If you’re a dental patient in any major city, there’s some good news for you: You literally have hundreds of options to choose from. But if you are one of the dentists trying to make your practice stand out from the crowd, then this is far from good news. In fact, your competition can be quite difficult, and you have to worry about how to bring in more patients.

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

At this point, you should know one of the keys to succeeding in business is to have positive reviews of your work. Even before the Internet, word-of-mouth reviews helped to generate buzz about a company. Now, with Yelp, Google Reviews, and even Amazon dominating so much in our lives, these reviews are more important than ever. But, like all content that is out there on the Internet, your reviews have to be current if they are going to have an impact. In fact, the recency of your reviews may actually be more important than you think. Recent Study Shows Most Recent Reviews Give the Most Credibility to Consumers A recent study of online reviews has revealed fascinating data. While most people would think that the overall star rating is the most important piece of information a person looks at when choosing a business, that particular category comes in a close second to recency (58% to 57%). Why are newer reviews more important than good reviews? Partially because of quality over time. Businesses may start with an A-Team crew with the best customer service and as time passes, a newer team takes over and begins to slack off on service. Some customers may even wonder if you are still open for business if the last review was posted over a year ago. Another possible motivation behind this push for recency comes with the fourth category customers look for—legitimacy (49%). Most savvy customers know that some businesses promote themselves with fake reviews. This is usually right after the business opens to get customers in the doors. Once the initial flurry of reviews is done, there should be more accurate reviews that are more recent. But, if you don’t have a lot of recent reviews, customers may think that those first ones were fake. What else can set you apart from the pack with your reviews? One of the easiest things you can do to make reviews stand out is to engage with comments. If a person had a bad experience with your business, address the issue with them publicly through the reviews. Don’t get defensive or accusatory towards the reviewer. Address the problem and offer to rectify it. Most customers appreciate that mistakes may happen, but if you are willing to fix the mistake, you’re more likely to be deemed as a company worth doing business with. If you’re stuck with a lot of old reviews, there are some things you can do to fix this. First, simply ask for reviews. Many customers don’t think of leaving reviews, but they will if you let them know you’d appreciate their honest input. Your regular customers would be especially great to ask so they can tell people why they keep coming back. Another idea is to incentivize your customers. Offer a ten percent discount (or something similar) off their next purchase if they give you feedback in the form of a review. Keep a Steady Flow of Reviews for More Customer Conversions Over half of Americans between 18 and 54 read online reviews of local businesses and use these as a tool for choosing a company. Because of this reliance on reviews, it is imperative that you make sure yours stand out from the crowd and give the customers plenty of new information to make an informed decision.

If you’re a savvy follower of social media, then you’ve probably seen companies sharing or reposting content from their customers. Sometimes it’s a picture of a customer wearing a shirt with your logo. Other times it may be pictures of them using one of your products. Whatever the case, this is a great example of user-generated content and it should definitely be part of your marketing strategy. Here’s how you can encourage and use content from your fans: Reviews — One way to get more user content is to encourage your customers to provide a review of your goods or services. And, whenever possible, ask them to include a picture with their review. If your patient had a teeth whitening, they could review your dental practice and take a picture of their pearly whites. Ask and Ye Shall Receive — While you are asking for reviews, it’s also a good idea to ask people to provide you with content. If you have repeat customers, ask them to tweet about their experiences or share pictures of their purchases from you. It never hurts to ask and you would be amazed at what they will provide you. Feature the Customers — One way to encourage more user-generated content is by featuring what you have. Create a section on your website that features pictures and video testimonials that come from your customers. Hold a Contest — If you want to get a quick surge in content, promote it with a contest. Encourage people to submit the most creative pictures of your products and then offer them a gift certificate to your business. This is a quick and easy way to get people to submit content and also gain new customers. We know that running an online marketing campaign can be time-consuming. Creating new content constantly can be draining. That’s why it is important to also engage with your customers and allow them to do some of the work for you.

A popular misconception is that only big nationwide companies are represented by the Internet. In fact, many local companies are now learning how to utilize the Internet and search engines to expand their customer base. And the key to this is with your company’s SEO ranking. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to the algorithm used to rank a website on search engines such as Google. It also involves the ability to perfect your marketing plan so that you can ensure you rank higher than your competitors on these searches. Here’s what you need to do to work on your local SEO ranking throughout the year: A local search is when a person types a query into Google such as “Dentists Atlanta” or “Jewelry Repair Seattle.” When they do this, Google will generally give the top three results for this based on their algorithm. If your business isn’t one of these, the searcher will have to hit “More Places” to find you. And this means that they probably won’t discover your business. So how do you make sure your website hits the top of the google search? First, set up your profile with Google My Business. This should be kept accurate and updated including business hours, website, and other information. You’ll also pick business categories so Google can classify you. Make sure to include everything that’s possible. If you’re a dentist, then Dentist might also include other subcategories such as “root canals” or “teeth whitening.” The more categories you cover, the more likely you are to end up on top. When you update your profile, you can also link your picture on Google Maps with your profile. This will make it easier to find you. One problem with the local rankings is that you may have companies outside of your area who are spamming the rankings. If this is the case, then you can “Suggest an Edit” to Google. This means reporting them so that Google can determine if the unethical spammers should be removed. Finally, you should consider optimizing your profile for voice searches. Currently, many searches are made using smartphones and the voice-to-text option. If your profile is optimized in this way, you can make sure that your website gets picked up with these searches. There are many things you can work on to ensure your SEO ranking remains high. You should generate content and regularly update your website and profile to get that higher rating.

Today, every business needs to build an online presence to be successful. That is especially true when it comes to chiropractors. It’s no longer enough to take out an ad in the Yellow Pages or a billboard. Even TV and radio spots are starting to fade out. Now, even word-of-mouth is carried more by online sources. Here’s what you need to do as a chiropractor to grow your online presence and build a stronger practice: Blogs — Many times, customers don’t just start searching immediately for a chiropractor. They may go to Google and look for articles to self-diagnose their pains. When they do this, you can be the source they go to. By writing blogs that deal with issues in your field—everything from posture to chiropractic advances—you are establishing yourself as an expert in your field. Patients will connect your name and practice with the field and remember you when it comes time to schedule an appointment. Search Engine Optimization — Another reason why the blogs are so important is they help you optimize your search engine results. If someone searches for chiropractors in your city, you want your name to pop up first. But this won’t happen if you don’t have a fast website that is optimized for mobile viewing. And you need lots of blogs linked to that site to help generate traffic. All of this goes into Google’s algorithm and helps you get ranked higher. Testimonials — Another thing that will lend credibility to your online presence is the customer testimonial. Have former customers give you more than an anonymous review. Ask them if they can be featured prominently on your website as success stories for how your practice was able to help them. Video testimonials can really help sell the personal side of your practice. Appointment Options — One of the strongest things you can feature on your website is a button allowing patients to book an appointment. This gives them an immediate chance to schedule your services as easily as possible. An online presence is something that takes time to cultivate. But if you can do it properly, you will bring in many new patients that will truly help you grow your business.

When it comes to choosing a business, many people look first at the reviews posted online. Yelp, Google, and other websites give reviews from former customers and these shape the views of thousands of other potential clients. But there’s another way that customers’ opinions can be influenced: testimonials. Let’s talk about these and why your company needs them to help grow your small business. Reviews vs. Testimonials A review is a simple summary of an experience someone has had on a website. Many people choose a star-rating (such as four out of five) to evaluate the business. But customers are discerning and for the serious consumer, this may not be enough. That’s why more are turning towards testimonials. This is where you actively ask clients to provide you with a public review of your business. Why Testimonials Work Testimonials are great on two big fronts. First, they don’t allow the reviewer to hide behind anonymity. Too often, Internet “trolls” will slam a business online because no one knows who they are. This allows people with an ax to grind (whether deserved or not) to post without repercussions to their own reputation. With testimonials, you are placing a name and a face to the comments which gives it more credence. It also shows your potential customers that you have a personal relationship with them. These customers don’t view you as just a business. You are someone they want to help out by putting their reputations on the line to support. How to Get Testimonials and How to Use Them In order to have an effective testimonial campaign, you are going to have to approach customers and ask for their assistance. One way to do this is with follow-up surveys and phone calls. If you have a customer who raves about how great their experience was on a survey, you can follow-up with them to see if they would be willing to offer a testimonial. (Many will be happy to do this.) Once you have the testimonial, feature it prominently on your website. You can have a separate section of the site for testimonials and you can also record video testimonials helping to add an even more personal touch. Many consumers today are savvy shoppers who can’t be fooled by simple short reviews. They are looking for more information than just star ratings. Instead, you should use testimonials as a tool to bring in their business.

One of the most dynamic and growing industries in the country involves massage therapy. With the amount of stress in our lives, it’s easy to see why there is a need for those who can help relieve tension and ease chronic pain in a way that is safe and relaxing. Unfortunately, getting started with a massage therapy business (or any business for that matter) can be extremely difficult. So, here are some ways to help your massage therapy business stand out in a crowded market. Build Your Website The first thing you need to do to attract customers is to let them know that you exist and can help them. This can be accomplished with a professional looking website. Your site should have several points including: A personal biography of you and any other therapists working in your business. This will go a long way towards getting your clients comfortable with you by knowing something about your background and being able to see you upfront before they come in. A list of massage services that your business offers along with prices and a means to book appointments online. A testimonials page from satisfied customers who are willing to attest to the quality and professionalism of your business. Get on Social Media It’s not enough to just put out a website and hope that people find it. You also have to promote the website, which will in turn lead people to your business. One of the best ways to do this is with social media. Be sure to choose one or two platforms that you can update and post to regularly. Also, encourage clients who post to social media to tweet about your business and share their experiences with friends and followers on social media. This is the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth which is essential in building today’s online presence. Create Content The other thing you need to do is to create content with a blog that provides relevant information. For a massage therapist, you might want to post on relaxation tips or other things that your clients would find interesting. Be sure to use appropriate keywords for SEO purposes so that you can help your search engine rating. If you are looking to start a massage therapy business or to help expand an existing business, then a strong online presence is essential. By building a website and regularly updating content and posting to social media, you can spread the word of your business and bring in many new clients to convert to regular customers.

It’s time to face facts. If you don’t have an online presence for your company, you’re not going to be successful in today’s fast-paced business world. More and more, online sales are increasing, and brick-and-mortar businesses have to be connected online to bring in customers to stay competitive. Unfortunately, this is sometimes easier said than done. Creating an online presence is not something achieved overnight. Here are five key areas you need to achieve this online presence for your business: Website — First and foremost, your company must have a website to promote your business. This site’s style and set-up will be dictated by your own particular needs. If you’re running an e-commerce store, you’ll need something to showcase your products and promote sales. If you run a restaurant or service-based business, you’ll need a site that can simply act as information to help bring in customers to your physical location. But everything that follows has to start with that first website. Google My Business Listing — Once you have your website, you’ll also need to lay claim to your business identity on Google My Business. If you run a cupcake bakery in New Orleans, for instance, a customer who searches for “cupcake bakeries” will see businesses listed at the top of their Google search. These listings will include information like address, hours of operation, and reviews. It’ll also link up with Google Maps to provide directions to the business. If you want to be featured when searches are done on Google, then you need to set up your Google My Business listing. Content Marketing — Now that you have your webpage and Google My Business listing, you need to help direct people more and more to your website by creating content. Content can be everything like shared blogs or even self-produced videos. These can be shared through a variety of means, including social media (more on that in a minute) and even video hosting sites such as YouTube. The point is that you need to keep generating fresh content with appropriate keywords so you can stay at the top of the search engine results. Influencer Marketing — It’s not enough for your website to be out there. You also have to make connections with other people who can help promote your website. Think of this as old-fashioned business networking. If there’s a blogger who’s getting lots of web traffic in your field, see if you can cross-post material with them or get a share or retweet from them. This will help build your audience and expand into other markets that may not know about you. Social Media Marketing — Social media marketing is a must these days. When you post content, or updates about content on your website, it should run through social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To make this a success, you need to know your target demographic and which social channels they are most geared towards. One thing that you need to do, however, is focus on two social media platforms and really master marketing yourself there before you move on to trying others. Don’t take on too much at once. An online presence is a must-have for anyone in the business world today. In order for you to reach your target audience, you need to have multiple avenues besides just a simple website and opportunities to engage with them regularly.