SHELBY – When it comes to searching the web for information, you are statistically more likely to get struck by lightning than click on a link in the second search results page of Google.
That’s why the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce and Google have teamed up to help local businesses get online and benefit the most from Google’s search engine. The “Get Your Business Online” campaign from Google first launched in 2011, and the city of Shelby was the Chamber’s first stop in the localized campaign on Thursday morning.
“We want to get Shelby and Richland County on the map,” said Jodie Perry, president of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to get businesses to claim their listing on Google.”
According to Google, only 37 percent of businesses have claimed a local business listing on a search engine. With four out of five people using search engines to find information, that equals a lot of missed opportunities for local businesses.
“If you were to Google your business name today, you’re going to see a listing that pops up,” Perry explained. “With search engine optimization, in order to keep your business coming up in the top of the search results, you need to pay attention to things like this.”
Perry explained all business owners have a free listing on Google that includes information such as their business address, phone number and hours of operation. However, not all businesses have “claimed” their listing, leading to potentially wrong information being on the internet.
“Funny story, when I started at the Chamber we Googled our business and the little box popped up, but it had the wrong number,” Perry said. “It was an emergency number for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. I have no idea how that got connected.”
Google started reaching out to chambers and chamber-like organizations about two years ago, with the goal of trying to reach all businesses in America. So far, more than 327,000 businesses have gotten online.
“Their goal is to get literally every business listed on Google,” Perry said.
Shelby Mayor Steve Schag stated the city was thrilled to be the starting point for the local “Get Your Business Online” effort, noting many businesses within the city could benefit from such a service.
“I know we have several business partners that have a presence on the internet, but there are always ways of improving that,” Schag said. “For instance, I looked up a downtown business and the picture doesn’t match the entity. There are ways of improving those things.”
More than 20 representatives from Shelby businesses were present during Thursday’s workshop. In an effort to forge better connections between such local businesses and the city of Shelby, the workshop also included presentations from Project Coordinator Joe Gies, Deputy Director of Public Service John Ensman, Director of Environmental Health Andrea Barnes, Fire Chief Mike Thompson and Police Chief Lance Combs.
Each city representative spoke of the current initiatives going on in their respective departments, as well as future plans that fit with the city’s mission to cultivate and support a business-friendly environment that benefits both companies and consumers.
“We have an atmosphere that I think is conducive to getting things done in a community of our size,” Schag said. “We are a full-service community with a lot of good things we can be very thankful for.”
Perry noted that more Google workshops have already been planned for the future, both in larger cities like Mansfield and Ontario as well as smaller villages like Bellville. Thursday’s meeting was the first of its kind in Richland County, and essential to the county’s future.
“We speak of vibrant communities, but we cannot have vibrant communities without strong local economies, and we cannot have strong local economies without valued businesses,” Schag said. “We appreciate all the connections here this morning, and those wonderful partnerships.”
For more information about getting your business online, contact the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce or visit the “Lets Put Our Cities on the Map” website.
