The Future of Advertising for Small Business

Let's face reality, when it comes to advertising small businesses, things have changed dramatically. Not only do newspaper advertising, yellow page listings, direct mail ads and inserts no longer work, they are quickly becoming obsolete.

And, it's not just the internet that has changed things. With technology expanding the reach of customers faster than anyone could have ever imagined, the small business owner is finding they are not only left out, but totally unaware of the best advertising methods available.

So, what is going on? Other than the obvious, the state of the economy in the United States, what else is going on? People are spending money somewhere, but why are they not coming into your storefront at the rate you have experienced in the past?

Why? A few reasons come to mind:

First the obvious, few people are using newspapers and Yellow Pages anymore.

People are not driving around as much looking for businesses as they used to (GPS) helps

People are searching online for local businesses to patronize. (Close to 30% of all searches in the US are for local businesses)

Smart Phones are the fastest growing means for searching online.

The public (at all ages) are more savvy and mobile. More people are using search engines to find everything they need instead of the old means.

Tools such as Google Local, Google Maps and others are making it easier for companies to target the local search market.

Today, just having a website does not guarantee a business they will be found when local customers are searching for businesses.

With so many searches going to smart phones now, there are primarily two tools businesses must use to assure they are found by the local search population.

Mobile Websites

Google Local

Mobile Websites make it possible for businesses to be found via Smart Phones. A website specifically designed for the Smart Phone user to easily find out about a business and view the information while on the go, makes it very search friendly.

Plus, if you are not on Google Local, you are not going to be found. Google Local provides a brief map of the businesses being searched along with a description and link to the business information. With this information, the possible customer can plug the information into their GPS (most of the time on their phone) or use the map which accompanies the listing to go straight to the establishment they found on their smart phone.

So, here is the point. We are living In a very fast growing, high tech world. Regardless of the type of business you operate, you must buy into the new methods your customers are using to find your business. You must compete with others who are getting onboard with technology.

The beauty is, these tools can be implemented and maintained for much less than the old tools. For the cost of a newspaper ad for one week, you should be able to hire a media management firm to manage your Google Local, Mobile Website, Smart Phone App and much more for 6 months. Why not get on board?

This method of marketing is easy and extremely cost effective for even the smallest business establishment.

To your unstoppable success...