by kitzmillermedia | Jun 8, 2016 | Business, Uncategorized
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]My wife and I just purchased a pair of hammocks from Amazon.com. They were under $30 a piece, but we still wanted to make sure we were making a good decision.
- We read the reviews
- We compared similar products online
- We visited the manufacturer’s website to see if they seemed legit. (I’ll be honest, they desperately need a website makeover, but they were the real deal.)
Sound familiar? Statistics indicate people spend a considerable amount of time doing research online before they decide to buy.
“78% of internet users research businesses online before making contact.”
– HubSpot
Your business website and social media profiles are often your customer’s first interaction with you. We all know how important first impressions are. Let’s dive into some ways you can use Google to make your business more memorable.
Google Maps
There’s a good chance your business is already on the map. Head over to Google Maps now and search for your business name. Is it on the map? Is all the information correct? If so, that’s a great start, but there’s one more important thing to look for.
If you haven’t “claimed” your business listing you should see a link called “Are you the business owner?” under your listing. Be sure to click the link and follow the prompts.
Your verified business information can appear on Google Maps helping customers find directions to your business. They can also find contact info as well as ratings and reviews of your business.
Google+ (Social Media)
Did you know Google has a social media app? It’s called Google+. Basically, it’s Google’s answer to Facebook. I’ll tell you right now there are far fewer users on G+ than Facebook. Still, it’s an important part of your online presence. Every business can enhance their listing with photos and status updates. Strong reviews and pictures of your products help you stand out to customers.
At the very least, you can enhance your online brand with Google+. Here’s an example of a local bicycle shop in Northwest Denver. Notice the right-hand column. They have photos, address, hours, and reviews. You can edit all of this information once you claim your business.
Business Information
One reason why you want to claim your business listing is to make sure your information is correct. After you get access to your business listing you can update information about your business as often as you’d like. From Google My Business, you can edit your contact information, description, hours, website URL and more.
Mobile Ready
Mobile devices act differently than desktops, for obvious reasons. When potential customers are on the go or need information in a hurry, you want to make sure your business listing is accurate and up to date. Managing your Google business listing helps customers find the same reliable information about your business whether they are on a desktop or a mobile device.
The Good News
If this all sounds like Greek to you and your head’s swimming, you’re in luck. We’ve helped many businesses like yours claim, update and enhance their Google business listing. Be sure to send us a message or leave a comment below if you need help updating your Google business listing. If you want to get started without us, awesome! Go claim your business listing now![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” enable_gradient=”true” color_overlay=”rgba(30,115,190,0.11)” color_overlay_2=”rgba(238,238,34,0.11)” gradient_direction=”left_t_to_right_b” overlay_strength=”0.8″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
[icon color=”Accent-Color” animation_speed=”Slow” size=”small” icon_size=”” animation_delay=”” image=”icon-check”] Schedule a Free Website Review
Our website review is comprehensive, informative and provides you with actionable advice to improve your current website. Schedule a review today![/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][contact-form-7 id=”7847″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
by kitzmillermedia | Feb 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]As a Google Partner, Kitzmiller Media has access to resources that help our clients grow their business online. This video really drives home the point that market awareness is critical to sustainable growth.
Using digital tools such as social media, email marketing, content marketing and SEO effectively can help your business get found online more often. It’s called market awareness and it can really help you get the upper hand on the competition – even if they have a well-funded marketing department. Technology truly levels the playing field.
See if you can set aside 40 minutes to watch this video from Google Partners. I found it to be very insightful.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/eeXJkgCVKmU” src=”“https://www.youtube.com/embed/eeXJkgCVKmU“” width=”“560“” height=”“315“” frameborder=”“0“”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
by kitzmillermedia | Nov 19, 2014 | Uncategorized
[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The perception your audience has of your brand can make or break your business.
You know it’s important, but how do you monitor brand reputation and what exactly should you monitor? Since there is probably a conversation happening right now about your brand, let’s review a few ways you can listen in.
Think about this
Every brand has a story to tell and it is important to make sure your story is being shared and discussed in a manner that benefits your business. You have a lot on your plate and monitoring your brand online may not be a priority… but it should be.
“Unless you have clarity of what your brand stands for, everything else is irrelevant.” – Mark Baynes
Let’s say you own a furniture store. You sell brand-name products from some of the industries best manufactures. You also have a team of six sales people who work the floor, the phones and network online. You want to make sure customer service is just as important as the quality of your products. The story your customers are sharing begins when they pick up the phone, hop online or hit a networking function. How do you know if they are truly satisfied? Happy and unhappy customers alike are using social media to praise or vent about your brand.
What to monitor
The first step to monitoring brand reputation is to know what is worthwhile to monitor. What types of inquiries will get you the best results? It might take a bit of trial and error, but here are some ideas to get you started.
- Your name or your brand’s name
- Any variations of your brand’s name (For example, I would want to monitor both “Kitzmiller Media” and “Kitzmiller Design” for my brand)
- Potential misspellings of your brand’s name
- Names of the most active/visible members of your company
- Brand centric products or services
- Specific marketing campaigns you’re running
- Custom hash tags created for your brand
- Your catchphrase, slogan or tagline
Monitoring tools
Once you have an idea of why you are entering social media monitoring and what you want to monitor, you’ll want to enter your searches into a tool that alert you every time they are mentioned online. There are plenty of brand monitoring tools out there, many of which are free to use.
Most of these brand monitoring tools work by allowing you to enter specific names, phrases and any related keywords relevant to your brand. Once you test the results, look for settings that send notifications directly to your inbox – set it and forget it.
I have a small business, does it matter?
My advice to you is start thinking big. You are growth oriented and when your business grows, you will want to have some experience monitoring your brand’s reputation online. Trust me, you will be surprised by the outcome, and you might even discover business opportunities you may have otherwise missed.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” enable_gradient=”true” color_overlay=”rgba(30,115,190,0.11)” color_overlay_2=”rgba(238,238,34,0.11)” gradient_direction=”left_t_to_right_b” overlay_strength=”0.8″][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
[icon color=”Accent-Color” animation_speed=”Slow” size=”small” icon_size=”” animation_delay=”” image=”icon-check”] Schedule a Free Brand Review
People judge quickly. Does your brand capture the essence of who you are? Is it love at first sight? Contact us to schedule a comprehensive and completely free brand review.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][contact-form-7 id=”7853″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
by kitzmillermedia | May 20, 2014 | Uncategorized
[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]How do you feel when you hear the ice truck coming down the block?
As a kid I remember feeling anxious. Decision time! Razzles were my favorite but I planned for the worst. What if they didn’t have Razzles? What if there was something new? The menu never changed of course and I would almost always choose the same thing.
The sound of the ice cream truck also meant I had to hit my dad up for some cold hard cash.
As a father it means I have to start looking for cash.
Eventually I would find some quarters or a five spot floating in the back of the junk drawer. The warm bright smile on my child’s face when they rip into the jacket of Bomb Pop is well worth the treasure hunt, even if it spoils dinner.
They always show up right before dinner.
The sound of the ice cream truck echoing down the neighborhood sets predictable expectations for both children and parents. It capitalizes on a decades old routine.
We’ve come to anticipate and react to the situation in a similar manner each and every time.
This is the hallmark of an excellent brand.
The ice cream truck elicits a deep, emotional response in millions of families all across the country. The promise of childhood lures us to the curb. It’s not the ice cream we experience first and it’s not the ice cream we keep in our hearts and minds.
So what does this have to do with your business exactly?
Think about the expectations your customers have about your brand, not the other way around. How does your brand affect people? Are there emotional triggers?
Great brands don’t sell
Great brands create emotional connections through the use of a story. Revenue happens after you’ve earned trust. Sales occur when customers can count on you to be reliable and predictable. Great brands demonstrate a sense of accountability.
If you’re slow to respond and often wrong about a solution, your customers will come to anticipate this outcome. On the other hand, what if your company is transparent and helpful? What if you’re courteous and respond promptly?
Brands that have a positive and emotional affect on their customers will create a lasting impression. Think Zappos and Chipotle.
Key take-aways:
- Be mindful of your customers expectations.
- Set the stage with a positive and memorable experience.
- Tell a unique story and be consistent in your messaging.
- Branding should elicit an emotional response.
- Demonstrate a sense of accountability.
A visit from the ice cream truck recently reminded me that consistency is awfully important when it comes to building a memorable and profitable brand.
Your brand is far more than products and services. A great brand lies in the hearts and minds of your audience. How will you create a memorable and positive experience for your customers? What steps are you taking to create a great brand?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1450198773564{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #f5f5f5 !important;}”]
[icon color=”Accent-Color” size=”small” image=”icon-check”]Schedule a Brand Review
People judge quickly. Does your brand capture the essence of who you are? Is it love at first sight? Contact us to schedule a comprehensive brand review.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
by kitzmillermedia | Apr 15, 2014 | Uncategorized
[social_buttons nectar_love=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” pinterest=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true”]
[divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″]
You’ve probably already heard about the new internet security threat called Heartbleed. Without going into too much detail, it’s a nasty little program that exploits vulnerabilities found in OpenSSL. Let’s just say OpenSSL is the security backbone for nearly every major online service including Amazon, Netflix and Yahoo.
“Heartbleed allows attackers to eavesdrop on communications, steal data directly from the services and users and to impersonate services and users...” – Source: www.heartbleed.com
It’s a pretty big deal. So what do you need to know in order to stay protected and out of harm’s way?
Passwords
I recommend you update ALL of your online passwords to something more secure. Please don’t use “1234567” or “password” as your password. Here are 8 ways to make a perfect password.
Change passwords for email, banking, social media and any other online services you might subscribe to. A strong password is the best defense against hackers.
Your Website
Our maintenance plan members are in good hands. Administrative passwords have all been changed and we continue to routinely check for security threats. We also keep backups at the ready in case disaster strikes.
I just wanted to let our clients know we doing everything we can to make sure your investment is well taken care of. If you have any questions or concerns (even if you’re not a client) please leave a comment or call the Kitzmiller Media office at (303) 250-5239.
Stay safe out there!
by kitzmillermedia | Mar 7, 2014 | Uncategorized
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][social_buttons nectar_love=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” pinterest=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Words have meaning. Think about your vocabulary for a minute. I’m not talking about those big fancy words you drop to sound important (hey, we all do it). I’m referring to your everyday words. Those words you use when you chat on the phone or greet the mailman.
Are they good words? Meaningful words? Do they have purpose?
Communication is essential in the business world. Without it, we would not have businesses. So think about how you communicate. Are your conversations awesome? Are they inspiring, uplifting and motivating?
Ask yourself this question…
Are you excited to chat with an old client who might be a small blip on your revenue radar, but a client you’ve had for 20 years nevertheless? Do you treat each and every client the same – with cheerfulness and respect?
Remember, your words have meaning. Be awesome. Let it shine.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/ehnl0cd-rcw”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
