Local Business Blog

Custom Website Design vs. Templates

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 16:24:24 GMT

When designing a website for your business, you have two main options: custom web design or using templates.

Custom web design allows for more flexibility and specific features that cater to your needs. At the same time, template websites are easier to get up and running fast.

Which choice is best for you? That depends on your budget, timeline, content, features needed, and other factors that are specific to your business needs.

Templates are a great way to quickly get a basic website up and running. They often offer pre-defined layouts and designs with text, images, and other content that you can easily change. Templates are also more economical than custom web design. However, suppose you want a website that is uniquely yours and tailored to your specific needs. In that case, custom web design is a better option.

Custom websites are built from scratch based on the content that you provide. You can choose which features and functionality your website needs, including contact forms, membership areas, blogs, social media integration, mobile-friendly designs, eCommerce capabilities, and more. Let's take a deep dive into a comparison and find out which option is best for you!

Custom Web Design

Custom web design is a process of designing a website from "scratch" based on the specific needs and requirements of the client. The designer will work with the client to develop a design that meets their needs and then will build the website using code or (more likely) a website builder. This planning often results in a website tailored to the client's business. It is unique from any other website on the internet.

It would not be uncommon for the web designer to start with a template and build from there. But, the finished product should not look like it a template. The template can help get some elements in place and reduce the time spent doing the little things. The designer should work with their client to find a design they like, and if it draws influence from a template, so be it.

The benefits of custom web design

When you choose custom web design, you get a website specifically tailored to your needs and your business. You can select the features and functionality your website needs, and you can be sure that it will look unique and professional.

Custom web design also allows for more flexibility and creativity, so you can make your website stand out from the competition. However, it can be more time-consuming and expensive than using a template.

Advantages of custom web design

You get to choose which features you want your website to have
Your website is truly unique and tailored to you and your business
Your website will be highly flexible and creative

Cost of Custom Web Design

Custom web design isn't cheap, and it will cost more than website templates. However, the cost of custom web design may vary greatly depending on your specific needs. It's important to discuss the price with potential designers before hiring them. Create a clear scope of work so expectations, pricing, and timing are all agreed upon before working together.

Factors that can affect the cost of custom web design include the number of pages you need, timeline, how much custom coding is required, etc.

According to Freshbooks , the average cost to flush out a full website, including content, is $6,760 . That is pretty steep for most small businesses, and you can certainly find it cheaper than that.

For a basic website for a service-based small business or restaurant, you can get a quality site built for between $1,000 and $2,000 .

Again, the price will vary based on what features you need. Are you providing content, or will the designer have to either write it or outsource it themselves? Many factors come into play when it comes to pricing out custom websites.

I try to keep my pricing pretty transparent. I even have a calculator on my custom web design page that gives clients an estimate of what it will cost them before we meet. Some might say that is a bad idea, but I like being upfront with cost, so no one is surprised when it comes time to discuss pricing.

Website Templates

Website templates are pre-built designs that you can pick from to create your website. They have the basic design already in place, and you can choose elements to add to it, such as text, images, buttons, etc.

Template providers often provide hundreds of options for you to choose from so you can easily find one that fits with your business or industry. You do not need any coding knowledge to get a template up and running quickly.

Below you can scroll through my collection of templates for my DIY Website Membership .

The benefits of website templates

Website templates can provide a website that is quick and easy to build. You don't need coding skills, design knowledge, or website building experience. The website should already be mobile responsive, so it will look good on all desktop to tablet to mobile phone devices.

You can find templates that fit your budget. Most website builders will have free website templates to choose from, with the option to purchase premium options.

Starting with a template can be a great way to get your business off the ground for new business owners. Later down the road, you can always upgrade your website design by hiring a web designer when your business starts to get more cash flow.

Advantages of Website Templates

Website templates are quick to get up and running with little to no experience.
Website templates are affordable. You can save $1,000s upfront by not hiring a web designer.
Website templates are easy to use. Since the site is premade, all you have to worry about is updating the content, including headers, photos, and text.

The cost of website templates

Most website builders will have a variety of website templates to choose from, and the cost will vary depending on the template you select. Website templates are much more affordable than custom web design. You can find website templates for free or purchase premium options depending on the website builder you are using.

According to WebsiteBuilderExpert.com , templates or themes can cost anywhere from $0 to $200 . That will typically be a one-time cost that does not include the site's hosting.

When it comes to the price, the more you are willing to spend, the more complex the design and uniqueness of the site will be.

Should You Choose Custom Web Design or a Website Template?

The answer to this question depends on where you are as a business.

Suppose you are just getting started and need to get a website up and running with a limited budget. In that case, I highly recommend a website template. Find yourself a modern, professional template that fits your vision and go from there.

Pro Tip: Make sure to update everything and not leave placeholder content behind on the templates.

On the other hand, if you have been in business for years and find that your online presence has plateaued, it may be time to upgrade your website to a custom design.

You can bring your brand to life with custom design, add all the features you want on your website, and drive more conversions. Find a web designer who will share your vision to work closely with you to create the perfect website for you.

If you would like to learn more. I offer custom website design to small businesses and a DIY Website Membership to help small businesses launch their websites quickly and affordably!

Contact me today with any questions!

What is social proof and how can it help my business?

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 01:54:08 GMT

Most people are at least a little bit influenced by the actions of others, especially when it comes to making decisions. Humans have evolved to be social animals, and as a result, we tend to look to other people for cues on how we should behave. This tendency is known as social proof.

What is social proof, and why is it important?

In essence, social proof is the idea that if many other people like something, it must be worth trying out.

This principle can be highly effective when used in marketing. It is one of the easiest ways to motivate potential customers to purchase your products or services. There are many different ways to use this principle in your business. This article will explore a few examples of social proof that you can start using in your business today!

How can you use social proof on your website to increase conversions and sales?

Social proof is one of the most important psychological concepts to understand regarding website design and online marketing. This principle can be highly effective in motivating potential customers to purchase your products or services. There are many different ways to use this principle to your advantage, and in this article, we will explore a few of them.

Customer Testimonials

One of the most effective ways to use social proof on your website is to showcase customer testimonials. This can be done in the form of a video or written testimonial. Doing this can show potential customers that other people have had a positive experience with your product or service and that they will too!

Where can I get testimonials?

You have a few options when it comes to getting high-quality testimonials. Ideally, you will have a steady stream of reviews coming in through your Google Business Profile and Facebook account that you can share on your homepage. These are great social proof because people are familiar with Google and Facebook.

For some business models, that is not so easy as you may be working with fewer clients in a service-based industry. In that case, you will have to ask your clients if they would be willing to give you a testimonial. There are some great tools out there like testimonial.to that can help you manage your testimonials, easily request them, and aggregate to a "wall of love."

Partner Logos

Many businesses also use social proof by showcasing their client logos on their website homepage. This is another great way to show potential customers that other people have successfully used your product or service. It can also help to build trust and credibility with your audience.

It is important to highlight these logos on your homepage because you want your site visitors to trust you. Seeing a familiar logo to them starts to break down that trust barrier and makes site visitors willing to learn more. There are a few different ways to showcase client logos on your website. One of the most common ways is to list them in a grid or carousel format.

Another example of where a logo will help you gain some trust is with certifications or partnerships with larger companies. For example, the illustrious Google Partner badge on the homepage of a marketing agency instantly builds its credibility and trustworthiness.

Awards & Recognitions

Finally, you can also use social proof on your website by sharing awards, recognitions, featured articles, and other achievements. This will show potential customers that your company is trusted by various institutions, which will make them feel more reassured in their purchase decision!

Even thinking locally, if you can talk to a journalist and get featured in the local news, that recognition will certainly bolster your credibility to the community.

Final Thoughts

Social proof is the idea that if many other people like something, it must be worth trying out. Using this type of marketing strategy, you can convince your customers that they will get the same satisfaction and quality from your product or service as others did!

Social Proof can come in a few different forms, such as customer testimonials, logos on your website homepage to build trust with visitors, and awards & recognitions for achievements made by your company. These are just some examples of social proof you could use on personal and corporate websites to increase conversions and sales.

Start implementing social proof on your website today! Get started for free .

Restaurant Marketing Guide: Get Your Restaurant Found Online

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:30:02 GMT

As a restaurant owner, you know that attracting new customers is key to your success. But how can you make sure that hungry diners find your restaurant? Using online marketing tools like search engine optimization (SEO) and social media can reach more potential customers and bring in more business. Keep reading to learn more about how SEO and social media can help your restaurant thrive.

Create a Website for Your Restaurant

Your website is one of your most essential tools when it comes to online marketing. Creating a website and optimizing it for search engines can reach more potential diners and bring in more business.

Your website is the central hub for your business online, so be sure to include all of your restaurant's information. This info includes location, hours, menu, and most importantly, a call-to-action that gets visitors to order online or book a reservation.

There are three important uses for your restaurant at the early stages of your business:

Collecting Email Address

If your restaurant is just getting started, the main purpose of your website should be collecting email addresses for future customers. These are people who are genuinely curious about your restaurant and can be immediate customers when you do open.

I like to put email subscriber forms in a pop-up on the "Order Online" button because that captures individuals who were already looking to order from you.

Once you have email addresses, you can contact these individuals when you open, send coupons, and give them exclusive offers for supporting your business from the start.

Let Visitors Know What to Expect

Your website should also help visitors know what to expect from your restaurant. If you're a new, unknown restaurant, potential diners will want to see your menu, along with high-quality photos of the interior and food on the menu.

Make sure that all of the information on your website is up-to-date and correct. This includes hours, location, menu, and contact information. The more accurate and reliable your website appears, the more likely potential customers will trust you.

Use SEO to Rank Higher in Google

One of the most important things you can do for your restaurant is use SEO to rank higher in Google.

When people are searching for a local restaurant online, they often use Google. By optimizing your website and content for search engines, you can make sure that your restaurant is one of the first results that pop up.

Remember, you are looking to rank highly for your local area, so you want to include keywords related to your location, like town and landmarks.

Claim Your Google Business Profile

Another important way to make sure that potential diners find your restaurant is to claim your Google Business Profile .

This free tool from Google allows you to control what information about your restaurant shows up on Google Maps and in search results.

Make sure to fill out all of the information on your profile, including hours, location, and contact information. You can also upload photos of your restaurant and menu.

Your Google Business Profile is often the first impression diners will see when searching for your restaurant, so make sure it's accurate and up-to-date.

A few tips to help your Google Business Profile stand up are:

Order Online with Google

Google lets businesses update their Google Business Profile with a link to their online ordering or reservation platform. This helps potential customers searching for your restaurant find out how to order online or book right away and remove any friction that may come with them clicking on your website.

You can either connect your online ordering platforms to Google Business Profile so users can order directly through Google or add your online ordering link to a Place an Order button.

Secure Reservations through Google

Another great way to reduce friction for hungry diners is connecting your reservation system with your Google Business Profile.

Connect your Open Table, Resy, or any other reservation management system you have to your account and let users make reservations right on Google.

Include High-Quality Photos

Google Business Profiles with high-quality photos stand out from the rest.

Photos are a great way to show potential diners what your restaurant looks like inside and out. They can also help showcase your menu items. Make sure to upload photos of your restaurant that are high resolution and accurately reflect your business.

Google even offers a section where you can include pictures of your menu which users can find in a tab under your profile for easy navigation. Again, this can help reduce friction for users who may be searching your business before reaching your website.

Show Off Your Menu

Within your Google Business Profile, you can submit your entire menu to Google so diners can see your menu without leaving Google.

No, I'm not talking about a picture of your menu! You can actually include every menu item into Google, so it shows up on your Business Profile page.

I don't see many restaurants doing this, but you may want to give it a shot and see if it helps!

Social Media

Social media is a great way for restaurants to connect with potential customers and promote their business.

There are a variety of social media platforms that restaurants can use, but some of the most popular ones for local businesses are Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook

Facebook is a great platform for restaurants because it allows you to post longer updates and photos. You can create a page for your restaurant and add information like hours, location, and contact information. In some ways, it can act similarly to your Google My Business profile to help patrons quickly get the information they need.

For a local restaurant, you really do not have to pay for any Facebook ads to get results. You can post organically, interact with customers, show off menu items, and get involved in local Facebook Groups to gain a following.

You should also pay attention to Facebook groups that are related to the type of food you serve. If you are from Central Massachusetts, you may have heard of ChewOnThis , a local restaurant group that has a huge following. Through this group, many restaurants have been able to promote their business and generate a following of their own.

Instagram

While Instagram is not as important for local restaurants as Facebook, it still serves an important purpose.

Think of it as a gallery to share your restaurant's best photos. It can be a great way to share your menu items, offer discounts, show off the environment of your restaurant, and get potential visitors excited about what you have to offer.

Citations/Business Listings

When you are trying to build up a reputation online, it is important to make sure that you have your business listed in the proper directories.

Yelp is probably one of the most important listings to control because it has a large consumer user base. It ranks incredibly high on almost every Google search related to a restaurant, so it is always in sight.

Other Citations include Yahoo Local Business Listing, Bing Places for Business, Apple Maps, Better Business Bureau, and more.

One way to manage multiple citations from one platform is with a tool like Brightlocal .

Your information must be accurate across the board. Google will penalize you for having listings that are not accurate. At the same time, you will want to make sure that you don't use the same descriptions for each one either.

There are some dissenting opinions on this, but it makes sense. If Google sees the same description across multiple business listings, it will penalize you for duplicate content. The best method is to put in the extra work and create unique listings for each citation. That will require claiming each one and not using an aggregating tool like Neustar Localeze .

In my opinion, using a citation aggregating tool is better than nothing at all, but if you have the time and bandwidth to do so, you should claim all of your listings yourself.

Get Your Restaurant Found Online

A restaurant's success is dependent on how well it can reach its customers. Whether you're trying to rank highly in Google, using social media to drive traffic into your website, or claiming citations and listings for your business - it all starts with a high-quality website that showcases what makes your venue unique.

If this sounds like something you are interested in for your restaurant, contact me today!

Are you interested in a free website mockup? Inquire here .

The Ultimate Business Tool: A Guide to Google Business Profile

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 15:52:15 GMT

Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, is an essential tool for local businesses.

If you're a small business looking to stand out, chances are, you're not alone. The period between March 2020 and June 2021 marked a record high for the number of business startups created.

So how do you differentiate your business from millions of competitors?

Enter Google My Business: a very effective business tool for giving small businesses visibility. With GMB, your small business can have the same local competitive edge as a larger business nearby spending significantly more on advertising.

I've created the following guide explaining how GMB works and why it's crucial for your small business to have a Google business listing.

The Basics

Before you create your Google My Business listing, you'll want to have an understanding of how to create and optimize your profile for the best results. If you're not familiar with Google My Business, here's a brief overview.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free tool designed for local businesses to be more visible in the Google search engine. With a GMB listing, businesses can be found on Google Maps and Google Search with all of their relevant information listed below.

A GMB does more than just position your business in front of more potential customers. It also provides insights into your digital presence. You’ll learn about how users interact with your business online and how they find you.

Why Does My Business Need a Google My Business Page?

Whether you’re a frequent Google user or not, your customers and potential customers will be using Google to look for your business. Google is the most popular search engine, processing over 1 trillion searches per year worldwide.

When your business is registered and optimized on Google My Business (GMB), users will be able to find useful information like your business hours, where you’re located, and directions to get there.

Keep in mind that anyone can enter your business name and register it with Google. Once this happens, a Google My Business profile will appear on Google Maps and the Google Knowledge Panel .

If you register your business and manage your listing, you can be sure that all information is accurate. A random person who manages your listing may hurt your business if they upload incorrect business hours, the wrong address, or unflattering pictures.

Your account will also provide you with helpful business analytics, including how customers search for your business, which phrases they use to find you, and how they interact with your business listing.

Most importantly, having a Google My Business profile will make your business more visible, even if it’s a smaller business that isn’t spending money on ad services. A Google business listing is the best tool to ensure that any size business can be found.

Which Businesses Qualify for Google My Business?

Any business that involves a physical location can create a Google My Business Listing. This could mean a business with a visitable storefront or a business that has a physical location to offer products or services.

According to Google , “To quality for a Business Profile on Google, a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours.”

Businesses that don’t serve customers at physical locations, therefore, can’t qualify for a listing. Stores that operate entirely online, like an e-commerce store or digital service, can’t create a Google My Business Listing.

Can I use Google My Business Without an Address?

Yes!

Even if your business doesn’t have a storefront or physical address, you can register your business as a service business. This means that your business provides services to homes or other organizations around you. A service area business listing will let you set the radius of the area in which you provide services.

Is Google My Business Free?

Yes!

It’s free to create your Business Profile. Free features include optimizing features of your profile and managing your business from Google Search and Maps.

Claiming Your Google Business

First, you’ll want to claim and verify your Google My Business account.

Since anyone can make a GMB listing for a given business, you may already have a business listing created that was uploaded by someone else.

To find out if a listing already exists for your business, look up your business name on Google Maps. If it’s not claimed, claim it and verify it with a phone call. If you see the text, “Claim this business,” your business can be claimed.

If you don’t see your business at all, add it by inputting information. Then claim it by using the step above.

Accessing Your Previously Claimed Business Listing

What if your business listing has been verified, but you can’t access it?

In some cases, someone may have already claimed your business with an email address that you don’t have access to. It could be a previous team member who created it with a private email.

Should this happen to you, don’t create a new account. First, try to get access by using the “Request Ownership” feature . Google will send an email to the current owner’s email on the account.

You’ll be notified by email if your request is approved or denied. If denied, you may be able to make an appeal. And if you don’t hear back within three days, you may be able to claim the profile yourself.

Modifying Duplicate Listings

In some cases, you'll see more than one listing for your business. Sometimes this can happen if there’s confusion about slight differences in your name and address, and people may upload listings for you based on the information they believe to be accurate.

When this happens, you’ll want to take the proper steps to only list the proper one. Data confusion from duplicate listings can lower your search rankings.

See if you can claim a duplicate. Once it’s added to your account, go to your “Account Summary” and click Duplicate Locations . You’ll be able to click on the location you want to remove and delete the listing.

If you can’t claim the duplicate listing, use the request ownership feature as mentioned above. In the meantime, you can report a duplicate listing on Google Maps.

Find the location you want to report and click “Suggest an edit.” Mark the location as “Place is permanently closed or has never existed” and select “Duplicate” as the reason. You may even be able to select the right location for the business.

Optimizing Your Business Listing

After verifying your listing, the next step is to optimize your profile by filling out as many details as possible. Don’t skip this step - the more complete you are, the more visible your business profile will become.

Use only the official name you operate under as your business name. You can add important information like location, keywords, and products within the numerous options that Google provides for completing your account.

Hours

First, enter your regular hours. You’ll also have the option to add specific hours under the “more hours” section. This includes happy hours, delivery availability, or other events that have additional times.

To add times for holidays, special events, or any other time period that will affect your opening hours, use the special hours feature.

Phone Number

Here you should add your primary business number. Use the number that matches all other listings of your business. Opt for a local phone number rather than an 800 number, as 800 numbers don’t feel legitimate to users.

Website URL

Add your company’s website URL to your Google Listing. If you have more than one location, make sure your website URL takes users to your location’s page rather than a generic home page.

Take your website URL up a notch by implementing a website tracking URL onto your listing. That way, you’ll be able to see how many times your website is clicked from the GMB listing vs. from organic results.

You can create one with Google’s Campaign URL Builder , and you’ll be able to analyze specific clicks on your home page from your knowledge panel.

Appointment URL

If your services are primarily offered through appointments or reservations, you can add a URL that links to your scheduling software using the appointment URL feature. Users will be taken directly to your booking website, significantly streamlining the process of signing up for products or services.

Google supports hundreds of planning software options, including Books, Square Appointments, and E-table. View Google’s full list of supported scheduling partners here .

Short Name

Your short name is a custom name associated with your GMB profile. It’s an easy way for users to find your listing easily. The short name can be up to 32 characters and is unique, so no other listing will be confused for yours.

Google explains it like this: “When you share your short name, customers can enter the name’s URL in the browser’s address bar to go directly to your Business Profile. For example, customers can search for g.page/[yourcustomname] in the address bar to find your business.”

Products

Depending on what you sell, your GMB page may be able to list your product. Many business categories allow you to upload product listings. If you have this feature available to you, it’s a good idea to upload a few of your products.

Add a product to your GMB listing in seven simple steps.

Within your Google My Business Account, go to the “Products” tab and then click “Add Product”
Upload a photo
Name the product and select the product category (create a new category if necessary)
Set a price
Create a description
Add a “learn more” button option
Save!

With featured products listed, your Google business listing will be a step above that of your competitors. Having a solid number of products completes your listing and adds visual appeal, too.

Services

GMB also gives the option to break down the services you offer in detail. You can add your own pricing and information. Keep in mind that listing your service won’t help you rank for those keywords, but it will help users learn more about you and potentially generate more customers.

Business Description

Share a bit more about what makes your business unique here. What's your mission? Who is your target customer and how do you make their lives better?

This is the part of your listing where you can be creative and write like your authentic self. Write in a friendly tone that sounds like human language. Don't overstuff with keywords or include too much jargon - look for a more natural communication style.

Attributes

Attributes are the most frequently changing and timely elements of your Google My Business profile.

For instance, 2020 brought social distancing to businesses and organizations. Google introduced health attributes like "staff wears masks,” “curbside pickup available,” and “online classes,” to help businesses communicate their safety measures to users.

Attributes can be added by the business or suggested by users. The attributes you’ll have available will depend on the type of business you run.

If you have a physical location, consider including accessible attributes like “wheelchair friendly.” Storefronts that don’t accept digital payments should make note of this by selecting the “cash only” attribute.

Attributes can also be chosen based on the communities served and represented by the business.

For instance, “LGBTQ-friendly” is an attribute that businesses can select to showcase that their business is a safe space for these individuals. “Woman-led,” “Veteran-led,” and “Black-Owned Business,” are also popular attributes that have been added in recent years.

Messages

Move to the “Messages” tab on the left-hand side of the menu to access the messaging feature. Customers can communicate with you directly through your GMB listing by reaching out with the messaging feature.

After you enable it, a “Message” box will be visible on your page when viewers access it from Google Maps.

Keep in mind that Google has its own sets of guidelines you need to follow. Google expects you to respond to all messages within 24 hours. If you don’t, you may be banned from GMB messaging.

Photos

There are three types of photos to upload to your GMB account: your logo, cover photo, and other images.

Your logo should be a high-resolution, square JPG or PNG with a file size between 10KB and 5MB.

Your cover photo should be a high-quality image that represents your business, whether it’s a picture of your team or of a product you offer. GMB cover photos are 1080 x 608 pixels and should be a JPG or PNG between 10KB and 5MB.

Other images will give searchers a better understanding of your business. What does the outside look like? Could you upload map directions that are more helpful than using Google Maps?

Add photos of both the inside and outside of your business. Displays, seating, and unique decor pieces will add character to your listing.

Customers can add their own images, too. Any images added by customers will appear under the “by customer” tab on your listing. Keep up to date with these to ensure that they’re flattering and accurate.

Video

Video is one of the most underrated and underused tools on GMB pages. Incorporate video into your listing, though, and expect your visibility to skyrocket.

In 2022, video traffic is expected to reach 82% of all online traffic, with 78% of people watching videos online each week and the majority of people watching at least one on a daily basis.

Adding video to your Google listing puts you on the right side of video consumption trends, making your business seem more tech-savvy.

Users

If you’re a one-person operation, you’re likely the only one who will be using your Google My Business Account. But if you’re working with a team, you may want to grant access to other users.

Add managers to your GMB page under the Users section. They’ll gain editing access, but you’ll retain ownership.

Staying Up-to-Date

Once your listing is active, it will require regular maintenance to keep it optimized. Regularly take a look at data insights and stay in touch with your users to make the most from your listing in the long term.

Google My Business Posts

Maintain a line of communication with your listing viewers by uploading Google My Business Posts. GMB posts allow you to add updates, events, and sales to your listing. You can even include Covid-19 updates and information.

GMB posts are similar to social media posts. They’ll appear in chronological order within your profile and can be viewed from the search results page.

Posts often encourage visitors to act, using phrases such as “Learn More,” "Order Online," and “Sign Up.”

Like social media, remember that your GMB posts are optimized for certain visual standards. Images appear in a 4:3 ratio, so crop them accordingly. Posts only last 7 days, and only the first 100 characters of a post will appear in the knowledge panel visible from the search results page.

A new GMB post could be added to your listing every day, since you can have up to 10 posts at once. The two most recent will be viewable to a user on the search results page.

Reading and Responding to Reviews

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to generate trust and support among customers. Show your customers that you appreciate their feedback by responding to all reviews in a timely manner. Thank individuals who have left positive feedback and do your best to make it right with customers who didn’t have a great experience.

Google even explains that businesses should respond to all reviews since “high-quality, positive reviews from your customers will improve your business’s visibility and increase the likelihood that a potential customer will visit your location.”

By responding to reviews, you show your audience that you care, encouraging people to leave more positive reviews. And the more positive feedback you receive, the better your Google ranking will become.

Reviewing Insights

Your GMB offers insights into your last quarter’s performance, so you should check them at least every few months or so to get access to the most relevant information.

You can see information on impressions, or the number of people who search for your business. Insights will show you the number of people searching for your business by name, the people searching by categories who see your listing, and the people who look for brands or products you sell without directly looking for your business.

Other sets of data look at the platforms your customers use to view your profile, the actions people take when they click on your profile, and common trends.

Google Business Profile: The Ultimate Business Tool

Google My Business has become a helpful business tool and a necessary one for growing businesses. With a GMB account, you’ll not only become more visible to customers, but you’ll also seem more trustworthy.

You don’t have to get started with your Google business profile alone - together, we can optimize all aspects of your business’s online presence.

Get in touch with me to find out how you can transform your company into a strong digital player.

What is a Unique Selling Proposition?

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:51:00 GMT

If a company wants to survive in today's competitive market, it must have attributes that stand out from its competition. These attributes can come down to various factors such as price, quality, customer service, and much more. When you identify which of these factors your business excels at, it becomes your Unique Selling Proposition or USP.

The USP will give you an advantage that will encourage customers to buy from you over your competition.

The Purpose of a Unique Selling Proposition

When you think about advertising, think about all of the commercials you see during television shows and how each tries to capture your attention in just 15-30 seconds. How can these companies stand out amongst their competitors and have everyone choose them?

Wouldn't it be nice if there was some way that could focus on just part of their business that makes it different than everyone else's? That is what the purpose of a USP is.

How To Identify Your Unique Selling Proposition

Coming up with a good USP isn't always easy, but there are ways to identify it. As you are going through the process of analyzing your company and comparing it to other businesses in the industry, make sure to focus on these four main points:

Product Features

If you are selling a unique product, determine which features sets your product apart from the competition.

Customer Benefits

What does this mean? This refers to those advantages or valuable aspects of your business that customers will benefit from when they purchase from you.

Alternative Options

What else do people have access to if they decide not to buy from you? Is it only you?

Cost Factors

Why should people choose your product or service over everything else? If they are already purchasing from someone, why should they change vendors? Pricing is a significant aspect of this.

Communicating Your USP

There are many ways to communicate your USP to your potential customers. Some companies use a slogan that will remind people of their product's benefits and why they should purchase from them. Others decide to create a catchy jingle or advertisement with images that show off the USP in any way possible.

On your companies website, your USP should be front and center. If possible, you should reference it on the hero section of your website so customers cannot miss it. For many companies, it may be too lengthy to include in that section, so you should include it in the intro section of your homepage, right underneath the hero section. Putting it any lower than that may risk having potential customers miss it.

Conclusion

Having an excellent USP can be one of the most critical factors in marketing any business. No matter what industry you are in, having something unique will make your company stand out amongst competitors. When you know exactly what makes your service or product different from others, customers will be able to choose whom they buy from easily.

Have you identified your Unique Selling Proposition for your company?

Share your USP with us in the comments section below!

5 Ways to Utilize Technology for your Small Business

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 01:48:33 GMT

Technology has been a significant factor in the business world for many years now. It's become so prominent that people can't imagine running a company without it. But how do you know which technologies are right for your small business? This article will look at 5 of the most popular uses of technology in today's small businesses and some tips on how to utilize them effectively.

Benefits of Technology for Your Small Business

Countless benefits come from using technology for your small business. Things have changed significantly since the days companies needed to invest in a computer and software just to be able to send out a mass email. Today, businesses can utilize all sorts of apps and programs to enhance their bottom line and increase productivity.

Every day, new technology emerges to help make businesses run more efficiently, boost productivity and make life easier. When utilizing this new technology, the ultimate objective is to increase productivity, streamline workflow, and save time and money through automation. Let's take a look at some of the most popular uses of technology in the workplace today.

Productivity Tools

Using productivity software is a great way to keep track of your work schedule and deadlines. By keeping everything organized in one place, you can avoid the stress of trying to remember everything.

There are a number of different productivity software programs available, so it's important to find one that best suits your needs. Some programs allow you to create to-do lists, set reminders, and track your progress. Others provide features such as time tracking, invoicing, and project management.

No matter which program you choose, it's important to use it regularly and update it accordingly. This will ensure that all your information is current and easy to access.

Tips for Using Productivity Tools

Make sure to use the software regularly and update it accordingly. This will ensure that all your information is current and easy to access.
Find a program that best suits your needs and stick with it.
Utilize the different features of the program to their fullest potential in order to increase productivity.

Utilize Online Payment Systems

The intent of utilizing an online payment system is also to increase productivity, as it is a time-saving and money-saving tool.

Several benefits come from utilizing an online payment system. For example, you can streamline your billing processes by paying all of your employees with one click on a computer or mobile phone. These instant payments can also help you keep track of your finances because you won't have to wait for your employees to deposit their checks on a weekly basis. If you're a small business owner, then I'm sure you have had those employees who hoard checks for weeks and hit you with a large, unexpected payment at once.

You need to consider a few things when using an online payment system for the first time, so you don't run into any issues. There are dozens of systems out there, so you want to make sure that the payment systems integrate with your POS system, your online store, invoicing, etc. You should aim to have one cohesive system and not collect money through multiple applications if possible.

Tips for Utilizing an Online Payment System

Make sure that the payment systems integrate with your POS, online store, invoicing, etc.
Utilize instant payments to streamline billing processes and eliminate the need for employees to deposit their checks on a weekly basis.
Create online subscriptions or automatic ETFs so you streamline the billing process for recurring payments. You will enjoy that much more than chasing down payments from clients.

Use A.I. to Your Advantage

Artificial Intelligence has become a lot more accessible over the past few years. Now, almost any business can utilize A.I. at an affordable cost to help with a variety of tasks, including marketing, customer service, and sales.

A simple search on AppSumo can help you find dozens of emerging A.I.-focused companies that can help you with almost every aspect of your business.

For example, A.I. can help you write content , create videos in a snap , respond to customers through chatbots , and do any number of things you can think of. The possibilities are endless.

Most of the tools you will find on AppSumo are affordable and straightforward to use. Most can be installed in a matter of minutes, so you don't have to worry about the learning curve that comes with other marketing software.

Tips for Utilizing A.I.

Do a simple search on AppSumo to find dozens of emerging A.I.-focused companies that can help you with almost every aspect of your business.
Automate the tasks you HATE. The best part about A.I. is that it allows you to focus on the things you love to do and hand off the things you don't like.
Double and triple-check the output of your A.I. While the technology has come a long way, it is not perfect. Make sure that your outputs are factual, accurate, and represent your business; otherwise, it may add more work for you.

Automate the Tasks You Hate

Similar to the benefits of A.I., there are a number of tools out there to automate some of the tedious tasks you hate.

I have written previous articles on using Zapier , but it is worth talking about the benefits again.

There are a few tools out there like Zapier, IFTTT, and Integromat that can create mini-apps with no-code that can automate certain functions of your business. These mini-apps can be anything from adding contacts to your CRM, creating new customers out of leads on social media, and instantly importing chat transcripts into Google Docs.

Tips for Automating Tasks

Evaluate the tools that you use and see if they are compatible with Zapier, IFTTT, or Integromat.
Identify tedious tasks that are heavily data-entry or follow a simple process; it is very likely these can be automated.
Make sure to test the outputs of your automation to ensure accuracy.

Social Media

Social media is a great way to stay connected with your customers. It is also easy to share content and get feedback from people online.

Maybe even more so than your website, your social media pages are one of the first impressions of your business. It is important to make sure that they are well-maintained and represent your brand in the best way possible.

A lot of small businesses owners are hesitant to start focusing on social media, whether it be because they don't have the time or they're not sure how to get started.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make sure that your social media presence is effective. With free programs like Canva or Adobe Stock, or cheap options like Glorify , you can create stunning visuals with ease using their pre-built templates.

You can post about the latest offers you have, share new blog posts, and keep your audience engaged by asking questions.

Once you have a good amount of content created, use programs like Buffer or Hootsuite to post at specific times throughout the day. You can even schedule posts ahead of time so that they go out automatically for you.

You can even use apps that will curate content for you based on your industry, news, and other factors using apps like UpContent .

Tips for Using Social Media

Post regularly, but not too often. You don't want to overwhelm your followers with posts, but you also don't want them to forget about you. Try to post a few times a week.
Be interesting and relevant. Make sure that your posts are interesting to your followers and contribute to the conversation.
Engage with your followers. Respond to comments and questions. This will help build customer loyalty and foster relationships with customers.

In the article, I have discussed a number of ways that you can utilize technology in your business. I covered how to use A.I., automation tools, and social media for marketing purposes. These are several of the best ways to get yourself up-to-date with what's happening in technology and to boost productivity within your company.

As always, if you have any questions or comments on this article, please feel free to leave them below!

Top 5 Benefits of Local SEO Marketing

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 01:34:19 GMT

When you are a business that serves a specific area, the competition is fierce. It would help if you could separate yourself from other local businesses. Local SEO marketing can have a tremendous impact on your phone call and walk-in traffic.

You've probably tried traditional marketing methods such as print and radio advertising or roadside signs, but are you getting the return you need? When people want information on businesses, they don't listen to the radio; they look it up online.

Your ranking on Google is crucial to getting the most traffic possible to your website. Is your business the first one they see, or is it your competitor? Appearing on the first page of Google is vital, especially getting in the local 3-pack through Google Maps.

Let's look at the five most significant benefits of Local SEO and how it impacts your business.

Reach More Customers with Local SEO

The key to success for a brick and mortar store or a business that serves an area like heating and cooling repair is reaching the right people. Traditional marketing sends out a wide net. Only a small fraction of the people who see your advertising are interested in your service. That's a waste of money.

When you optimize your website for search engines, you attract traffic specifically looking for your goods and services. That creates the best opportunity to convert site visitors into customers.

Focusing on Local SEO improves your chances of being in the local 3-pack at the top of the search results and in the top search results themselves. This is valuable online real estate and the first thing people see when looking up information.

Google 3-Pack

The Google 3-pack lists businesses that Google feels best represents a location. The top listing in the 3-pack for a local search receives 44 percent of clicks , according to Moz.

This slight nudge from Google, telling searchers that these are the three most relevant businesses in the area, plays a major role in influencing searchers click.

Take a look at my Guide to Google Business Profile to learn how to optimize your listing and have the best chance of winning those 3-pack results.

SEO Marketing Improves Brand Awareness

There's likely a lot of competition out there in your business niche. How can you get the word out about your business with all the competition out there? The best way is through brand awareness. If people know and trust who you are, they are more likely to choose your business.

If you offer a service or product that people have never heard of, you will have a hard time competing with the businesses that have been around for 25 years.

Local SEO helps create brand awareness by putting your site on the first page of Google for related keywords. By climbing the search engine rankings, you start to bring more credibility to your business while bringing more awareness through increased website traffic. Your customers have a better chance of finding you when you appear on the first page of search results.

SEO through Social Proof

A great way to improve your brand awareness is through reviews from customers. Many review websites such as Yelp allow customers to discuss their experiences with your business, both good and bad.

These reviews give people a better understanding of the quality of your business. The more positive reviews you get, the more comfortable customers become with your business.

Positive reviews on these third-party sites help build trust and improve consumer confidence in your brand. This can lead to increased sales for your business, all thanks to the social proof.

Unfortunately for us, small business owners, these review sites rank highly on Google. Usually, higher than most small businesses for certain keywords. So, we need to use this to our advantage by garnering great reviews to act as testimonials for our businesses.

I talk a lot about the impact of social proof on your website in another article, but social proof also applies to reviews and testimonials across the web.

Reduce Your Marketing Costs

Promoting your business through paid advertisements can be expensive, especially if using an agency to manage your ads. Local SEO marketing offers a great way to reduce your marketing costs.

You control everything, the keywords you want to rank for, what information appears on your website and in which order, etc. This gives you the ability to spend less money for better results.

Digital advertisements also cast a wide net. You may be targeting Facebook Ads to your specific niche, but you can't be sure that the individuals seeing those ads are interested in buying at the moment.

With local SEO, you know that the searchers are in the market to buy your product or service. Again, this increases conversions and saves you money in the long run.

Local SEO Tools

Google provides all the resources you need to rank highly in search results. Focus on your primary and secondary keywords on your website. Google will give you the insights you need to track and monitor how you are performing.

If you want to take your local SEO to the next level, below are some tools for your to check out today!

Receive More Targeted Traffic

Finally, local SEO helps you receive more targeted traffic to your website.

Local SEO only brings in traffic from a specific area. Local SEO customers not only want your service but are located within your service area. This is done through careful keyword research and content creation. Targeted traffic leads to more conversions and a better return on investment.

Think of it like this, are you more likely to buy from a stranger who pops up in a paid advertisement or the local business down the street who pops up for the exact thing you are looking for? That's the benefit of local SEO, the user's intent is to buy or learn more about that particular product or service, and if your business can appear at the top of those results, your website traffic and conversions will start to increase!

Start Marketing Your Business with Local SEO Today

Local SEO marketing is a must for today's small businesses. It is the only advantage small businesses have against Amazon and the other major retailers if they do it right.

If you serve a specific area and need new customers, this is the best way to make it happen. While you don't have to abandon traditional marketing, you need to realize that local SEO is how small businesses are winning in today's society.

If you want more information about local SEO and how I can help, then please contact me today .

How to Start Thinking About Marketing Your Small Business

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 04:49:49 GMT

Lately, I have seen a lot of small businesses that don't realize the importance of marketing. Perhaps they do not know how to start, or they are afraid it will cost too much. I'm here to tell you that getting started is easier than you think, and it does not have to cost you anything.

To market your small business, you need to find out what makes your company special and unique. What is the one thing you can offer that no one else can? Once you figure this out, you need to make it clear to the customer how they can experience this benefit.

The thing that makes your business special or unique is considered your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). It's the one thing (or multiple) that makes your company unique that nobody else can do. Once you have identified this, the next step is making sure customers know about it. The message should be clear for customers and present across all of your marketing platforms.

The Importance of Marketing Your Small Business

Marketing your small business is crucial for its growth and sustainability. To be discovered among the many other businesses out there, you need a strong marketing plan that can grab people's attention.

Customers these days are bombarded with commercials, Facebook ads, and pop-up ads. They need to be shown how your business will offer them something they can't get anywhere else. Make it clear what peace of mind or happiness you offer when they choose your company over a competitor's.

Marketing may seem like a costly endeavor, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to market your business and be successful. Simple marketing tactics will work like magic for your small business and won't break the bank. More on this later, let's get back to your unique selling point.

Find Your Unique Selling Point

So how do you find this magical USP? It could be anything from offering the lowest prices on a particular product, being the only one in your area offering the service, uniquely treating customers, providing exceptional work, or even including attractive incentives with their purchase. Every business should find this one thing that makes them unique and stand out.

Finding your USP is not always easy. You might need to do some research, talk to customers and employees, or even try out a few different things before you can identify what makes your business special.

In my opinion, your USP is something that you discover along the journey of your business venture; it is not something you determine from the start. Of course, you can focus on a USP from the beginning, but as you learn more about who your customers are and how they feel, your USP will likely change along the way.

Affordable Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses that Work

If you have already determined your unique selling point, then great! You are on the right track. Now let's discuss some marketing tactics that will help market your small business to potential customers.

Marketing your small business should be a balance between being unique and getting the word out. Here are some ideas to help you put together a marketing strategy:

One of the most effective ways to market your business is simply word of mouth. Make sure you always provide exceptional service, so your customers will recommend you to their friends and family.
Make sure your website is professional. Your website is where your USP should be front and center for everyone to see. Make sure it is easy for customers to contact you, buy, or schedule your service.
Settle on a social media platform to focus on, whether Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Spend time improving how this looks and developing an audience on it. Your choice of social media likely will be determined by your product or service.
Market yourself as an expert in your industry by writing articles and offering tips online. You can do this in local Facebook groups, niche groups, and on your blog.
Create and update your Google My Business account. GMB is arguably the easiest way to get found online locally. Plus, it can often be the first impression of your business.

There are dozens and dozens of other options to market your business; these were just a handful of practical, affordable ways to get started marketing your business.

What other options can you think of? Leave a comment with your own ideas.

Happy Marketing!

The 6 Website Tips Every Small Business Should Know

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 23:42:27 GMT

A website - and a great one at that – is essential for any small business.

Whether you are an entrepreneur who wants to sell products online or a local service provider hoping to attract new customers, having a well-designed and optimized site will make all the difference in the success of your business.

This post walks through 6 tips that every small business should know when designing their website. I'll discuss purchasing secure hosting, writing the content yourself, optimizing for search engines, and more. This article aims to help give you ideas on how to build out your next big project for your company!

Pick a Good Domain Name

Your domain name is the web address for your website. It needs to be short, easy-to-remember, and relevant to what you do in order to maximize its chances of being found by search engines and remembered by customers.

If you already have a domain name, congratulations! You can skip over this tip.

Otherwise, you'll need to register with a service such as GoDaddy or Name.com to start your website project.

What if the domain I want is taken or too expensive?

It is very common to have your business name taken as a domain, so don't be discouraged if this happens to you.

If the domain is taken, try this:

Check out domains like .co or .net which may have names available.
Consider adding a verb before your name, such as "join" or "try."
Add your town/city to the end of your business name.

For a domain name to work, you need to set up DNS records.

DNS records are the information that tells other computers on the internet where to find your website. The process of getting DNS records set up can be complicated and time-consuming, but if you have a hosting provider, they will typically provide this for you when signing up for their service. They'll also handle transferring current domains over if needed!

You'll want to make sure that everyone involved in running the website knows how it works and has access. The number of people who need access will depend on each specific company's needs and goals - some might only need one person while others may require many employees' input. In either case, it's critical not to allow too many people into the website's backend.

Ensure your website has a clear objective

An objective is probably one of the most important steps in starting your own business and creating your website. You need to know what your business does and who it's for before you begin. Knowing this will help determine the type of content you put on your site, how much time is needed for upkeep, and more.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when coming up with a goal:

What is my target audience?
How often do I want to update the website? (daily, weekly, monthly)
Do I need any partnerships or other outside help for this project and site (i.e., working with a freelancer or agency)

Once you have these answers down pat and know what type of content will be necessary for maintaining your goals, you can start to plan out the different sections of your website and how they will interact with one another.

I'll cover the different elements of your website that contribute to these goals in a future blog post.

Use a Reliable, Secure Hosting Provider

As you might have guessed, website hosting is an important part of a business's online presence. As such, it should not be taken lightly when selecting web hosts for your small business.

A good web hosting provider will offer customer support, which is essential for your business. They should also show that they understand their products and services by providing you with a clean website interface with high-quality information to use on your site.

Some examples of some hosting providers are:

Bluehost
HostGator
Inmotion Hosting
SiteGround.com
Dreamhost

When choosing a web hosting company, it is important to know what you are looking for.

The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a web hosting provider is their uptime. Uptime is the amount of time your website, blog, or store will be available to visitors to your site. In addition, uptime takes into account when there are network outages in either their data centers or on a particular server where you have placed one of your websites and when scheduled maintenance occurs.

The second most important factor is the bandwidth, which measures how many visitors to your site can access it simultaneously. The more people who come visit your website at once without crashing it for other users, the better.

Optimize your website for search engines

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can, and does, have a whole blog for itself. With that said, I wanted to touch on it quickly because it is an important thing to think about when creating your website.

There are many tools, strategies, and tricks that can help your website rank higher on Google Search.

Because this can all be very overwhelming, I would recommend starting with three key things:

Focus on writing your own original content.
Include keywords in the page titles, sub-headings, and throughout your content.
Make your site mobile-friendly

There are, of course, many other ways to enhance your SEO. Here are five tips from me .

Focus on Mobile Website Design

Mobile browsing has surpassed desktop and laptop web surfing in popularity . As a result, more and more people are browsing the internet on their smartphones.

The key to tapping into this trend is designing a mobile-friendly website that will make it easy for your customers to find what they're looking for.

To make sure that your site is always looking its best, you should invest in a responsive web design, which automatically reconfigures itself as needed depending on whether someone is viewing it from their desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

A responsive design is one that reacts to the device that it is on. It reorganizes the content on the page based on the size of the device or window that the website is shown in. This can be critical for attracting customers because your website is often a first impression, and no one wants to navigate on a site where the content is condensed or distorted in any way.

Once everything is set up, run your URL through Google's Mobile-Friendly Tes t to see if your site is ready to go.

Find the Right Website Builder for You

I'm presuming that most readers out there are not going to code their websites from scratch. That would mean that the majority of you would need a website builder to create your website.

The question is: Which one should you choose?

There are many different types of site builders out there. I will not describe every one of them (in this blog post), but I wanted to touch on two variables: Website Builders vs. CMS.

The big difference between a Website Builder and a CMS is that one allows for more creativity on the front end, while the other is easier to manage on the backend.

Website builders are really focused on the front-end, meaning they allow you to build your site more visually.

One example of this would be Wix or Duda - where you can drag and drop elements onto the page as desired. Drag and drop might sound straightforward, but it can be challenging to create your site's preferred design and functionality. In addition, with the freedom to create the design of your site, you need to make sure that every decision you make is going to be of high quality.

A CMS is focused on the backend, meaning that it's easier to manage your site and update content from a software program like WordPress or Drupal. These programs are easier to use, and they also provide you with a set of standards for designing your site.

Deciding on how you are going to build your site is up to your personal preference. I may be biased, but I do think that most small businesses could benefit by connecting with a local web designer and having them bring your vision to life.

Final Thoughts

If you are a small business owner and have struggled to build your website, the six tips I've shared should provide some direction. I know how hard it is to find time outside of running a business to build a site.

Connect with me any time if there are questions about how I can help create your new site - I am here for anything!

11 Ways for Small Businesses to Compete in the Age of Amazon

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 02:25:55 GMT

Small businesses owners are facing a historic challenge, but I believe it is one they can win.

It is no secret that Amazon has become a massive player in the retail industry. It is now worth more than Walmart and Target combined! Not only that, but large corporations in general are making it harder and harder for small businesses to compete.

As small business owners, we all feel the pressure of these major online retailers and service providers. It may seem like there is nothing we can do to survive this onslaught of big corporations; however, there are many ways for smaller companies to thrive even when faced with competition from Amazon or other large companies.

This blog post will share my insights on some tools and strategies you can use to fight back against these giants. Read on to find out how you can stay afloat!

1. Think Local

While winning the SEO battle against these corporations will be nearly impossible on a national level, you have the advantage of a more localized audience.

Local SEO is your friend. When a customer searches for *insert product here* in the town you do business, you want to make sure you appear in those search results.

If you have more questions about SEO for your small business, read my article for some tips .

Investing in your local community and focusing on providing excellent customer service will keep you afloat even when facing competition from larger companies with a national reach.

2. Focus on Products and Services

There is no better way to stay competitive than by creating products that people want right now! If you can create something new or improve existing product lines, this will help improve your business's chances of success. Keep up-to-date on what customers are asking for so that you know how to take advantage of changing trends in the marketplace.

For example, if you have a bakery and people are requesting more vegan or gluten-free options, you could start exploring how to expand your offerings so that they will be able to fill the needs of these customers.

Updating and expanding your product line will help increase customer satisfaction and give you a competitive advantage in the field.

3. Providing Excellent Customer Service

If you offer excellent customer service positively and professionally, people will be more likely to return.

Good customer service might seem like a no-brainer, but people are so used to receiving poor customer service that if you go out of your way to create an environment where customers feel taken care of, they will likely come back.

For example, if a customer comes into your store and doesn't find what they are looking for, you can offer to order that product for them. An act like this is especially helpful if the item that the person wants isn't in stock, or there's not enough of it.

Offering this service will make people feel like their business matters, creating loyal customers who keep coming back and refer others.

Customer service counts for so much more than just your experience in person. Technology has completely changed the way people shop. It interacts with companies, making it so that you need to make sure your business is represented well on your website, Google Business Page, social media, and other online listings.

4. Keeping Up with the Latest Technology Trends

Technology has made it easier than ever before for small business owners but at the same time added a whole new set of challenges.

Technology can be a precious tool for small business owners, but it's essential that you know what's out there and how to use it in your favor.

It may seem like a lot, but luckily many resources exist to help educate business owners on ways they should stay ahead of the game.

I recommend getting proper professional advice from someone specializing in this field, such as a web designer*Hyperlink* or IT person, so you know exactly where your money is going and if these new investments will pay off.

Without getting too technical, some examples of technology trends you should be aware of are:

Payment systems (updating to Square, Stripe)
Virtual Offerings - if applicable (Zoom, Google Meet)
Simplifying appointment scheduling (Calendly, Square Appointments)
Online advertising (Facebook, Google Ads)
E-commerce (selling your products on your website, through Amazon)
Cloud storage and backup (Google Drive, Dropbox)

To be successful in the digital age, we must stay on top of these trends and make sure our business stays up-to-date with them.

5. Consider Outsourcing Some Functions to Save Time and Money

There are many options for outsourcing functions to save your business time and money.

A couple of common examples of functions you could outsource our customer service and marketing departments.

You could hire an outside company to handle customer service and another for marketing.

Many small business owners have found this type of outsourcing is not only much less expensive than hiring new employees-- it's also more effective because they are focusing on what their business does best while the outsourced department handles everything else.

Small business owners also have the option to hire virtual assistants. With freelance marketplaces like Upwork, businesses can find a virtual assistant to handle their daily tasks and work for them remotely.

The expensive cost of hiring full-time employees is eliminated in this outsourcing because the company doesn't need benefits or provides salaries with each VA they hire. Plus, you don't have to worry about office space when your entire team lives elsewhere.

Virtual Assistants sometimes get a bad reputation, but in reality, these individuals are often just as qualified, if not more so, than on-site assistants.

Bonus : if you are looking to outsource your customer service, check out tawk.to. It is a free chat box for your website and offers customer service representatives starting at $1/hour!

6. Digital Advertising

While this might not be your area of expertise, it's still important to know digital advertising basics.

Digital advertising can be essential for small businesses due to the low costs and the considerable reach they can achieve. You can also get hyper-focused on the demographic and your targeted ads' location to reach local customers who may have an interest in the product or service you offer.

The cost of Facebook advertising will depend on your budget, with options for as little as $0.0025/day and up.

The positive thing about digital advertising is that you no longer need to wait for a printing company or the newspaper to publish your advertisement, as it's now possible to upload an advert from anywhere in the world and have it published online.

Digital ads are also easy to track, so there's no need for expensive marketing research techniques like focus groups or surveys - look at how many clicks on your adverts you're getting!

It's no wonder why some people say traditional ads don't work anymore either - most customers search online before buying anything!

Some examples of digital advertising platforms you could use are Google AdWords, and, of course, Facebook.

7. Be the Face of the Brand

As a small business owner, you can become synonymous with your brand in your customer's eye.

A more personal connection to your customers is one of the best ways for you to stay on top of their minds!

People are so used to seeing advertisements and logos that they often find themselves turning them out. But if it's a small business owner who has been advertising, then people will be able to recognize an ad from someone they know better than someone cold selling them something off the street corner.

Being one with your brand highlights that you should build your personal brand while building your business. Your personal brand will differentiate you from your competitors and make people want to do business with you.

8. The Power of a Good Reputation

Another excellent way for small businesses to survive in the age of Amazon is by utilizing their past experiences and being transparent with customers about any previous complaints made against them.

You inevitably will get reviews online. How you handle those reviews will significantly affect your reputation.

If you have many negative reviews, it is vital to take the time and effort to respond to those customers. You can handle responses in many ways, such as sending them an email or reaching out on social media/phone.

Responding to the positive reviews and reviews with constructive criticism is also important. You should respond to these reviews by thanking the customer for their review and any recommendations they made to improve your brand or company and respond promptly, which shows that you are dedicated to providing excellent service.

9. Unique Marketing Strategies

When you have a business competing with these big companies, it's a good idea to come up with creative marketing strategies and make your marketing more appealing.

I've already mentioned the benefits of digital advertising through Facebook and Google Ads, but you have many other options as a local company.

Some marketing strategies you can implement to make your company stand out are:

Offering discounts for loyal customers: you can do this through a loyalty card or an email list.
Offering a personalized experience: this could be through goodies like free samples, customer service representatives with knowledge of the company's product on hand, or social media contests.
Employing guerrilla marketing tactics and using unconventional methods to get your brand out there. (I've always joked about dropping branded pencils at a high school on "accident" ;))
Sponsoring events or programs for non-profits: this not only brings brand awareness, but you are also helping a good cause.

The list above isn't exactly "unique," but every company's situation is different.

The best way to succeed is by implementing a strategy (or strategies) that make sense for your business.

10. Social Media

This point might go without saying, but social media can play a crucial role in giving your small business the exposure it needs to attract new customers.

Engaging with your followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can help you connect with people interested in what you have to offer.

These social media platforms can also be a valuable tool for gathering feedback from customers, which will only allow your business to improve over time. Small businesses must focus their efforts on providing outstanding customer service through these channels as well - this is one of the most effective ways to build trust and establish rapport with clients looking for somewhere new to buy products or services.

Readers might not see every post right away, but they may come back later and end up seeing something worth checking out!

Before going crazy with posting non-stop on social media, consider your social media strategy.

Some business models are easier than others to generate content.

For example, if your business offerings are pretty much the same year-round, your social media strategy might want to be more educational. You will want to educate the public on the benefits of what your business offers.

On the flip side, if you are in a service business or sell various products, you should use social media as your work portfolio or a catalog for your products.

With all of that being said, I would recommend researching what other businesses are doing in your industry and identify if those tactics could work for your small business.

11. Google My Business

Google My Business is a service offered by Google to make it easier for businesses to manage their online presence across the web.

The benefits are that you can use this as one place to claim and update your business information, including photos of your products or services. It also enables customers who need customer service to contact you through the available channels on Google Maps (i.e., phone number).

Google My Business is a way to save your customers time and provide them with more information about who you are.

You can also get a lot of great data analytics from Google My Business, which will help you understand what customers are looking for and how they find you.

The tool is also free and easy to use. It won't take up a lot of your time and allow you to get more customers!

There are, of course, many other tools offered by Google that can help your small business, too.

Thanks for taking the time to read 11 of my tips for helping your small business compete with Amazon and other large corporations. It might seem like you're going up against a giant, but it's possible!

I hope you found these tips informative and helpful as you seek to survive in this new business age.

If you are looking for help competing with these large corporations, I'd be happy to connect with you on some of your web design and content needs.

5 SEO Tips for Small Businesses

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 20:59:35 GMT

Do you have a small business? If so, it's essential that you know the basics of SEO.

Many people see SEO as an unnecessary expense for their company or don't understand its importance. However, search engine optimization can be hugely beneficial to your business to help generate more revenue.

5 tips to improve your small business SEO include:

Use keywords (Everywhere)
Create a blog
Make sure your site is mobile-friendly
Update your website regularly
Upload your site map into Google Search Console

Achieving good SEO is a competitive advantage that can help you grow your business. With the right techniques, any company no matter how small or large will be able to improve their visibility in search engines and increase profitability.

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization is the process of improving your website's ranking on search engines. It's a way to increase the visibility of your business through search results.

You may hear marketers refer to "organic reach" which is a way of saying that they are earning the position in search engine results without paying for ads.

Search engines rank your business based on relevance, trustworthiness, and authority, while best matching user intent.

Your ranking is incredibly important, but your SEO also refers to the quality of the user who is finding your site. Your content should be results-driven to drive more leads, sales, subscribers, etc. to your site.

I'll have more content on SEO, but for now, let's dive into some quick tips to help your small business.

Use Keywords (Everywhere)

One of the most important things you can do for SEO is to use keywords in your content. This includes adding them into headlines, titles, and body text. This way, you are telling search engines what your business is about and lets them match it with user intent.

Keywords are the words and phrases that people use to find information on the internet. Therefore, every company must identify the keywords that will bring the best traffic to their site. Typically, those keywords will be the service(s) that your business offers.

If you serve a local community, make sure to include the name of the town that you service. Including the town you service can be consider using a "long-tail keyword."

Long-tail keywords are often used in search engines when a person is near to making an actual purchase. These phrases can be more specific and lengthy, which means that they will have higher rankings than more broad terms.

You should always include your keywords in all of your meta-descriptions. Search engines read meta-descriptions to decide how to rank your website and which information is most relevant. Users will also read your meta-description on the search engine results page under the title of the page.

The best way to find new keywords for SEO purposes is by doing keyword research, which includes examining the words that people use in search engines when they are looking for businesses like yours. This will help you identify what phrases resonate with customers so that you can include those terms on your site.

Create a blog

One effective way of driving traffic to your site is through a blog. You can post content about anything related to your business, and it will show up in search results for that topic.

A blog also allows you to include keywords throughout the posts, improving your website rankings on those terms. There are many different online services where you can create a basic blog with minimal effort, including WordPress or Blogger. You could even use Google's new Posts function!

You could also hire a freelancer to write those blogs for you at pretty reasonable prices.

You might be thinking, why should I go through the trouble of writing a blog when my business serves a local community?

That's a fair point, but blogging has so many benefits that you may not have considered. For one, a blog helps bring credibility to your business and establish your brand. It is a direct way to talk to people who are actively interested and searching for things in your industry. Your site will also rank higher for keywords related to those topics in search engines, which means more people can find it without knowing about your business!

Also, suppose you offer a service or sell products to other businesses in your area. In that case, this is the perfect way for them to find out about what you do. You could even use these blogs for advertising and promoting different offers on your website.

Make sure your site is mobile-friendly

Your site should be mobile-friendly so that people can visit it no matter what device they're on, but that is not all.

Google doesn't rank websites well if the site is not optimized for smartphones and other devices. The search engine uses a mobile page's load speed as a key metric for search results. So not only is this good for increasing traffic in general but especially for those who are searching using a smartphone!

How can you make sure your site is mobile-friendly? Well, you should focus on building a website with a responsive design.

A responsive website is one that automatically adjusts the content on a page to make it more readable. It does this by shrinking and compressing images, text, and other media, so they look good across multiple devices with different screen sizes.

When people search using their smartphones, they might not find what they're looking for if the website isn't compatible and optimized for smartphone users!

To test how mobile-friendly your website is, try using Google's mobile-friendly test .

Update your website regularly.

Google has mentioned how important it is to make sure a website's content is up-to-date, claiming this will result in higher rankings on the SERPs.

SERP = Search Engine Results Page

A few ways to ensure that you are constantly keeping your site updated is by consistently doing keyword research and adjusting copy. Small business owners should also focus on resolving any broken links and updating their blog's content regularly to add new information or relevant articles.

The more time spent regularly updating site information will result in higher rankings down the road. It shows Google that visitors want what is being offered there right now.

Adding fresh content ensures relevance which keeps traffic coming back.

Upload your site map into Google Search Console

Before diving into this tip, I should first explain a couple of things.

A site map is a list of links that shows a website's content organized in hierarchical order. The site map is important because Google can use it to improve search rankings for your site or even add it to their index (a database of websites).

For an example of what a site map looks like, here is mine: www.garretthandley.com/sitemap.xml

Once you have found your site map (or created one), you should upload it to Google Search Console.

Google Search Console provides you with valuable insights about your site's performance and tools like crawl errors, which will help you identify and fix any problems on its way.

To find out more about Google Search Console, watch this video below:

In conclusion, it's important to make sure that your site is search engine friendly. The five SEO tips for small businesses in this article are a great way to get started and can be used by anyone who wants their business' website to rank higher.

Creating and optimizing content can be a bit daunting for small business owners, but with the help of these tips you'll be on your way to being #1 in no time.

As always please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance in developing an effective strategy for your business' digital marketing needs. Whether you are looking to create a website that drives traffic, or simply looking for written content, then I would be happy to help.

5 Free Appointment Scheduling Tools to Help Your Small Business

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 02:50:09 GMT

Save time and effort scheduling appointments, and gain more leads with any of these five (free) appointment scheduling tools.

If your small business offers some sort of service, then you have probably felt the stress of scheduling an appointment. For years people had to schedule these appointments over the phone or even via email, but now this process can be automated seamlessly to save you time and frustration. There are dozens and dozens of tools out there to schedule appointments, but I will be highlighting five tools that I think are the best options to book appointments for FREE. As always, I'm looking for the best resources for you to save time and money using automation tools to help your small business.

Before diving in to the list, one thing to be clear: I am just focusing on the free plan for all of these services. As with most free plans, their branding will likely be visible and you will have limited features. This list is just to help you identify what scheduling tool is best for you while you get started booking appointments for your small business. For the best experience with any scheduling tool, I definitely recommend making the investment in one of their paid plans.

Calendly

This tool has grown tremendously in popularity recently, and is one of the first that I can recall of its kind. It is an industry leader and has the specifications to prove it. Calendly makes appointment scheduling easy with dozens of integrations, flexible scheduling for you and your team, billing, and more, but many features you do have to pay for.

While offering a free plan, Calendly's paid versions are incredibly cheap with $8/month per user for Premium and $12/month per user for Pro. We will just focus on the free version today.

With their free version, you get access to the essential features that you will need to schedule appointments for your business. You can integrate Calendly on any of your calendars including Google Calendar and Outlook, and schedule unlimited events. Below you can find the Pros and Cons of the free Calendly plan:

Pros

Unlimited Scheduling
Customizable Sign Up Form
Automated Notifications
Zoom Integration
Custom Workflows

Cons

No option for group events (classes, webinars, etc.)
No Zapier integration
No CRM integration (HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, etc.)
Can't collect payments
No Analytics

Overall, Calendly is an awesome tool to get you started with scheduling appointments. Their free plan is lacking some tools that I would really like to see, especially the Zapier integration, but what they do offer can absolutely get the job done for you and your small business if you need to schedule meetings, appointments, demos, etc.

Square Appointments

Seriously, what doesn't Square do for small businesses? Between websites, marketing, payment processing, and now scheduling, you really can have a complete solution with them. Today we will just focus on Square Appointments, a great feature for individuals to schedule meetings, demos, and any other one-on-one appointment you can think of.

This tool is perfect for salons, barbershops, trainers, and any service-based business. I actually have personal experience using Square Appointments when I was a competitive axe throwing instructor for a summer (but we don't need to get in to that).

With their free version, you get an abundance of tools at your disposal, but only for one individual calendar. If you add any additional calendars to your plan the price skyrockets:

As you can see above, the prices are pretty steep once you add any additional staff calendars. Luckily, if you are the only employee, or you share a calendar with your team and don't need to add additional calendars then you can get what I think is the best appointment scheduling tool for free. Below you can find what I think are the Pros and Cons of Square Appointments:

Pros

Scheduling website
Automated email and text reminders
Collect payments
Customer profiles and importing customers
Can combine services and retail sales (if you have a square website)
App & POS available

Cons

Limited integrations
Sign up forms
No classes/group sign ups

You can see I did not have much negative to say about the Square Appointment scheduling tool. The one thing I will say is that if you are a business that is looking to schedule demos with leads to sell your product or service, this might not be the best option for you with the limited options for lead generation forms. In some cases, you might need to collect more information from your leads/prospects before scheduling a demo, but honestly it is not that much of a deterrent for me. If you are looking for a tool to schedule appointments like a personal trainer, hair salon, or any other service than I would say Square Appointments is the best way to go for you and your small business.

Setmore

Unlike my first two reviews, I feel like Setmore flies under the radar compared to the others but it really shouldn't. Setmore makes appointment booking extremely easy with integrations just about everywhere, and the ability to add more than one calendar on their free plan.

Without wasting any time, the huge value-add that Setmore offers on their free plan is the ability to add 4 calendars to one plan. This makes Setmore the best appointment scheduler for any small business that needs to include more than one calendar on their appointment scheduler.

Another feature that I love is the ability to customize the branding even on the free plan. This makes the scheduler look professional even under a free plan. Tools like Calendly and Square Appointments have their branding all over their free plan.

Below you can find the pricing for Setmore Appointments for annual plans.

The pricing for Setmore is pretty cheap for their Premium and Pro plans, but like I've said, we are focusing on the free plans today.

The best feature for Setmore is clearly their "Free up to 4 Users" offer, but below you can find the Pros and Cons that I have found for Setmore:

Pros

Free up to 4 users
Countless Integrations
Automated Email Notifications
Customer Reviews
Collect Payments with Square
Group Classes
Zoom & Teleport Integrations

Cons

Limited Payment Processors
Sign Up Forms
No Custom Branding

Setmore allows you to customize your appointment page, add a separate section for classes, create different names for your "appointments," and more. It is very user friendly for both you as the small business, and your potential customers. I do wish that the landing page was a little more aesthetically pleasing, but for a free plan it is good enough for me. Overall I highly recommend Setmore as a free solution for your appointment scheduling needs.

JotForm

Now this is one that you definitely did not see coming. JotForm is a tool that your small business should absolutely look in to for a number of reasons, but appointments is one of the many. I'll have another article on the many uses of JotForm in the future!

If you haven't used JotForm before, they basically have a widget for everything all packaged nicely in an incredible form builder with integrations to almost any app you can think of. You can have a multi-step form or a one pager, you can create a fillable PDF, and you have complete customization with the style and color of your form. Their free plan has some limitations, but they give you a lot more than most free plans. You can even process payments through your form, create recurring subscriptions, and calculate pricing based on a factors like length of time.

As I've explained in this list, we are going to focus on the free plan but I do want to include the pricing:

As you can see, there are some limitations with JotForm. The most glaring limitation is the number of submissions. This means that you can only accept 100 form submissions per month. If you business relies on multiple appointments per day, the free JotForm plan would not be for you based solely on the fact that you would likely run out of submissions by the end of the month.

JotForm is the perfect appointment scheduler for a company that needs to book demos for a high ticket product or service, specifically ones that need to collect a lot of information from their clients. Somethings that comes to mind would be a web design company or IT services.

To focus specifically on the appointment widget, you are able to schedule one-on-one appointments and group appointments. You can only have one calendar which is not great, but pretty common for free plans. You have a lot of flexibility on the availability section, even providing a "lunch break" and a "vacation" option so you can easily block off your calendar when you don't want to schedule an appointment.

Pros

Unmatched Integration Possibilities
Customizable Form
Style and Branding
Multiple Payment Processing Options
Zoom Integration

Cons

Submission Limit
Only One Calendar

Depending on your business model, JotForm could be the best appointment scheduler for you. If you don't rely on multiple appointments per day, then you likely won't hit the submission limit and you have access to the dozens of additional features that JotForm offers that the others don't. You can collect more information from your clients, create impressive workflows, collect payments and create Stripe subscriptions all in one place. There are a number of other things JotForm can automate for your business, as well. If you couldn't tell, I highly recommend JotForm for all small businesses.

Facebook

Whether you are a small business, a solopreneur, or (who am I kidding) one of 2 billion people on earth, I'm assuming you are on Facebook. The social media giant has a ton of tools to help your small business, but did you know that you can schedule appointments with clients right through your Facebook page? Well, this feature is included with your Facebook Business account and is a great tool for businesses or entrepreneurs starting out before committing to a scheduling tool.

Before diving in to this feature, I will mention that the Facebook appointment tool can integrate with a number of the appointment schedulers, including some I mentioned above. In that case, when clients schedule an appointment with you on Facebook, it would process through your scheduling app. If you do not want to commit to a more robust scheduler, you can just use Facebook and keep track of appointments on the app.

The Facebook scheduler actually is more robust than you might think. The app can sync to you Google Calendar, can send SMS or Facebook Messenger reminders to make sure clients don't miss an appointment, and you can customize your list of services. You are able to copy an appointment booking link to send to customers who might not be on Facebook, similar to how you would send your appointment link with any of the other appointment schedulers I've talked about.

Where I think this really comes in handy is as your call to action on your Facebook Business page. If you have a strong presence on Facebook, this could be a great way to generate leads. You can also promote your appointment scheduler in your Facebook Ads.

Pros

Convenience
Usability
Syncs with Google Calendar
SMS & FB Messenger Notifications

Cons

No Group Scheduling
Customization/Branding
Sign Up Form

As with most things in business, you want to make life easy for you customers. Having an appointment scheduler built in to your Facebook Page (a place they trust) makes it extremely easy for customers to book an appointment with you.

It might not be the best appointment scheduler out there, but it might be the most convenient and a great place for you and your small business to start taking appointments.

While these are a handful of tools to schedule appointments online, there are dozens of options out there for you or your small business. From the research I've done on these tools, I'd recommend all of them depending on what your business needs are. I hope you found the analysis helpful!

Thank you all for reading this post. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message via email or LinkedIn . If you found this helpful, please consider subscribing for more resources and automations to help your small business succeed online!

How to Automate Your Instagram Content for Free

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 22:27:48 GMT

Create automated content for Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more using a simple automation!

In today's day and age, content is king. The more content you can produce the better off your business is going to be online. What if you had a way to produce relevant content on your social media feeds for free? Well I've found a simple automation using Zapier and RSS feeds that can do just that!

Before reading this article, please note: This is not meant to replace your social media strategy. Producing your own original content is always the best thing for your business's online image. This automation is to help people who need consistent content related to an industry, who don't have time to get that information daily. This can also help increase the amount of content you produce to enhance your social media presence. Creating specific content related to your business can only be done by you or your team.

This simple automation uses just three things: an RSS feed, Zapier, and the social media of your choice.

To get started, let's first understand what an RSS feed actually is. An RSS feed could stand for a few different things, some say it stands for Really Simple Syndication, others will say it stands for RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary, but we all can agree it is called an RSS feed. It essentially is a free source for a sites content, all stacked in to one place. When a blog makes a post, or a news source produces an article it will get added to their RSS feed. Using an RSS reader, you can display the article, it's photo, headline, and short summary practically anywhere you want on the web. In the past, RSS feeds were a lot more useful, but with the rise and takeover of social media there is less of a place for RSS feeds. With this automation, you can actually leverage both the power of RSS feeds and social media at once.

When you find an RSS feed, you can't just copy the URL and paste it in to a browser. If you were to just paste the URL in to your browser it will display a long, ugly plain text code that is not very useful . You can use an RSS reader to display the RSS feed the way it is meant to be. Most, if not all website builders will have a widget to display RSS feeds correctly.

What I have found is that when you use an RSS widget the reader only shows a very simple version of it. Mainly missing the photo that catches the readers attention. For this automation, you will need to create a new RSS feed that contains the photo because that is what you are going to use to create a post on social media. You can do this by using one of the many RSS apps out there. The one that I use is RSS.app . There are free plans for this, or pretty cheap ones if you plan on using many RSS feeds.

Using a tool like RSS.app you can also combine multiple RSS feeds in to one, so you can have multiple streams of content published to your social media!

With this new RSS feed, equipped with the style information that you need and whatever content you want to include, you are ready to start using Zapier to create your automated content!

RSS Feed

RSS (RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) is a web feed that allows users and applications to access updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format. These feeds can, for example, allow a user to keep track of many different websites in a single news aggregator. The news aggregator will automatically check the RSS feed for new content, allowing the list to be automatically passed from website to website or from website to user. This passing of content is called web syndication. Websites usually use RSS feeds to publish frequently updated information, such as blog entries, news headlines, or episodes of audio and video series. RSS is also used to distribute podcasts. An RSS document (called "feed", "web feed", or "channel") includes full or summarized text, and metadata, like publishing date and author's name.

Definition provided by Wikipedia. Click here to learn more .

Step One: The Trigger

Once you jump over to Zapier with your new RSS feed, you really only have to set up a simple trigger and action. In this case, your Zap will trigger when a new item is add to your RSS feed. This means that when the blog or news site that you want to share posts a new article, that article will get added to your new RSS feed and trigger the Action for your Zap, which will be making a post.

The app that you will be using as the trigger is called "RSS by Zapier." This is one of the many prebuilt apps that is included in Zapier that you get with your membership. When it asks you what you want the Trigger Event to be, you need to select "New Item in Feed."

After you paste your RSS URL in to the top field of the set up section, feel free to leave the other sections untouched. For this automation, you can leave them as-is and everything will work fine.

Check out the photos below to reference how to see up your Zap.

Click on the photos above to enlarge if necessary.

Step Two: The Action

As you can see in the photos above, the action for this Zap will be to publish a photo or make a post depending on what social media app you are connecting to. In my example below, I connected to Instagram for a stock market news account that I created using this automation. Make sure that your Instagram account is set to Professional so Zapier can actually connect to it. When setting up this action, you have a lot of freedom for how creative you want to get. The most important thing you want to do is connect the photo section to the "Raw Content @url" so Zapier sends the URL of the hosted photo to Instagram. You may run in to some trouble at times with the photo being the wrong dimensions and not posting. There is not much you can really do to work around that.

The caption is the next important thing for your social media post. You can see below that I started my caption with the title of the article, followed by the description which is a short summary, and then I told put "Read the full story through our link in bio!" followed by relevant hashtags to try to gain more of a following.

Since I am directing people to my link in bio, I created a page on my website with the full RSS feed that users can click on to read the full article. When users click on the articles in the RSS feed, it will direct them to the website with the original article. That way you are not taking credit for the article, just aggregating the information so interested people can find it. It is a win-win for you and the blog/news site posting the article.

I did try adding a location on Zapier, but for some reason it was unable to recognize it (I tried New York, New York if you were wondering).

Check out the photo below to reference how I set up the Action step of this Zap.

Keep in mind, this process can be done on any social media site. I have set this up for a client on LinkedIn sharing relevant industry news to their feed, I've set this up on Facebook, and on Instagram. It is actually better with Facebook and LinkedIn because rather than directing people to a link in bio, you can include the link to the article right in the caption so it's easier for your followers to get the full story.

Summary

Those two steps are all you need to start automating your content using Zapier! This can help you post consistent, relevant content without having to spend hours developing it at no cost to you (if you stay on Zapier's free plan). Depending on how much content is being produced, you might get a notification that a Zap wasn't able to process. Instagram protects its users from spam by not allowing you to push so many APIs in a certain period of time. I've run in to this problem with my stock market news feed so I actually set up an additional step to delay posting every few hours so it doesn't get overwhelming for my followers or Instagram. You can only add the additional step with a paid plan on Zapier.

Using those RSS feeds that you created you can get even more creative by automating newsletters with Mailchimp or creating pages on your website that are dedicated to aggregating some of the best industry news.

If you have any questions about how to automate your content using Zapier and RSS feeds, send me an email or message me on LinkedIn

I hope you found this information help! If you enjoyed it, please consider subscribing for more articles on how to help your small business!

How to Create Your Own Instagram Publisher Like Hootsuite Using Zapier

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 16:35:59 GMT

Post and schedule on Instagram from your own website!

For years it has been difficult for businesses, small or large, to post content from their desktop on Instagram without help from an outside tool. There are a few tools out there that can help you, including Creator Studio , Hootsuite , and now (after a recent update) Instagram has been added to the list of over 2,000 apps within Zapier. This solution is for photos only, and you can only post one photo at a time. It does not have the "Mobile Notification" option like Hootsuite does, but I will try to create that solution soon (I'm sure there is a way using SMS by Zapier).

You might be wondering why this is useful for you and your team. The situations that make sense for me include:

You are a web designer and you want to add a social media publisher to the list of resources you offer your clients.
You already use Zapier to automate some work flows and want to automate your Instagram without creating a new account on a different app.

This publisher will require a form builder on your website, a Google account, Instagram, and of course a Zapier account. Below I will break down the two Zaps you need to create your own Instagram Publisher!

To summarize what you will need to accomplish to make the Instagram Publisher work, you will essentially be creating an "Event" on your Google Calendar via a form submission, and then triggering an Instagram post when the calendar event starts. There will be two Zaps that you need to create, so if you are using Zapier's free account you should be able to get 50 posts a month out of this app as long as you do not have any other Zaps active. If you do have multiple Zaps and still want a free account, I would recommend creating a new Zapier account for the Instagram publisher like I did!

Step One: Create a Google Calendar

To get started you will need a Google Calendar that you want to dedicate as your Instagram Publisher. This is important, because your Instagram post will trigger from an event on this calendar, so you don't want to waste tasks by having events trigger a post on Instagram. I created a new calendar that I titled "Instagram Publisher," and I recommend you do the same so there is no confusion. With a unique calendar you can also embed it on to your site so you or your client can keep track of their scheduled posts on the same page they are scheduling them!

Step Two: Create a Form

In a perfect world, a Google Form would work to collect the information that you need to create an Instagram post. Unfortunately, the way that photos are hosted from the Google Forms does not work for their Zap because they are hosted in Google Docs rather than a CDN. In this case, you will want to create a form on your website builder. My favorite website builder is Duda , so that is what I used!

The fields I used were pretty simple:

File Uploader to collect the photo
Long Text to collect the caption
Date
Time

You can add other fields if you want to collect other information, but these four fields would be the only ones you need to make the Instagram Publisher work. My form looks like this:

Step Three: Creating the Calendar Event

Now it is time to jump over to Zapier to create the calendar event that will trigger your Instagram post. The goal is to connect the fields from the form to the fields in the Google Calendar event. This is not the most practical thing, since Google Calendar events don't have a spot for a photo or a caption, but with Zapier we can make it work.

It doesn't necessarily matter what field you choose, but the calendar event gives you the option to populate the "Summary" field and the "Description" field. I chose to connect the photo to the summary section and the caption to the description. The reason that the summary field works even though it seems like a text field is because the Duda form creates a URL for the hosted photo on AWS, and that is what is tranferred via Zapier. That is why a Google Form doesn't work because that URL is not hosted correctly to be transferred via Zapier.

Take the Date & Time sections of your form and put both in the "Start Date & Time" field and the "End Date & Time" field. Be sure to add a space in between the Date and Time entries because otherwise Zapier will read it incorrectly.

You can reference the photos below to make sure that you have everything set up correctly:

You can click to enlarge if that will help.

Step Four: Scheduling the Post

After you test to confirm that your form submissions are creating a calendar event, you will now need to create another Zap that triggers the Instagram post. Your trigger for this Zap will be the Event Starts and the Action with be to publish a photo on Instagram.

Make sure when you are setting up the Trigger for this Zap ( Event Start in Google Calendar ) that you select the right calendar that you are dedicating as your Instagram Publisher, and set the "Time Before" section to zero. If you don't edit the Time Before section it will default to fifteen minutes early meaning that your post will go out 15 minutes before you want it to.

When you are setting up the Instagram portion of this Zap, you simply have to match the "Summary" section which contains the photo URL and the "Description" section which contains the caption and you should be good to go.

Important : In order to use Instagram, make sure that you make your account a Professional Account otherwise this Zap will not work.

Here are some photos to help you reference everything I just mentioned.

You can click to enlarge if that will help.

Wrapping Up:

Once you have your two Zaps set up, you can begin scheduling your Instagram posts from your own website! Like I mentioned earlier, I embedded my Google Calendar underneath my scheduling form so I had my own "Hootsuite-like" Instagram publisher where I can schedule and keep track of my posts on one page. You could take this even further if you wanted, but I just wanted to explain the simple Instagram Publisher that I mentioned in my previous blog post .

Important: If you ever need to delete a scheduled post, you can only delete it from the Google Calendar to ensure it does not post.

Thank you all for reading this post. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message via email or LinkedIn . If you found this helpful, please consider subscribing for more ways to make you and your team more efficient with Zapier.

Tracking Your Stocks with Google Sheets & Zapier

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 04:31:35 GMT

Easily keep track of your portfolio with the help of Google Sheets, while automating notifications!

Keeping track of your favorite stocks can be hard without some help. Whether it is a stock in your portfolio, or one that you are just waiting for the perfect time to buy, wouldn't it be nice if you had someone to tell you exactly when you should buy or sell? Well I have an automation for you that can do just that. All you need is the Google Sheet provided below, and a simple Zapier integration.

This automation is going to make sure you never miss the right time to buy or sell stocks on your list. First I will explain the Google Sheet aspect of this automation, and then break down step-by-step how the Zapier integration will work to notify you exactly when you need it.

To get started you are going to want to copy & paste my Demo Portfolio in to your own Google Sheet, which you can access here:

Once you copy and paste the sheet above to your own Google Sheet, you will need to update a few things.

First, if you are tracking your portfolio, you will need to update the "Ticker" column with all of your stocks. The Ticker symbol will tell the rest of the row what stock you are tracking. This is all done through the Google Finance function in the other columns that pulls directly from Google Finance's database of stocks.

For the stocks that you own, input your average costs in the next column. This will keep track of the "Total Change %" in the fifth column so you can see how well your stocks are performing.

The other two columns you need to worry about are of course the number of shares you own, and then your Sell Price." The "Sell Price" column is the most important for this automation. That is because the "Action" column is triggered based on that price. You can also use the "Sell Price" column as a "Buy" column for stocks that you don't own, given that our automation will be triggered based on any change in the "Action" column. What I mean is, set that number at whatever you are either looking to sell at for stocks you own, or buy at for stocks you are just monitoring. Currently, the template uses "Hold" and "Sell" as the two actions, but you can replace "Hold" with "Buy" if you intend to use this automation as an indication on the right time to buy.

Now let's get to the notification. Let me explain with the following steps:

Step One: The Trigger

After you hit "Make A Zap" to initiate the integration, you will want to select the Google Sheets App. As you can see in the photo above, you will want to select "New or Updated Spreadsheet Row" as the Trigger Event. This means that your notification will be triggered based on a new or updated row in the spreadsheet. We can get even more specific in the next step.

Step Two: Set Up

Now you will want to get even more specific with your trigger. You will want to select the Spreadsheet from your Google account where you pasted the portfolio template and select the correct Worksheet from within that Spreadsheet.

The Trigger Column is the most important part of the set up. Remember earlier when I mentioned the "Action" column will trigger the event? Well this is where you can set that up. When you click on Trigger Column, it will launch a dropdown with all of the columns in your spreadsheet. Realistically, you could set it up to get notifications based on any change, but that would be a lot of notifications given the volatility of the stock market. The Action column will notify you at the best time to buy or sell, which is what you really want to know.

Step Three: Action

This step is how you would like to be notified. You can see above that I chose to be notified via SMS (text message), but you could really set it up however you would like. You could get an email, a Facebook Message, WhatsApp, or any other way you would like to receive a notification. With SMS, you have to register your number with SMS by Zapier, and they will send a few test messages to make sure everything works.

Step Four: Set Up Action

Finally, you just need to set up your action. I chose to have the "From Number" be one that Zapier provides, but they do have the option to choose Random if you don't mind it coming from different places. One number seems more logical so you can create a contact with that number as long as it remains available.

The content of the message is at your discretion. You can see above that I chose to do the Ticker Symbol with the Action Column, followed by the percent change that day, with the current price. You might even want to add a link to your Robinhood account or wherever you do your trading so you can quickly jump over and buy or sell your stock.

Once this is set up, you can run a test message, and as long as everything checks out okay you can turn on your zap and it is ready to go!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you found this automation as helpful as I do. It's like having your own financial assistant to help you find the best time to trade for FREE.

If you found this helpful, please consider subscribing for more articles on automating some daily tasks, and other fun business-related articles. For example, here is an article breaking down three ways Zapier can help your small business ! Please reach out via email or LinkedIn if you need help with any of your Zapier integrations!

3 Automations to Help Your Small Business with Zapier

contact@garretthandley.com (Garrett Handley) — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 23:41:32 GMT

Zapier really does make you happier. Check out these 3 automated tasks on Zapier to help your small business.

Before we dive in to these three tasks, let's make sure we are all familiar with what Zapier actually is. Zapier connects different applications through what is called an API (application program interface). This usually complex process, capable only by years of learning complicated programming, is now possible by anyone with Zapier and is as easy filling out a form (basically). Essentially, Zapier can combine 2 or more apps to perform a certain task. The possibilities are practically endless with your combinations, so you can create some really great outcomes based on the apps that you connect.

You can't fully understand what Zapier does without have a modest understanding of what APIs are. APIs are a means of send information from one app to another, in order to get a desired response back. The internet is full of APIs that make our lives better everyday without even knowing it. Hang with me here: so a good real-life metaphor of what an API can do can be seen in waiters/waitresses. Your menu is one application and the delicious food in the kitchen is the other application. As an "API" your waiter collects information from you (your order) and brings it to the kitchen. The kitchen processes that information and returns your desired results (the food). Without the waiter, this information could not go back and forth smoothly or successfully. This is the same idea as Google and Facebook communicating with each other, or any other app that you can think of.

Okay, that's enough talking about the technical stuff, let's get in to the fun stuff!

As a small business owner, there are many reasons why you might want to look in to using Zapier for your company. The biggest reason is that it saves you time. Automating tasks gives you more time to focus on the "money-making" activities for your business. Instead of spending hours updating spreads sheets or emailing customers, let Zapier take care of that for you.

Another reason I think you will find Zapier is great is that even non-technical people can create workflows that mimic some of your favorite apps that you are already using. You would actually be amazed at what you can do with a Google Sheet and a few "Zaps."

With that being said, let's dive in to three tasks you can automate using Zapier!

Automating Emails

Now there are a few tools out there to help you automate your emails to clients, whether it be Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or another mailing provider, but if you are looking for a simple solution you can use Zapier. The other providers are definitely recommended if email marketing is a big part of your marketing strategy, but if you are looking to just set up confirmation emails, emailing coupon codes, or sending automated responses for contact forms on your site, Zapier is a very easy solution. The best part is, you can use your Gmail, Outlook account your already are using, or use the built in Email by Zapier app.

One thing I would like to clarify is that these "Zaps" are all possible on other apps, but the key with Zapier is that you can do more with the info and most times it costs you much less. For example, if you wanted to conduct a survey to get some customer feedback and you wanted to offer a coupon code for participants, you have a number of options to send that automated email with the code. You could use a Google Form, you could create a form through your website builder like WordPress, Squarespace, Duda, etc., or use a form builder like JotForm or TypeForm. You can automate the collection of the responses to wherever you want to store the data, like Google Sheets or AirTable. You can also automate a thank you email with a discount code using Zapier's built-in email tool, or by using your own Gmail or Outlook account.

Social Media Publishing

This is by far my favorite task to automate with Zapier, and there are a few variations that can really help your business. In fact, I plan on creating a whole blog post on a few variations of publishing photos/captions to social media using Zapier.

The first method you can automate is scheduling posts. Of course there are apps out there already that can do that for you, like Hootsuite or Buffer, but if you are an agency or web designer I think this is a huge value-add to your clients if you can create a social media publisher hosted on your client's site.

I will create a whole blog post on how this process works, but basically you can do this by combining a couple everyday apps you probably are already using. The first thing you will need is a form. In this case, you can't necessarily use a Google Form because of how it hosts the photos, but if any form on your website builder should do. In my case, I used a Contact Form in Duda.

You will then want to create a Zap that connects this form to a Google Calendar. I recommend creating a new Google Calendar and calling it "Instagram Publisher" or something along those lines. This Zap will create a meeting on your Google Calendar based on the information from the form.

Next you will need to create a Zap that connects your Google Calendar to Instagram. Make sure that you align the information from the form to Instagram correctly. It gets tricky because a Google Calendar isn't set up to necessarily feed in to Instagram, but match up "caption" with "meeting description" and "photo" with "summary" and you should be good. I'll explain that more in my other blog post.

That is all you need to do. When set up correctly, Zapier should trigger an Instagram Post when the meeting time starts. You can then embed you Google Calendar to your website under your form and you have yourself your own DIY Hootsuite-like publisher on your own site. Check out the pictures below for a basic version. Feel free to get more creative!

By the way, this process can be done for LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. Instagram is just the best in my eyes because you can't publish photos from their desktop version, and as a business that is much more efficient.

The other element to social media publishing that I will mention is the ability to automate content. For one, you can automate social media post and email blasts to your subscribers. You can also aggregate relevant news content, as well. This is for someone who maybe doesn't want to spend all their time coming up with content to post on social media. Maybe you just want to post relevant things about your industry and want consistent content.

Well, Zapier allows you to automate social media posts using an RSS feed. An RSS feed is free content from blogs, news articles, and even Google search results.

You can create your own RSS feed based on feeds from relevant news sources from your industry, or certain search results on Google News. For example, if your in the business of selling skate boards, you can aggregate content from the best skate boarding publications and share those posts on your Instagram feed. Don't take credit for the content, just share the information with your followers and gain more followers from people who are interested in the industry, potentially your customers.

Managing Tasks on a Kanban Board

One popular way to manage your team's tasks is on Kanban boards. You may have heard of some popular task boards to manage projects like Monday.com, Trello, or Asana. In the traditional use, people (or their supervisors) can update a new task on the board and work to check them off of the list. It is a great way for teams to collaborate on projects and get things done together.

Using Zapier, you can automate a number of different tasks with Kanban boards to help you and your team work efficiently. Here are a few cool examples:

Create follow-up tasks for "Starred" or "Flagged" emails. This tool can help you stay on track with your busy work schedule, balancing hundreds of emails so you never let anything slip through the cracks. I find this particularly helpful for emails that I need to do a little bit of research for before answering.
Support tickets. Whether you are using a form on your site, or an advanced feature like Zendesk, you can create cards on your Kanban board to keep the team on track with your client support tickets. In fact, by using Zapier you could actually save your team money on using a support by not needing an expensive app like Zendesk. You could use a free widget like Tawk.to to collect tickets from your website, or a form built in to your members-only pages, and have those submissions sent to your Kanban board at no cost if you stay on the free Zapier plan.
Project Management. These Kanban boards were made for project management and Zapier can help enhance their capabilities. Whether you want to automate email reminders based on changes in an Excel document or Google Sheet, or send notifications to supervisors when a task is marked complete, Zapier can make your project management much more efficient with the use of Kanban boards. When a task is overdue, you can create notifications in advance to not lose sight of any assignments.

I hope you found these automation tools helpful. The capabilities with Zapier are endless, so have fun exploring what other automations you can find to help make you and your team more efficient.

If you found this helpful, please consider subscribing for more ways to help you and your team maximize your efficiency using Zapier and other automation tools. Plus other fun business-related articles!

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