Ride the Wave – How Good Publicity can Help your Small Business

Every small business owner knows, one bad review can taint your online presence. From Google to Yelp, a negative comment about your customer service, food, products, even facilities, can tarnish your reputation. But, what about the opposite. What can a feature in a local newspaper or magazine, a glowing review alongside the negative ones, or a feature in a national publication do for your small business? Unfortunately, the good stuff never seems to carry as much weight. So, how should you leverage the positive to gain the most traction from it to further your business? Here’s a few tips:

• Share: It may seem like bragging but sharing these feature articles with your social community is the first step to getting the word out that people are talking about you. Share the article, let people know about your success and bask in the glory.
• Ride the momentum: Especially if you are being featured in a national publication, take this opportunity to reach new audiences. Whether it be advertising on the publications site, paying for Google to feature your business when the article is searched or simply increasing Facebook ads, bump up your presence to ensure you are being seen.
• Don’t forget your roots: The city or town you started in helped you to build this successful business. Let them bask in the glow too. By acknowledging the support of your community you will continue to build that connection; almost a feeling of ownership that so many people feel when their favorite local business is recognized.

Good feedback is always great, and sometimes small businesses miss out on opportunities to take those reviews and run with them. By taking advantage of every opportunity to talk about how great your business is, it not only boosts buzz but also confidence in your own business and abilities as an entrepreneur. Let yourself brag a little. Then, move onto the next big thing so that next week, you have something new to brag about.

Now its our turn: Recently, Chris Jones, executive vice president of Sunbelt Business Brokers Midwest was featured in a Wall Street Journal article. The piece focused on the great market we are seeing now for small business owners looking to sell and Chris was the source of some very valuable regional information. The Sunbelt Network is so grateful to all of our brokers, support staff, clients and local communities for making us the number one seller of privately owned businesses in the world.

Check out the WSJ article here.