence | Permalink
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