You may have recently spotted a chat icon for a local business in your Google search results. This is an experimental feature that Google is currently testing, which provides a text-based form of contact between customers and businesses. A live chat option is incorporated directly into search results for a local business, along with details…
Facebook has launched a new directory that allows users to search through businesses and destinations in cities across the world. Facebook uses your friends’ check-ins and what’s happening in a specific location to help you discover the best places in town. Once you identify a specific city using Facebook Places, you will be taken to…
In an effort to enhance Apple Maps, Apple recently released a self-service feature for local business owners to create listings. This portal is called Apple Maps Connect. Maps Connect is intended for local business owners to create their listing, as well as update contact info, business categories, hours, and social profile links. Business owners can…
The popular daily deals site, Groupon, recently released a new format to enhance online presence for local businesses called Pages. Business owners will be able to display offers, current news, customer reviews, and other information on Groupon Pages. Groupon has been discreetly building this feature. The site has already created 7 million Pages! Since the…
TripAdvisor recently acquired European restaurant booking platform lafourchette. The popular online review directory has quickly integrated lafourchette’s inventory of more than 13,000 restaurants. On September 18th, TripAdvisor introduced Instant Reservation, which gives patrons access to make table reservations straight from the site for participating restaurants. Diners were previously directed to the lafourchette site to…
The power of online reviews is increasing. Web savvy customers continue to share their opinions online, and business owners are following suit. With competition rising all around, local businesses should take note of their reviews now more than ever. A high number of reviews can increase your local SEO and attract new business. A Zendesk…
No matter how many policies you implement or how much work you dedicate to procedures, every business has the occasional slip-up that leads to dissatisfied customers. Consumers may choose to share their sentiments on sites like Google+ Local, Yelp, YellowPages, Facebook and more. As a business owner, you would prefer to have 100% positive reviews,…
Online reputation can make or break the success of small businesses. A recent study, conducted by G/O Digital, found Facebook to be the biggest player in the social media game for local businesses. Early on, Facebook began it’s appeal to consumers with the introduction of business pages. As of May 2014, 30 million small businesses…