Get With It Susanville.

I posted a poll on Instagram on what my next blog post should be and everyone wanted to to read about Susanville getting with the times. So here we go...

 

 

When I go on vacation or pass though a new city I immediately google that city. I yelp nearby restaurants, I Instagram the city to see if there is any cool places to visit, and find info on cute businesses I might want to shop at.

Susanville is super unique, we have a TON of small businesses but unless you are a local chances are passing through town you never knew those businesses existed. Ya'll do you know how many travelers we have especially in the summer months that are passing right on through our town who don't stop?

 

Have you ever been on a road trip where you just meander to your destination stopping at all the cool places along the way? Maybe even spontaneously staying at that cute bed and breakfast you saw on Instagram? 

 

There is a reason why businesses in Susanville seem to be dying. We aren't searchable. If you have Instagram go ahead and search #susanville. I'll wait.

Are you appalled? Because I am. My search shows mostly photos of strippers advertising to come to Reno for a good time, photos of CDCR inmates and photos of bags of cash and marijuana. This is a problem! Take a look at cities in our area's hashtag now. #chicoca brings up wedding photos, hiking trails, local businesses, and cool places to eat. Even #alturas bring up better photos of their small town and community. 

 

Ok, so how do we fix this?

Step up the Instagram game. Even if you don't own a business if you snap a cute photo at the coffee shop or take a selfie hiking in ranch park hashtag Susanville! Flood our local hashtags with positive photos. Leave yelp reviews on your favorite businesses yelp pages. If you are a business owner make a damn website. In today's society if you don't have a website you are not searchable and people will find you illegitimate. I don't want to go to a business that has no photos, no reviews, and no "get directions" or "call now' button. If I cannot search you online, on Facebook or on Instagram you don't even exist on my radar. 

 

Lets drop some statistics :

• 97% of consumers looked online for local businesses in 2017, with 12% looking for a local business online every day
• 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
• Positive reviews make 73% of consumers trust a local business more
• 49% of consumers need at least a four-star rating before they choose to use a business

Building a website has never been easier or cheaper. You can do it with no web design experience. If you already have a website have you updated it recently? If I visit a dead website it is almost worse than having no website. Do you have email marketing? Do you send out your specials to customersthat might be interested?

 

Facebook also has amazing business pages with the ability for customers to leave you positive reviews and IT'S FREE. Instagram is also free and is a beautiful portfolio of your business or product if you take high quality images. Ya'll this is free marketing. Business cards, pamphlets and flyers are dead. Everyone is online, if you don't have a presence then you're business is slowly dying.

I am really passionate about keeping Susanville businesses thriving. I want Susanville to be a cool place on the map that people want to visit.