Once up on a time, it was easy to let your customers know how to find you. You just got a listing in the phone directory. If you had a small business, you might put an ad in the local newspaper occasionally. And of course, word of mouth has always been a great way to get referrals and advertising.
But today we face a completely revolutionised marketplace with global competition and time-starved, overwhelmed potential customers. So knowing how to get your name in front of them as easily and cheaply as possible is critical – but you have more options than ever before, and it is hard to ignore any of them.
Google + a great online marketing tool
Business owners need to prioritise and use the most effective online marketing opportunities first; one cornerstone to a strong online presence is Google Plus.
It’s as important as the phone book used to be, but has the potential to proactively reach out to your target audience. You can set up a Google Plus business profile yourself for FREE, and then your market can find you not only on Google Plus, but also on Google Maps and of course Google Search.
It doesn’t take much time, and it is accessible to your target market no matter what kind of device they are using.
How to Set Up a Google Plus Business Profile
1. If you don’t already have a Google account, start by setting up one.
2. Go to the main Google.com page and click on the word ‘business’ on the lower left of the page.
3. Click on the blue button ‘Explore Google+ Pages’.
4. Just follow the simple prompts to create your page, and be sure to fill in all of the details to make it as easy as possible for your potential customers to find you.
Promoting your Business on Google Plus
Once you have your Google Plus business profile set up, don’t just leave it there. Take full advantage of the features and tools available to you to reach out and connect with your customer base.
It just isn’t enough today to leave it sitting there static like an old phone directory listing. Try these tips to get the most from your business’s Google Plus profile.
Post valuable content regularly
You can treat Google Plus like a blog, or use it to direct people to your blog. Make it worth their while to connect with you by giving them information they want.
Promote your business profile
Promote your Google Plus profile by linking it to your website with a badge, including it in your email signature, etc. People will find you more easily because of your profile, but that doesn’t mean it will promote itself.
Engage with your customers
Engage with people. Add people to your circles and follow them. Usually they will add you back. This is the goal of all social media marketing – to create relationships and connections to build a loyal base of customers.
Creating a Google Plus profile for your business is easy, free and effective. So there is no reason not to add another layer to your social media marketing efforts.