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Getting Started with Google My Business

November 20, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

About Google My Business

Google My Business (or GMB) is a tool that lets you control how your business appears when potential customers search for your products or services on Google Search and Maps. You’ll be able to add your business name, location, hours, and even photos. Once you’ve successfully created your GMB account, you’ll be able to monitor and reply to customer reviews and have access to free analytics.

About Local SEO

If you know about Local Search Engine Optimization, then you might be a small to medium business owner (SMB). We recommend that every SMB have a Google My Business (GMB) listing — from store, office, to place of service.

Local SEO is all about increasing search visibility for businesses that serve their communities face-to-face. — Moz.com

If you’re new to local SEO, GMB is a great place to start marketing. Your business listing on Google is the first thing potential customers see when they conduct a local search, so it’s important to have accurate, up-to-date, optimized information about your business on the world’s most popular search engine.

Do you need help creating a Google My Business account? Follow these steps for success.

Getting Started with GMB

Step 1: Create a Google My Business Listing

Log into the account you want to be associated with your business
Go to google.com/business and select “Start Now” in the top right corner.
Enter your business name
Hit Next

Choose the category that fits your business best. For example: News Service

Decide if you want to add your physical location to Google Search and Maps. If you have a physical location or don’t mind sharing your storefront with the world, you’ll receive more traffic with an address.

Click Next

Do you offer your services regionally, nationally, or globally? Then select Yes, I also serve outside my location. If not, select No, I don’t.
If you selected yes, now you can add the areas in which you serve. For example, New York City, New York or USA (continental). You have the option to create multiple service areas if you want to define your regions of service.

Add your contact details. This is how customers will contact you, so include your phone number and website if possible.
- You also have the option of creating a free website based on your information.
- Select “Get a free website based on your info” to get an automatically built and updated web page based on your GMB listing.

Once you’ve completed all of these steps, you’re ready to select Finish. Now you’ll have access to:
- Promote your business with photos and posts
- Track business analytics to understand your customers better
- Respond to any customer reviews

But wait. There’s more to do. Verification is the next step. Are you able to take calls from your listed phone number in order to prove verification? If yes, select this method.

- If you can’t take calls right now, select Postcard by mail. Google will send you a postcard by mail with a verification code.

Now that your account is set up, you can add your business hours. Then click Save.

Add a business description of up to 750 words. This is where you can tell the world how your business stands out from your competitors and offers a unique service.

Add relevant photos of your products and services to your GMB page. Real photos are often better than stock photos.

You are now listed on Google my Business.

Congratulations. Although technically, your profile is now complete, you’ve got more work to do. Stay tuned for our next article about advertising with Google Ads!

Why businesses need to have a Google My Business Listing

Your listing on Google is the first thing people see when they search for your product or service, with the apparent exception of pay-per-click ads. When someone searches for a product or service you offer, they are more likely to choose yours if your GMB page is fully optimized.

Google is one of the most trusted resources available today, and you want to be found! Google My Business offers you brand awareness, great referrals, sales leads, and even more if you learn how to use GMB properly.

Comprehensive Marketing for Guaranteed Results

Now that you’ve created your Google My Business account, you might be looking for ways to get even more results. The recommended next step is developing a website with responsive and mobile web designs, strong search engine optimization (SEO), fast website speed, and other important methods in mind.

While developing a Google My Business account is something you can do on your own, you’ll need some help developing your business website or refreshing your existing site, from an experienced, trusted web developer. That’s why SMBNow.com recommends Xponex Web Design. With Xponex, you’ll be able to expand your marketing, reach new customers, increase conversion rates, grow profits, and develop a solid brand. Xponex Media even offers free consultations for all of their clients.

See what others have said about Xponex and a portfolio of their past customers.

How Visa Issues Can Impact Your SMB

January 29, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

When news outlets talk about how US visa issues impact the marketplace, they’re really talking about how these disruptions affect large businesses and multinational corporations. But delays and problems with the issuance of visas disproportionately impact small- and mid-size businesses who often lack the resource of their larger competitors. If you are looking to bring international workers to your American company or frequently bring in foreign investors or partners, here are just a few of the roadblocks you may encounter as visa issues continue to plague American companies.

It’s all about timing

Even at the best of times, depending on the type of visa your visitor or international worker needs, the processing time for issuance of a visa is usually measured in weeks to months. Increased scrutiny of applications and tightening restrictions has led to growing wait times and a jump in the number of visa denials.

These delays can be costly for SMBs who are often working on tight deadlines or without long-term business plans. To avoid unnecessary delays in hiring or having to reschedule meetings with foreign players, begin planning well in advance of your target date. If you’re planning on hiring internationally, plan to start recruiting at least 18-24 months in advance of your target hire date; and don’t try to plan meetings with international attendees less than three to four months in advance.

What kind of visa do you need?

Another costly issue with visas is the often-confusing nature of the language that the State Department uses to determine the type of visa that a visitor or nonimmigrant worker needs. Recent changes to visa rules have led to some visa holders being denied entry to the US when using the same visa type with which they previously entered the country.

Generally, if you’re hosting a business meeting or talking to potential investors, your guests should be able to apply for and enter the country using a Business (B-1) visa, which covers activities like attending conferences and conventions, business meetings, and negotiating contracts.

International recruitment

It’s no surprise that Fortune 500 companies have a leg up on SMBs when it comes to international recruitment. Not only do these bigger players have greater brand recognition and reach, but they’re also much more familiar and better equipped to handle the visa process.

Many SMBs need highly-specialized employees and sometimes, these employees must be recruited internationally. The H-1B visa allows employers to sponsor non-immigrants for specialized, temporary employment in the US. These employees may work for up to six years in the US on an H-1B visa and the skills they bring can be invaluable for SMBs. However, the long processing times (up to one year), costs, and paperwork requirements can be so daunting that many SMBs aren’t capable of completing the process. Not to mention that their bigger competitors often unfairly take large chunks of the 85,000-person cap on H-1B visas.

Don’t let visa issues hold your business back

The US visa application and issuance process is a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Working with a quality employment specialist and seeking the advice of immigration and visa attorneys is highly recommended if your SMB is planning an international meeting or looking to recruit internationally. At the end of the day, planning, working with experts, and a lot of patience can help save your business from being negatively impacted by visa issues.

Are visa issues disrupting your upcoming event? Instead of cancelling, consider remote attendance solutions with laptop rentals and other technology rentals through Rentacomputer.com. Anything from remotely viewing the same presentation via Google Hangouts to virtually attending the event using VR headsets is now a very real possibility. Don’t let your event be ruined because some of your attendees or speakers fall victim to the ever changing visa requirements.

Running an SMB can be a challenge. SMB Now provides tips, expert advice, and information about the services you need to help make running your business easier. Visit us often to stay up-to-date with SMB Now and follow us on social media. Join the discussion by commenting below.

New Year’s Resolutions for Small Businesses

December 20, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

Running your own business brings with it a lot of pride and the ability to set your own course – but it also brings a lot of stress and anxiety. Your own financial well-being and that of your employees is on your shoulders at all times. As we head into the new year, here are three New Year’s resolutions you can make to help your small business grow and succeed in the new year.

Managed antivirus solutions

Considering that more than 60 percent of small businesses that have been hacked or the victims of viruses go out of business within six months, topping your list of New Year’s resolutions for your small business should be protecting your computers and servers from viruses and malicious activity that can seriously impact your ability to do business.

An agile and reliable antivirus program can protect your business from intrusions, alerting you to potential threats, and preventing your computers and network from receiving malicious software, viruses, malware, and ransomware. Unlike unmanaged software-based antivirus programs, a managed solution makes sure that your system is free from risks.

Instead of leaving the vital protection of your network to a random staff member, our IT security professionals are able to focus on keeping your business secure. Computer Service Now provides industry-leading virus and malware protection, making sure that your antivirus solutions are active and that your subscriptions remain current.

Make education a priority

Staying up to date with the latest industry knowledge and trends is key to remaining on top of your game. Take advantage of online educational opportunities, conferences, and seminars to help keep yourself and your team competitive. No matter your industry, a quick Google search is sure to return a plethora of training and educational events across the country.

Want to conduct a company-wide training off-site? Rentacomputer.com’s experts can help you with all of your computer, tablet, iPad, and other business meeting needs. No matter where your event is, Rentacomputer.com can help. Get a quote for all your equipment needs today!

Install or upgrade your security cameras

Security cameras can help you identify everyday lapses in protocols that undermine the integrity of your safety program. Catching these slips allows you to prevent injuries and helps remind employees that safety is a priority for your company. Additionally, security cameras can help you identify areas where additional precautions are needed or specific groups of employees that could benefit from additional safety training. Not only will you be more compliant with OSHA and industry regulatory standards, but you’ll also be able to minimize injuries to employees that can lead to lost productivity for your company.

Camera Security Now is a leader in the workplace security camera industry and can provide long-term storage for all of your workplace security video for reference, training, and compliance purposes. We offer motion detecting, infrared, fisheye 360º, and Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras and cameras with audio recording abilities. Our expert technicians will install all of your equipment and can answer any questions your IT department may have. Get a quote for all of your workplace safety and security camera needs.

Make the most of your new year

The Role of Social Media for Small and Mid-Size Businesses

December 14, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

For small businesses with limited budgets, the role of social media in growing and advertising your small and mid-size business is enormous. Having a social media presence is a must for most small businesses, especially if you don’t have an established website. Your presence on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn can be your primary advertising opportunity and helps potential customers find out more about your business and services. With all of the responsibility of running your own small or mid-size business (SMB) it can be difficult to find time to set aside to properly manage your social media accounts but poorly managed social media accounts can spell the end of your emerging business. Read on to learn more about the role that social media plays in helping you build and establish your business and your company’s reputation with customers.

Lack of social media presence

With our increasing reliance on the internet for information, a potential customer’s first resource for finding a new business or service is often a quick web search. Developing a website takes significant time and effort, but establishing your business on social media is a quick solution to helping customers find you online.

Your social media accounts can also be used to consolidate your customer referrals and reviews. Your Facebook or Twitter page provides customers looking for your services with access to reviews of your business. If you don’t have a presence, it will be more difficult for potential customers to find you and they’ll be more likely to turn to another business that is easier for them to find.

Your social media persona

When you build your business from the ground up, you often become synonymous with your business. If your business and personal pages are intertwined, it’s more difficult for potential customers to distinguish between your SMB and you personally. Establishing a persona for your business that is separate from you as the owner is important for many reasons.

If your business’ social media page contains profanity or inappropriate or irrelevant content, you are probably doing great harm to your business and its professional image. You should also be careful to moderate your social media pages. Business pages can typically be set to require the page admin’s approval for comments to be visible to other viewers. If you receive a post comment that is inappropriate, simply block the comment from appearing on your page.

Handling negative reviews

It’s a fact of life for business owners – negative reviews will happen. Addressing these critiques with professionalism and ensuring that issues are dealt with appropriately can be an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive for your SMB.

Don’t engage in arguments with customers, competitors, or random commenters on your social media pages. Whenever possible, contact customers offline, either via email to get a better understanding of their concern and to correct any valid issues. After you’ve corrected the situation, ask your customer to post a new review or a revision to their existing review.

Always show your best face when dealing with customers. By truly listening to your customers’ complaints and taking the time to make it right, you are demonstrating to other existing and potential customers that you are dedicated to delivering quality customer service.

Show off a little

In an increasingly socially conscious world, customers want to learn more about the company’s they are doing business with. Your social media accounts can help your customers get to know more about your business, your social commitments, and your expertise in your industry.

Use your social media accounts to help customers become more familiar with your products, your manufacturing processes, where you source materials from, who your employees are, and all about your community efforts. Post associate spotlights singing the praises of a highly dedicated employee. Share photos of your volunteer day your larger customer community. Show off the awards and certifications that your business earns from community and industry groups. Are you hosting a company event? A great way to show off your business and get your audience engaged in your social media page is to have a live feed of your social media account during trade shows or corporate events using HDTVs, video walls, or tablet rentals!

Your social media should also be used to establish your business’ expertise in your niche. Posts should be relevant to your customers and encourage them to learn more about you and visit your location. Share relevant information and posts from other sources so that customers get used to coming to your page for information they need on your industry. The more information you provide, the more clients will see you as a trusted source they can turn to when they need services in your field.

Learn to use social media like successful businesses do

Just because your business is small or mid-size doesn’t mean that you can’t play the social game like the big boys in your industry. By setting aside time to carefully curate your content and create thoughtful posts you can help potential customers discover your services while setting yourself up as the go-to business to meet their needs.

Running an SMB can be a challenge. SMB Now provides tips, expert advice, and information about the services that you need to help make running your business easier. Visit us often to stay up-to-date with SMB Now and follow us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.