What does your online profile say about you?
Published
12th Feb 2014
by bathamm
This week, it has been revealed that Yahoo has done a deal to include Yelp listings in its local search results. It is a timely reminder of the importance of updating your listings on local directories and review sites.
Having up-to-date profiles is free and relatively easy to do. It can help to improve your rankings on local search. It is also another way to make the best possible first impression to everyone: no matter how much money and energy you channel into making your website the best it can be some people will first hear about your salon via listings on sites such as Yell and Yelp.
There are lots of sites that your business will be listed on, but start by optimising, Google Places, Bing Places, Yahoo Local, Yell and Yelp and follow these six steps.
- Visit the directory or review site and check your listings. If everything is up-to-date, you don’t need to do anything.
- If it has out of date information or is incomplete, you’ll need to claim the listing. This will usually involve registering and a simple verification process (by email, post or phone).
- Complete every section of the profile including photos and, if you have them, videos.
- Make sure that your profiles are consistent on different sites. In particular make sure that brand spelling and contact information is the same throughout.
- Encourage clients to review you on these sites – you should never incentivise them to do so, but can ask to do so at the end of the appointment. Alternatively, you could include a link to a review page in your newsletter.
- Monitor your reviews frequently – at least once a week. Make sure you thank clients for positive reviews and address any negative ones.
