Consideration Marketing. Are You In The Game?

Think of the last time you made a purchase. How did you come to the conclusion you wanted to purchase from a certain company? Was it their website? Social Media? Google Reviews?

Consideration Marketing

It probably was a combination of all of these things right? Now think about your business... Would you choose yourself against the competition? When customers are looking to buy, they usually choose from 2-3 businesses. All of these factors mentioned greatly impact a buying decision.

When we meet with potential clients, we like to talk about what we call "consideration marketing". When it comes to social media, it is much more than throwing a few hundred bucks and boosting an ad, or looking at vanity metrics (Facebook likes). These are short-sighted goals. Let's think long-term. What puts your company in consideration when a purchasing decision is made?

Social Media Marketing Services

In today's world, most customers have done their research before contacting a company. It usually begins with a google search (80% of the time on their mobile phone) and checks out 3 major areas to make a decision:

  1. *Your Google listing (Reviews, Pictures, Location, etc.),
  2. *Your Website (how current and up-to-date compared to your competitors)
  3. *Your Social Media feeds (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, TikTok, Twitter, etc.).

Humans are visual. We believe what we perceive, and the eyeball test is where "Consideration Marketing" comes in. Yes, we can track stats, (clicks, Likes, Engagement, etc) but think of your entire body of work.

Customers will go down the rabbit hole and look at your posts, your videos, your portfolio, and more. This is the long game we are talking about; a steady dose of consistent, relevant content. That's what wins new customers over time.

There is an old saying... "Nobody got rich sitting still!" This is true with social media. You have to consistently produce content that builds trust with your customers and creates awareness about your brand that you are the "expert" in your field.

So how do you do it? How do you create that awareness of your brand when trying to run a successful business? You have 3 options. (We recommend #3!)

Consideration Marketing with Digital Curve Marketing

  1. *Do it Yourself! (If you have time to do this and run your company full time.)
  2. *Hire a full-time Marketing Manager (50k-60k Annual Salary with paid vacation, sick days, etc?)
  3. *Outsource it to a Marketing Agency for a fraction of the above costs.

If you aren't sure where to start, do a Google search in your industry and see where you rank amongst the competition. If your business is stagnant, it could very well be your lack of a social media presence, or simply... the competition is doing it better! This is where we step in!

Digital Curve Marketing specializes in Social Media Management and more! Stay ahead of the curve and make sure your business is the obvious choice when potential customers are ready to make a buying decision.

Social Media Management with Digital Curve Marketing

Ask us how we can help your business with Social Media, Video Production, Online Reviews, and Web Design. Visit us at digitalcurvemarketing.com today!

Chad Alvarez is the Founder and CEO of Digital Curve Marketing. To learn more about Social Media Marketing Solutions, please contact chad@digitalcurvemarketing.com or call direct 301-798-7904.

Chad Alvarez of Digital Curve Marketing

What is Reputation Management? What You Don't Know May Be Hurting Your Business & How to Easily Improve Yours.

What is Reputation Management?

As a business owner, you may have heard the term "Reputation Management" and even know it pertains to online reviews of your business, but do you really KNOW what is being said about you in the online world?

Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer and think of the last time you made a purchasing decision for a restaurant, HVAC contractor, laptop, television etc.. What made you decide to choose one product or service over the other?  If the answer is "online reviews" then the same can be said about your business.  If you had to take off your "Owner Hat" and objectively pick a company in your industry, would you choose yourself?  It seems ridiculous to ask as you sit and read this and say, "Of course I would choose myself!  I have the best services around!" Lets dive into that scenario further.

How Do Your Potential Customers Use Online Reviews?

According to a recent Bright Local survey:

Most surveyed said they look at 2+ review sites before making a buying decision.  That is strong influential data when you think people will trust online views from total strangers to influence a buying decision.

Think about the long-term ramifications.  The lifetime value of a customer lost or gained can significantly impact your business by a simple review process that you may be overlooking.

Now do I have your attention?

As a digital marketing consultant, I meet with many business owners.  The first question I ask, "Is your business registered with Google?"  My follow-up questions are, "How many directories is your business registered with where potential customers can, A) find you, and B) leave a positive or negative review? "How are you managing or responding to positive and negative reviews?"

Here is where it gets uncomfortable, and that's ok, as most business owners never really think much about what directories they are listed or what obscure review was left on a 2nd tier yellowpage directory.

Reputation Management is very much like Social Media Marketing.  We strive for engagement with our audience on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, so why not focus the same dedicated attention on Google Reviews, Facebook Reviews, Yellowpages, Yelp etc.?

Bad Reviews are GOOD Reviews!

Yes, you read that correctly!  If people are not talking about your business, then you need to worry.  The old saying is true... bad publicity is better than no publicity at all!

As a business owner, bad reviews are the golden ticket to prove you are engaged with your customers.  It is still very important to have 4 and 5-star reviews, but an occasional disgruntled customer shows you are willing to try and make things right, and potential customers see that.

Too many 5-star reviews without any negative feedback also raises concern as we all know that just isn't realistic to think everyone loves you.

Engaging in dialogue on a Google or Facebook review can go a long way to instill trust in a customer/business owner relationship. It also allows a business owner to call out a bad reviewer who may be hiding behind a keyboard.  Let's face it, some people like to be jerks and slam businesses for petty reasons, so stay on top of your reviews. Don't let years of hard work be ruined by a select few!

If I know a restaurant is going to comp my soup because it was ice cold does not mean the restaurant was bad, it just means a customer is warning the business, "Hey, I need you to do better!"  It also allows honest feedback to make future experiences better.

Do you remember the toothpaste commercials where 4 out of 5 dentists approve?  Did you ever want to ask the 1 dentist why he didnt?  Thats an 80% approval rate and we still use Crest and Colgate toothpaste with an 80% approval rate.  (We never got to interview that 1 doctor, wouldnt you like to know what his beef was?)

Who Would You Call First and Why?

Now that the majority of society has smartphones in their hands, the first thing we do when searching for a business is do a Google search.  In minutes, we can find out a ton of information on where to eat, where to shop, what hotels to stay in, and how much things cost.  Then, we make a decision based on a few factors:

In the example above, if you are looking for an auto shop, TWP Motorsports edges out Platinum Motorsports by a small margin, but has DOUBLE the reviews and very frequent reviews across the board.  As a business owner, you do not know how much business is lost by customers going through this process to choose you or your competitor, but rest assured, if you are sitting still and not managing your online reputation, you will be passed by.

How Do I fix My Online Reputation?

As a business owner you need to ask yourself, "How much time do I have to monitor online reviews and search the internet for a negative review buried on a yellowpages website or search engine?"  If the answer is "not enough time", then hiring a reputation management agency is the answer.

Do not allow your business to sit still hoping for something to change.  Capturing online reviews from fresh customers is the best form of advertising. The benefits are endless because the impact of improving your online reputation can be immediate.

In closing, do an online search for your own business.  Notice who appears in the Google 3-pack.  Are you the obvious choice? If not, now you know what to do to improve your online reputation.

If you wish to learn more about how Online Reputation Management can make a difference in your business, contact Digital Curve Marketing today for a Free Consultation at: info@digitalcurvemarketing.com

Chad Alvarez is the Founder and CEO of Digital Curve Marketing and has operated in the digital space since 2006.  To learn more about Digital Curve Marketing and their services, go to: www.digitalcurvemarketing.com

The Best Networking Channel Is Right In Your Back Yard - Why You Should Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce Today!

My name is Chad Alvarez, and I am the founder and CEO of Digital Curve Marketing, LLC in Grasonville, MD.  I want to share my story about the best decision I made early in my career with my start-up business.  I didn't have to look that far because this valuable resource is right in my back yard on Kent Island - The Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce.

I joined the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce in March of 2018.  As a new digital marketing company, creating a networking plan to meet other business owners in the area was crucial to the growth of my business.  With brick and mortar stores depending more and more on online exposure, I have a great opportunity to work with every customer from A to Z with the Chamber of Commerce since I work in digital marketing.

The big question people may ask is, "What does the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce do?"  How can they help my business and why should I care?

First off, Linda Friday and Tracy Wilson from Day 1 made me feel right at home with helping me establish my business to the community and learning about my niche in the marketplace.  This is a very important process, because the more they understand about your business, the easier it is for them to refer you when people come into their office asking for local business solutions.  The resources are there.  As a business owner, it is a matter of utilizing their resources and network to become a part of a unique business community.

How to use the Chamber of Commerce Website:  https://www.qacchamber.com

The chamber of commerce website provides you with a directory of businesses that are chamber members with all of their contact information.  As shown below, I have access to almost 700 local businesses at my fingertips to reach out to via email or by phone.  When you login to your account, here are some of the key features you will see:

Directory: A to Z Listing of over 700 local business at your fingertips with contact information.

Don't be afraid to reach out and introduce yourself as a fellow chamber member.  We want you to contact us as we all can benefit from our services we offer each other. The term "BUY CHAMBER" is a real thing!  We want to keep our budget spends with local businesses and maintain a healthy business community.

Keyword Search:  Not sure of a business name?  No problem.  Just search by an industry keyword and you're all set!

Also, the chamber will allow you to post monthly press releases about events you may have, or even discounts you want to run on your services! Just ask about their press releases they can help you with.

My Experience as a New Member

Within my first week of joining the QAC chamber, I received 7 direct leads from local business owners who needed my services, and the referrals just keep coming.  BONUS!

The human element that you get from your local Chamber of Commerce is an added value to any business in Queen Anne's County. They offer monthly social events where you can meet fellow business owners face to face and exchange information while learning more about the business community we live in.  They offer email blasts where you can have them send out email messages to over 700 businesses.  Monthly "Lunch and Learns" where you can present or attend to learn more about the services and industries that surround us.

There are so many added benefits in joining the chamber of commerce and it really is a no-brainer to become a member for an annual fee of around $200.00.

If you are a local business, and still on the fence about joining the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce, I highly recommend you stop in and introduce yourself to Linda and Tracy.  They are a valuable resource and one that any local business would benefit from.

For more information on the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce and how to join, feel free to contact them:

Location:

1561 Postal Rd
Chester, MD  21619

Mailing Address:
PO Box 511
Chester, MD   21619

Hours:
Monday- Friday
9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Phone Number:

410-643-8530

Chad Alvarez is the Founder and CEO of Digital Curve Marketing, LLC.  If you would like to learn more about Digital Marketing Solutions for your business, visit us at: www.digitalcurvemarketing.com