Before the rapid rise of big businesses, Mom & Pop businesses paved the way for the economies across the globe. Whether it be restaurants, clothing stores, delicatessens, grocery stores, or even bookstores, family-ran businesses hold such an important place in the lives of many. We can all agree that the memories we’ve had being a customer Mom & Pop businesses during our lives are too many to count. These businesses hold their traditions near and dear to their daily operations, and that is what keeps their existing customers loyal. This loyalty is consistent throughout different generations, with a great example being the lifelong customers that consistently frequent your local Diner. However, with the rise of chain businesses and corporations, the competition continues to grow as time goes on. Household brands become front of mind during your search for products, services, experiences, etc.. These brands aren’t necessarily using “word of mouth” as a means to increase their visibility, but more so search engine optimization, also known as SEO. SEO is the process of increasing visitors to a particular website, through a series of strategies/tactics which then helps the site gain favorable positioning on search engines.
There are People Who Would Love to Know About Your Business!
Have you ever visited a new city, and looked for a nearby restaurant to eat at? Chances are you used your phone and/or Google to help you find the best restaurant close by, right? If you are like many people, this is a common way to find restaurants, and other businesses near your location. Usually, the search results will show you businesses that have a website, numerous reviews, and are featured on local listings. Unless you decide to take a deeper search of the area, these are likely the results you’d pick from. But what about the Mom & Pop Businesses that are in the area as well? With the way society currently does research, those businesses become rather invisible unless you happen to walk/drive past them. This is what makes having a website, with the proper SEO campaign supporting it, so important for these smaller businesses. Having a campaign that helps online visibility has become a necessity, and can be the deciding factor of continued growth. I’ve stumbled upon numerous restaurants, that were rather empty, that I have had superb service and food from. The lack of customers had much to do with their online visibility, or lack thereof.
“My Business Can’t Afford SEO services”
One of the most defeating misconceptions a business owner, big or small, could have is feeling as though they can not afford SEO services. While SEO can be learned by any business owner, it does take time for proper planning and execution. You will want this campaign to be carefully constructed with proven methods, as a “figure it out as you go” approach may not yield the results you are hoping for. This is why it’s important to hire a freelance consultant or agency to assist you. This will allow you to focus on being a business owner/manager, while allowing your consultant to bring more customers to your website. SEO services should be looked at as an investment, due to the return on investment (ROI). As the old saying goes “you have to spend money, to make money.”
The best approach for the longevity of a Mom & Pop business stems from staying current with the times. There are trends within SEO that come and go, and having a consultant that is able to keep your business’ campaign current with the best practices. If you are looking to improve your online visibility please do not hesitate to contact me for more information. I’d love to discuss the perfect strategy for you!