As I wrote here, small business owners (SBOs) are still slow to engage the digital space as a place to market their products and services. I also pointed out some of the many reasons why that’s happening. But here’s the simple truth: those reasons aren’t good enough. SBOs who ignore their digital presence do so at their own risk. It’s a commercial form of“whistling past the graveyard” that will eventually lead to a loss of customers and revenue.
Try this SBOs: Google your business name. Where on the results page do you end up? Is there anything there that relates to your business besides your website? Are there customer reviews? Backlinks from other sources? What are people saying about your business? Is there any buzz?
Now search for your competitors. Where do they appear? Are they getting traffic from other digital channels? Who’s generating more buzz? That’s who will ultimately win the business for your customers.
Now here’s a really sobering test: Google your business type and location (i.e. “dentists Noblesville Indiana). Who shows up first, you or your competitors? If you’re not first, are you even in scrolling range for people who are searching for those services? What are the realistic chances that someone searching for your services will actually find you online?
Let’s say, however, for the sake of argument, that a potential customer does find you in an online search. They click on the link to your website and…? What do they see? Is your website easy to navigate? Does it offer your customer all the information they need to evaluate your business? Does it engage them in a process that leads them to giving you some kind of commitment like an email query, a newsletter signup, or access to a discount that will have them visit your store. Are there clear calls to action on your site that can be easily clicked via mobile devices and that take the customer to a place where they can commit to your business?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, don’t feel bad. You’re in the majority among SBOs. The good news is you still have the opportunity to get out front in the digital marketing space and position your business for success!
Chances are you’ll need help, though. You may not be a digital savant, or you may simply not have enough time. That’s where Knuckleball Digital comes in. We’re a small business dedicated to helping other small businesses build and expand their digital footprints. We understand the unique challenges that face SBOs. That’s why our services are tailored to your exact needs. We’re not going to sell you on some “cookie-cutter” service that your business really doesn’t need.
Contact Knuckleball Digital today and we’ll give you a free assessment of your digital footprint along with our estimate of what you need to do to maximize your business’s digital presence. We’ll attend to your needs with the same personal care you offer your customers.
Don’t wait any longer to address your small business digital marketing needs. Your competitors are doing that, and every day you let pass gives them another one of your customers. Do something now!