{"id":11527,"date":"2019-04-29T04:00:28","date_gmt":"2019-04-29T09:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/?p=11527"},"modified":"2019-04-29T04:00:28","modified_gmt":"2019-04-29T09:00:28","slug":"online-visibility-local-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/online-visibility-local-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ins and Outs of Online Visibility for Local Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The days of competing with local businesses via storefront window displays and newspaper ads are long gone. Sure, traditional methods of advertising still hold value, but it\u2019s pretty much impossible for any business to survive without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/diy-seo-audit-business-presence\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=diy_seo_audi_pt1\">online visibility<\/a> \u2013 particularly a local business. It\u2019s just the way of the world nowadays.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cb-advice\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/seo-tools\/local-visibility-report\/?utm_source=Blog_Banner&#038;utm_medium=Blog_Content_Banner&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Banner&#038;utm_content=can_local_business_be_found_find_out_now\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Visibility-Report.png\" class=\"acb-banner-image\" alt=\"Check Your Online Visibility Report\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Visibility-Report.png 700w, https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Visibility-Report-300x107.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Without an optimized presence online, local businesses will struggle to stay relevant and appeal to local customers. In fact, a company\u2019s online visibility (and presence on search engines) can make or break it. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n<h2>Online Visibility Draws in Potential Customers and Profit<\/h2>\n<p>Shockingly, about <a href=\"https:\/\/clutch.co\/website-builders\/resources\/small-business-websites-2018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a third (36 percent) of small businesses<\/a>\u00a0still don\u2019t even have a website. This makes it incredibly difficult for customers to find the business through anything other than word of mouth or traditional advertising. Considering that most customers expect local businesses to have some sort of website, this is a risky move that can decrease a business\u2019 appeal to future clients.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, according to Bazaarvoice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bazaarvoice.com\/resources\/the-robo-economy-infographic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">82 percent of smartphone users<\/a> consult their phones on purchases they are about to make in-store. If a local company doesn\u2019t have a website, or a presence with review sites like Yelp, Google or Bing, where will people find them?<\/p>\n<p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, many local businesses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/bdm\/us_age_naics_00_table7.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fail within their first year (20 percent)<\/a>. Another 50 percent will go under within five years, and roughly 80 percent fail within the first decade. It\u2019s not easy for small companies to survive in today\u2019s world, and finding new customers is a big part of that battle. Why not make it easier for people to find the business online? People don\u2019t just rely on family and friends\u2019 recommendations anymore; they do research and make decisions based on what they find online.<\/p>\n<p>Getting a business listed in the most popular directories and data sources is the place to start. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/best-directories-for-2019\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=best_directories_2019\">list of the best directories<\/a> can help with that. Companies like ours can help, too! <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.advicelocal.com\/blog\/schedule-a-demo\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=request_a_demo\">Request a demo<\/a> to see how local businesses benefit from our services.<\/p>\n<h2>Without Online Visibility, Where\u2019s the Business\u2019 Credibility?<\/h2>\n<p>Fake news and online scammers have left many consumers hesitant to trust businesses, even if they\u2019re run by their next door neighbors. Local companies must first earn their customers&#8217; trust before they can expect to turn a profit or be referred to future clients. How? They need to prove that the business is real, authentic and reliable.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone researches companies before making a decision. When people research local businesses, they need to see that the companies are transparent and professional. Consumers should be able to find records of healthy interactions with customers and reviews from happy clients. It\u2019s also positive if the local business has a visible relationship with the community. People love to see that small companies donate to charities, help out with events, or simply acknowledge local happenings and holidays.<\/p>\n<p>Another source of credibility is original content. Blogs, interviews, videos, infographics and email newsletters can all help local businesses establish their place as an expert in their respective field. This boosts their authority and online presence while also gaining potential customers\u2019 trust, all while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/how-to-improve-website-placement-with-content\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=improve_website_placement\">improving the business\u2019 place in search results<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Interacting With Customers Online Is Vital<\/h2>\n<p>One of the big reasons people love working with local businesses is that they\u2019re more personable than big corporations. Instead of interacting with a chatbot or outsourced customer service representative, consumers can hear from the actual business and its employees. The company\u2019s online presence can highlight this and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/local-content-marketing-infographic\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=local_content_marketing_infographic\">win more customers<\/a> who appreciate the personal aspect of business.<\/p>\n<p>Obviously, social media facilitates a great deal of consumer-company interactions. That\u2019s a smart start for local businesses, but don\u2019t stop there. Reviews (and the local business\u2019 reactions to them) can be extremely defining in the eyes of future customers. According to BrightLocal, at least 93 percent of consumers use reviews to determine if a local business is good or bad. Furthermore, 89 percent of consumers read businesses\u2019 responses to reviews.<\/p>\n<p>If a local business lacks an online presence, how will potential customers conduct research? Where will they find reviews that tell them whether or not to trust the company? In all honesty, we wouldn\u2019t trust a company that\u2019s invisible online. Would you?<\/p>\n<h2>The Risks That Come With Online Activity &#8211; And How to Handle Them<\/h2>\n<p>Many local businesses fear exposing themselves to the internet. They see how powerful a negative review or social media disaster can be, and they figure they\u2019re safer sticking to their old methods of customer interaction and advertising. Unfortunately, that train of thought will lead a small company to disaster in most cases.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, most businesses are visible, whether they realize it or not. Their data is listed in government databases and these databases are accessed by other data sources such as directories. The sources list the business\u2019 data on their websites, so whether the business is paying attention or sticking their head in the ground, they are most likely listed and simply not managing their data or reviews. Run our <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.advicelocal.com\/blog\/seo-tools\/local-visibility-report\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=free_visibility_report\">free online visibility report<\/a> and find out about a business for yourself today.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to keep in mind that negative reviews offer businesses the chance to respond in a positive manner. Even if the review was unfair, people will appreciate an apology and a gesture of professionalism on the part of the business. Similarly, negative press via social media can be handled in a manner that actually improves customers\u2019 view of the business. Customer service is extremely important to consumers, so don\u2019t be afraid to showcase how the business handles problems in a public manner.<\/p>\n<p>Another risk is the threat of online hackers and spammers. The local business should protect their website so that customers feel safe sharing private information or making purchases. Secure the website and indicate to users that it\u2019s safe. Consider adding a third-party trustmark that indicates the website poses no threats. Roughly <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mcafeesecure.com\/2018\/05\/02\/we-surveyed-hundreds-of-americans-about-their-online-shopping-habits-here-is-what-they-said\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">84 percent of consumers<\/a> have greater confidence in trustmarks they know and recognize.<\/p>\n<div class='tm-tweet-clear'><\/div>\n<div class='tm-click-to-tweet'>\n<div class='tm-ctt-text'><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=The+Ins+and+Outs+of+Online+%23Visibility+for+Local+Businesses+by+%40Advice_Local+%23SEO&#038;url=https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/online-visibility-local-businesses\/' target='_blank'>The Ins and Outs of Online #Visibility for Local Businesses by @Advice_Local #SEO<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=The+Ins+and+Outs+of+Online+%23Visibility+for+Local+Businesses+by+%40Advice_Local+%23SEO&#038;url=https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/online-visibility-local-businesses\/' target='_blank' class='tm-ctt-btn'>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n<div class='tm-ctt-tip'><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How Advice Local Can Help With Online Visibility<\/h2>\n<p>Consumers need to be able to find local businesses online in an instant. Without a strong online presence, a local company might as well be handing out paper flyers to an audience with their faces stuck in their phones and headphones in their ears. Very few people will find or trust the business, no matter how authentic it may be.<\/p>\n<p>At Advice Local, we recognize the importance of establishing a credible online presence from the get-go, especially when it comes to small companies. That\u2019s why we offer a free online visibility report! Local businesses can see just how easily potential customers can find them. Contact us today to <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.advicelocal.com\/blog\/schedule-a-demo\/?utm_source=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_medium=Blog_04_29_2019&#038;utm_campaign=Blog_Internal_Link&#038;utm_content=request_a_demo\">schedule a demo<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The days of competing with local businesses via storefront window displays and newspaper ads are long gone. Sure, traditional methods [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":11528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-listing-management","category-local-seo"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Ins and Outs of Online Visibility for Local Businesses | Advice Local<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A local business\u2019 online presence isn\u2019t just a way to advertise; it\u2019s how people learn to trust the company. Learn more at AdviceLocal.com.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/online-visibility-local-businesses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Ins and Outs of Online Visibility for Local Businesses | Advice Local\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A local business\u2019 online presence isn\u2019t just a way to advertise; it\u2019s how people learn to trust the company. 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