You Had Me at Hello: Attracting New Customers Using Online Listings
Loyal customers are vital to a successful business. They spend more and are more likely to recommend you to others. But every loyal customer was once a new customer, and it`s extremely important to engage new customers, as you remain engaged with old ones.
You`re probably already doing a lot of things to garner attention from new customers. You`re posting on social media. You`re using traditional marketing. You`re collecting email addresses. But are you taking advantage of online listings?
Here is a rundown of what online listings are, and why you need to be optimizing them.
What are "Listings"?
Do you remember when you would get updated copies of the phonebook delivered to your door? This was the precursor to the online listing. Online listings are on a variety of sites, from YellowPages.com to Yelp. Listings include important information about your business, like location, contact information, hours, parking, price range, etc. There is also typically an area for customers to leave reviews of businesses. Listing sites are used to help match consumers to businesses they may be interested in, match them to businesses in their neighborhood, and provide unbiased reviews.
Why are Listings Important to Me?
With so much to do to promote and run your business, you may be thinking, "Why do I need to add local listings to my marketing radar?"
Think about yourself as a consumer. If you were on the hunt for a local
plumber, where would you look first? One option would be to sit down at your computer and use a search engine, using keywords like the name of your town, "plumber," and maybe even "fast" or "affordable."
If a plumber has claimed and optimized their online listings, they will show up in your search sooner. After you read reviews and decide to learn more, a well-optimized profile will give you everything you need to contact the plumber and get your leaky pipe fixed.
If a plumber hasn`t touched their online listings they may not even show up in your search at all. And if they do, you may not have the information you need to comfortably give them your business.
Your business listings work in the same way. According to
Google, "56% of smartphone searches done on the go have local intent as do 51% of those done in-store." With so many consumers turning to the internet - especially on mobile - to figure out where they should shop, eat, or stay, the only way to be seen by local consumers is to get listed.
How Do I "Create" My Listings?
There is a good chance that your listings already exist on listing sites - they just aren`t claimed or optimized. Listing sites automatically pull in business names and locations. To find out if your business already has a listing on, say, Yelp, you can go to Yelp and do a search for your business name. If you find your business, you can scroll down the page to find an area where you can claim your business.
If you don`t find your business, you can go to
this page and claim your business manually.
In order to claim as many listings as possible, you will find yourself going to dozens of sites to claim them one-by-one, which is another reason that business owners neglect their listings. When time is money, every second of their day counts, and the process is extremely time-consuming.
Luckily, there is a tool available that takes the work off of your plate: Get Listed by Crystal Media. Subscribers can simply give their store information and we`ll check in with them each month to get updated photos and information. We`ll manage your listings, saving you precious time.
Why Do Listings Need to be Managed?
A lot of people look at online listings as a "set it and forget it" process. These people are wrong!
By updating your listings on a monthly basis, you are providing customers with fresh and updated content. You can highlight sales and promotions, share photos of your latest in-store event, and make sure that customers can easily contact you. Making a habit out of updating this information will ensure that your information is always up-to-date, and that new customers will be able to find your store quickly and easily.
For more information on local listings and Crystal Media`s Get Listed package, visit getlistedpackage.com. Enter the coupon code RDIDiamonds and save $200 on your yearly subscription to Get Listed!
Crystal Vilkaitis is the resident Social Media Expert at RDI Diamonds and owner of Crystal Media; a company dedicated to helping retailers integrate proven social media, mobile and email marketing strategies into their businesses. Crystal started Social Edge, an online membership group exclusive to retailers looking to gain an edge over competition using social media, who need direct access to what`s important and relevant when it comes to marketing their store and products online. For more information and to receive free bi-weekly social media tips to your email inbox, visit crystalmedia.co or socialedge.co.
