Friday 2nd December 2011 - Published by Robert Trigg - Communications Executive
Marketing Pro Urges Local Businesses to Boost Online Presence
A leading local online marketing firm is urging Herefordshire businesses to boost their Google presence, after a survey revealed that less than half are taking advantage of this free service.
The recent survey, conducted by Serendipity Online Marketing, of chiropodists in the county showed that only four in ten had claimed and verified their listings on Google Places – a free online directory service, that’s changing the way people look for business.
And of these, only one in 10 had added any further detail to their listing.
None of the practitioners listed had included reviews, which Serendipity Online Marketing Director Graham Baylis believes is very surprising when you consider how personal this service is.
Graham said: “What this shows is that many businesses are not taking full advantage of the possibilities that Google Places offers. After all, people are far more likely to look on the web these days than to pick up a copy of the Yellow Pages or even the local newspaper.
“This is the case for other types of business too. Many are simply not taking advantage of this free service. These businesses could steal a march on their competitors by saying more about themselves and by getting their customers to place real and thruthful reports on the service they received. After all, if you were looking for a chiropodist would you not like to know as much as possible about them and the services they provide before you pick up the phone? And if you can read some real reviews about them as well, would that not make all the difference and all the more likely that they would get your business?”
Graham also explained a further advantage to Google Listings, being that when potential customers use their mobile phone, Google can tell where they are, meaning that it can provide local information in searches.
Therefore, if businesses have claimed and optimised their Google Places account their listing is far more likely to be presented to those potential customers.
Graham added: “In the USA Local Search, which is powered by Google Maps amongst others, it’s becoming more and more popular and we can be reasonably certain that this will happen in the UK – the signs are certainly there. So now is the time for all businesses to take advantage of this free marketing channel.
Survey shows local businessess in Herefordshire not taking advantage of free marketing! - a pr2go story
