Locally based businesses need to be on the Web too

I've been interviewed twice in the last week for articles in trade magazines - one for restaurants and the other for optical professionals in Canada - about using online marketing and social media for locally based businesses (bricks and mortar stores).

I tell them if their ideal client/customer/diner/patient cannot find them on the web, it's like they don't exist. If you're like me, and millions are, you use the Web to find information for just about everything, including local businesses. How many times have you done a search to find a restaurant in your own neighborhood or one you're visiting? Or how about to find a chiropractor or dentist or optician or spa or...?

You've got to have a robust online presence in order to compete and be found by your ideal client.

And the best place to start?

You guessed it! A blog for your business, of course!

When you create keyword-rich content on a blog, it gets indexed by the search engines and you can be found by your customers when they do an online search for the problem(s) they have and you solve. Everyday I hear from professionals and business owners who have not yet started a blog. If that's you, here's an article on Ten Easy Steps for Starting a Business Blog.

Naturally there's a lot that goes into creating and maintaining an effective business blog that gets results. The first step, though, is to take action, make a decision and do it, or get help doing it.

Remember, even local businesses need to be visible on the Web.

(Click here to learn how you can boost your online visibility.)

Comments

[Bret Simmons]

Strongly concur, Denise. EVERY small business owner could benefit by blogging. All you need to tell me is that my competition is NOT blogging and that is enough for me to know how to make my business stand out quickly and for free!

[Keith]

Denise,
I couldn't agree more! I started a fence contracting business and a good friend of mine suggested that I build my website on a blog platform (Wordpress) so I did, and within 3mos I was atop all the searches and blowing my competition away! I recently sold that business to move to supplying DIYers and contractors with fence supplies nationwide (US) and YES I am building my site on Wordpress again, and YES after only a couple of months I am ranking #1 for several terms and I expect I will move ahead of my competition by spring.

I my previous business did well and I spent zero in advertising! The businesses I competed with never figured out why I shot up the rankings so well, and none of them blog now.

My current site is fairly new, I designed it myself and am still adding products to it, but have already made sales from it with NO other advertising. That should be enough to convince anyone!

[Randy Peck]

Hi Denise,

Thank you for your timely article. Dr. Jerry Graham and I just closed on a Web 2.0 contract to help market a client with a brick and mortar business. He raised the same questions you addressed.

I love what you say, "I tell them if their ideal client/customer/diner/patient cannot find them on the web, it's like they don't exist."

You have made a tremendous difference in our lives and networks since you and Patsy were guests on our webinar about blogging in Oct 2008.

I've always remembered what you said, "If you don't have time to blog at least 2-3x/week, you don't have time for your business.

Thank you for being a bright light in a world of darkness.

Blessings for this to be your most special Thanksgiving and Christmas season ever!

Randy
"Blessed to be a blessing"
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy

[Denise Wakeman]

Wow, Keith, thanks for sharing your success story! Truly an inspiration for offline businesses that I hope will be taken to heart.

Blog on!

[Denise Wakeman]

Randy, thanks so much for your kind words and congratulations on your new contract. I stick with my statement about not having time to blog. You've got to make time and you will see results.

Thanks for your contribution to the conversation.

Blog on!

[Alan Underkofler]

Thank you for the reminder Denise... I am surrounded by so much talk about social media and blogging I sometimes forget about the large number of businesses who have yet to hear about it or begin to understand how it all works!

We just need to keep spreading the word and helping those we can!

[la habra dentist]

it is true blogging is great to let people know that your business exist online especially when your providing people information that they are looking for. It can be called as leveraging, expanding your business reach.