Successful Mobile Search leads to visits and sales

Over 50% of local searches are performed using mobile phones and 70% of these result in an action within one hour. This means a phone call, visit or purchase.

The introduction of Google+Local means that a listing here can rate a local business above most national brands.

85% of Smartphone users have searched for local businesses.  We can help you make you more visible to this new source of business which has grown by 400% since 2010. 

So, sign up for Google+Local, make your site visible and get noticed by new customers.


What's different about mobile search?

Consumers use mobile search differently from static searches.  They are looking to satisfy an immediate need from a business near to them.  They want to find a coffee or a hotel or a bar or a salon which will provide them with what they are looking for right now.
Research suggests that they do not spend a long time browsing but they do like a rich visual experience. They do not waste time with websites which are difficult to read or navigate or which are too cluttered.
 They are in a hurry. After locating a business on their phones 40% visited in person.
This gives you a fantastic opportunity if you have the simple tools to take advantage of it.

Google+ Local

Google is leading mobile search with the introduction of Google+ Local which is a free directory of local businesses. You just need to sign up.

The Vital Difference

What is so important is that Google are now placing Google+ Local listings on the first page of their search results.
Google + Local results are placed even higher on mobile phone searches giving a clear advantage to local businesses.

                                           
                                           Social Recommendation

Brands know social recommendations such as 'tweets' and Facebook 'likes' drive sales. Google+ Local search ranking are partly determined by these recommendations.

Up to 50% of all social recommendations now come from mobile devices. Your App allows one- touch access to social media to fully exploit its potential.

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Facebook Released Timeline For Business Pages Today!

Top Highlights of the Facebook Timeline for Business Pages:

Cover Photo: here is your billboard. Use the photo (851 x  315px) to engage users and present images with which they will positively respond

Pinned Posts: You can choose a post to be listed at the top of your timeline for up to 7 days. Use this post to express your weekly specials, your unique selling proposition, etc. Make it interesting.

Photos and Videos: These are now more prominent than the standard profile photos. Photos and Videos increase engagement among readers, so make them interesting and relevant to your audience.

Milestones: Create full width posts (photos can be 843 x 403px) for important events, achievements, and happenings in your business. Did you win an award, honor your 1,000th customer, open a new location? Create a milestone for it.

Apps: Page width for Apps can now be adjusted between the standard 520px to the expanded 810px.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Nothing has been bigger recently then the rise of social media. Social media can offer many benefits for small business owners, anything from brand awareness to customer engagement just to name a couple. One of the most important things your taught no matter what your are selling is to engage the customer in conversation, rather then trying to just quickly sell them your services. Social sites like Facebook & Twitter are great avenues to engage potential Customers. Over sometime they get to know you, feel comfortable with you and when the time is right and the need for the type of service you are selling comes along you can bet that they will buy from you before they buy from someone who is selling the samething but they have no relationship with.

You also have the great advantage of the credibility factor, people hearing about your business through family and friends.  I watch this first hand everyday. I run social media campaigns for several companies, my client Hair By Marissa is a great example. When I  started her facebook  fan page Besides getting her fans up to 150 in the first week, she also got 4 new clients that week and with in the first 5 weeks had close to 30 new client. Her page is being followed by close to 300 people now. When one women posted a comment about how great her hair came out one of her friends booked an appointment the next week. These types of comments are left on company fan pages all the time.  You can't get this type of daily feedback about you business with and Ad in the yellowbook or pennysaver.

In a report on why social media is worthy of a small business owners time, Business-week's Steve McKee notes the ability of the web to "level the playing field" between large and small businesses. Social media has taken off, he says, and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Jay H

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