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Around our area a local news station has a segment on Beating the Recession where they give advice on surviving these tough times. So in true local fashion I thought I’d give out as many tips as I can to local businesses on getting their business online and start beating the recession.
The story
The other day I was doing a little temporary patch work on my roof due to the damage caused to the roofing by heavy winds and rain we received on the 20th of July.
While I was contemplating how hard it’s going to be on this ‘ole man’ to do a roof a gentlemen walking down the sidewalk interrupted my thoughts of the task ahead. He was asking me if I needed any windows or siding work. I had to say no as I didn’t really need those things.
After his unsuccessful attempt to gain my business we stood there and talked about about the general economy and how tough it is right now to generate income. After five minutes talking with him he revealed he was the owner of the company.
He told me he has owned the company for 30 years and commented that this is the toughest times he has ever had generating income. He’s had to let several of his people go, including the people (sales) who generated potential customers.
I asked him how many new leads he had generated over the past week. He answered.. ” Maybe a few, but nothing solid. I’ve been walking neighborhood’s for almost a week ( I live on a small mountain) talking to around 100 people. I haven’t had to do this in 25 years. It’s wearing me out!”
So of course after hearing that I had to ask him if he had a website. He answered that he was paying for leads from a website but hasn’t gotten anything from it. He also jokingly added that his daughter is better with a computer than he is.
As he was saying that I was remembering how my parents, now in their 70’s, thought they would break something if they tried to use the Internet. Now I can’t stop them from sending me those silly jokes about Wyoming! Ha ha.
On a serious note, my Dad learned how to use one of the ancestry sites and traced his entire family tree AND found his daughter from his first marriage. Pretty cool.
Towards the end of my conversation with the exterior siding guy, I invited him to the office and offered to add his business online for him. I thought he might need a break from all that up and down hill walking. He accepted. This took us less then 30 minutes to do.
Getting your business online (bare essentials)
Getting a web presence for your business will take you less than 1 hour of your time (tops), you don’t need a website and it will cost you nothing. All you need is a computer and Internet connection.
Follow these steps below to get your business online and start beating the recession.
- Go to Google and create a Gmail account (called a Google Account)
- Go to Google’s Local Business Center at http://maps.google.com/localbusinesscenter and add your business details. Watch this video to learn more.
- Get verified. Google will give you very specific, easy instructions on what to do. Tip: Use the by phone option. Google will call you with a code that is used to activate the listing immediately.
- Advice: Get a website. This isn’t a requirement, but if you don’t have one, chances are your business will not be displayed in the first 10 results (the sweet spot). Having a site will greatly increase your odds of being displayed in the top 10. It doesn’t need to be pretty, but the most important thing is to just have one.
If my Dad (an old truck driver) can teach himself to do research on the Internet than almost any business owner that has a PC in the office with an Internet connection has all the skills and tools necessary to get their business online and starting beating the recession.
If you know a small business that is not online please refer them to this post. If you can help them get online take 30 minutes and show them how to do it.
Small business is the heart and soul of our economy and rite now they need some help. If you have any suggestions please feel free to add comments to this post. Help small business owners succeed in this changing economy.
Tell your friends, Tell your colleagues, Tell a SMB...
