small business – Gab Communications

Why Your Business Should Be On Google+

May 1, 2015 by Hayley

Several years ago, Google created Google+ as their response to Facebook. There are personal pages and there are business pages. Rather than having a “like” button, there is a “+1” button. There are also “circles” that are meant to connect friends and groups of friends.

While Google+ is pretty darn similar to Facebook in a lot of ways, not many people use it or have even heard of it. But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored (I mean hey – it’s Google, remember?).

Here are a few reasons why your business should definitely have a Google+ page.

It’s Google

Google now processes over 40,000 search queries every second (let that one sink in). While for the most part each search commands something different, the fact is that Google loves Google and is going to pull from its own yard first.

Make Your Search Engine Listing Sparkle

Have you ever done a Google search for a type of business and found that some of those businesses had a lot of impressive, valuable information (reviews, virtual tour of their office/store, all contact info, a few informative articles, posts, etc.) and others had next to nothing aside from their name and phone number? Which business did you end up following up with? Most likely you went with the one that had all their information on display.

Invite Feedback

Anytime you search for a business on Google, Google will automatically display a few recent reviews. By setting up a Google+ page, you’re also extending an invitation for everyone to review your business.

Push Content

I know, I know – another platform for pushing content. Just like with Facebook, Google+ enables you to post a status, photos, videos, etc. However, by posting on Google+, it’s pretty safe to say that Google is going to give the most influence on ranking to its own social media platform.

Need help?

Interested in having Gab Communications assist you with setting up and maintaining your Google+ page? Contact us and we’d be happy to help you out. Also, while you’re at it, check out Gab Communications on Google+.

For the last decade, Hayley has been leaving her mark creatively on small, independently-owned businesses through editorial- and design-based marketing strategies. As a believer in the art of storytelling and the influence of a strong brand, her goal is to unlock the value that all small businesses possess and use it to their advantage using creative, strategic marketing methods.

Why Your Business Needs a Blog

April 8, 2015 by Hayley

“If you want to catch more fish, cast a wider net.”

Throughout my meetings with businesses over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed one common trait: As we first sit down to begin our conversation, they tell me they’re not really sure about the whole blog thing. More specifically, they don’t see how it can be of value to their business.

And hey, let me start off by saying that I get it – I get why they don’t get it. Especially with an older business that has primarily used traditional marketing (i.e. word of mouth, ads in the local paper), then I can certainly see why a blog might seem a little daunting or too cutting-edge. But the reasons a business should have a blog far outweigh the reasons it shouldn’t. Hold on to your hats folks, ‘cause I’m about to give you a brand spankin’ new perspective.

YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS A BLOG BECAUSE…

It’s a promotional tool. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if your biz doesn’t have a blog (or if you’re not maintaining the one you have), then you’re missing out on free publicity. A blog is another method of putting your business’s name out there for everyone to come across. It doesn’t matter what kind of business you are – restaurant, independent consultant, photography, grocery store, consignment shop, etc. – a blog will promote your brand and amp up your online presence. Also, a recent HubSpot survey noted that companies that blog receive 97% more links to their website.

It creates engagement. A blog is basically an open invitation for feedback from your audience. Great content is a magnet for comments, shares, likes, etc. Start off by writing an informative and interesting article about something related to your industry, and then share it on your social media pages. Your audience will do the rest!

It shows off your expertise. You’re a professional and you want people to trust you, right? Blogging is a fantastic way to earn some of that trust because it puts your expertise, character, skills and creativity on full display. No matter what you think, your clients or potential clients really are genuinely interested in what you have to say. So show it off while earning some of their trust simultaneously.

It makes you more valuable. Think about a few of your competitors. Do they have a well-maintained blog? Are they on top of any modern marketing methods that create a value for their customers? By staying on top of your blogging and marketing game, you’re setting a higher standard and creating more of a value for your clients.

It fuels SEO. Blogging is the most natural way to optimize your site for search engines. You can shell out a small fortune to promote your page on Google, Facebook, etc. – or you can take the organic approach by creating consistent, valuable content that Google and other search engines will reward you for.

Still not sure if blogging could create value for your business? Call me, email me, text me, message me – I would love, love, love to chat with you about all the creative ways we could make a blog work for your biz.

Ways To Boost Your Business’s Social Media Presence Right Now

March 30, 2015 by Hayley

Morning Coffee with Gab is a weekly feature aimed to inspire and encourage small business owners to get on top of their organization’s marketing game. So before your day gets crazy, grab that cup o’ joe and give this a quick read – we’ll get your day off to a great, motivating start!

Ways To Boost Your Business’s Social Media Presence Right Now

Use images. People are visual, and if you’re only posting text or links on your social media pages then your audience will surely get bored. There’s no need for you to be a professional graphic designer who can use every Adobe program with your eyes closed, but you should be able to consistently post simple, high quality photos of your products, services, etc. Invest in a decent camera and aim for photos that spotlight your products/services in a setting and background that isn’t overly busy. Want to touch up those photos with a super easy-to-use and free photo editing program? I swear by www.picmonkey.com.

Use the power of storytelling. This is a really effective tool for your social media marketing because it’s a surefire way to persuade people and call them to action. Have you ever been sucked in to watching an entire infomercial on TV because it began with someone’s real-life story – maybe even one you could relate to somehow? That’s why infomercials work – they tell a story. Your job is to tell a story, too – it could be yours or it could be your clients’. If you own a salon, take some before-and-after shots of a client’s hair and ask them for the story behind it. Why did they want this change and why did they hire you to do it? If you own a restaurant, promote your front of house staff by telling their stories (where they went to school, what their favorite dish off the menu is, why they enjoy working there, little-known fact about them, etc.).

Be interactive. This seems like an easy one, but the sad truth is that there are too many businesses out there today that have social media pages (as well as a significant following) that have gone stale because of their lack of engagement. Listen up: If people choose to like/follow you, this means they genuinely want to hear from you. Don’t let them down. Throw out an occasional fun question of the day, survey, etc. and see what your audience has to say. Also majorly important is that if someone asks a question or makes a comment that invites your response, be sure to reply to that person in a timely fashion. In this day and age, there is such a thing as social media etiquette (which we’ll cover in another post) and it should definitely be followed.

Evoke emotion. Any content that evokes emotion from your audience is almost always more likely to generate shares or retweets. So, how do you do this? Tell stories (see above) about your customers that have a happy ending. Infuse a little bit of your personality through each of your posts, and use emotionally-charged, descriptive words. Whatever you write should light a fire in people and ultimately inspire, motivate and entertain them.

Be consistent with your posts. Two to three posts per week is ideal for a small business, but if you really want to step up your game, make it five to seven times per week and see just what happens. Come up with a list of a few creative post ideas, think a little strategically about the kind of response you want, when you should post them each, etc. and then schedule them via a social media management program such as HootSuit, Sprout or Buffer. Not feeling up to it or don’t have the time? Contact us today and we’d be happy as a clam to do this for you.