3 More Trends Small Business Owners Need to Notice

If the change in buyer behaviour isn't enough for you to worry about, here are three more shifts that every small business owner should think about.

The Increasing percentage of mobile searches

There’s a good chance you’re well aware of this already – marketing and SEO experts have been sounding the warning bell for quite some time. It’s becoming increasingly common for people searching for businesses online to be using a mobile device to do so. Some are predicting that as early as 2015, the number of mobile searches will exceed those from desktops.

What that means is that if your business website isn't mobile friendly (that is, it doesn't content and information well on a mobile device) you may begin to lose potential customers.

More Google Algorithm Changes Ahead

Google is currently the dominant search engine and therefore the way they go about indexing business website pages can have a major impact on the number of visits your site receives. If you’re reliant on gaining leads via website visitors, then a reduction in visitors is likely to equate to a reduction in turnover. You can’t afford to take your eye off the ball. But next time Google kicks, where will the ball go? My guess: quality, Google +.

With the burgeoning amount of business related content online, and the quality improving, the goal posts regarding content quality are likely to keep moving – no matter how much good content you and your competitors turn out in the years ahead, there are still only a few spots on page one of the organic listings. Quality will be important, but other factors will necessarily come into play. One of those is likely to be your level of activity on Google Plus. There are a number of reasons for that, but for the cynics, one will do – it’s Google’s own social platform and they want you to use it.

I’d recommend:

• Keeping up with news about SEO factors
• Ensuring you produce engaging, quality content
• Establishing a reputable brand online
• Getting onto Google+

The Power of Personal Brand

The Internet is a powerful research tool. People attempting to verify the reputation of a business or business owner now often search online – they may check out social media pages as well as reviews and other material. Do you have a highly visible profile online, or are you a private person who prefers to stay in the background?

For consultants or people offering a service that depends on personal expertise, a visible profile online can help prospective clients establish their credentials. Not having one could put you out of the running when those prospective clients are deciding who to call. Anonymous reviews and business websites that don’t offer a street address or proprietor’s name have made people cautious. Even Google has indicated that it wants to move away from an ‘anonymous web’.

If you've been reluctant to establish a profile on LinkedIn or Google+ now could be the time to reconsider that and look at building a ‘personal brand’.

The Importance of Online Trends

Online trends can slip by unnoticed but these types of changes can have a substantial impact on how effective your business website and how many enquiries you receive. It may be increasingly difficult to stay up to date, but it’s likely to be well worth your time and effort to do so.