How Do People Find Businesses on the Internet?
How Do People Find Businesses on the Internet?
Since 2020, the internet has revolutionized how customers interact with businesses. A majority of potential customers now resort to online shopping or checking reviews to see a business’s credibility before working with them. Over 79% of Americans have made an online purchase of some kind, and this is done through online research that they conduct. Think about when you’ve needed ideas on businesses to work with. You might have gone to Google and searched “electrical company in Racine” or “Italian food in Kenosha”. These are all examples of how people are finding businesses on the internet. It’s time you make sure your business ends up being found on the internet!
Sources Where People Find Businesses On The Internet
You might be asking, “Where do I even begin?” The good news is that there are a number of ways to ensure that your business can be found on the internet. Below are a few options and the benefits each of them poses.
Google Search
- Includes organic listings, paid ads, and featured snippets (AI Overview), or the “People Also Ask” drop-down section
Google Maps
- Helpful for brick-and-mortar locations
- Visual mapping, customer reviews, hours, photos, and directions
Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok)
- Discoverable through hashtags, influencers, and ads
- Can be organic or paid
- Another great way to build credibility
Review Sites (Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor)
- Builds credibility with potential customers
- Ratings influence buyers
Why and How People Find Your Business on The Internet
Why
Why are people finding other businesses on the internet? It’s actually easier than you might think. When people are searching for businesses on the internet, they are typically going to type in what they are looking for and where they’re looking for it. Like we mentioned before, you’ve probably done the same thing when you’re looking for a place to eat or a service to fix something. An example of a pretty standard search could be “massage therapy company near Kenosha”. Here, you can see that the customer is looking for a massage therapy company (the service or product) near Kenosha (the location or where). By combining these two things, you can determine exactly what your audience is looking for and where they’re looking for it. This will help you determine where to target your marketing efforts.
How
How are other businesses being found? There are a number of resources available to use in order to be found. Each of them is beneficial for different reasons and can help you excel quickly or reap long-term benefits. Let’s take a deeper look at the options.
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SEO
SEO, also known as Search Engine Optimization, is an organic method that is meant to boost where you are found on search engines like Google. This is a cost-effective way to build credibility online and move you further up on Google’s search engine rankings. The only fallback is that SEO is not a fast solution to create credibility or to help you be found on Google. If you’d like to learn more about SEO, make sure to check out our blog here!
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SEM
SEM is known as Search Engine Marketing, or Pay Per Click, and is another option. This is more of a short-term solution meant to help you move up on Google’s search engine rankings quicker. If you do utilize the SEM approach, your search results will cost you money. All of the search results you come up with will be charged every time someone clicks on them. That being said, while it costs you money, you will be moved up on Google with this option.
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GBP
GBP, or Google Business Profile, is the last option that is extremely beneficial for being found on the internet. This option deals with local search results. It can be a great way for potential customers to easily access business information such as your hours, website, phone number, or directions to your business’s location. GBP is another cost-effective option, as it does not cost any money to manage your business.
Why Is It Important For People To Be Able To Find Your Business On The Internet?
As mentioned above, being found on the internet is crucial for the success of a business nowadays. The internet is an area to meet your customers where they are. About three-quarters of consumers make it a point to check out businesses online before they decide to visit in person. Don’t let your lack of a digital presence be the reason they don’t work with you. Use the internet to start building your credibility.
The internet is where a majority of your potential customers will find you. Having a credible online presence could be the reason you end up attracting them to work with you. The majority of Gen-Z and Millennials, around 60%, are more inclined to buy products made by small businesses. Being found on the internet also will give you an edge on your competitors who aren’t online! Google processes 99,000 searches every second, which translates to 8.5 billion searches per day and approximately 2 trillion searches each year. If you end up in those search results and your competitors don’t, then you are more likely to get the customers to visit your website or brick-and-mortar location.
Trust The Gratzi To Help You Get Found On The Internet
Being found on the internet is pivotal to having a successful business. With a majority of consumers turning to the internet to learn more about a business before choosing to work with them, you don’t want to be left behind because you can’t be found. There are a variety of options to choose from to increase your online visibility and credibility. Not sure where to start or what the best option is for your marketing goals? No need to worry! Reach out to us today and let the experts at The Gratzi help you out!
