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Keller, C. R. (n.d.). 9 Reasons Why Having a Website Is Important. Www.Profitworks.Ca. https://profitworks.ca/blog/297-why-having-a-website-is-important

No matter the size of your business, organization, or non-profit, having a website offers many benefits. A well-designed, visually appealing, user friendly, SEO-optimized site that is maintained regularly funnels users to your store, organization, or office, and helps increase brand awareness. Your website is often the first place people engage with your business. It’s the first impression you give to the public as your digital storefront, and it’s also the hub of your entire online marketing strategy. Site design should focus on welcoming customers and engaging them with information, products, special offers, promotions, and other useful or helpful content. You can then capture their interest as your site moves them along the sales funnel toward your conversion goal. Unfortunately, for some businesses, one study shows that “ 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience ”. Read on to find out how the following 6 benefits can help provide a positive website experience for your organization, and the users it serves.

What Is Search Engine Optimization?

The general consensus is that reviews are important, but just how pertinent are they? And when was the last time you read your customer reviews? If you can’t remember consider this: Statistics show that 98% of consumers feel that reviews are an essential resource when making purchase decisions. It only takes a few clicks to view what other people are saying about a business. Whether it’s on Google, Facebook, Yelp, or a business website, customers often feel inclined to leave a review; either from an excellent experience or a not-so-stellar one. On average, a consumer reaches a purchasing decision after reading around three business or product reviews. Highly rated reviews can help your products and services appear more appealing, while lower ratings can deter potential customers. Let’s begin with the fundamentals, then we’ll go into detail as to why consumer reviews are essential for your business, and how to leverage them to your advantage in the remainder of this article.

As internet engagement continues to rise, social media is the biggest beneficiary of the growing traffic. According to Statista, an internet user spends 145 minutes per day on social platforms; the time being shared amongst platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Social media popularity and wide usage is an excellent opportunity for businesses to increase sales and website traffic. Businesses can utilize social listings to showcase their brands, promote new products, communicate with clients, and improve visibility. For example, a business that seeks to target professionals can list on LinkedIn to access decision-makers like Sales Managers, CEOs, CFOs, and others. Instagram is another option, where 75% of users take actions, like visiting a company's website after viewing a post. So, why is a social presence beneficial to your business, and more importantly, what are social listings?

Online reviews have existed for quite some time; now more than ever, their importance to the success of a local business is increasing. Reviews are essential for your local SEO ranking and help improve the credibility of your business. Google allows your customers to leave feedback about your products or services, even if you haven't claimed your Google business listing. However, to respond to these reviews your Google Business Listing will need to be claimed. Whether positive or negative, Google reviews can be used to your advantage to rally your customer retention rates and conversions. If you haven't taken the time to audit reviews where your credibility could be compromised, you might be missing out on prospective clients to your competition. One recent survey found that 86 % of consumers go through reviews before purchasing from a local business! When you roll out Google reviews for your local business, be transparent with consumers, and gain insight to improve using their feedback. This comprehensive guide and post will help you understand why you should start using a review generation system to monitor your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business, GMB, or Google Places) ASAP.

Originally Published Nov 8, 2021

In today’s world a significant percentage of shoppers begin their search for goods or services online, directly benefiting companies that have online listings. According to Google, 46% of all search traffic has local intent, and business location is one of the top items referenced in these searches. A business listing is the foundation of an online presence for any enterprise, yet many businesses overlook the initial step of listing their business online, despite the potential benefits. Other companies may have a few listings but they are incomplete, out of date, or lacking crucial data.

Running a business has drastically changed over the past 30 years. Heck, even the last 5 years has been an ongoing roller coaster ride. Business owners must now keep up with the constant change of consumer habits, technology and Google algorithms, along with everything else the digital world has to offer. All of these are important, but you also need to continue to focus on everything it actually takes to run your business. As a result, you may find yourself with little to no time to do everything required to ensure your success. Running a business used to be a little less complicated: Show up, offer good customer service, get listed in the phone books, and hope everything falls into place. Nowadays that just doesn’t cut it. The internet has forever taken stake in our lives and how we run businesses. That said, don’t lose hope.