If you have a small business and are trying to compete in the larger marketplace, then you should begin to understand how important it can be to have a digital presence. People all over the world are now at play when it comes to being prospects for small business. Gone are the days when folks had to come into town to find out about your store and walk through the doors to see who you are.

Any marketing agency will tell you that the rules and the playing field have changed. Ten years ago you might have finally acquiesced to the pleas that you get a website, but things have gone far beyond that, now. It is now time for a more comprehensive plan to be put into place. Here are three reasons why you need better marketing.

1.) The search engine

It may or may not surprise you to learn that 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine. People don’t simply go the computer and start randomly typing in websites, guessing that they just might come up with something useful if they hit the right keys. People start with a search engine and type in what it is they are hoping to find. These are referred to as keywords, and your local marketing company will tell you that they mean everything to a web search.

The process of honing these searches so that your small business will show up at the top of the search results is known as search engine optimization or SEO. An SEO company that specializes in SEO trends and topics can help people find you when they are looking for what you have to offer them.

2.) Social media

So, your kids are on Facebook and Twitter and you could not care any less. It’s too much information for you to take in and you’re just not interested. That is totally fine. But you are not your business. Your business needs to be where potential customers and clients are and that place is social media.

A marketing company worth its salt will get you all over social media before your head stops spinning. Nearly three out of four brand marketers saw an increase in the traffic to their websites after investing only six hours per week on social media.

3.) Online reputation

You might think that people can say whatever they want about you and it doesn’t matter. After all, if they just come in for themselves, they would see how great you really are. You might actually be great. That’s fantastic! But, online reputation means a great deal. Consumers reported in 2016 that 57% of them thought more highly of a company after seeing positive reviews online. Without even trying you for themselves, online reviews mean a ton to potential customers.

Now is the time for you to get in touch with a marketing company and take your business to the next level.