Marketing Kuel Life Thought Leader: Lori Lyons
Imagine this: You’re sitting at your desk, sipping on your morning cup of coffee or tea while gazing out the window. You’re a business owner, successful in your own right but always looking for the next way to grow.
You’re contemplating your marketing strategy, thinking, “There’s got to be more I can do. How do I reach more customers? How can I continue growing in this ever-changing, crazy digital world?” Believe it or not, Google can be your answer.
How Can Google Help?
But how can Google, a search engine, help?
“This free tool allowed your boutique to appear on Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to find you.”
You are the owner of a delightful boutique tucked away in a small town. You sell the most unique jewelry, with pieces sourced from artisans all over the world. Business is good, but only to a certain extent. You have a loyal local following, but you know there is potential for more.
One day, your daughter introduced you to the world of Google. Not just for searching recipes or the latest news, but as a powerful tool to amplify your business presence. Intrigued, you decided to explore more.
You started by creating a Google My Business account. This free tool allowed your boutique to appear on Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to find you. You meticulously filled out the details – store hours, contact information, and even photos of your beautiful artisan jewelry pieces.
Moreover, you were amazed at the difference it made. Suddenly, tourists were dropping by, saying they’d found you on Google Maps. You were reaching customers you never even knew existed.
But you didn’t stop there. Energized, you started looking into Google Ads. Using Google’s in-depth guides and YouTube, you set up your first advertising campaign targeting a wider audience interested in unique jewelry. The results?Amazing! Your online orders increased by 50% in just the first month.
Adapt And Learn:
This success story mirrors that of many small business owners. As an entrepreneur, the ability to adapt and learn is a critical factor to thriving in today’s online world. And Google, with its multitude of tools, provides the platform to do just that. It’s not just a search engine anymore – it’s a multifaceted tool to aid in your business’s growth and success.
Google Analytics, another powerful tool, offers a goldmine of data that helps you understand your customer behavior better. Ever wondered what time of the day your website sees the most traffic? Or which of your products is the most viewed? Google Analytics has that answer. Now, with this information at your fingertips, you can tailor your business strategy to match your customers’ behavior, significantly increasing your chances of success.
As an example, Sarah, a 50-year-old owner of a home décor business that sells online and is an in-person local consultant, noticed through Google Analytics that most of her traffic came late in the evening. She inferred that her target audience – busy women, just like her – were browsing her website after their hectic day was done. This insight led her to adjust her social media posts and emails to go out in the evenings when her audience was most active, resulting in a 35% increase in sales.
“Google Docs enables them to collaborate in real-time, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.”
Google Trends:
The Google magic doesn’t end there. Google Trends is a wonderful tool to stay ahead of the curve. It provides data on trending searches, helping you stay up-to-date with what your potential customers are interested in.
Martha is the owner of a gardening supplies store. She uses Google Trends to identify a growing interest in organic gardening in her area. She quickly introduced a line of organic products, seizing the opportunity just at the right time. She credits Google Trends for her swift decision-making, leading to a substantial uptick in her sales.
Google’s magic extends to its other offerings as well, like Google Drive and Google Docs, which offer convenience, efficiency, and seamless collaboration. Consider Laura, a business owner who runs a successful consultancy firm. She takes advantage of today’s remote world and so her team is spread across different cities and even different parts of the world.
They use Google Drive to share documents, proposals, and client information securely. Google Docs enables them to collaborate in real-time, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Laura shares that Google’s tools have significantly improved her team’s productivity and their ability to serve clients effectively.
Free Online Training:
Google’s G Suite, which includes Gmail, Google Calendar, and more, has also been a game-changer for many business owners like Jennifer, who runs a thriving bakery. She uses Google Calendar for scheduling meetings and planning her baking schedule, while Gmail helps her stay connected with her clients, suppliers, and team. This suite of tools allows Jennifer to streamline her daily operations, giving her more time to focus on what she loves most – baking delicious treats for her customers!
Google’s offerings go beyond just tools and services. The tech giant has numerous resources to help businesses grow. Google’s Digital Garage provides free online training – ideal for entrepreneurs like Alice, a life coach who used the lessons learned here to effectively grow her business online, and consequently, triple her client base.
“This SEO boost helped drive even more traffic to her business, both online and offline.”
Finally, the use of Google’s platforms can also have a positive impact on your business’s search engine optimization (SEO). SEO, in essence, is about making your business more visible on search engines. And with Google being the most popular search engine in the world, their tools naturally help improve your business’s SEO.
A Gift That Keeps On Giving:
Our friend Sarah, the interior decor business owner, saw this benefit too. With her business listed on Google and using Google Ads, her services started showing up in the top results when someone searched for ‘home decor’. This SEO boost helped drive even more traffic to her business, both online and offline.
In conclusion, the magic of Google is a gift that keeps on giving. It’s not just a tool, but a companion, a mentor, and a catalyst for growth. With Google, the opportunities are endless. So whether you’re like Sarah, Martha, Laura, Jennifer, or Alice, remember that it’s never too late to explore, learn, and grow.
Just remember, when you’re sitting at your desk with your morning cup of coffee or tea, wondering how to take your business to the next level, the answer is just a click away. Embrace the magic of Google and unlock the potential it holds for your business.
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About the Author:
Lori is America’s Midlife Marketing Maven helping GenXBoomers take the frustration and mystery out of marketing their businesses. She owns a digital marketing agency,and specializes in website design, branding and marketing strategy. She loves teaching Encore Entrepreneurs how to grow their businesses so they can concentrate on following THEIR passions and THEIR clients. Lori thinks there is nothing better than seeing someone’s eyes light up when they “get it” and then they take it and make money, easily and simply and without the stress they had before.
Lori will be launching her podcast, The Encore Entrepreneur Podcast this summer where she will be interviewing entrepreneurs and talking about how they market their businesses and the tools and techniques they use. She lives in Atlanta with her husband of almost 30 years and helps her 22-year-old entrepreneur son with his marketing. She is a sports fanatic and loves her Atlanta Braves baseball!
