ken – mKDmedia

Improving Your Business Visibility Online

Apr 4, 2024 by ken 0 Comments

Improving the visibility of your business all about putting your business on the map in local searches when customers are searching for a business like yours.

Running a business is hard work.

You might have a steady flow of loyal existing customers, but you always need to make sure we have a stream of new people.

Keeping your website up to date can be hard work, too. And your SEO might need a serious update — or maybe you’ve never done much with it at all, thinking it was too difficult or too expensive.

Because of this, we’ve put together several optimization strategies that we are currently helping our clients with.

All these methods are geared towards helping you rank as high as possible with Local Listings so that you can generate more sales for your business.

Optimize Your Website

The two most valuable things you need to do for your local business is to create a reasonable amount of high quality content for your website and do the basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

SEO optimization is the process of making your website’s page more attractive to search engines and users.

Search engine robots will rank highly optimized content higher on a search engine page than non-optimized content.

You should aim for quality over quantity, providing comprehensive information to your site visitors.

Search engines prefer sites that are regularly updated, this means that you can’t just create a bunch of pages and then let them sit for months at a time, hoping that your site traffic will improve.

On the other hand, if you are happy with the content on those pages, there’s no need to change them just for SEO purposes.

Instead, consider starting a blog. Even if you only post once a week, this will show search engines that your site is being maintained and updated regularly.

Claim or Create your GMB Profile

Today’s consumers want precision and they are used to immediate results, so the time you shell out to list your company on Google Maps is modest in comparison with the results you’ll get.

It’s very important to be found on Google and Google Maps.

If you are not there, your business will struggle to compete with other businesses in your industry, especially with those that are easily discoverable and do have a significant presence in Google Maps.

And to be found on Google maps, you need to either claim or create a new GMB Profile for your business.

Not appearing on Google Maps will mean that you don’t exist to a lot of buyers, therefore, you need to pay special attention to Google tools if you want to increase your sales and revenue.

Staying on top of your Reviews

If you are contemplating purchasing a certain product, would you rather trust the claims made by the manufacturer/seller or the experiences of people who have bought the product?

It’s likely that you’d be more influenced by the opinions of your fellow consumers.

It’s important to consider that your customers would also have this same mindset when they’re planning to buy something from you.

When they see that a large percentage of people who have bought the product are raving about it, it could compel them to make the purchase too.

Many small businesses shun bad reviews or delete for fear of getting a bad image, but consumers can see right through that.

Small businesses should embrace reviews, even if they are good or bad.

Good reviews can help boost your rankings with search engines as well as bring in more potential clients.

But at the same time bad reviews are also useful because businesses can take points from these to further improve their services and product effectiveness.

The more people talk about your company, the more popular you get.

Being Relevant on Social Media

The best way to use social networking sites to improve your SEO rankings is to use them to interact with your customers.

Tweet, post, and like other content on social sites that make sense for your business.

Creating clear, good content that relates to your business and getting people excited about your product or helping solve their problems is the best way to turn browsing internet users into loyal customers.

Your job is to educate people about your business by delivering its advantages and give reasons why these social media users should become your customers.

You can definitely do this by sharing captivating stories, videos, images, downloadable guides, about your business.

Here’s why you should include social media optimization in your marketing plan:

It will help customers to find your brand
It’s an easy way to build and grow your customer base
It improves your ranking in search engines
It will build up connections with your target audience
It promotes your brand authority in a niche market

Reputation Management

Understanding Reputation Management: A Guide for Businesses

Feb 2, 2024 by ken 0 Comments

For any business, reputation is the linchpin of success. In our digital age, managing a business’s reputation extends far beyond just monitoring online reviews. It encompasses a holistic view of all online narratives about the business. From social media buzz to media coverage, each element plays a critical role in shaping a business’s public image.

Distinguishing Between Review and Reputation Management

It’s crucial to understand that managing reviews is only a slice of the broader reputation management pie. While review management focuses on optimizing local SEO and customer feedback, reputation management is a broader discipline. It often involves public relations professionals who strategize across various platforms, ensuring that the business’s image aligns with its desired public perception.

What Is Online Reputation Management?

Online reputation management (ORM) strategizes how a business orchestrates and enhances its online presence. This includes everything from managing customer interactions to securing positive media coverage and handling potential public relations crises effectively.

Why Online Reputation Management Matters

Your business’s reputation is invaluable. In an era where information is omnipresent, how your business is perceived online can significantly influence customer decisions. Effective ORM ensures that the narrative about your business is positive, which is crucial as most consumers research extensively online before making purchasing decisions.

The Broad Impact of Reputation on All Businesses

Whether a sprawling corporate entity or a quaint local store, what customers say about your business online can directly affect its prosperity. ORM is equally vital for all business scales, aimed at nurturing positive feedback and effectively addressing the negative.

Tools and Strategies for Effective Online Reputation Management

Fortunately, managing your online reputation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Various tools, from Google Alerts to specialized software like BrightLocal, are available to help businesses monitor their online presence. These tools allow businesses to respond quickly to customer feedback, track brand mentions, and manage reviews efficiently.

The Journey to Building an ORM Strategy

Building an effective ORM strategy starts with understanding your current reputation. Tools like Hootsuite and Awario can help track what’s being said about your business online. From there, businesses should conduct Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys to gauge customer loyalty and sentiment, crucial for shaping the ORM strategy.

Key Steps in Developing an ORM Strategy

Research and Monitoring: Begin by assessing how your brand is currently perceived across various channels.
Setting Goals: Define clear, measurable goals for what you wish to achieve with your ORM efforts.
Tactical Planning: Choose tactics that align with your goals, whether it’s enhancing review management, increasing social media engagement, or boosting public relations efforts.

Crisis Management and Public Relations

No business is immune to crises. Preparing a robust crisis management plan is essential for quickly mitigating negative situations. Additionally, proactive public relations can help in shaping a positive narrative about your business in the media.

A Holistic View of Your Business

Ultimately, effective ORM gives you a comprehensive view of how your business is perceived. It allows you to understand customer viewpoints, compare against competitors, and adjust strategies as needed. This proactive approach not only helps in recruitment by enhancing your business’s reputation but also drives better business decisions based on customer feedback and trust.

Conclusion: The Value of Online Reputation Management

In conclusion, ORM is a multifaceted area vital for any business aiming to thrive in today’s digital landscape. It’s about more than just managing reviews—it’s about actively shaping and influencing public perception through strategic actions across multiple channels. With the right approach, ORM not only brings your business closer to your customers but also fosters a stronger, more resilient brand.