Small business owners run into some real challenges when it comes to marketing their business. Often they can’t afford to hire a full-time (or even a part-time) marketing specialist. They may outsource their marketing. In some cases, they may even have to take care of it themselves. That’s not a simple task, particularly for people who are already wearing multiple hats throughout the work day.
Marketing is especially important when it comes to connecting with mobile users. Research shows that 46% of all searches on Google are local searches. Owners of brick and mortar business can’t afford to ignore mobile marketing.
Luckily, there are some methods to make the job a bit easier than it otherwise would be. These online tools and apps can provide local business owners with the resources to stay on top of their marketing even in the flurry of a busy workday. Here are seven of our top picks.
It should come as no surprise that Google My Business is atop our list. Google is working to make it easier than ever before for mobile users to browse for local business from their smart phones or tablets. The “Okay Google” feature is voice activated, making it simple for people to search companies even when they’re driving.
Google My Business is free, but you’ll have to get things set up properly to reap the rewards of using it. To start, click here to provide information about your business. You should fill out your profile completely and upload a variety of pictures.
Once you’ve completed that, you can utilize this tool to access detailed data about how and when people are searching your business. You’ll be able to find:
- The number of clicks and views you acquire
- Reviews of your business
- Requests for map directions to your business
- Traffic information for your website
It’s extremely user-friendly and you can use the information you collect to improve and expand your marketing.
Did you know that Yelp gets 145 million unique visitors each month? That’s a pretty extraordinary number for any site. It’s even more impressive when you consider that many people won’t visit a business without checking out reviews on Yelp first.
If you haven’t already claimed your business on Yelp, you should do so immediately. Make sure to review all of the information there and correct mistakes as need be. Once you have updated your information, you can download the mobile app by clicking here. You should also add photos to give people an idea of what to expect from your business.
Using the app, you can manage every factor of your Yelp page. You’ll be able to:
- Read and respond to customer reviews
- Track leads
- Monitor customer engagement
- Answer customer questions and deal with customer service problems
Remember that negative reviews represent an opportunity to show customers that you care about their experience. Respond professionally and politely and you may even convince people to think over and revise their reviews.
An important aspect of local marketing is reputation management. As much as you might like to believe that you can control what people say about your business online, that’s not always true. Google Alerts can help you keep an eye on it.
To set up Google Alerts for your business, all you need to do is sign in to your Gmail account and go to Google Alerts. From there, you’ll be able to type in your business name to receive an email alert – and a push notification if you desire – every time your company is mentioned online.
You may also want to utilize Google Alerts to track the competition. Knowing where and how your competitors are mentioned can be extremely useful. It may even help you track down new online marketing opportunities.
It can be easy to lose sight of Bing because it remains hidden in Google’s shadow. However, it’s important to consider that, despite its second-place status, 33% of all internet searches are done on Bing. That’s too big a number to look past.
The process for utilizing Bing Places for Business is similar to that for Google My Business. You’ll need to click here to claim your business profile and complete the required information. Here again, remember, to add photos.
Once you’ve completed your profile, you’ll have to verify your business. You’ll get a PIN in the mail or via text message. After that, you’ll be able to monitor and reply to reviews, update information, and track search traffic and clicks.
One interesting thing about using Bing is that some of your competitors may not be using it thanks to Google’s dominance. Fine-tuning your profile can help give you a leg up when it comes to distinguishing yourself from the competition.
The chances are good that you already have a Facebook page for your business. But if you’re not managing it correctly, you may not be getting the most from it. Fortunately, the Facebook Pages Manager mobile app can help.
Using the app, you can:
- Receive push notifications for activity on your page
- Post status updates and other content
- Reply to comments and questions
- Answer messages
- Track your content’s performance
It’s an easy way to manage your Facebook page on the move.
This last tool isn’t a mobile app, but it’s one that can help you attract traffic to both your website and social media pages.
AnswerThePublic is a free online tool that helps business owners and online marketers choose which questions in their niche or industry the public most wants answered.
The benefit of using a tool like this one is that it can help you spot trends and hot topics. All you need to do is enter your chosen keyword and your country. You’ll be left with a list of questions that you can use to create content. You’ll know before you start writing that the topic you’ve chosen is one that people want to know and read about.
Mention is monitoring software that allows companies to keep of track their company’s reputation on social media and on the web. You can download their mobile app for iOS or Android by clicking here.
Once you have the app installed on your phone, you’ll be able to:
- Track performance of your social media accounts and posts
- Manage your social media content from the dashboard
- Communicate with members of your staff or your social media team
- Locate influencers in your industry or niche
It’s a comprehensive tool that you can use to take your local marketing to the next level.