Gone are the days where businesses had very few options when it came to marketing their products or services. Today’s marketing landscape has evolved into a complex marketplace consisting of most of the original options while adding the algorithms of searching online, digital storefronts and social media to name a few.

If you’re feeling frustrated and confused about where you should invest your hard-earned money, don’t worry, you’re not alone. After multiple discussions with business owners and managers in Kamloops and area there is a consistent concern, how do I choose the right digital path for my company? Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all solution that will work for every business or vertical market. There are however some things that every business should be aware of that can help guide you down the right path and set your business up for success online.

Google My Business

Making sure you claim or create your Google listing is a key first step to your company’s online presence. This is free to do and don’t worry, no matter what the telephone salesperson says you don’t require a credit card to do it and your listing won’t expire. Once you have control of your listing, make sure you keep it current. This is a great tool to communicate the most frequently searched questions by your potential customers. This includes your business hours, location, and contact info. Also start posting your blog articles, and products for sale (if you’re setup for e-commerce) and link them back to your website. This can help your website rank higher in search queries. Your Google listing will also provide you with valuable feedback for your traditional marketing campaigns. Typically, the first behaviour customers do after experiencing an advertisement or having a friend recommend your business is Google your business online. Your listing will provide you details such as how many times people have searched for your business and how many people got directions, called, or visited your website. A successful ad campaign will see these statistics increase.

Your Digital First Impression

Many of you may have heard the expression, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. The same applies to your business online. By the time a customer visits your store or office for the first time they have already formed an opinion of your business based on your online ratings and your website. This is why we encourage business owners and managers to think of your website as your digital receptionist. After all they should be able to answer any questions people have about your products or services. Understanding now how big of a role your website plays in the success of your business, here is a quick check list to make sure you’re on the right track:

• My website provides a great first impression.

  Making sure your website is a true representation of your business, looks great and is easy to navigate is a must in today’s world online.




• I have control of my website and I have the ability to update the information on it.

  Keeping your information up to date can help eliminate confusion and frustration with your potential customers.




• My website is secure.

  This means you have SSL certificate which tells potential customers that you’re a real person, your business is real, and they can interact with your website without fear of hackers collecting information.




• My website looks great on all devices.

  More than half (and increasing annually) of your website visitors visit your website from their mobile devices which are all different sizes. People are also visiting it from computers using large screen monitors. Make sure your site is appealing for all your users.




• I can sell my products or services on it.

  Don’t kid yourself; the world has become accustomed to shopping online thanks to online retail giants like Amazon. Asking your customers to support your local business is great however, business owners need to meet their customers with the same level of online convenience that they already have with your competitors.

We’re here to help! If you’re interested in learning more about re-imagining your business in a digital age, please feel free to reach out for a free consultation.