New Customers Can Find You

If you own a business you can’t ignore the Internet. The Internet is quickly replacing the yellow pages as the primary tool for finding local products and services. Big companies know this and are using the Internet to increase their sales.

For a small local business the opportunity is that customers who have never heard of your business can find you online and show up at your door. Ignore this source of new customers and you are giving away business to your competition. 

In 2005 there was 12.5 billion dollars spent on online advertising a new record. Big companies are shifting their ad dollars from print and television ads to Internet Ads. Even more traditional companies like Ford Motor Company are spending more online.

Big Business Capitalizing Online
How do big companies use the Internet to increase their business? Big companies spend millions creating web sites that make it easy for customers to find their store, buy online, and see all the products and services they offer.

Local Business Online
As a small business owner you don’t have a room full of Internet experts. The good news is you don’t need it. Once you understand this opportunity and the enormous amount of customers it can bring you ready for the next step; promoting your business online so you can get found.

Get Found How it Works
How do consumers use the Internet and how does that translate into business.  Go to one of the three big search engines Google, Yahoo, or MSN and search on the phrase that best describes your business. Does your business or website show up on page one of the search results? Does it show up at all?

How Do Customers Find You Online?
We recently surveyed several small business owners a bike shop, a marine electronics store, a veterinarian, the local hardware store, an insurance agent, a realtor, an Italian restaurant, and a flooring store.

We asked them one question: How do customers find your web site?

The answers were a surprise:

• We print it on our water bottles
• We put it on our business cards
• It’s on all our paperwork

These business owners were not aware of the real opportunity that an effective web presence can deliver. They were using their websites as a way to service their existing customers not as a tool to get new customers.

Consumers searching on line (who have never heard of your business) can find your business on the Internet.

Do You Need a Website for Your Small Business?
Assuming you want new customers to find you on the Internet the next question is do you need a website to get found? The answer is not necessarily there are a variety of methods that allow you to put your business information online.

How to Get Found
There are a variety of ways to get found by consumers on the Internet. Our focus is on local shoppers looking for products and services who are using the Internet. Data indicates that 63% of shoppers that search online actually buy local. In most cases they buy from a large box store because that is they find when they search online.

Ways to Get Found

• Your Business Website
• Online Advertising
• Business Listings in Directories
• A Website within an Online Marketplace

Build it and They Will Come
Getting a website built is fairly simple these days. And if your goal is to print your website address on your business card and have your current customers visit the website it’s easy.

But if your goal is to get new customers through the Internet you need more than an online brochure. Part two of this series will detail a variety of ways your small business can get found online.

Comments about: New Customers Can Find You

Name

Email

Your Comments/Question

Enter this word...

...into this field:

 

Remember my personal information | Notify me of follow-up comments?