Get Listed ON GOOGLE MAPS

Everyone is aware of today's "always online" society, which is fueled in large part by the widespread use of smartphones. You can't walk down the street without seeing someone stooped over and gazing at their phone.

However, most individuals associate the online world with large global corporations such as Amazon and Airbnb. What many people don't realize is how this transition has impacted local businesses. The truth is that the customer experience for small businesses has changed dramatically in recent years.

We can see how today's customer has significantly more control than they did in the past when we look at the numerous touch points. 

Local businesses used to invest in traditional advertising such as print and telemarketing, but these channels are no longer effective. People seeking for a local business nowadays will just Google it when they want it - when it is most convenient for them, not for anyone else.

There is no longer any need for personal recommendations. Instead of getting just one person's viewpoint, today's buyer can get the opinions of hundreds of individuals in seconds through internet reviews.

Customers today have more information at their fingertips than ever before. All of this is beneficial to the client since it makes their lives easier: after all, who wants a pushy salesperson these days? They want to perform their own web study to learn as much as possible, then purchase when they're ready and completely educated.

What's fascinating right now is how online is driving offline sales. Even if a buddy recommends a local business, today's customer will research the company online before contacting them. One statistic that interests me is that 78% of mobile local searches result in offline purchases. As a result, failing to invest in your online presence is no longer an option for any company trying to expand its sales.