You don’t need to be a marketing whiz to understand that customer reviews are vital to your business’s growth. Ask any local business owner who has spent time improving their web presence, and they’ll tell you: Customer reviews can make or break your business. For instance, most people are aware that: The majority of U.S. […]
Your business can’t have an effective online presence if it doesn’t have any customer reviews. Why? Because when people are hiring a new business, they want to be sure they’re making the right choice. Reading about other people’s experiences helps them decide which business will best align with their needs. They’ll be able to see […]
At Prospect Genius, we’re pushing to improve our own web presence through increased customer reviews and social media activity. As we embark on this long-term project, we thought it would be helpful to illustrate why it’s so important for your company to have a large pool of customer reviews online. In fact, customer reviews might […]
Day in and day out, you’re churning out terrific work for seemingly appreciative customers. You have no shortage of confidence in the quality of your services. So how come your online presence doesn’t reflect that? Why aren’t your company’s customer reviews pages brimming with five-star ratings? Unfortunately, it’s not enough to perform dependable dryer repairs […]
Got Reviews? It used to be that just having a website was enough to set you apart from your competitors. But now, everyone has a webpage, and you have to set your site apart somehow… For many, the solution they choose is to make their website flashy and unique. That’s good and fine, but when […]
You know the old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”? Sometimes you want to shout that at your computer screen when you read a negative customer review about your local business. But guess what? Customers who complain are actually doing you a favor. Now, hear us out. […]
I’ve mentioned in the past just how important it is to have customer reviews on your Google Places listing, but it’s vital enough that I can’t say it too often! Reviews are a great way for prospective customers to evaluate your business by seeing what past clients are reporting about their experience. But that’s not […]
Have you ever offered a promotion on a daily-deal site like Groupon or LivingSocial? The experience of running a Groupon or LivingSocial promotion can be a mixed bag, to say the least. On one hand, you make a lot of new contacts and your phone rings off the hook for a short time. On the […]
Are you like the countless other small business owners who have been feeling frustrated—to say the least—with Yelp’s review filter? It’s okay if you are. Prospect Genius certainly is, too. Half of the frustration comes from how much Yelp’s review filter obviously favors paid advertisers. The other half comes from how skillfully Yelp seems to be covering it up. […]
You keep hearing about how important it is to have customer reviews on your Google, Yelp, and Facebook listings. In fact, a majority of what you’ve heard has probably come straight from us. After all, we’re always harping on the fact that customer reviews are crucial because they improve your SEO and make you more appealing […]
They say you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet—but try telling that to online consumers. A recent study shows that nearly 80% of consumers in the U.S. and Canada trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. That’s why our blog covers the topic of customer reviews so heavily. With the vast majority of […]
Customer Reviews Are Invaluable When a customer gives you a glowing review of the work and service you provided, you’ll want to spread the word as much as possible. In doing so, you’ll let prospective customers know that one of their peers has already vouched for the quality of your company. This kind of exposure […]
As a business owner, reputation management is an integral part of maintaining a positive image for your company, especially when it comes to your Internet presence. Given the immense number of online business directories and consumer complaint forums, it’s fairly easy for anyone to post reviews of your business for public viewing. Unfortunately, this means […]
Pictures: Why Your Website May Be Dead in the Water Without Them Online advertising has one goal, right? To get your website ranking as well as possible with search engines like Google and Bing. However, using the right keywords, linking strategies, and off-page work to make your site rank highly isn’t always enough. That’s because […]
Have you noticed a new type of sponsored result on Google’s search results pages? These ads are for Google’s new platform, Local Services, which Google designed to promote local service providers like plumbers, electricians, handymen, cleaners, locksmiths, and the like. According to the official website, “Local Services ads help you connect with people who search […]
New year, new internet? Well, the internet’s changes may not be quite that dramatic. However, as we always say at the beginning of a new year, it’s smart to look ahead and see what you need to watch out for. The surest way to succeed is to prepare, after all. From far-reaching Google updates to […]
For new businesses, there’s a lot to do when you first set out on your venture. Unfortunately, there’s no book or step-by-step guide that tells you everything you need. Sure, there are countless articles and e-books about the fundamentals, but the nitty-gritty stuff you have to do for your web presence often remains a guessing game. […]
Another day, another article about millennials, right? We get it. You’re sick of hearing about them. However, we ask you to bear with us this time—because this is directly related to your small business’s marketing efforts. Millennials are the largest living generation today. According to the 2015 U.S. Census, our country has more than 83 […]
Raise your hand if you wish Google would stop making secret updates already! Just when you think you’ve mastered local search, Google launches a change that turns everything on its head. This time, it’s the Hawk update. This latest update has serious, wide-reaching consequences for small, local businesses like yours. It’s crucial you understand the […]
Sick of hearing about how important Facebook is for your local business? Sorry, but you’ll have to get used to it! We can’t stop talking about Facebook—that’s how critical it is to your overall web presence. With more than 2 billion active monthly users, Facebook is indispensable. However, in all our talk of how important […]
Today, Facebook essentially doubles as a business directory. It provides businesses with their own pages to display contact information, details about products and services, photos, and more. In this sense, Facebook pages aren’t much different from Google My Business listings. That’s why a growing number of people aren’t even using Google for local business searches […]
How many times have you heard Google claim its most recent update is designed to improve user experience? We hear this claim so frequently, it’s fair to call it Google’s M.O. However, when Google refers to users, is it really referring to advertisers? The truth is, for many users—particularly small business owners who seek local […]
Want more add-on options for your Prospect Genius campaign? Looking for ways to get more bang for your buck? Then, keep reading—because we have some great options for you. As you know, we’re committed to growing with our clients. We aren’t interested in quick fixes. Instead, we want long-term visibility and lead generation for you. […]
Be on the lookout for any changes to your Google star rating! Seeking to provide a valuable user experience, Google has long highlighted customer reviews and star ratings on its business listings. However, Google has altogether changed the way it determines and displays a business’s star rating. Of course, it’s still based on customer reviews, but it […]
You want to be one of the first local businesses people see when they search for products or services you offer. Obviously, you know that to be prominent and visible in local search results, you need placement on Google Maps. So, it makes sense that you would start your online marketing efforts with a Google […]
Does it feel like David vs. Goliath out there for your small business? Big companies may be able to outspend you on ad campaigns and merchandising, but there are areas where ad spend has no power. One such area is word of mouth. Glowing reviews and personal referrals are just as good as—if not better than—any […]
If you’ve been frustrated with how difficult it is to monitor activity on your Google My Business account, you’ll be relieved to hear about some updates that just rolled out. Most notably, business owners are excited about an update that now pushes notifications to your dashboard. You can see in real time things like new […]
You’ve heard the saying, “Two heads are better than one.” You’ve probably heard it too many times to count. It’s so ingrained in our minds, in fact, that we apply it to virtually every situation we find ourselves in. However, there are many scenarios in which two heads are NOT better than one. Online advertising […]
With the growing emphasis on local rankings in Google Maps, it’s easy for business owners to forget about the significance of traditional SEO and organic search rankings. Thankfully, a recent article by Christopher Ratcliff reminds business owners of the enduring importance of organic SEO—especially as it relates to local rankings. The article discusses how Google revealed […]
You hire an online advertising company because you don’t want to do all the work yourself. We get it. But here’s the thing: Any worthwhile campaign is going to require a mild amount of effort on your part. Unless you want drop-you-in-a-directory, cookie-cutter advertising, you can’t be completely hands off when it comes to your campaign. You […]