Consumers want digital communication Email
News
Tuesday, September 22, 2015 04:00 AM

tools of digital communicationResearch shows that customers are eager to communicate with small, local businesses online. Some small businesses may be missing a big opportunity to reach new clients and bring back past clients if they aren’t using the digital arena.

A recent profile in Lawn & Landscape magazine featured a newly revamped web site for a New Mexico landscape company. The company owner noted that they wanted to offer customers a mobile-friendly site and ways for customers to connect with them beyond the site. Perhaps that owner read research from Yodle, an online marketing company.

Yodle found that 75% of consumers surveyed go online to find or research a business before make a decision on whom to use. 42% of those people used review sites like Yelp or social media sites like Facebook, rather than the traditional search engine, to find businesses. Does your company ask for and share customer reviews?

Consumers also wanted more online communication. More than three quarters of consumers were open to getting service reminders and other notices (84%) or helpful advice (80%) from local businesses. But only a fraction of those consumers were currently offered such options. An overwhelming majority (83%) preferred to receive communication via email, text, or social media rather than by phone or snail mail. Do you offer current and potential clients online billing or a newsletter like Tip of the Week?

Approximately 2/3 of consumers felt that it was either expected or sets a business apart to offer electronic appointment-setting or payment options. In fact, more people were interested in an improved web site than were interested in competitive pricing. Have you refreshed your web site recently?

Despite fears that online communication will seem impersonal or contribute to digital overload, consumers are more willing than ever to interact with local companies online. Small business owners have a unique opportunity to increase their exposure and gain new clients if they take the time to develop a strategy for digital marketing.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
PlantTalk can help consumers understand their landscape company
Free EAB detection & ash tree assessment workshops
Could a failing mall become a model for landscape efficiency?
Be sure to include interns in payroll budgeting