Online Marketing Basics - Accel Entertainment · Online Marketing Basics How to list your business on Yelp, Google My Business, and Facebook Business ... A postcard will be sent your

Every business is different when it comes to the

best ways to promote online. Some businesses

are best suited for a robust website that boasts complex

features like long product videos, in-depth navigation

options and e-commerce capabilities. Some businesses,

however, just need to cover the basics and make sure their

contact information is showing up online.

We’ve found that for promoting businesses in our market,

there are three digital platforms that provide the most

bang for your buck (well, for zero bucks actually - since

they’re all free). Whether you’re just getting started as a

business or just getting started with digital marketing, we

recommend:

• Securing your ‘Google My Business’ listing,

• Claiming your business on Yelp, and

• Creating a Facebook Business page.

The following includes instructions for setting up your listing on each platform as well as a brief list of best practices.

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Online Marketing BasicsHow to list your business on Yelp, Google

My Business, and Facebook Business

Could you use a digital marketing tune up?

Try this exercise!Google your business name and see what comes up. Put yourself in your patron’s shoes – would they know enough from Google results in order to visit your establishment? If not, listing your business on one or all of these digital platforms could benefit you greatly!

Create your business listings by following these simple steps.

This guide is mobile friendly! All of the following can be done on your smartphone.

Google My Business

Difficulty Level

Super Easy!

It’s possible your business already exists on Google – if that is the case, it will pop up in search results when you enter your business info and

you’ll be able to claim your business.

Note: Google does have a support line for businesses in case you get stuck: (844) 491-9665.

1. Google “Google My Business” and select the first listing, or navigate to www.google.com/business/.

2. Click ‘Manage Now’.

3. Sign into your Gmail Account – if you don’t have a Gmail Account, simply create one.

4. Type the name of your business and select yours that should be listed in the dropdown box.

5. Enter the name of your business, and hit ‘Next’.

6. Enter a category for your business. This is intended to help you attract customers who are searching for businesses like yours in your area. You will be selecting a category from a set list. Unfortunately, at this time, there doesn’t appear to be a great option for video gaming locations beyond ‘Gambling House’ or ‘Casino’. It may be best, therefore to use ‘Bar’, ‘Restaurant’, ‘ Gas Station’, or any other category that describes your location most accurately.

7. Select ‘Yes’ to add a location customers can visit

8. Enter your location’s address, the hit ‘Next’.

9. Select either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the question “Do you also serve customers outside this location?” if you provide delivery services then we recommend you selecting ‘Yes’, then hit ‘Next’.

10. You can also add additional areas you serve allowing you to select nearby towns, however this section is optional, hit ‘Next’.

11. Enter the phone number and URL to your businesses website if you have one. These are both optional, but we highly recommend adding both if you have them! Then, hit ‘Next’.

12. Finally, you’ll need to confirm you’re authorized to manage the business listing. You should see a list of green check marks. Hit the button that says, ‘Finish’.

13. You will need to verify your Google listing by mail. Enter a contact name and hit ‘Mail’. A postcard will be sent your location with a code and instructions for logging in and using your code to verify your listing.

Get your free business listing on Google My Business to start building visibility in Google Maps and Google Search in your local community.

Google my Business Tips

There is a lot you can do for free on Google that will benefit your business. While this can be very helpful, it can also be overwhelming for a new user! Stick to the basics as you’re getting started, focusing on easy wins.

Once you’ve finished claiming and verifying your business page, we recommend the following:

• Log in to your dashboard by completing step one and clicking ‘Sign In’.

• Manage Photos From your dashboard, click ‘Manage Photos’ to edit and upload photos that appear for in your business listing. Add photos of the exterior and interior of your business as well as your drinks, food, gaming area and anything else that flatters your business.

• Info Click on ‘Info’ in the left column to edit your business information. We recommend adding as much information as possible, especially: - Your address - Your business hours - Your phone number (this allows people to click to call right from their Google search result) - A link to your website, if you have one - Your business description

• Look out for emails from Google that include helpful analytics related to your business listing. You can also find insights by clicking ‘Insights’ on the left hand menu. You’ll be able to see who’s searching for your business, who’s calling you and more!

We’ve only scratched the surface on Google business tools! There is so much more you can do if you invest the time in learning how to use Google’s tools. Don’t be afraid to click around and get to know the platform if you want more!

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Yelp for Business Owners

The best way to manage your business on Yelp is by claiming your Yelp Business Page and creating a business login. It’s a great, free way to engage the Yelp community.

It’s possible your business already exists on Yelp and is getting reviews. If that’s the case, you’ll be

claiming your business instead of creating the listing.

Yelp does provide a chat tool on their website for help, as well as a help line. Call them if you get stuck: (877) 767-9357.

1. Google ‘Yelp for Business’ and select the first listing, or navigate to biz.yelp.com.

2. Click, ‘Manage My Free Listing’.

3. Enter the zip code and business name of your location. A dropdown will appear with all locations that match the criteria that you’ve entered. See if you can find yours already in the list. If you do, select that location. If you don’t skip to step number

a. Once you claim the business listing, you’ll have to verify that you own it. Then you can start editing!

3. If you don’t see your business in the dropdown menu, click ‘My Business isn’t here – Add Now’.

a. On the following page, you’ll see the title ‘Add Your Business Details’ followed by a form. Enter all information that you can!

b. Click ‘Add Business’.

Yelp Tips

The thought of managing a business on Yelp may produce some fear-of- customer-reviews anxiety. Here’s the thing – whether you do or don’t manage your business on Yelp, those reviews are going to be posted online. So, take a deep breath, think positive, and claim that listing! Here are some tips once you do:

• Log in to your business dashboard by following step 1 then clicking ‘log in’ in the upper right.

• Business Information In the left column, click on ‘Business Information’ to edit your public business information. Add as much information as possible, especially the following:

- Your address - Your phone number - Categories and services – ensures people can more easily discover your business - Featured photos – add external and internal images in addition to photos of your food, drinks and gaming room - Add your hours

• Activity Click ‘Activity’ in the left column to view how many people have viewed your listing, used your listing to access directions to your establishment, and more!

• Reviews Click ‘Reviews’ in the left column to view recent reviews from your customers and respond to them. REMEMBER your responses are public.

There’s so much more you can do with Yelp, as you likely saw as you worked through our tips. You can place ads, calls to action and deals on your page in just a few clicks. It just takes investing some time to familiarize yourself with the platform in order to become an expert.

Difficulty Level

Super Easy!

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Facebook Business Page

Difficulty Level

* More Difficult!

In order to create a Facebook Business page you will have to create a personal profile first. You’ll need to log into

your personal profile in order to manage your business page. If you’re creating a personal profile in order to create your business page, just remember that you don’t have to maintain your personal profile! You can even use a shortened version of your real name or a nickname if you don’t want others to find you.

Note: We do not recommend using a personal profile page to promote your business. If this is what you already have set up and it’s working for you – go with it! However, going through the steps to create a page devoted to your business will create a clear space to promote your business, provide you with the possibility for better search results, and give you better options for promotions including reaching a bigger audience through advertising.

1. Google ‘Facebook for Business’ and select the third listing, or navigate to www.facebook.com/business

2. In the top right corner, click the ‘Create an Ad’ dropdown and select, ‘Create a Page’.

3. In the ‘Page Name Box’, add the name of your business.

4. In the ‘Category Box’, similar to Google, you’ll be selecting from a set list. Use your best judgement to find a category that best describes you.

5. In the ‘Description Box’, add a description about your business. We recommend adding information about the services that you provide.

6. Once complete, click ‘Create Page’.

Give your brand, business or cause a voice on Facebook and connect with the people who matter to you.

Tips for a Facebook Business Page

There is a lot you can do with Facebook. If you’ve ever used Facebook yourself or sat near a friend or family member while they use Facebook, you know how powerful a tool it can be. It’s a place where people spend

their leisure time and look to discover establishments just like yours!

To get started, however, it is still beneficial to create a page even if you keep your profile simple. Think of it as another basic business listing that provides potential patrons with information about your business, including:

• Information about your business Click ‘about’ on the left once you have your page set up. Click ‘Edit Page Info’, the small link in blue, to add the following: - Categories that match what your business provides - Your phone number - Your website, if you have one - Your address - Your hours

• Profile Image This can be as easy as taking a photo of the outside of your establishment, maybe try and include a sign that says your establishment’s name on it.

• Header Image What do you want to promote most? Your food, your gaming area, your bar? Take a picture of it and upload it here!

When you’re ready to do more, don’t be afraid to click around and start exploring! Once you get comfortable enough, you could update your page with what’s going on in your establishment every day, or even multiple times a day. This is a great place to post about your menu items, big wins on your machines, drink specials, or events. But, take it one step at a time and celebrate getting your basic information added to your page.

* The requirement of having a personal profile makes this option slightly more complex than ...the previous two, but it may be the easiest option if you already have a personal profile.

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Congratulations!

Whether you set up one digital platform, or all three, it’s time to celebrate!

Managing your business’ digital

marketing is a great, mostly free way

to promote your business. It does take the

most valuable resource of all though, which

is your time. You’ll see the results of your hard

work soon, as the analytics or insights provided by

each platform show you who is searching for and

interacting with your business.

Need more help?Contact us at: (630) 387-6330

[email protected]