Question of the Day: I'm a new retail business owner, how do I advertise online?

[Godidit_2020]

I’m a new retail business owner, and I would like advice about how to advertise my new store and website, Any advice would be appreciated!

[Helen]

Great question @Godidit_2020!

I've pinned your question to the top of our homepage so that other sellers/retail business owners can see it and share how they go about advertising online and offline. 👍

[Godidit_2020]

Helen, Thankyou so much for making it easier for members to se my post.

[pessosices · Accepted solution]

Great question @Godidit_2020 !

Google is always a great place to start. Just by setting up the following things, you'll show up more in google searches, for free! You can also then opt in for paid Ads after that.

1. Set up your Google My Business Page:

https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/business/business-profile

2. Set up your Google Search Console Page:

https://search.google.com/search-console/about

3. Set up your Google Analytics Page:

https://analytics.withgoogle.com/

4. Set up Google Ads

https://ads.google.com/intl/en_us/getstarted/how-it-works/

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Then I'd say Create or Claim your business' Yelp Page:

https://biz.yelp.com/?utm_campaign=claim_business&utm_content=claim_footer_link&utm_medium=www&utm_s...

Then Create or Claim your business' Facebook Business Page

https://www.facebook.com/business

Create an Instagram Page, and post to it frequently!

http://instagram.com

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Great way to start and go from there!

[Helen]

Thank you very much for sharing these steps @pessosices!

@VanKalkerFarms @MichiganFarmsta @SmartyPantsJane Do you have anything you'd like to add to help a new retail business owner advertise?

[seckley]

Any ideas about when you are an online business?

I don't have a physical location i'm just working with the square website. Google business only seems to work with a physical location.

[JJ_]

While Google My Business is intended for Brick and Mortar style of businesses, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) allows you to optimize your items and categories for search engine results, but you can also add SEO information to your Square Online site to help it rank better.

One of the first steps to take is to edit the SEO settings for both your entire site and the individual pages that make up your site.

Note: It can take a number of weeks for new Square Online sites to be indexed and unindexed in search engine listings, and even longer for a site to show up in the results for specific keywords. Check out our Ultimate SEO Guide, which walks you through the ins and outs of getting indexed in search engines and improving your search ranking.

I also recommend taking a look at this page to understand the SEO Settings on Square Online

I hope this information is helpful @seckely and Welcome to the Seller Community!

[glbdd]

Great question! With the way things are right now, be sure to cater to those who haven't quite felt comfortable with venturing out yet as well.  You got great advice already with using Google Business, Ads, and the like, I'd also encourage you to create your online presence with an e-commerce shop if you offer your products that way.  And if you build a website with e-commerce, be sure to have SEO and brand recognition tools included, it adds so much to your accessibility. 

GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS! 

[Helen]

Thank you very much for taking the time to add these tips @glbdd! 

[EMLC]

I would also recommend getting on social media platforms. Depending on what type of business you have these can be really helpful for getting yourself out there. Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok are all great ways businesses are self promoting! Good luck!

[Pixypros]

Set up your business IG, business FB page, and Google ads account like the others suggested. 

Also set up Google pixels when you're able to get enough audience into your website to target the ads. 

We use www.vixelagency.com to manage social media

[saltwaterssi]

In addition to all the other ideas, pay attention to what other retailers in your industry are doing. Find them on social media (pay attention to whether their posts are organic or sponsored). Look at their website, see where they link to, if they have a blog, if they have an email list you can join. Join the email lists of several retailers in your industry so you can get a feel for how they connect with their customers. Follow them on social media. All these things will start to give you ideas on how to market to your customers. Also, before you invest in any online marketing, make sure you know what you are paying for. And make sure you know who your customer is, how they shop, where they buy. Put together a quarterly or yearly calendar of content - what message do you want to convey, when and why and to who? This will help you figure out a marketing plan for online ads.

[Beholder]

We help many small businesses and start-ups affordably market their business online. Check out https://lp.beholderagency.com/small-business-special

We'll get your foundation set up properly - everything from web and digital marketing/SEO to search listings, online reviews, email and social media.

You didn't get into the marketing and advertising business.

We manage your marketing - so you can focus on growing your business.

[mixengineer]

@Godidit_2020 To summarize, you are simply looking for SEO and/or Google Ads. SEO is for customers finding you (ie Google Search) and Ads are for you to reach them in familiar places they go (ie Google Search).

The Good News:

There are tons of resources and third party apps which can handle most of the heavy lifting for you, or allow you to make the changes needed for you to show up properly in Google (so your customers can find you).

The Bad News:
Square Online does not seem to be one of those resources... In the direct words of their support, "No, this platform wasnt designed for in depth HTML or SEO alterations." 

I do wish they would reflect this in their advertising so it is clear to customers who have transitioned or are about to transition from another platform to Square Online (I came from WordPress where I was able to complete my SEO in hours and the website showing in Google in just a few days).

I'm happy to answer any questions you have on using a Square Online Website with SEO for Google, Bing, etc based on my experience.

-Mix Engineer
https://mixengineer.art/ 

[dslovejoy]

Over the years, I have spent thousands and tried every way I could think of to advertise.
The only success I have had was word of mouth and by becoming a notary public. When people come for the notary, they see the other services I offer.

What have you found to be the most effective method to draw in new customers and entice old customers to return?

[Thevioletfox]

The best way that I've found to spread the word about your business is definitely social media and word of mouth. However, a follower on social media does not necessarily mean a customer! Big difference. Converting followers to customers is something I'm still trying to figure out myself.  

A lot of my customers have come from someone looking for something very specific that other businesses do not offer. I run a bookstore, so sometimes they're looking for a specific out of print or vintage book that you can't find at any bookstore you walk into. So offering something unique that others do not, or something specific to your area could be a good way to get the attention of new customers.

I've also found that offering gift cards through Square works well! This may not work for a notary, but depending on what your other services are, it may. They make excellent gifts when someone doesn't know exactly what to get another person.