Hi.
I'm Maile Ohye.
This video is our fourth in the series
to help you bring your local business online.
Having covered the preliminary steps, the goal for this video
is implementation.
My best advice is to begin by creating or expanding a Google+
page for your local business.
Creating Google+ pages require little technical skill
and they're fairly straightforward since
your value-add is already determined.
Please reference the second video
for background on this topic.
Google+ pages help reach Google searchers on their desktop
or smartphone.
They accept reviews and can be used as a lightweight homepage
allowing posts, photos, videos, and interactions
with customers.
This is especially helpful if you don't have a website.
After your Google+ page, the second task is to expand
your presence to other relevant channels through which
potential online customers might find businesses similar
to yours.
To do this, reference the customer
journeys you identified in past videos.
What are the channels customers use the most
to find businesses similar to yours?
Try to estimate the time and difficulty
of developing a presence on each channel.
Prioritize putting your business on the most
effective and efficient channels.
Remember there's no need for you to have
a presence on every channel, just
the ones that make the most sense for your local business,
taking into account your time and technical expertise.
After all, you still have a business to run.
Go ahead and develop a presence on the relevant channels.
There's Yelp, common in the U.S. for customers
referencing reviews.
Facebook, often supported with personal referrals.
LinkedIn, common for businesses when credentials matter.
Twitter, for real-time time info, deals, or offers.
And many others.
As you're working on these channels,
remember to put yourself in the shoes
of your potential customer and address their needs.
The third task is to include the basics-- address, phone number,
hours, rates, and areas you serve.
This information is your call to action.
For the fourth task, let customers
know that your business is online.
If you have a presence in one of their favorite channels,
it's easier for them to write a review.
Reviews can help increase customer engagement.
This brings us to the fifth task,
building strong engagement.
This topic is covered in the next video.
However, a few quick tips.
Remember to state your value-add and answer potential
customers' most common questions like, are you qualified?
And, are your customers happy?
If you have multiple online channels,
the sixth task is to make sure they cross-link and reference
one another.
This helps unify your online presence.
For example, you Google+ page can reference
your business's Yelp page, Facebook page, et cetera.
You can find more information about how
to build a cohesive online strategy
in the last video in the series.
The seventh implementation task is
to consider building a website if your online goals can't
be fulfilled with the existing channels
and available resources.
I've made a video that can help when designing a website.
It's titled "SEO for startups in under 10 minute."
Once these tasks are completed, you've
finished the heavy lifting required in this video.
Now when you look at the customer funnel,
you should have something to offer visitors at every stage.
You've created a presence on common customer channels,
provided a value-add if possible,
listed your business's basic information as a call
to action, and helped customers to convert-- whether that's
giving you a call, sending an email,
or walking through your storefront.
And of course, once visitors meet you,
your great personal touch can turn first time customers
into loyal repeat customers.
Let's wrap up this video with best practices.
First, facilitate a referral loop with your customers.
Let them know that they can find you online
and that you really appreciate feedback.
Second, avoid copying reviews from one site to another.
Duplication isn't helpful and can
feel deceptive to potential customers.
Third, remember your login details--
username, email address, and create strong passwords
for each of your online channels.
Fourth, ask tech savvy friends or family members
who love engaging with social media or online profiles
for help or feedback.
It's always good to hear fresh perspectives.
The last best practice I'd like you to consider
is viewing the final two videos in the series.
You'll learn how to separate your business
from the competition.
For now, congratulations on getting your business online.