How to Increase Your Customers with Online Business Listings

Running a small business sometimes feels like a constant race to keep up, especially when competitors seem to be grabbing all the attention. The good news is that you don't need to overhaul your entire business to attract more customers.

One of the most effective ways to stand out is by leveraging online business listings. These tools can boost your visibility, making your business the first one customers find when searching for products or services like yours.

By tapping into competitive intelligence research, you can gain valuable insights into what your competitors are doing right--and, more importantly, how you can do it better. Understanding their strategies gives you the power to refine your approach and position your business as the top choice in your market.

Ready to learn how to use these tools to your advantage and see real growth in your customer base? Here's how you can get started.

What Are Online Business Listings?

Think of online business listings as your company's digital introduction to the world. They are a tool for people to find and learn about your business online. Online listings are much more powerful than the old-fashioned printed phone books.

Instead of being static, online listings help keep your business visible and accessible, making it easier for potential customers to connect with you. They give your company a strong presence online, helping to attract more attention and interaction.

An online business listing acts as a central hub where customers can find key details about your company. Busy people don't always have time to go to a website where they often have to hunt for basic information about a business.

Online listings minimize inconvenience by giving people information without them needing to visit your website first.

Where Business Listings Appear Online

To ensure your business gets the attention it deserves, visibility is vital. You must go where your potential customers spend time when they're searching for a business like yours. Some of the most well-known online listing platforms include:

• Google Business Profile
• Bing Places for Business
• Yelp
• Facebook

Google Business Profile, previously known as Google My Business, is the go-to platform for local businesses. Using this particular platform allows a business to appear on Google Search and Maps. If you prefer Microsoft's search engine, Bing Places for Business is similar to Google Business Profile.

Particularly popular in the restaurant and service industries, Yelp invites customers to leave an online review of a business.

You can't forget Facebook! With 3 billion monthly users, Facebook gives your business access to a massive user base and an interactive platform. You can engage with customers through reviews, comments, and direct messaging.

Why Online Listings Matter for Your Business

What does your online presence say about your business? Maybe you haven't paid much attention to your digital footprint because you haven't needed to worry about it. For some business owners, a paper business card and word of mouth work well enough.

If you're like many people, including your potential customers, you're realizing that just about every business in your area is online, and some of their profiles look impressive. Your printed business cards may look pretty impressive, too.  The truth is, unless potential customers can put their hands on your cards quickly, they may not be the most effective marketing tool.

When people search for products or services in your area, a well-optimized business listing can put your name at the top of search results.

This is fantastic news because even if you don't have the biggest marketing budget, you can still compete by showing up where customers actively look for businesses like yours. Jooice makes it easy to create an optimized listing in four easy steps.

Don't worry if you've already invested in printed business cards and other marketing materials--they're still in style but don't neglect to create a powerful online presence. Your digital business listing is a great place to start.

Optimizing Your Business Listing

One way to make sure potential customers find you online is to optimize your listings. That may sound overwhelming, especially if you're not tech-savvy.

Ramping up your online presence means evaluating your current listings for accuracy and consistency. Often referred to as NAP (name, address, phone number), make sure you follow these guidelines:

Name:

The official name of your business should appear on all listings.

Address:

The complete and correct physical address of your business

Phone Number:

The main contact number for your business.

Beyond NAP, many businesses include a link to their website and an email address.

By ensuring your business listings are correct and consistent, you set a strong foundation for online visibility. Now, let's take it a step further and explore how competitive intelligence research can give you an edge in understanding your market and standing out from the competition.

Introduction to Competitive Intelligence Research

To succeed in a competitive market, it's essential to not only focus on your business but also to stay aware of what others in your industry are doing. That's where competitive intelligence research comes in--it's your roadmap to understanding your competitors.

Competitive intelligence research is the practice of gathering and analyzing information about competitors and market trends. This can include:

• Examining competitors' business listings
• Tracking customer feedback
• Understanding industry-specific trends

By keeping an eye on your competition, you can identify what's working for them and what opportunities they may have missed. Your research can reveal gaps in the market where your business can shine.

By leveraging competitive intelligence, you can refine your business strategies. You'll also stay ahead of the competition and ensure your business stays relevant.

Use Competitive Intelligence to Boost Your Listings

Once you've gathered insights through competitive intelligence research, it's time to put that knowledge into action. Analyzing competitor listings and tracking market trends can help you optimize your business listings for better visibility and customer engagement.

Analyzing Competitor Listings

Start by looking at how your competitors present their businesses online. Pay attention to how they describe their services, the keywords they use, and what photos they share.

Taking time to analyze competitors' business listings often reveals their strengths and weaknesses. Take advantage of this knowledge to help you fine-tune your products and services.

By understanding what works for them, you can adopt similar strategies while ensuring your business stands out with unique offerings.

Identifying Market Trends

Beyond competitor analysis, keeping an eye on broader market trends can help shape your strategy. For example, if you notice a shift in customer preferences for specific services or products, you can update your business listing to highlight those features.

Staying in tune with trends ensures your business remains relevant and competitive.

With a strategic approach to competitive research, you can turn insights into actionable steps, giving your business the edge it needs to attract more customers.

Choosing the Right Platforms

Your online business listings can appear on a range of search engines and review platforms. We've mentioned Google--it's the top-ranking search engine for general browsing and research. Microsoft Bing and Yahoo are also in the top three.

Beyond Google Business Profile and other popular search engines, people review businesses on several industry-specific platforms. Your business niche will determine where you set up online business listings. The key is to focus on those relevant to your unique audience.

The secret to selecting the right listing platforms is knowing where your target audience searches. For example, local customers might rely on Google Business Profile or Yelp. Professionals might use platforms like LinkedIn or specialized directories.

Using Niche Directories

Industry-specific or niche directories can be powerful tools. Does your business cater to a specific audience? Niche directories help you connect with potential customers seeking exactly what you offer.

Setting up a profile on a niche platform can help your business (and your customers). Here's why:

• Targeted audience
• Higher conversion potential
• Less competition
• Build industry credibility
• SEO benefits

Niche platforms target a specific demographic or industry. You're more likely to connect with people who are actively searching for the products or services you offer.

Because users of niche platforms have more specialized needs, your business profile will likely be more relevant to them. This could lead to higher conversion rates compared to broader platforms.

On industry-specific platforms, you may find fewer competitors compared to mainstream platforms like Google or Yelp, giving you a better chance to stand out. Being listed on a reputable niche platform can boost your credibility within your industry.

Profiles on niche platforms can improve your search engine optimization (SEO), especially for industry-specific keywords. SEO can help you rank higher in both the platform's internal search and on search engines.

A Word About Keywords

Think of keywords as a bridge between your business and potential customers. Using the right keywords in your business description helps search engines understand exactly what you offer and where you're located.

When someone types a relevant search term into Google, your business is more likely to appear in the results.

By focusing on keywords that match what people are searching for, you're not just making it easier for customers to find you-you're also increasing your chances of attracting the right audience.

Keywords have the power to put your business in front of potential customers' eyes first. Effective keyword usage is essential if you want your business to stand out in local search results.

Add Photos to Your Listings

First impressions matter! Think about the many business websites you've visited recently. How quickly would you look elsewhere if a site didn't feel engaging, welcoming, or dare we say, human?

If you don't see photos, it could make you wonder who or what is working behind the scenes. Photos are a key element in first impressions in the digital environment. People are more likely to engage with business listings that have clear, appealing images.

Platforms like Google Business Profile prioritize listings with good visuals. Use high-quality photos to help create a visual connection, which makes your business feel more approachable and real.

Are you wondering what to include in your images?

Upload photos that showcase your storefront, your team, or key products and services. Make sure the images are well-lit, up-to-date, and represent the best of what your business offers.

Getting Customer Reviews

We live in a world where a few negative reviews can hurt a business. It's one reason some business owners shy away from having an online presence. After all, who wants to be on the defensive in an environment where anyone can say anything and ruin a business's reputation with their words?

Customer reviews are a vital part of your success. They act as social proof, showing potential customers that others have had positive experiences with your business.

Over 90% of consumers read online reviews to gauge a business's reputation. Over 80% trust reviews, and 75% find positive feedback increased their trust in the business. Favorable reviews can set you apart from competitors, as people trust the opinions of other customers more than what you say about your own business.

Encouraging reviews can be as simple as asking customers directly. You can also include a note on customer receipts or ask for a review in your follow-up emails.

You may have more success by giving customers an incentive to leave a review. Consider discounts or special offers in exchange for a review.

Pro tip: Be careful that your request doesn't come across as pushy.

Leveraging Customer Testimonials

Adding testimonials to your listings can boost your credibility and influence potential customers. Think about the food industry--when you're deciding where to eat reviews often play a key role in your choice. A glowing review of exceptional service can sway your decision.

Testimonials serve as real-life examples of how your business has added value, helping new customers trust you more quickly.

To make using reviews and testimonials easier, Jooice offers a unique feature that integrates customer reviews into your online business listing, helping you build trust and improve visibility effortlessly.

Tracking Listing Performance

Many platforms, like Google Business Profile, offer built-in tools that reveal a lot about your listing. Tracking key performance indicators (KPI) helps you measure the effectiveness of your business listing and identify areas for improvement.

Focus on a few KPIs to get a clear picture of your listing's performance. For example:

• Views
• Clicks
• Calls
• Photo views
• Traffic sources

Views and clicks are two details you'll want to monitor. They show how many times people have looked at/clicked on your listing. You can track how many people call your business directly from your listing.

Check how often people view your business photos. More views can suggest you've included engaging photos.

Analyzing traffic sources determines whether visitors find your listing through search engines, social media, or other websites. This will help you understand which channels drive the most traffic to your listing.

Use Local SEO to Boost Listings

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) optimizes your online presence so your business ranks higher in local search results. It focuses on making sure your business appears.

To boost your local SEO, start by adding location-specific keywords to your business listings. We mentioned this earlier, but remember to keep your name, address, and phone number consistent across all platforms.

Choose categories that best describe your business. For example, if you run a bakery, choose categories like 'Bakery,' 'Pastries,' and 'Cakes', so people searching for those specific products can effortlessly find you.

Encourage your customers to leave reviews and interact with your business online. Reviews can also improve your visibility in local search results.

Create Offers and Promotions

Special offers and promotions are a great way to grab attention and make your business listing stand out. Highlighting discounts or limited-time deals can entice potential customers to choose your business over others.

Competitive intelligence research can help you identify the types of promotions that attract the most interest in your industry.

Look at the kinds of offers competitors use, how often they update them, and their effect on customer engagement. Competitive intelligence research allows you to learn from your competition's strategies and find opportunities to offer even more appealing promotions.

Use Social Media to Promote Your Listings

Whether you run a retail store or any other type of business, sharing your listings on social media is a powerful marketing strategy. For retailers, this means drawing in more shoppers, but for all businesses, it's about making sure potential clients can easily find you when they're ready to engage.

Encourage your customers to leave reviews and share their experiences online. Jooice takes this a step further and helps businesses monitor new reviews while offering helpful suggestions on how to respond.

Social media helps businesses create a strong and positive online presence, regardless of industry.

Mobile Optimization Is Key

Most people today search for businesses on their phones. If your listing isn't mobile-friendly, you risk losing potential customers. They may click off your listing if it's difficult to access critical information quickly.

Make sure your listing looks good and loads fast on mobile devices. It's key to attracting on-the-go customers.

Check your competitors' listings to see how they handle mobile optimization. Do their listings load smoothly, have clickable phone numbers, or show maps easily?

Through competitive intelligence research, you can learn what's working for your competitors and apply similar strategies to your listings to improve user experience and gain a competitive edge.

Integrate Listings with Your Website

Linking your business listings directly to your website is a simple yet powerful way to drive traffic. Include direct links from your listings to specific pages on your site, such as your contact or service pages.

Why not make it easier for potential customers to learn more or take action?

It's important to keep your branding consistent across both your listings and your website. Ensure the tone, logos, and design match to create a seamless experience for customers moving from one platform to another.

Explore Paid Listing Options

Investing in paid business listings can give you a significant edge over competitors. It boosts your visibility and helps you reach a larger audience.

Paid options often include extra features like enhanced profiles or ad placements that make your business stand out. If you're looking for faster results to get noticed, paid listings can be a smart addition to your marketing strategy.

Many competitors are already using paid listings to stay ahead. By conducting competitive intelligence research, you can see how they structure their ads, what keywords they target, and the promotions they offer.

Use this information to adjust your strategy and help you stand out in the same space.

Manage Multiple Business Locations

Managing multiple business locations can be a juggling act. Keeping each listing accurate is key to providing a seamless experience for your customers.

Start by creating a unique listing for each of your locations, including the correct address, business hours, and contact information. Regular updates and monitoring are essential to avoid errors that could frustrate potential customers or lead to missed opportunities.

It's helpful to use tools that streamline this process. Jooice can help with this by providing an integrated solution to manage and update all your business listings from one place, making it easier to keep everything consistent and up-to-date.

Stay Informed About Industry Changes

Digital marketing constantly evolves. Staying informed about the latest trends and changes in search engine algorithms, new features on listing platforms, and shifts in customer behavior can keep your business ahead of the curve.

Use resources such as blogs, industry newsletters, and online communities to continue learning and adapting. Ongoing education helps you stay competitive.

Regular adjustments to your listings based on current best practices can keep your business relevant and competitive.

Optimize Listings and Attract More Customers

Using online business listings alongside competitive intelligence research can boost your visibility and attract more customers. These strategies help you leverage market insights to improve your business's presence.

Simplify your digital marketing with Jooice, a platform that integrates all your marketing tools into one cohesive solution. Ready to optimize your efforts and see real results?

Start your free trial with Jooice today and transform your business!

‍