If you’re a small business owner, 82% of your customers are trying to find your business by searching for you online (I imagine this is even higher if you’re a big business). Sadly, when one of your future customers searches for you, more than 50% of you aren’t being found. And guess what? 92% of those people who tried to find you were perfectly happy going with the company they did find. These stats will only increase.
This report reminded me of something I am frequently asked to speak on. For a small business, it’s easy to overlook the internet and I can understand that since internet technology is usually not to a business’ core competency (that’s why companies hire me to help them with it either as a consultant, or full time like with National Speed). Really, it’s not worth it to overlook the internet, because with the way these stats are now, and the direction they’ll continue, a simple truth will persist.
If you’re not online, you don’t exist.
This isn’t just for small businesses. If you’re anyone trying to make a name or create a brand, if you’re not online, you don’t exist. So take some time to find someone who can send you down the right path (whether it be e-mailing me, or finding someone local), or at least start a blog, claim a Google Local listing for your business, etc.