Christmas is in the air! It’s the time to show our love and give back to the people who helped to make our lives better each day - friends, family and the community. For Lisa Gevelber, Google VP of Marketing, Ads & Americas, this includes small businesses who are part of her daily life in California. For example, Zombie Runner’s post-run coffee is the best highlight of her workout, and Tin-Pot Creamery makes it impossible to give up ice cream with their healthy options, both of which she is thankful. Lisa believes that supporting the businesses we love will help make the places we live a better place.
Much of Lisa’s work is spent on innovating ways to help businesses grow using the web and to create products that are instrumental in connecting people with small businesses. This season, they’ve come up with something to help small businesses stand out online and within their local neighbourhood. All they have to do is visit the #SmallThanks Hub to get customised marketing assets out of the love and affection shared by their customers online. The #SmallThanks Hub was rolled out yesterday in the US and is already available to verified Google listings with addresses.
Reviews from customers are more than digital thank-you notes. Online, they are the first thing to catch attention from potential customers. Seventy-one percent of consumers are likely to use a business with positive reviews. On the other hand, positive reviews raise the likelihood of getting clicks of up to 360%. For small businesses want to leverage their online presence, this could spell a big difference. Check out this GIF from Google Small Biz on how you can simply turn online reviews to digital or printed marketing assets.
Image courtesy of Lisa Gevelber, The Keyword
Lisa shared a few steps and tips on how to use #SmallThanks Hub to get new customers and keep the existing ones or better yet, turn them into advocates.
- Personalize your materials. Choose the reviews and select several layouts, colours, styles that go with your brand’s aesthetics.
- Show everyone why your customers love you. Place it in strategic locations. You can hang it on your store, use it as a window cling or post flyers in the neighbourhood. The idea is to encourage potential customers to try your products and services and for current customers to keep coming back. Your creativity is the limit.
- Now that you’ve gained new customers ask customers to support your business with a review. You can place stickers where it can be easily seen (windows, tables, counters, or even your POS machine.
- Remind people to search you on Google with a “Find us on Google” sticker and how they can easily connect with you in case they itch to give you a good review. Add the #SmallThanks so they can join the conversation.
- Finally, keep your Google listing up to date. Now is the best time to post your holiday offers and extended business schedule this season. You can use the special hours feature and promote holiday specials with Local Posts.
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