Photo credit; Blaise Alleyne on Flickr
A new Internet NZ study shows Kiwi businesses who use the internet extensively are more productive than their less-connected peers, and are four years ahead of their industry average in terms of competitiveness.
With that in mind, Google New Zealand’s Tony Keusgen shares the five golden rules every business should be following online.
1. Use location tools to show people where you are
Register with Google Places to be found on Maps, Google+ and mobile devices and sign up to popular options like Finda, NZS or the Localist so people can easily find you. Registering is simple and almost always free. You just need to submit a website link and enter your details.
2. If you don’t have one already, get a website
Even for primarily offline businesses, having a presence on the internet is important. Websites are still the primary means by which customers learn about all the great things your business has to offer. There are plenty of tools online that will allow you to create a website with no technical expertise relatively inexpensively.
3. Work your web traffic
Sign up for Google Analytics and Webmaster tools to learn how your online visitors behave. Both provide free insights and tips which can help you tailor content and create a great user experience – leading to more people talking about your site, sharing your content and linking to you.
4. Go mobile
Research shows 89% of smartphone users in New Zealand have looked for local information, and 87% have taken action as a result. Click here if you want to see Google’s thoughts on how best you can show off your business across all the different screens people use.
5. Embrace the cloud
The most exciting and fastest growing companies today are those moving toward cloud technologies that make them more collaborative, creative, and help put customers first.
Tools like Gmail, Google Calendars or Google Docs allow you to share large files quickly on the cloud, and work on projects together in real-time, from across town or across country.
Whether you’re installing insulation or baking cheesecakes, cloud technology can save you money and help you work smarter.
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