A Halt in Traffic: Lack of Reviews is Effecting Your Business and Here’s Why

Reviews are a great way for your customers to get an idea of what your customer service is like. Through reviews they know what services your offer, how well you offer them, and the quality of your products without even leaving their home.

Reviews are also a valuable tool for a business to know what their customers think about them. It’s a convenient way to get honest feedback of your services and find out what you need to fix to keep your customers satisfied.

What your customers say about you is just as much advertising for your business as any marketing strategy you could employ. It’s unfiltered, honest, and sometimes a bit dramatic.

While reviews can be loud and sometimes deceiving, no reviews at all can garner the same effect. Are no reviews better than bad reviews? Read ahead to find out.

Is your business good or bad? No one knows…

90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business. If there are no reviews, there’s no way for a potential consumer to know whether your business is worth visiting or not.

Google has made it convenient to avoid businesses that have a bad reputation without setting foot near their actual establishment. Ensuring good customer service, professionalism, and reliability are now easier than ever.

While this has made the shopping process easier on the consumer, the same can’t be said for businesses. Why would a customer visit a business with no online reviews when they can find a place that people can confirm they will have a good experience?

Place yourself in the mindset of a consumer. When you’re looking for a product or service, chances are you are not in the mood to experiment with quality and service. A business with a lack of reviews leaves much to the imagination.

Unfortunately, reviews are one of those things that without them, people will stay away. How do you get more reviews to establish the authenticity and reliability that you know your business has?

• Encourage customers who buy a product to review your business at the check-out counter or shopping cart
  
• Follow-up with a customer to see how they like their product or service and ask permission to publish their responses or quotes

Customers can’t trust your business

As with anything, rather than jump into something they know nothing about, customers like to do a little research about a business before they visit. They want to know all about who you are, what you do, and how you do it.

It’s fair to say you wouldn’t hand your money over to a stranger. Neither would a potential customer trust a business they know nothing about.

For instance, if you’re looking to get your wedding cake made, an online review of a local bakery could go a long way. What does this bakery offer? What do their cakes taste like? Are the bakers experienced in making what I want? Will they deliver on time?

You’re not going to go to a bakery that has no reviews. What if you get stuck with a cake that looks terrible or tastes… not like cake?

Your customer is the same. 72% of customers say that positive reviews make them trust a local business more an 88% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Don’t make the review process a chore

It’s common for people to think “I had a good experience with this company. I don’t feel compelled to write a positive review because if my experience wasn’t positive, then I would let people know about it”.

This mentality follows the idea that people are more likely to post negative reviews rather than positive ones. You need to encourage your customers to move away from this mentality and share their good experiences, just as they share the bad.

Just because there are no positive reviews doesn’t mean there are no positive experiences—but your customers don’t know that. Increase the amount of positive reviews for your company by making the review process as easy and attractive as possible:

• Send a direct link to your profile on review sites
• Encourage your customer to rate your company on Facebook
• Provide incentive for posting a review
• Create a memorable customer service experience worth sharing

A few reviews are better than no reviews. Make it a point to share your positive reviews across social media platforms for maximum visibility.

The importance of online reviews

Business that are “comfortable” with their following and can’t complain about their profits tend to ignore online reviews. They are satisfied with what they can see in front of them, but they have no idea how the internet could ruin their reputation or stunt them from growth.

Online reviews influence:

• Buying decisions
• Online rankings
• Conversion rates

Customers are likely to spend 31% more on a business with “excellent” reviews. Businesses that neglect the importance of online reviews are missing out on profits. They’re not necessarily losing money but they could be making a lot more.

There will always be competitors. Online reviews affect how you fare against local competition and can keep you aware of your shortcomings.

The more honest reviews you have, the more your product will sell because customers must find out for themselves if what is being said is true. These reviews are sincere and show that your company has nothing to hide.

The 7-Point Smart Solopreneuer Social Media Checklist

90 percent of businesses say social media is crucial to their marketing. But the point is, are you doing yours right?

In a world where (according to an Adweek study), over 90 percent of businesses say social media is crucial to their overall marketing strategies, solopreneurs arguably have the most to gain and lose via social networks.

Sure, those platforms often have a reputation for being total time-sinks or wastelands of marketing ROI. But savvy solopreneurs understand how to use platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to spread the word about their businesses. In many cases, these same solopreneurs are growing those businesses and bottom lines without spending a dime.

But, when you're using social media to pursue networking opportunities or seal the deal with new customers, how do you know whether you're using your time wisely or merely spinning your wheels?

Fear not. The following checklist is a guide for solopreneurs looking to pinpoint their social strategy and use their time on these platforms wisely, to build their investment in their business.

1. Pick a primary channel.

Simply put, you need to decide on a single social channel that's going to command most of your attention. That's not to say you can't focus on both Facebook and Instagram, for example, but trying to be in multiple places at once will inevitably burn you out.

For many solopreneurs in the B2B space, Facebook is the number one channel to focus your efforts. There's a good chance that your clients and customers are already connected to the platform in some way, shape or form, especially considering that users spend an average of 50 minutes on Facebook per day.

Niche businesses, however, are booming on Instagram, especially those within B2C industries such as fashion and beauty. Growing and monetizing Instagram followers is arguably easier than ever; meanwhile, Instagram has one of the highest average order values via ecommerce, at $65 per order.

When in doubt, you can pick your primary channel by answering one simple question: "Where are my clients and customers hanging out?" If there's a clear answer, then you know where to start.

2. Don't spread yourself too thin.

Despite popular belief, you don't need to be active on each and every social site. In fact, there are no "must-have" networks for solopreneurs, truth be told.

But, think about it: There's absolutely no way you can effectively manage a presence simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn by yourself. If you try, you'll neglect at least half of your social sites.

Solopreneurs have two options when it comes to attacking the various social channels available.

• Pick a primary channel coupled with one or two secondary channels (for example, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).
• Focus on a primary channel while using a social automation solution to help push content and maintain a presence on secondary channels

For example, apps such as Buffer and Sprout Social allow solopreneurs to curate and queue content to their social network of choice without lifting a finger. While such solutions do require a monetary investment, they allow your brand to be in multiple places at once, so to speak.

3. Never stop networking.

The old adage, "Always be prospecting," rings incredibly true for today's solopreneurs on social media.

There are seemingly endless opportunities to connect with new clients, win over customers and share your business's content all at once.Private Facebook groups based around your industry represent potential gold mines of new business. Likewise, sites such as LinkedIn put you on the same level as CEOs and industry bigwigs.

4. Position yourself as an influencer.

Oftentimes, making yourself heard via social media means playing the role of a bigwig yourself. By positioning yourself as an influencer, you grow your authority within your niche and make yourself more attractive to potential clients and customers. Some smart yet simple positioning strategies on social media include:

• Thoughtfully responding to questions and comments on industry-related Facebook or LinkedIn groups
• Republishing your own content to the various social channels, including LinkedIn's own publishing platform
• Regularly commenting on the updates of major players in your industry, showing that you've got the chops to be a bigger player yourself

Any combination of these strategies not only puts your name out there, but also publicly displays your commitment to your industry.

5. Look for opportunities to curate social proof.

Especially if you're a new solopreneur, social media represents a great place to curate social proof on behalf of your business.

Ever leave a comment that got tons of positive feedback? Created pieces of content that just about went viral? Have clients who've given you a digital "thumbs up" or a public "thank you" via social?

If so, you can use such social proof as a way to seal the deal with future clients and customers. By highlighting your positive social experiences either on site or throughout your marketing materials, you can break down the trust barrier for any skeptics who may not think you're the real deal.

6. Professional imagery goes a long way.

This point is crucial but so easy to ignore: Something as simple as your professional headshot can make all the difference when it comes to networking via social media.

If you want to be taken seriously, present yourself accordingly. Bathroom selfies and party pics aren't going to cut it if you really want to make an impression on your audience.

7. Don't let your profiles gather cobwebs.

Finally, don't let your social presence fall to the wayside. Period.

Consistency is key to gaining followers and traction via social: The more you post, the more you will grow an audience that's hungry for what you have to say.

On the flip side, if a certain channel is netting you absolutely no engagement, don't be afraid to cut it loose for the sake of your time and energy.

Today's solopreneurs are living and dying by their social presence. By sticking to this checklist, you can save yourself from scrambling for a social strategy and focus on what really matters: growing your business.

Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/295463

How to Keep Users from Unsubscribing to Your Mailing List

Having an effective email marketing strategy can be a major boost for any business. In fact, most businesses rely heavily on their mailing lists. They help generate sales leads. The ROI of using mailing lists is undeniable.

Sometimes, after you’ve built up your list of subscribers, you may find that your list begins to dwindle. Over time, you lose subscribers. Some consider this a natural progression and say there’s nothing you can do about this. That’s simply not true. Here’re some tips for keeping users from unsubscribing.

It Needs to Be Clear What Users Are Signing Up For

The first step is to make sure that you’re being clear about what your users are signing up for. When you use vague terms and catchy headlines to grab attention, you may get more subscribers. But, these subscribers aren’t likely to stick around. Use clear, concise calls to action.

Request Feedback from People That Unsubscribe

Another step that you can take is to request feedback. When a user visits your site or follows a link to unsubscribe from your mailing list, use a simple text field form to allow users to leave their feedback. Ask them why they’re leaving. Some users will simply skip this step, while others could leave valuable feedback.

Test the Frequency of Your Emails

You may be sending too many or too few emails. Test the frequency of your emails. Some users get annoyed if they receive too many emails, while sending too few may cause some users to forget about your business. In either case, they’re likely to unsubscribe.

Depending on the email marketing system you use, you may have access to A/B split testing. Use split testing. With one set, send your emails daily. With the other set, send one email per week. At the end of the week, look at the stats. Make changes to the frequency of your emails, based on the results.

Automate Your Emails to Increase Engagement

By automating some of the messages that you’d send to subscribers, you might increase engagement. This includes the use of welcome emails, notifications, and other generic mailers. If a user subscribes to your mailing list, they should automatically receive a welcome or thank you message.

Set a Schedule for Your Emails

After you’ve tested the frequency of your emails, set a schedule and stick to it. If you’ve found that users are less likely to unsubscribe when sending weekly emails on a Monday — always send your emails on a Monday at the same time of the day.

Pay Attention to Inactive Subscribers

You should keep an eye on trends among your subscribers. For example, users that become inactive and stop opening emails are likely to unsubscribe in the near future. Set up a strategy for dealing with these inactive users.

You could setup an automated email to help re-engage the subscriber. This could include special offers, promotions, and other incentives to get them to remain on your mailing list.

Prevent Unsubscribing Errors

While unsubscribing on accident isn’t likely a major reason for a drop in your subscribers, it could play a part. Prevent unsubscribing errors by requiring people to confirm the fact that they want to unsubscribe. This gives them one last chance to change their mind and could save you a few subscribers.

Email marketing should be a major part of any marketing strategy. They’ve been proven to be effective. If you’re worried about the number of people unsubscribing from your mailing lists, use the tips provided. For additional help and successful marketing, you should learn more about my done-for-you system.

Customer Retention A Key Component In Any Successful Online Biz And How ...

This video gives 5 effective ways to increase customer retention vs. mere customer acquisition. 

These 5 steps are easy to follow and can allow anyone to start making customer retention a key part of their business model.

Conduct Audience Research for Free to Improve Your Marketing

Gaining a better understanding of your target audience can be incredibly beneficial for internet marketing.

It helps you write more effective sales copy, pay-per-click (PPC) ads, blog posts, and find the right content to share on social media. Market research is essential to marketing. But, you don’t have the same budget as a major corporation to conduct extensive research.

Luckily, the internet provides many resources for researching your target audience for free.

Identify Your Target Audience

You first need to know who your target audience is before you can research them. Keep in mind, you may have a variety of demographics that you want to target.

If this is the case, you’ll need to conduct market research for each demographic individually. Also, each of your advertisements and landing pages should be geared toward one key demographic at a time.

Start Following Your Followers

You don’t need to follow every profile that follows you. But, you can start to learn more about your c

Look for followers that are active on social media. You should find people that follow brands and businesses that are in involved in the same niche market.

As you follow these people, you’ll see the types of posts that they share or like. This will give you better insight into the type of information they’re interested in.

Ask Your Target Audience

Of course, the best way to find out what your target audience is interested in is to ask them. There are several ways to ask your target audience about their interests, including:

• Customer surveys
• Social media posts
• Online polls
• Questionnaires

Use these methods to solicit information. You can ask specific questions to learn more about your core audience. Find out what they fear most, what they want from products, what they enjoy doing in their free time, how they spend their time online, and anything else that helps you learn more about them.

Create a Customer Persona

As you learn more about your target audience, you can begin creating a customer persona. This is a detailed set of information about a typical customer.

You should create multiple personas to represent different types of customers. The main criteria to place in this persona includes:

• Age
• Sex
• Location
• Job or profession
• Income level
• Education level
• Hobbies and interests

When you write sales copy or PPC ads, you should use these customer personas.

Open the document where you’ve created your persona and keep it open as you write your copy. Imagine that you’re talking directly to this customer.

Always Ask for Feedback

Feedback is one of the best ways to learn more about how your target audience feels. Ask for their feedback in every email related to a purchase or transaction. This includes confirmations and follow-up emails.

Don’t ignore this feedback. Use it to learn more about the needs of your customers and how you can improve your products or services to better meet their needs.

Another step that you can take is to look at your competition. When in doubt, look at the type of content that they use. For example, if you’re creating a paid advertisement, look at your competitor’s paid ads. If you’re creating a press release, look at the press releases for your competition.

Don’t copy what they do. But, you can use what you find to learn from their research.

Audience research is a necessary step in internet marketing. In addition to these tips, you can find even more advice, and a system for gaining conversion-ready internet prospect each month, by clicking here to learn about my done-for-you system.