The Argument for Google+ As Your Website

Google wants you to use their products, they reward you for using their products:

• Google+ is the first social network shown to people searching for your business. 
• Google Reviews are shown prominently when your offer is Googled (i.e. pizza in Brooklyn, NY) 
• Your listing is ranked (partly) on the availability of information you've made available to Google and the number of reviews on your business. 

So, if it's true that 97% of people have Googled a small business, why not host your businesses' online presence on Google+? Promote Google Reviews, delete your Facebook, and let your business be a beautiful piece of the 97%'s Googling experience. 

I love how Google+ shows how many visits have been made to your page. How many of you actually keep tabs on web traffic? With the view count on every Google+ page you'll at least have a sense of reach. And the numbers are big! I pulled these views numbers from local businesses with 10 reviews or less: 

• Sciarrino's Pizza - 7 reviews - 66k views
• Season's Pizza Newport - 4 reviews - 136k views
• Pizza Pro - 8 reviews - 55k views

Point is, if you don't want to worry about a Facebook a Twitter a Pinterest a Website - don't. The only thing that will happen is Google will make it easier for your business to be found. Create Events, share photos & new offers, and respond to reviews. 

Start on Google+

Let Your Customers Squeal

Small talk has always involved high praise. "Have you tried this place?" "You have to go here." "We did this." "We did that!" "He learned to make heat, a fire he calls it, I'm sure he could do it for you!" We don't need a well funded study, a new marketing book or an ad guru to prove to us that people talk about great service. There's something special about being able to answer a friend's question. To be their Google in real time, it's something we don't pass on. So when somebody mentions in passing that they're looking to renovate the kitchen (you just renovated your kitchen!) or they need a good place for their anniversary dinner (your other friend just had a great birthday dinner at that Italian place!), we squeal.

"This guy did an incredible job in my kitchen! I'll send you his number at least give him a call!" 

"I heard that Italian place was unbelievable, Italianos. Give it a search online." 

Small talk is still the same in nature, we still love to squeal, but it's not so small anymore. Now comments go online, public displays of loyalty are found on your profiles, the great products and services are being rewarded for being great. 

Not all of us squeal online. Some wait for a friend to mention a need in passing. But many of us do squeal online. Many of us are Yelp Elite members, others check-in on Facebook for their Friends to see. It could be to help the business raise awareness, or to help friends find something cool, whatever it is - it ends in a squeal. 

How can you make it easier for your customers to squeal online? 

Often someone will search your business for hours (are they open?) or a menu (do they have steak?), prices too, and much more. Each time they search for that one answer, they find many more. They see the whole show, not just the scene. They'll notice when you have many Google Reviews or just a few. They'll notice when a Facebook page pops up and (if you're not active) they won't. The customers that squeal, the ones that just enjoy reviewing, for any reason, you want to give them the chance to do so. 

Get started on Google Reviews and Facebook Reviews by asking some of your most loyal patrons to give you a shoutout. Don't say 'follow us' and leave it at that, they want to help! Say 'show us some love' and they will! 

Google+ and Customer Reviews

Google+ is important for a local business for 2 reasons:

1. It has hundreds of millions of users (estimates vary. We'll settle on 'huge') 
2. It impacts your search engine optimization 

The network itself is very easy to setup and maintain. Business information, news, whatever it is you choose to share. Where you'll want to take advantage of Google+ is in Customer Reviews. Think about how someone finds your business online. 

• Google Search ("Pizza in Delaware") 

We judge by star count and review count. In all likelihood, someone searching for a local service will weed out the weak in 2 clicks: 

• Choose one that looks good (Seasons?) 

• Read first reviews available ("2.8? hmm..")

Encourage your customers to leave feedback on a specific day, or for a reason - have a call to action! "Google Reviewer wins..." "Google Reviewer gets loyalty card with 3 stamps filled out.." 

Next Click

Our recommended starter guide on Search Engine Optimization : SEOMoz "The Beginners Guide to SEO" 

Claiming Your Business Online

Claiming your business on sites like Yelp, FourSquare, and Google My Business gives you more control over your business' online profile. By claiming, you can create paid promotions on the sites and control all of the information. Yelp has a few paid options like profile enhancements and promoted offers. FourSquare gives you the chance to grab nearby customers looking for an incentive to try a new place with a discount. Google My Business is increasingly important in your SEO efforts. 
Claiming is easy for all three sites and an important 1-time exercise so all of your business information is forever available online. Below we've listed the steps to claiming your business on each site and links to more helpful recourses. 
FourSquare 

• Visit your business's Foursquare Page. 

• Scroll down to 'Claim this Listing' 

• Enter your phone number.

• Verify.

• Pay $20.

 From Foursquare...For Business: https://support.foursquare.com/hc/en-us/categories/200071594
Claiming your business: https://support.foursquare.com/hc/en-us/articles/201063930-How-to-claim-you…
FourSquare Tools: http://business.foursquare.com/your-customers/
Metrics: https://support.foursquare.com/hc/en-us/articles/201064250-How-to-view-anal…

Tip
Many FourSquare users sign up using their Twitter accounts, so when they check in they share on Twitter. FourSquare gives you access to their Twitter handles. If you also manage a Twitter account, reach out to those checking in through FourSquare's Analytics. 


Yelp 

• Search your business here. https://biz.yelp.com/signup

• Create your owner account. 

• Answer your business's phone when Yelp calls. 

• Fill out the information, add photos, respond to user reviews. 

From Yelp..
Yelp Ads: https://biz.yelp.com/support/advertising
What to do with your Business Account: https://biz.yelp.com/support/using_business_account
Case Studies: https://biz.yelp.com/support/case_studies

Google My Business
Edit your business info on Search, Maps & more. 

• Request verification by mail (sent to business address) or phone (business location phone) 
• Enter verification number

• Edit info & respond to reviews

Tip 
Google is the #1 search engine in the world. Search engines crawl the internet for relevant information based on a user's search history, keywords, and more. Be sure to fill out all information using words unique to your business and location so more people can find you.


Before You Go Tips..
Use sites like Yext to claim your business on indexes across the internet. 
Often times Yelp will not show reviews from dissatisfied customers. If you'd like to see all of your reviews scroll down and select 'hidden reviews'.