Doesn’t a Facebook Page for their business do essentially the same thing? There are many similarities between these two methods of promoting a business. However, there are also key differences that dictate which of these platforms is best for you.

We’ve had several clients ask if it would be OK to only have a Facebook Page and not a website. While a Facebook page can be a valuable piece of your online presence, your website is the foundation and stability that everything is built upon. 

The primary purpose of a website is to create a “home” on the internet where your customers can learn additional information about your business. A Facebook Page, on the other hand, is a great tool for connecting with your customers more easily and engaging consistently. Combining these valuable platforms is often the best way to create a curated customer experience.

At McWilliams Media, we believe that a strong media strategy that utilizes several online platforms is the best way to both promote and grow a business of any size. From taking care of the time-consuming work of building your website to educating you on how to utilize your online presence in a way that works for you, we are constantly searching for ways to simplify media solutions for your business. By working with our friendly and experienced team to streamline your online presence, your business will thrive! 

Benefits of a Website for Small Businesses

Many small business owners shy away from a website. This is due to the many unknowns that come with this territory. How do you know what to add to your website? What is SEO? Where does one even begin?

The good news is that many web design businesses (like ourselves,) can facilitate the entire process of creating a website so that it’s both easy and painless.

A Website is Your Business’ Online Home

The primary benefit of a website for your business is having a place to call “home” on the internet. When a potential customer comes across your business information on social media or hears of you through a friend, they are likely to look for further information. A website is the best way to communicate this information in a clear and effective manner.

By creating an authentic and engaging website, you will have the opportunity to share your message, service, or product through a carefully curated user experience.

From a practical standpoint, a business website is the most ideal place to display customer reviews, share detailed information on your products, and generate product sales.

This crucial content can often be buried deep in a Facebook Page, making it nearly impossible to access. A well-designed website combines all the necessary information in a detailed and organized manner while creating an experience that is aesthetically appealing.

Websites Establish Credibility for Your Small Business

We have all experienced the unsettling feeling of coming across an exciting product advertised on social media, only to look for additional information with no success. Unfortunately, many small business owners rely entirely on social media platforms as a way to promote and sell their products. This simply does not promote a professional image. 

A well-designed website establishes credibility for both your company and the products or services you offer. You can think of a website as your business’s first impression. Anyone can create a Facebook Page, only serious business owners invest in designing a website.

You Own Your Website

One of the biggest downfalls of relying solely on a social media platform such as a Facebook Page for business purposes is that you do not own your information!

Any information or content which is shared through a Facebook Page becomes the property of Facebook. They have complete control over what exists on your Facebook Page and can choose to remove your content at any time without your consent. 

In addition to this, Facebook, and other social media platforms use an algorithm which decides the order in which posts are shown to followers. This algorithm is constantly changing which can seriously impact how your followers access your business’s content. 

Although a website for your business requires an investment, it is a platform that you own. This allows you to promote your brand exactly how you wish. You should never build your business solely on platforms that are owned by others as this gives someone else control over your income.

Complete Control of User Experience

Facebook is a very user-friendly platform. Because of this, many small business owners are able to create a Facebook Page and utilize it with confidence. However, there are several limitations.

On a Facebook Page, you are able to update your cover photo and your profile. You can post curated information on your feed. Although Facebook offers many customization options, you are actually rather limited in what you can change.

A website provides you with complete control of the user experience. From the fonts you choose to the images you upload, your website can be an authentic and entirely unique experience.

When designing a website for a business owner, we work side-by-side to ensure that the website accurately depicts the message they wish to send to their customers. An impressive and well-designed website will lead to engaged users who turn into loyal customers. 

Encourages Creativity

Websites allow you to communicate your business in the most effective way. Whether this is through video, through informational text, or high-quality pictures, a website can easily accommodate any creative need.

There are no limitations as to what your website can be! Working with an experienced web design team allows you to express your creativity in a way that is effective in promoting your business.

Advantages of a Facebook Page for Small Businesses

There are many downsides to a Facebook Page for business owners. However, there are also several advantages that are unique to this social media platform. Because of this, we believe that every business owner should have an established Facebook Page to aid in the promotion of their company.

Facebook is a Free Platform

One of the most obvious advantages of a Facebook Page is the fact that Facebook is a free platform. Although you can pay to advertise your Facebook Page, the creation of the page and the sharing of content is entirely free. This leads many small business owners to utilize a Facebook Page over a website. 

The downside to the free use of this social media platform is that the content that is uploaded to your Facebook Page is no longer your own. Because of this, Facebook can use your images and other content in whatever way they wish.

In addition to this, your content can be removed or your Facebook Page disabled without any warning. Without a home on the internet in the form of a website, your customers will have no way of connecting with you in the event that your Facebook Page is abruptly disabled.

Easily Connect With Customers

The benefit of a Facebook Page and social media, in general, is that it allows businesses to quickly and easily connect with their customers. This can lead to a fiercely loyal customer base that feels as if they have a say in the way a company is run. Utilizing your business Facebook Page to foster this type of connection is an extremely beneficial marketing strategy. 

In addition to fostering genuine connections with your customer base, Facebook Pages also give you a platform on which to share engaging content.

Catchy memes, viral videos, and other types of engaging content can successfully promote your new service or product in a unique way. After a follower engages with your content through your Facebook Page, you will be able to send them to a curated website experience which will give them more detailed information on the services or products you provide.

Facebook is a Search Engine

Facebook, as well as other social media platforms, have quickly become a search engine for businesses. When an individual is looking to invest in a service or product, they are likely to search various social media platforms.

A Facebook Page is a great way to capture new customers. It is also highly beneficial in generating a strong interest in the service or products that you provide. Because your Facebook Page is an excellent way to capture the interest of new customers, it is important that the information on your page is accurate and up-to-date.

Ease of Use

Businesses are most successful when an owner can delegate tasks to their employees. Almost everyone in today’s day and age is capable of using social media platforms like a Facebook Page. Because of this, updating your Facebook Page becomes a task which you can easily delegate with little to no training.

A website, on the other hand, is a bit more complex. Adding content to your website can create formatting issues, or create inconsistencies in the design.

For this reason, it is usually best to leave the specifics of your website to the professionals. Luckily, the team at McWilliams Media is always available to quickly respond to your website needs. This is just another way we provide excellent customer service which seeks to make your life easier.

Creating the Ultimate Media Strategy for Your Small Business

As you can see, both a website and a Facebook Page provide unique benefits for your business. At McWilliams Media, we believe that creating a media strategy that promotes your services or products on multiple platforms is the best way to create a large, loyal customer base.

A website and a Facebook Page can be used in conjunction with one another to create and foster a loyal and engaged customer base. This will encourage increased income and unmatched growth in your business.

Consult With Media Professionals

If you are just starting out on a new business venture, or if you are looking to expand your online presence, it is important to first consult with experienced media professionals!

We are proud to offer free strategy sessions at McWilliams Media where we can discuss a plan of action that would be effective for your unique situation. During this strategy session, we will assist you in weighing the pros and cons of various media platforms. We will also share the many ways McWilliams Media can assist you in promoting and growing your business online.

Create a Strategic Plan

The online presence of your business is something that should be taken seriously. Both a website and a Facebook Page have the power to promote your business. In the same way, a poorly designed online experience can result in the loss of customers and important income. Creating a strategic plan for your online presence is the best way to ensure that your customers have a positive experience while interacting with your business.

Connect With Customers Consistently

Consistency is key! One of the best ways to foster a strong online presence for your business is by connecting with your customers on a consistent basis. Whether this is through a blog that resides on your website, or through engaging content on your Facebook Page, showing up is crucial.

The team at McWilliams Media knows that running a small business requires a lot of time and energy. Because of this, we provide you with creative solutions that allow you to connect consistently without all the work.  

How Do I Start? 

At McWilliams Media, we are proud to provide you with an individualized media experience that suits your needs. By scheduling a free strategy session, we will be able to assist you in creating a media strategy that is simple and effective. When you work with our experienced and friendly team, you are guaranteed to create an authentic online experience for the customers you have worked so hard to attain.

The post Website Or Facebook Page: Which Is Right For Your Business? first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

As a small business, setting up your Google Business can be a game-changer when it comes to your business’s online visibility and long term growth. However, there are several things you should consider when setting up your Google Business online. Here are the top five mistakes small business owners make when initially setting up their Google Business: 

1. Limiting Your Business Categories

Oftentimes, businesses will only choose one or two categories to define what type of services they provide. It is very rare, though, for a business to offer only one type or even only two different types of services. Google will actually allow you to choose up to ten categories for you to classify your business, and they provide over 3,000 categories to choose from. Choosing more categories will create more search visibility for your business when potential customers search for various keywords. So, make sure to add more categories!

2. Not Adding Media

It is no secret that our world is becoming increasingly more visually-oriented. Because of that, photos and videos make fantastic online tools to tangibly show people both what your business looks like and what it is all about. Examples of great photos and videos to add to your Google Business listing include either photos or a 360 video of your brick-and-mortar business (if you have one) or high-quality images that put on display the services you provide. For a restaurant or catering company, this may be photos from your menu. For a mechanic, you might upload photos of cars you have worked on.

3. Inconsistent Info Between Your Website and Google Business

If your address on your website says “1234 Location Ave.” and your Google Business says 1234 Location Avenue, this is confusing for Google’s ranking algorithms. This is extremely important if you want your website/Google Business to show up on Google searches. Google looks at consistent information as a point of criteria when ranking websites. That said, it important that your web address, phone number, and email address are also consistent.

4. Not Adding a Business Description

A business description helps customers to further understand what your business is all about. This is the place where you really have the chance to sell a customer on your value proposition, or what your business brings to the table. What is more, adding a business description is the perfect opportunity to add valuable keywords to your Google Business that will make it appear in more searches.

5. Not Responding to Reviews (Positive or Negative)

Do not just set up your Google Business and then forget about it! When you begin to receive reviews, it is important that you actually respond to them. This type of personal interaction is huge for prospective customers to see on your Google Business. It truly does not matter if the reviews are positive or negative as long as you are sincere and intentional in your response. In fact, responding kindly to negative reviews may even entice the negative reviewers to come back and change their ratings. 

The post 5 Mistakes Most Small Businesses Make When Setting Up Their Google Business first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

You have an idea for a business. Maybe it’s an innovative new product or a needed service that you know people will love. You do all the things a good entrepreneur should do, register your name with the state, write up a business plan, order some business cards, tell friends and family what you are doing, hyperventilate, tell yourself 1000 times a day that your plan will work, argue with yourself in the mirror about whether you are crazy or not. Last but not least you build a website. You are sure this is going to be the difference maker for your business. You hope that soon thousands will flock to your website daily to hand over money in exchange for your product or service. Right before you launch the site you wonder to yourself if Red is a bit too ostentatious of color for the yacht you will soon purchase. You decided you can probably figure that out later and send your new website and business out into the world.

Cue the crickets.

You start to realize that your shiny new website isn’t getting much traffic and therefore your stream of customers to your new business is not the stampede you imagined. Looks like you’ll have plenty of time to figure out that yacht color.

Welcome to a hard entrepreneurial reality, people won’t visit your site or buy from you because your website is new or shiny. People don’t buy when you are ready to sell, they buy when they are ready to buy. So the key to driving traffic to your site and sales to your company is connecting with the people that are searching for your product or service. To do that you are going to have to learn about something called Search Engine Optimization commonly abbreviated to SEO. SEO is more of an art than science, a vast and constantly changing field where the focus is understanding what search engines want and how they serve search results to people. The goal of good SEO is to help your website be found by the people who would benefit from it by optimizing keywords and content so that search engines serve those results first. In the world of SEO, there are two very important streams to understand, Organic SEO and Local SEO. We are going to look today at the difference between Organic SEO and Local SEO and how you can combine the two streams together to form a mighty river of people visiting your site. Bye. Bye Crickets. Hello Customers.

What is organic SEO? What is local SEO? Which one do I need?

Organic SEO revolves around a website and keywords. It is not necessarily attached to a geographical location or focused on driving traffic to a brick and mortar location. It is focused on keywords and driving traffic to that website based on people searching for those keywords regardless of where the individual searching may be located. Organic SEO is essential for national brands, internet marketers, and online businesses. Local SEO is similar to Organic SEO but has a strong geographical component to it. It is focused on building signals of relevance for search engines to pick up on regarding a specific location. It’s focus is to drive traffic in a certain area to a brick and mortar location. The big difference is in what the two streams are trying to show to search engines. In Organic SEO the goal is to get search engines to find relevant and trusted content. In Local SEO the goal is to get search engines to find relevant and trusted locations.

So which strategy for SEO should you use for your website?

Life has tough choices, for example when choosing which ice cream. Chocolate or vanilla. Thankfully a genius invented the twist cone and I am forever grateful. Why choose chocolate or vanilla when you can have both?

Local SEO vs Organic SEO can indeed be a twist cone scenario. A powerful and comprehensive SEO strategy will combine both strategies to their maximum impact to drive new customers to the website and business location. We are going to look at some key components for both SEO strategies and how to combine them together in an effective way. The results of a well-executed SEO strategy can be delicious. You just might go get a twist cone to celebrate.

Ways To Improve Local SEO

Local SEO is focused on making sure search engines find relevant and trusted locations. A primary goal of local SEO is for the website to place high in Google Maps for relevant keywords. Not all keywords trigger a local map, typically only the searches that Google determines to have local intent. One important concept of local SEO is a focus on citatations, (no, not the kind the traffic officer leaves on your window). Citations are references to your name, address, and phone number online. Common places for business citations to appear online are on directory sites like Yelp, Yahoo! Local, Manta, and many others. The goal of local SEO is to create a strong citation profile that lets search engines know that your locations are trusted places to go for people searching for certain keywords.

Optimized Google My Business Page

Wondering how to find a new gym? Wondering when your favorite restaurant closes? My guess is that last time you had those questions you grabbed your smartphone and entered in a search and that locations google location page popped up on your phone. Having an optimized Google My Business Page is absolutely critical for good local SEO. Unfortunately, many business owners neglect this important step and don’t even set up a verified page with Google! Over the years many changes and improvements have been made to Google Location listings. Now google offers a variety of features to business owners including the ability to post offers, posts, pictures, videos, and other media to present themselves better to customers. Do not leave a good Google local page out of your Local SEO strategy.

Verified Listings

One great strategy for local SEO is to make sure your business information is distributed across a wide range of web directories and listings. This would be sites like Yelp, Yellow Pages, Manta and many others. It is critically important to make sure your business information is consistent and accurate across all platforms and directories. Make sure your address, phone number, email, and website are correct and the same across the web. When there are inconsistencies across your listings search engines are less likely to trust that your location is a trusted and relevant location.

Ways To Improve Organic SEO

Strategies for organic SEO include researching and choosing relevant keywords for a website that has high amounts of traffic and achievable levels of competition. These keywords are then used strategically in website content to send signals to search engines that the website is a trusted and relevant source for people searching those keywords. Keywords are often used in page and blog copy and also added to the metadata of the page and images. Citations are the focus of local SEO but links are the focus of Organic SEO. A website that is connected with a strong link structure is more likely to be shown by search engines. Both internal links and external links are important components of a solid organic SEO strategy.

Keyword Optimization

The first step to keyword optimization is choosing the right keywords to try and rank for in search engine results. You want to research a wide list of keywords relevant to your business and then sort them based on the amount of traffic that keyword receives and the ranking difficulty level. Certain keywords have a large number of people contending for search engine traffic so they are more difficult to rank high on and be found on the first 1-2 pages of search results. You want to choose keywords that have the best balance of traffic and achievable competition for ranking.

After choosing your keywords focus on consistently creating content for your website that includes your strategic keywords in an intentional way. Create blog posts or pages that have your keyword inserted into the content several times so that search engines will identify it as relevant content for people searching for those keywords.

Links! Links! Links!

Citations are the name of the game for local SEO but links are the creme de la creme of Organic SEO. A well-designed website should focus on both a well designed internal link structure and also high-quality external links.

Can Local SEO and Organic SEO be combined?

Yes!! Although it’s important to understand the difference between both SEO strategies a comprehensive SEO strategy for most businesses should include a hybrid approach that combines the best of Local and organic SEO techniques. You should focus on both optimizing your site for the best keywords and also making sure that your business location is well verified and found by search engines as a trusted and relevant place. Combining the best of local and organic SEO techniques can be a powerful way to drive traffic to your site and new customers to your business.

The post Understanding SEO vs Local SEO first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

They may have claimed that they can scan your site and provide you with information that only experts can provide. They also may have claimed your website not being up-to-date, missing information, or lacking speed. These emails or calls may be full of promises about your business being able to leverage this success overnight and gain a large quota of sales quickly!

Tempting.

We know.

These scare tactics can convince anyone to jump in on the investment, but before you hand over any private or financial information we wanted to provide you with some valuable tips to help you recognize spam, as well as reasons as to why you should stick to the experts.

How to recognize spam:

• Unsolicited emails and/or comments left on your website from random companies or contacts that you have never had contact with before. These are often full of exaggerated promises that seem too good to be true – because they are.
• Consider the email address. For example, are they sending you an email from an unprofessional email address or a free service such as @gmail.com or @hotmail.com?
• Research their company and consider the professionalism or the lack there of, their website, social media accounts, and email addresses provided.
• Requesting private information too soon. For example, are they requesting your private or banking information simply after your first interaction? If they seem pushy at all – RUN.

Why you want to use SEO experts instead:

• You will be better off because the experts are not out to trick you, but actually want to see your company succeed. Our success is directly correlated with your company’s success!
• You will save money by not trying to find a quick fix that doesn’t work and results in you needing to start ALL over again. Invest your money the right way the first time and avoid detours along the way to your SEO success.
• Your company will grow when you avoid the shortcuts.

Bottom line, trust your SEO success with the experts. SEO isn’t an overnight fix. It’s about promoting your site and overtime beating your competitors in the Google race.

Remember: slow and steady wins the race.

The post SEO Spam: How to Recognize and Avoid It first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

Customers are becoming savvier every day and work hard to not to be “sold”. This means that with each purchasing decision made, buyers are looking for some added value beyond the sale; perhaps a connection, relationship and better understanding of their needs. A couple of great tactics used to gain a better relationship with your potential customers is:

Reevaluate Your Messaging

Simplify your messaging and make sure that your website can be scanned within 10 seconds so a potential customer can understand what you have to offer. Your message should focus on your customer’s story and position your business as their guide. Keep your focus on building an authentic relationship with customers versus simply growing your business. The benefits of taking the time to care for your customers will highly benefit you in the end.

Simplifying Your Business Practices by Using Automation

Automation is drastically changing the way businesses communicate with customers and the way customers expect to interact with businesses. There are a couple of key ways to utilize automation in order to streamline your digital marketing efforts and ensure that no sale is left behind.

1. Live chat & chatbots are wonderful ways to expand your business’ reach without having to hire more staff. This also provides an on-call service that will answer basic questions at all hours for potential customers.
2. Voice search technology like Alexa or Google Home is going to provide your business with plenty of marketing opportunities with you having to do a thing!

Using Video as Your Main Communication Tool

Video is not going anywhere. The speed in which content is being created is growing rapidly with everyone having the ability to become a YouTube star. Video, in particular, is morphing the way businesses and customers communicate. Consider the following ideas:

1. Video is not just for web pages and social media, but a great effective tactic to include in your email marketing. This means that aside from regular text, you can either embed or link to a video of you speaking to the reader and sharing your message. This brings you into someone’s office or home, simply through email.
2. Welcome videos are a wonderful way to instantly begin a relationship with a new subscriber. Sending a 10-second custom video to a customer is a revolutionary form of contact and will also help ensure some deals. This is a wonderful tactic for realtors, counselors, and any other service that eventually hopes to build a relationship. This can be done through a quick casual video on your phone, or even through apps that service this exact purpose.
3. Video will ensure higher ratings on Google, better algorithms, and will increase the chances of your emails being opened. Don’t overthink video. Instead, realize it is a way to show how authentic your business is!

Digital marketing leaves a lot of space for creativity. Ultimately, customers are looking for a clear message and efficient ways to communicate so they can learn about your business. What better way to do this than to reevaluate your messaging, take advantage of atomization options, and use the resources at your fingertips to create simple videos!

Our team of marketing specialists are available to help your business succeed and take your digital strategy to the next level!

The post Digital Marketing in 2019: Ways to Up Your Digital Strategy first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

1. What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. No, that doesn’t mean making the search engines on your computer work better (that’s not really a thing). But it does mean making search engines work to your advantage.

Search engines, like Google or Bing, are web functionalities that help people find things on the internet. If you’re in business, this is really important. You want people to find you.

What search engines do

When a customer searches for businesses like yours, they see a list of choices. Search engines direct people to websites. But they also rank these results. They use hundreds of factors to perform these functions. However, they can be distilled into two ideas; relevance and popularity.

How relevant your site is to a search will affect your site’s query ranking. But popularity is also important. Search engines work on the idea that popularity corresponds to accuracy. So if a site is more popular, it is more likely to be of a higher quality.

What SEO does

So SEO helps you make sure your site appears in the correct search queries (relevance). Then it helps you push your site to the top of those queries (relevance & popularity). In short, SEO is how you get seen online. If Google is a field of billboards, SEO makes your billboard taller than anyone else’s.

2. How does SEO work?

But how is this accomplished? Well, for starters, keywords. These are the words that are most relevant to your business.You need the right keywords on your site. And you need them to occur often. This is the simplest function of SEO.

Search engine bots accomplish this by scanning your sites content. They make sure your keywords match your business. They make sure your keywords match your market. And they make sure your site follows the rules of the search engines.

Beyond keywords

But keywords are just the beginning. In the old days, search engines only looked for words. Therefore, search results were often of little value. But now search engines are much better and much smarter. But this also makes them much, much more complex.

Search engines now look at hundreds of factors to determine the rank and relevance of your site. Knowing which of these factors is most important to your business is a major function of good SEO. This helps keep your site from blending into the noise of the internet.

SEO experts

The algorithms used to do this are complex and constantly changing. For that reason, SEO has become an industry in itself. SEO experts work hard to keep up with the changing metrics of the major engines. They analyze search engine rules and site content. Then they make them work well together.

3. Why do you need SEO?

I think we sometimes have the idea that putting a website online suddenly gives us an online presence. But it doesn’t always work that way. The internet is huge. After all, it’s called the “world-wide-web” for a reason. So when someone searches for “Mufflers Tulsa, Oklahoma,” they might not find your Tulsa muffler shop at all.

Avoid Search failure

Who’s had an experience like this? You’re looking for–say–ok, mufflers. You type in “Mufflers Tulsa Oklahoma” and you see several that look familiar. Scrolling down a bit, you see one that catches your eye, Tony’s Muffler Shop.

You click on the website. You chat online with an expert. Nice site! Great experience! You might even book an appointment. Then you find out they’re in Munsey, Indiana! (or some other random location) How did this happen!?

The top few on the list were most likely local. But you, like many others, rarely choose the top result unless it’s the specific name you were searching for. So you scrolled past the obvious choices. And not far down the list, you found your Munsey muffler shop with the great site.

Why was he there? Well, there are a lot of possible reasons. But more importantly, why did so many Tulsa, Oklahoma muffler shops not get seen in that search? SEO. Or rather, the lack of good quality SEO.

Get seen.

Without good SEO, you have no idea who will see your site, or if anyone ever will!  You work hard to make your business the best. And you probably paid good money for your site. So you need to make sure that site doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.

SEO helps you make sure your site meets the complex criteria for search engine rankings. You need to know that when someone searches for a business like yours, you at least have a chance! SEO gives you the peace of mind to know you’re not invisible.

Get seen by the right people.

Expert SEO not only makes you visible online but also makes you visible to the right people. You need to know that you’re showing up in search queries. But you also need to know you’re showing up in the right search queries.

By fine-tuning keywords, link structure, and other key elements, professional SEO targets your customers. You wouldn’t spend your money on a magazine advertisement in a place you can’t do business, would you? Well, without good SEO, you might be doing just that. The internet is huge, and good SEO helps shrink it down to size.

Tulsa & Broken Arrow SEO

At McWilliams Media in Broken Arrow and Tulsa, Oklahoma, we specialize in professional, customized SEO for your business. Call us today to see how we can maximize your website’s impact! We will work with you to make sure your business gets seen–and that it gets seen by the right people!

Our team are experts in all phases of digital marketing. From web design and branding to videography and social media, we are here to help you succeed! We are passionate about helping our entrepreneurs build their dreams! Call us for a free consultation today!

Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash

The post SEO-What it is and Why you need it first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

The Google-net

How did this happen? Seems like Google owns the internet! I thought the whole idea of this thing was that no one could ever do that, but here we are! I know, technically, the internet is still free and owned by everyone. However, sometimes it feels like it’s the “Google-net.”

Part of that is the “Kleenex factor.” Even when people are searching on Bing or AOL (yes, that’s still a thing…I just looked it up!), they say they’re “Googling” something. So other search engines do exist. But the reality is that if you’re going to get seen by the most people possible on the internet, you have to be seen on Google.

But Google’s dominance is not just helping them, it’s helping us, too! Their analytics, AdWords programs, and other goodies can be invaluable tools to grow the exposure of any business! And one of the best tools out there is Google reviews.

Why Your Business Needs More Google Reviews

Well, the most obvious part of the answer is just that. We live in the age of Google. But what does a Google review do for you exactly? The first is simple: it’s a review from an actual customer.

Reviews, in general, are the most powerful type of advertising available. Which would you rather have, a postcard in someone’s mailbox, or a neighbor telling them how great you are? Of course, you’d rather people hear about you from someone with personal experience! That’s the power of reviews. Online reviews are no different.

Online customer reviews are the new neighbor conversations. Your customers go online and “tell their neighbors” about you. And it really, really works! Here’s what current research says about your prospects and online reviews.

• Up to 90% read online reviews before visiting a business.
• About 88% trust them as much as personal recommendations.
• They spend about 31% more on businesses with “excellent” reviews.
• Over 90% will use a local business if it has at least a 4-star rating.
• Over 70% will take action ONLY if they find positive reviews

Getting Google Reviews

Online customer reviews are now one of the most powerful tools we have for converting prospects to customers. Over 70%…that’s the number of people who WILL NOT click through, call, or visit unless they read a positive review! So how do you get reviews on Google? And how do you keep them fresh and positive?

According to Google my Business Help,

“Reviews on Google provide valuable information about your business to both you and your customers. Business reviews appear next to your listing in Maps and Search, and can help your business stand out on Google.”

How to Keep the Reviews Coming

Encourage your customers to spread the word about your business. Here are some tips on how to get them sharing!

• Verify your business so your information is eligible to appear on Maps, Search, and other Google services. Only verified businesses can respond to reviews. Learn how to verify your business
• Remind your customers to leave reviews. Let them know that it’s quick and easy to leave business reviews on mobile devices or computers.
• Show them How! Yes, in the digital age, there are still lots of people who don’t know how to leave reviews. Become an expert at it and help your customers get started. Learn how to leave Google reviews
• Create and share a link that customers can click to leave a review.
• Reply to reviews to build your customers’ trust. Your customers will notice that your business values their input, and possibly leave more reviews in the future. Learn how to read and reply to reviews

What You Shouldn’t Do

According to Google, “Reviews are only valuable when they are honest and unbiased. (For example, business owners shouldn’t offer incentives to customers in exchange for reviews.) Read more in our review posting guidelines.”

While you don’t want to violate their policies, and you certainly don’t want to be dishonest, you can do some things to protect yourself from negative reviews.

How to Keep the Reviews Positive

• Read all your reviews. Or have someone do it for you, at least once a week if not more! This may not be a good practice for an actor, but it’s indispensable for a business owner. You must know what your customers are saying.
• Remove inappropriate reviews. If you see a review that’s inappropriate or that violates Google’s policies, you can flag it for removal.
• Reply to reviews to build your customers’ trust. Your customers will notice that your business values their input, and possibly leave more reviews in the future.
• Respond immediately if a review is negative! We all make mistakes, and sometimes customers just aren’t happy for some reason or another. Responding quickly to a negative review is the best way to correct the situation. Learn how to read and reply to reviews

So let’s get going! Whether it’s managing reviews, social media, SEO, or website design and hosting, McWilliams Media is here for you! We are passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses! Our expert team can give you everything you need to thrive in the online marketplace! Contact us today for a free consultation!

The post Getting Google Reviews: Why & How? first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

But does that mean that Facebook will no longer be the most effective advertising tool available? Not at all! In fact, it might just be getting better.  Here are 5 ways your business can thrive on Zuckerberg’s “new” Facebook.

1. Post Content That Encourages Community

Zuckerberg said in an interview last week, that he will rebuild facebook so that members see “less public content like posts from businesses, brands, and media. And the public content you see more will be held to the same standard — it should encourage meaningful interactions between people.”

Get people talking about, or better yet, doing positive things in the community. Facebook will favor a post about your company service project, especially one that invites people to help, over an announcement about your new office.

2. Post Content That Encourages Interaction

Zuckerberg: “…too often today, watching video, reading news or getting a page update is just a passive experience.”

Posts that ask questions and encourage comments, posts relevant to what people are already talking about, and posts that are visually engaging will get people talking, commenting, and interacting. These are the posts that will be favored. Truth is, that’s just good content anyway.

3. Post Content That Leverages Existing Communities

Zuckerberg: “…there are many tight-knit communities around TV shows and sports teams.”

So if Facebook intends to leverage those communities, so should you. Find out what kinds of common interest groups exist in your client base and post content that will get them talking!

4. Use Facebook Live

Zuckerberg: “We’ve seen people interact way more around live videos than regular ones.”

This may be a challenge for some, but Facebook Live is one of the most powerful tools for engaging followers, as Zuckerberg himself states. Any event that is worth posting about is probably worth going live to promote.

5. Advertise on Facebook

Don’t listen to the naysayers who say that Facebook is no longer “business-friendly.” On the contrary, Facebook ad campaigns are one of the most effective advertising tools that have ever been available to businesses–and consider this: Mark Zuckerberg is a businessman who is making these changes to make his business better. And that means more members interacting more, which means your ads and campaigns just become more and more effective.

It’s our job to keep up with the ever-changing world of social media marketing. If you’re too busy to stay on top of your social media posting AND keep them within the fast moving changes at hand, give us a call, we can handle it!

The post How to Thrive in Mark Zuckerberg’s “New” Facebook first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

21st-century Americans are just as particular about media as coffee…maybe more! We know that a great cup of coffee is the result of excellence in several processes at several stages. In the same way, there are several important processes in a media strategy for your business, and you need to get all the steps right in order to get results!

So here are 5 ways your media strategy is like a great cup of coffee.

1. The Beans.

This may sound silly, but the first thing you need to do is to find your product. Many businesses fail because they try to do too much. Make sure you have a clear direction for your win. Just like a coffee grower has to decide what kind of beans will grow best on his land, you have to decide what you really do best and focus on that.

2. The Harvest.

Once you know the focus of your business, you need to refine your message. When he harvests his crop, a good grower selects only the best beans to go to the roasters. You need to make sure you say only what you want to say. Take time to know yourself as a business so that your message can clearly communicate the value you bring to your customers.

3. The Roast.

Once you know what your message needs to be, you have to give it the right personality, just like a roast gives coffee its unique flavor. Your media should have a flavor that is true to who you are and attractive to your target audience. We call this finding your “voice and tone,” and it’s one of the most powerful steps in creating effective media messages for your business.

4. The Grind.

This is the strategy itself. Where and how often do you need to communicate with your target audience? Does your business require a few big messages a month or hundreds of little ones, or is it a combination of the two? You need experts in media to help you navigate the landscape of web design, social media, video, blogging, and any other outlet you want to use.

5. The Pour, or…

There are lots of ways to serve coffee, and people can be very picky about how they get it. And let’s face it, our audiences have become a lot pickier about the messages they receive from businesses, and how they receive them. Send the wrong message, or the send right message in the wrong way, and you can get lost in the noise or lose them altogether.

At McWilliams Media, we are experts in helping you find your message and deliver that message to the right people at the right time. From custom websites to graphic design to video and digital marketing, we can help you reach your target audience and keep them engaged to grow your business!

Photo by Nolan Issac on Unsplash

The post 5 Ways Your Media Strategy is Like A Great Cup of Coffee first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.

That may seem unbelievable, but read on and in this article you’ll discover 6 reasons why email marketing is the best way to reach people and make them aware of your business.

6 Reasons Email Marketing Will Grow Your Business

1 – Penetration 

When it comes to getting information about your business in front of someone’s eyes, there’s no better way than through email. There are more than 3.2 billion emails accounts today, 95% of online customers use email, and 91% of those customers check their email once per day. (Source: Exact Target)

2 – Return-on-Investment

The reason a business is more likely to choose social media as a marketing tool over email is because they think social media is free. Both email and social media have costs. The difference in their costs is that email is going to cost you a monthly fee. Even though you’ll be charged a monthly fee, the return on that is going to be high. Exact Target estimates for every $1 you spend on email you’ll receive a return of $44.25.

3 – It’s Effective

People voluntarily gave you their email address as a way of saying “I’m interested in you and your product.” You know they are already all in. They love your voice, appreciate your brand and look to you as an expert in your field.  Use your email list to connect with this highly targeted group of potential customers, offering sales, discount codes, exclusive pre-launch opportunities, etc.

4 – Engagement

When you think of engagement you probably think of Facebook or Twitter, but social media isn’t going to give you the type of engagement that you’re looking for with your customers. You want one on one engagement with them, and email is the best way to create a two way street with them. Whenever you attempt to create engagement with your customers through email there are two important keys to remember: (1) Do not send emails with a no-reply address, and (2) If there are so many replies that you can’t handle the volume at least set up a “From” address that you can check periodically.

5 – It’s Less Competitive Than Social Media

Think about how many emails you get in an average day. Maybe 50 to 100? Now think about how many social media updates appear in your various feeds each day. Several hundreds to thousands! You have a far higher likelihood of having people see, open, and click on your email newsletter than you do having them see updates you post on social media. It’s a lot easier to ignore a status update than it is to ignore an email in your inbox.

6 – Your List Is Your Own

Growing a following–a unique group of people who believe in the message of your brand–across multiple social media platforms is important. But ultimately, you don’t own Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest. The developers of the platform can decide at any point to change the “rules of the game.” They have too much information to show users in their feed, therefore they have to be strategic with what they show when and offering businesses the option to purchase ads for greater visibility.

As social networks continue to grow, we’ll see more and more networks going this way. It’s not a guarantee that every follower will see every post. But your email list is your own and nobody can take that away from you! If social media platforms all disappeared tomorrow, what would you have left? How would you communicate with your followers? If your answer is, “I don’t know!!” you need to start growing an email list.

If email marketing is a tool you’re ready to begin using for your business but aren’t sure how to get started then McWilliams Media is here to help you. We have experience in growing businesses and reaching customers through email. To get on board with email marketing, contact us through our website and we’ll be in touch soon.

The post 6 Reasons Email Marketing Will Grow Your Business first appeared on Website Design | McWilliams Media |Broken Arrow, OK.