Why You Need A Website More than Ever in 2019

Maybe you haven’t noticed, but Google is making it harder and harder to get free, organic listings at the top of the search results. Most will have seen this coming, as “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is”.

Check out this screenshot from January 2019 of a Google search for the phrase “plumbers indianapolis indiana” – and look for the free, organic results:

…and you will see that there are none. ZERO BUSINESSES showed up above the fold that didn’t pay to be there!

Google is “squeezing” local businesses into PAYING them if they want a chance to get any of the clicks from first page rankings.

Need more proof?
Check out Google’s Ad Revenue Growth since 2001:

(from https://www.statista.com/statistics/266249/advertising-revenue-of-google/)

Google is being called the new “homepage” for local businesses

(from https://moz.com/blog/local-businesses-need-websites)

64% of marketers agree that Google is becoming the new “homepage” for local businesses: a user looking at a Google Knowledge Panel can get basic business info, make a phone call, get directions, book something, ask a question, take a virtual tour, read microblog posts, see hours of operation, thumb through photos, see busy times, read and leave reviews. Without ever having to click through to a brand’s domain, the user may be fully satisfied.

Now, you can’t change the past. But you can try to prepare yourself better for the future; the trend towards less free / more paid will only continue…

Act now and reduce your future spend.

So what can you do?

Get A Website
Develop a Content Marketing strategy, for traffic and authority (conversions)
Develop a Reputation Marketing strategy, resulting in a steady flow of positive results on all important web portals
Develop a Social Media strategy, engaging loyal fans acting as virtual ambassadors, generating virtual word-of-mouth promotion.
Rank your website high in the organic listings for your important (traffic-generating) keywords
Rank it high in the maps listings for your important (traffic-generating) keywords (often easier when ranking high in the regular search results; a small study by Moz showed that 75% of top 3 Google local pack results also have a 1st page organic rankings)
Build an email list, and build a relationship with your subscribers. They’ll buy from you when they’re ready…
Grow your email list by any means possible (within your budget); you are building an asset that will generate revenues for you for years to come!

Not Sure Where To Start?

Want Help With Your Website, Facebook Page or Online Reviews? Contact Us!