Why You Need a Google Local Page for Your Business
In today's digital world, it's more important than ever for businesses to have a strong online presence. One of the best ways to do this is to create a Google Local Page for your business. A Google Local Page is a free listing that appears in Google Maps and search results. It includes information about your business, such as your address, phone number, hours of operation, and website.
Why is a Google Local Page important?
There are many reasons why businesses need a Google Local Page. Here are just a few:
Improved search engine ranking: Google Local Pages are often ranked highly in search results, which means that more potential customers will see your business when they search for products or services like yours.
Increased foot traffic: A Google Local Page can help you attract more customers to your physical location. When people search for businesses like yours in Google Maps, your listing will appear with a map and directions, making it easy for them to find you.
Better customer service: A Google Local Page gives you a platform to communicate with potential and existing customers. You can use it to answer questions, provide updates, and even promote special offers.
Increased brand awareness: A Google Local Page helps to establish your business as a credible and trustworthy presence in your community. When people see your listing in Google Maps and search results, they're more likely to remember your business and consider doing business with you in the future.
How to create a Google Local Page
Creating a Google Local Page is easy. Just follow these steps:
Go to Google Maps and search for your business.
If your business doesn't already have a listing, click the "Add a business" button.
Fill out the required information about your business, such as your name, address, phone number, and website.
Add photos of your business and products or services.
Verify your listing by following the instructions from Google.
Once you've created your Google Local Page, be sure to keep it up-to-date with the latest information about your business. You can also use it to promote special offers, events, and new products or services.
A well-optimized Google Local Page can be a valuable asset for any business. By following the tips in this blog post, you can create a Google Local Page that will help you reach more customers and grow your business.
How to Test, Study and Validate Your Big Idea
This was originally written on Medium and can be found here: https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-test-study-and-validate-your-big-idea-27f472045b2a
I spend my days chatting with aspiring founders. They come from every walk of life, location and background imaginable.
I love that diversity — and I love entrepreneurs.
As a previous growth strategist for Appster, I’ve realized that these conversations can also feel a little like Groundhog Day, where the same three questions are forever on repeat:
If I tell you about my idea, will you to steal it?
I won’t. I promise.
2. What do you think — is it a good idea?
It doesn’t matter what I think.
3. Okay, but could this product make a lot of money?
I have no idea.
Answering the first question is easy. It’s simply about reassuring a skittish caller and (sometimes) signing an NDA.
The second one always catches people by surprise. Why?
Because, more than passion, more than excitement, more than a strong entrepreneurial track record or $500K in the bank, I’ve realized that one attribute sets successful founders apart from the rest of the hungry pack:
Obsession
Building a thriving business demands more than a good idea. It requires extraordinary focus.
It means solving a problem that’s driving you crazy and haunting your dreams.
Your idea should feel so compelling that you won’t be able to live with yourself if you don’t dig in and see it through.
And here’s where we arrive at question #3, and the frustrating reality that until you take your product to market, no one can predict whether your idea will earn any cash.
You could consult the most brilliant investors, developers, business strategists and trend forecasters on the planet (and throw in a tarot card reading for good measure), but only your customers can tell you whether this plane is going to fly.
Okay, I’m obsessed. Now what?
Great.
Here’s where the conversation gets a little meatier.
As you’re working to develop the product or application, there’s a parallel track of market validation and concept refinement that’s freely available to anyone with a Wi-Fi connection and a dream.
You can’t eliminate risk entirely, but you can gather invaluable information and feedback that can help you make smarter decisions at every turn.
Step 1 — read, study and learn
Forgive me if this phase feels rudimentary, but you’d be amazed how many people skip right over it.
At least once a week, I talk to someone who breathlessly outlines their idea for an app that helps users find, filter and review restaurants (or shoe stores or chiropractors) in a specific area.
“Have you heard of Yelp?” I’ll ask.
Silence.
Start at the App Store and Google Play.
Look at the top-rated apps and the latest releases.
Check out the top grossing apps, the top paid and free apps, and the editors’ choice sections.
Enter keywords related to your idea and see what pops up.
If you’re working on a fitness product, start wide and gradually narrow in on a relevant topic, like running or nutrition or motivation.
If you find an application that feels similar to yours, go in for a closer look.
When was it first published, and more importantly, when was it last updated? If the app was released in 2013 and hasn’t had any new versions, it’s not a competitor.
Let’s get a whole lot nerdier
Now it’s time to put on your glasses and do some reading.
Visit TechCruch to learn which startups are getting funded and what just launched.
Narrow in on your industry and do a series of keyword searches.
Next, head over to CrunchBase and pick a company in your category.
Let’s stick with fitness. You’ll want to look at FitBit, for example, and in just a few taps or clicks, you can learn about the company’s founders, funding rounds, investors, partners, and acquisition details (if applicable).
If similar startups are getting funding, that’s a great sign; there’s buzz and interest and money behind them.
Don’t forget about LinkedIn, either. Enter the name of a startup or product and pick the “companies” tab from the search results. From there, you can see the current employee count, functional distribution, average employee tenure, and growth over time.
As you get deeper into the dev process, you might even want to invest in analytics or market data from a source like App Annie (and no, this is not #sponsored).
Step 2 — survey, test and poll
Whether you’re seeking general concept validation or you’re not sure if a specific feature would be helpful, try a Twitter poll. They’re free and ridiculously easy to run.
When you compose a tweet, select the “add poll” icon and type in your question. That’s it. Clearly, this isn’t a statistically valid research study, but it’s a great way to get answers — fast.
And, as with many things in life, when you repeatedly hear the same answer or suggestion from people who have no skin in the game, it’s worth listening carefully.
Google Surveys aren’t free, but getting quick and honest feedback from thousands of people can be worth the small investment.
It’s like casting a wide net and seeing what you reel in. Or, you can narrow in and target people in specific locations and age ranges.
Step 3 — reach out and gather interest
This is my favorite — and possibly the most impactful — part of the validation process. It’s time to connect directly with potential customers or clients.
Start by creating a basic landing page that includes your logo, product description and any branding materials you’ve developed.
Add a (brief!) pitch and a message like: “Coming soon.Sign up for email updates.” You can also add an investors page and other relevant details, but keep it lean.
Purchase some targeted Facebook ads that drive your core demographic back to your page. It’s a simple process, but it can be incredibly effective. Just the other day, for example, I spoke to a guy who has cultivated a 3,000-member email list for a wine app that’s still in development — and all those curious people came through his landing page.
As your idea starts to sharpen up and lose the fuzzy edges, consider Google AdWords. Again, the small cash outlay can pay dividends if you connect with the right people. Go beyond the basic gender and age filters and choose your target country, region, city and neighborhood, if possible, and drive people back to your landing page. The Keyword Planner function can also help you match search trends with your ad campaign to make it even more effective.
Finally, get ready to do some direct outreach through Instagram or YouTube. A quick Google search of the “top 10 social media fitness influencers” will direct you to those Insta-famous people who have the power to launch trends and amplify brands. Before you connect, be sure check out their follower counts; someone who routinely logs 10 million unique views on a YouTube video will probably ignore your email — or they’ll demand compensation for their time. Keep searching and filtering to find the up-and-comers with 10,000 views or followers. This is your sweet spot. Send a quick, clear and respectful message asking for a couple minutes of their time. Prepare your questions and have a real conversation.
Whether you’re an introvert or you get shifty about chatting up strangers, this is not the time to be shy.
Most people love to share their opinion and will happily give you 5–10 minutes of their time, if you’re clear about what and why you’re asking. Send a DM that’s brief and personalized, such as:
“Hi Dan, I love your feed — especially the yoga poses you share every Monday. I’m actually working on an app that would make it easier for fitness professionals to film instructional videos, and I’d love to know if this is something you would use. Could we chat for a few minutes next week?”
It’s that simple.
Not everyone will respond, but the people who do are probably interested in your idea and have some valuable feedback to share.
Remember that as you connect with this small network of influencers, you’re also creating potential marketing relationships that you can leverage when it’s time to launch.
Everyone wins — especially your future users. Oh, and if someone comments on any of your social media posts, pages or conversations, make sure to follow up promptly.
Direction to fuel your obsession
It’s amazing how much specific, useful information you can get from a combination of these activities — and most are entirely free.
But please don’t forget: confidence and commitment to your idea are paramount. Do your research, consider the feedback and keep moving forward. Everyone has an opinion, but nothing matters than your own drive.
Henry Ford may or may not have said it best — and even if he never uttered these famous words, they still pierce the heart of what it means to put on your blinders and run your own race:
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
Questions you need to ask a web designer before hiring them
I first starting doing web design mainly because of a bad experience. Some years ago, I was talking to someone who was complaining about the high, ongoing costs for his website. I decided to dig deeper. Not only was he charged a large mount of money for an initial design, but also monthly payments of $2,000!
When I contacted the designer about what justified the monthly fee he replied with: SEO strategy, and monthly hosting. After our conversation, I researched further and found out that the site was a purchased template, He was using a shared hosting (roughly $150 a year) and the page was nowhere to be found on google.
I have been a web developer since 2007, and since that time have continued to challenge myself to learn new things so that I can provide the best product I can to all of my clients. Anyone that thinks there is nothing to learn should not be in the digital business.
One thing I have learned through all of my experiences is the importance of finding a balance between, charging a fair price but not undervaluing my own services, while also making sure the client is happy.
I urge you to research your web designer before
you hire them. You should know what you are paying for. Through my experiences in this business I have come up with some tips which may help in your search to find the right web developer for you and your company.
Questions you need to ask your web designer:
Based on my experiences the following is a list of tips that may help guide you in your search for a web designer. Most importantly, know what you are paying for:
Ask for references: Seeing other websites that this person has designed or client list means nothing. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and contact people they have worked with. Finding out what the client’s experience was like may help you decide if this is someone you want to work with.
Price: Is the price hourly based? Project based?
Every cost should be justified.Get everything in writing: Emails and conversations always get lost in translation. Laying out clear-cut terms not only protect you but also protect the designer.
Hosting: A lot of designers will claim they have a dedicated server. If they do then ask them how they maintain it and how it will help you. Unless you are a large company you do not need a dedicated server. Purchase a basic hosting plan and email from hostgator, godaddy, or many other respected host companies. Why? They offer 24/7 support,the price is about $150.00 a year, and rarely has problems.
What does the initial design include? Ask your developer EVERYTHING. Have him or her breakdown what the site includes: pictures, design concept etc.. If a developer is only changing colors and placing in your logo content and pictures then move on.
If your getting a Social media strategy what is their value? Ask what he/she is going to do. Facebook campaigns will gain you “likes” and maybe some web traffic but that doesn’t mean these people are going to become customers. Ask your guru, or marketing expert, or web developer their average return on investment.
SEO Stratgey: SEO stands for Search Engine Optimaztion, and roughly is defined as when someone searches for your business they find it. It does not mean plugging in search terms on Google adwords and having you pay $$$$$. Most consumers don’t realize that 85% of people searching for something click the organic term, or the term below the ad words box.
Check your site on all cross browsers: Sometimes websites don’t always look the same on firefox, and Internet explorer.