The Strategic e-Blog

Whether you want it or not, if you run a business that serves consumers, you likely already have a listing on Google+ Local (formerly known as Google Places). Users can post reviews and pictures, but you should have some input into your own business listing, right? Google thinks so, too.

While this is also true on other platforms, Google+ Local listings are often prominently displayed in search engine results. Luckily, it’s pretty simple to claim your business page.

The first step is to find your business on Google+. Go to https://plus.google.com/local, type your business name into the search bar and select your city (often this part is already filled out for you). Once you find your listing, click on it and you will see all the reviews, photos and information that Google has collected about your business.

Scroll down and in the right-hand column will be this message: “Is this your business?” Click on the “Manage This Page” button. It will then prompt you to log in. If you don’t already have a Google+ account, now is the time to create one and it will take you through the steps of doing so.

When you have your account, choose “Edit my business information” and you will be sent the validation information via “snail mail” to the address in the business listing. You can also choose to suspend your listing, but for the free publicity it can earn your business online, this should be a last resort.

Once you receive your letter and follow the instructions Google sends, update all the information you need to, upload additional photos and provide a description.

For just a quick fix to the listing before the validation is complete, go back to your business listing and click on “Edit business details” in the right-hand column. It will allow you to request a change to the phone number, website, hours and a few other specifics. You can also report other errors here, including that the business has permanently closed or that certain photos and reviews are actually of another business.

GET SOCIAL. BE DIRECT. DRIVE SALES.

Business to Business or Business to Consumer Social Presence Marketing

-Social Media and email marketing for your company and customers
- Verbal Design Upgrade to optimize your word-based communications
- Branding, Tagline Development and Descriptions
- Product, Service, Company and Website Naming (with URL)
- Web Content + Search Engine Optimization + Local Search Marketing

Get more nimble. Be more creative. Leverage our experience in building Social Presence Marketing campaigns. Access revenue-enhancing, attention-captivating concepts that we implement on your behalf. Rapid response on tap!

Located along the Redwood Coast of Northern California, Strategic eMarketing has the experienced brand strategists, graphic designers, Verbal Designers, photographers and video managers necessary to execute winning Social Presence Marketing campaigns.

Captivate With Content

Social Presence Marketing, Search Engine Optimization and Email Marketing campaigns consist of messaging and keywords that reinforce your brand. These campaigns are fueled by customized content that is published to blogs, facebook, twitter, youtube, Google+, pinterest, and Linked In.

RESULT: Increase your followers, your brand awareness and your transactions.

Unlike other advertising spaces and spots, you control every aspect of how your direct mail comes across to your customer. Whether you include a little or a lot of information depends on what kind of response you want from the recipients, but there are a few guidelines that ring true for direct mail content.

1. Make sure there is a clear call to action. Do you want qualified recipients to go to your website, come to your store during a sale or call to order? Whatever response you want, it needs to be clearly stated so they know how to proceed, which is the purpose of the call to action. For longer mailers, include the call to action three times within the text.
2. Write your content to appeal to your target audience. Direct mail campaigns are the most successful when you have clearly laid out who you’re marketing to and what they need. If you don’t speak to their needs, prospects won’t respond.
3. Don’t make your mailer just a block full of text. Use headlines, bullet points and numbered lists to make it easy to read and digest. Don’t make all the paragraphs the same length or they will be skipped. Be concise and clear and your audience will respond.
4. Add a deadline to any special offers. If you know you can get 50% off a particular service any time of the year, when will you call to actually buy? Probably never.

The biggest tip of all: Give all the necessary information! This may sound redundant, but it is amazing how much crucial information gets left out of mailers or is incorrect. Want recipients to go to your website? Provide the web address. Want them to call? Include the phone number and triple check that it’s correct. If you want customers to send in a mail order, include all the product information they’ll need to make a decision and include the order form.

The final look and feel of your direct mail content will depend on what your business does and who it serves, but putting in due diligence is what will make it a success.