A Growing Platform for Your Business

Google My Business has been an important part of local businesses’ online presence for some time. Projections show it’s only going to become more important.

Disruptions to the economy and online traffic during COVID-19 have created a lot of uncertainty.

Additionally, the closures of brick-and-mortar retail, changes in hours, and introduction of social distancing guidelines have made communication between businesses and their audiences more important than ever. To feel secure about shopping, customers need to have as much information as possible before they venture out.

At Michigan SEO Group, we’ve been encouraging businesses to integrate Google My Business into their local SEO for years. Keep reading for more information about this important social media presence for your Michigan business!

 

New Rules From Google-- Is Your Business Ready?

It’s long been known that stock photos aren’t necessarily the best practice, but they do have a time and a place.

Not all businesses have access to high-quality, authentic photography.

And of course, a lot of stock photography is free!

The problem is that stock photography that’s overly generic simply doesn’t tell potential customers much about a place of business.

Your Google My Business profile shouldn’t just be one more advertising platform for you—it should also give your customers valuable information, such as what your business or your products look like.

For more on Google’s new policy and its effects, checkout this article on our website!

Changes Coming to Google My Business!

Google has recently announced new guidelines for Google My Business.

In an attempt ensure that “all content that appears in the Business Profile is relevant, high quality, and appropriate,” Google is officially discouraging the use of stock images in Google My Business profiles.

KEEP READING on our website for what your business needs to know!

Great Design and User Experience

We want our customers to be able to find us, to have seamless mobile experiences, to shop securely, and more.

We like things we can turn into numbers, but sometimes it’s not so simple. 

Some important questions you should ask about your website are:

Does using this website bring the customer joy? Or is your website a source of frustration? 

Does your website attract your ideal customer?

What does your website say about your brand? Does it instill trust?

If you find yourself stumbling over any of these questions, it might be time to call the experts! Keep reading about brand trust on our website!

The Real Value of Brand Trust

We all know the benefits in leads and conversions a well-designed website can have.

But good website design goes beyond these well-known benefits.

A key distinction to draw is between brand awareness and brand authority. It’s simple enough—awareness is how many consumers have heard of your brand. Within the consumers who are aware of your brand, you have to consider how much they trust it. That’s brand authority.

There’s no simple way to earn brand trust and authority. After all, it’s something your customers have to give YOU! 

If you’re interested in reading more about building brand trust, check out this great article!

What You Can Do During COVID-19

Focus on Serving Your Existing Customers and Markets

People tend to take fewer risks in times of uncertainty, and unfortunately this may mean lower conversion rates for the next few weeks or months.

If you’re struggling to generate leads and conversions, ask yourself what you can do to better serve your existing customers and markets.

Know who your customers are and what they love about you. Focus on drilling down within the niche you’ve created.

If these tips were helpful, keep reading about what you can do during COVID-19 on our website!

Taking the Best Photos for Instagram

If you have your business on Instagram, your posts have to look good! Check out these quick and easy tips for professional-looking Instagram photos:

-Use contrast! Contrasting colors create a strong impression.

-Use negative space. Remember that the space around the subject of your photo is often as important as the subject itself! Using negative space properly can make an otherwise simple image pop!

-Keep it clean and focus on one object. Keep in mind how people view Instagram: on mobile devices. The screen is tiny, and your post shouldn’t be cluttered with detail.

-Follow the rule of thirds. Imagine your picture is a 3 x 3 grid. Try to place objects of interest at the intersections of that grid. It might be unintuitive, but placing something right in the middle doesn’t quite catch the eye like these “power points” do.

Find out more about how social media can grow your Michigan business!