Marketing Your Business Effectively in 2014

A Marketing Decision That Can Change Your Business

For the sake of our discussion, let’s suppose you own a plumbing business and you have an unlimited advertising budget.

Which would you choose…

A full-page ad in the newspaper, or a page-one listing in search results?

On the surface this sounds like a no-brainer. A full-page ad in the newspaper appearing every day sounds like a marketer’s dream come true. The branding opportunity would be immeasurable and your competitors would be shaking in their boots.

Now imagine that you have to commit where to spend these marketing dollars. The one question that will determine your decision is, “how do people find businesses like yours”?

• When people need a plumber, they do not reach for the newspaper.
• When people need a plumber, they don’t use the Yellow Pages anymore.
• When people need a plumber, they search online.

The most important thing that any business must do today is to improve their visibility in search results. From Ankle injuries to Xerox machines and plumbers to pizza restaurants, your customers search online FIRST. Thus, the page one listing in search results must be your primary focus in marketing your business in 2014 and beyond.

How the Flathead Guide can facilitate this

Helping local companies improve their search results and attract new customers is the number one priority of the Flathead Guide. Having a listing in the Flathead Valley Business Directory™ may not be as sexy as a full-page ad in the newspaper, but the enduring benefits are incredible.

Unlike a print ad that displays once and is gone forever, your listing in the Flathead Guide works for you 24x7x365 and the cost is insignificant. Equally important is that your listing is also mobile friendly. This means that smartphones and tablet PCs will see a perfect presentation of your business, products and services, all your contact information and need only tap your phone number to connect to your business.

Does this mean that print advertising does not work?

Of course not, print advertising can be an effective weapon in your marketing arsenal. It is excellent for building your brand and creating top of mind awareness for your business. However, to capture prospective customers at the exact moment they are ready to buy means that they need to see your listing in search results.

Your ego might love the idea of a full-page ad in the newspaper, but your accountant will appreciate your listing in the Flathead Guide.

Take action now! If you do business in Kalispell, Whitefish, Bigfork, Polson or anywhere in the Flathead Valley, add your company to the official Flathead Valley Business Directory. Click here to learn more about the benefits of being listed in the Flathead Guide.

Your decision… spend hundreds of dollars per day ~ or ~ $4 per month. Sign up now!