Day by day, technology is rapidly developing. We are living in a digital age where cars can drive themselves, artificial intelligence has become part of our home furniture and you can make purchases online and it’ll be delivered the SAME day – crazy right?
The world wide web has never been more accessible – tablets, smartphones, laptops, computers, games consoles, televisions, the list goes… With more and more businesses opting to an e-commerce platform, the competition for sales can seem daunting if your presence is predominately on the high-street.
In 2018, the Office for National Statistics showed that online sales rose by 15.3 % since 2017 and have since reached a record high of 18.2 % of all retail sales. Scary right? These might be facts, but this in no way means you’re going to slip under the rug if you haven’t got an online shop or website.
The high-street is still thriving or in the words of ‘Simple Minds’ – ALIVE & KICKING! However it’s incredibly important to still have a web presence, so we have pulled together some TOP FREE tips to increase your digital presence, be discoverable and still compete online WITHOUT a website!
Google My Business
As I’m sure you know, Google dominates the internet – which is why it’s good to respect and do as they say (within reason).
Google My Business is an extremely powerful FREE tool! It enables you to create a Business Profile which then appears when people are searching for your business or businesses like yours on Google Search and Maps. Google My Business makes it easy to create and update your Business Profile – so you can stand out, and bring customers in. (you don’t even need a website)
All you need to do is sign up, and fill in your business details! You can add your location, contact number, email, opening hours, photos.Â
Social MediaÂ
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, Snapchat… WHICH ONE DO I NEED, AGH!?
Most Social Media platforms are completely FREE to sign up to. Each platform has a slightly different audience and purpose, however Facebook, Twitter and Instagram dominate the market (as I’m sure you’ve heard).Â
Facebook has a mainly Business to Consumer audience which means it’s more suitable if you’re a retailer wanting to show off your products or services.
Instagram (which is owned by Facebook) is an app used for sharing photos and videos. It’s great for promoting products as well as work life, staff and lots more. It enables you to be a little more adventurous with your content. The key to using Instagram successfully is high-quality, clean cut photo content.
Twitter has a range of audiences but it’s a solid choice for business to business networking. It has no restriction on content, so go crazy!
Gloucester BID Directory
Our directory has a range of businesses from across the city. It’s completely FREE to add your business to our directory and it’s a great way to improve your digital presence. Our directory gets great traffic online from all types of audiences which in turn makes YOU more discoverable!Â
Get in touch to be added to the directory.
While you’re here, you might as well check out our Gloucester Business Directory!
(*for businesses in and around the city, in the BID Area)
Google Reviews
I hear you’ve got your Google My Business all set up!? Great news. Now you can improve your digital presence EVEN further by pushing your customers to review you online.Â
This can be done by simple word of mouth, through social media or email! Just head to your Google Business Page, locate the review section and share the URL with your customers! OR they can simply search for your business and click ‘write a review’.
Google will recognise if your business is getting good reviews and in turn, they’ll reward you with increased visibility online, helping more customers find your business and strengthen your overall online presence!Â
SEO Audit
Have you got a website already!? Why not request a free SEO Report on it. Discover hints & tips on how to better optimise your website, its content and improve your visibility.Â
