Welcome back to Small Business Small Talk! In this episode, Dan, Sarah, and Ian dive into one of the most important topics for business owners: the customer journey.We break down what the customer journey really looks like (hint: it’s not a straight line), how many touchpoints it takes before a customer chooses your business, and why an integrated marketing strategy matters at every stage.From awareness and consideration to conversion, purchase, and loyalty, we explore the five stages of the funnel and how small business owners can create strategies that guide customers through each one. Whether you’re running a need-it-now service like plumbing or building long-term trust for bigger projects like remodeling, this conversation is full of insights to help you better connect with customers and grow your business.We also cover:✔️ Why reviews are the “new word of mouth”✔️ How branding consistency builds trust✔️ The importance of touchpoints in today’s digital marketing✔️ Ways to measure and improve your funnel performanceIf you’re serious about strengthening your marketing and making sure your business shows up when it matters most, this episode is for you.🔗 Learn more about digital marketing solutions at hibu.comDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more practical tips to help your small business succeed!#customerjourney #smallbusinessmarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy

➜ Listen to Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu on all your favorite podcast listening platforms as well as on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W15SWiSoVaw&list=PLfrGu6aZ9uNyopCcBjKS68Sp_OY7IpduPReady to take your local business to the next level? In this video, we break down three essential marketing mindsets to help you get found online, reach the right customers, and make smarter decisions with your digital marketing:Get Found Online✔ Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile✔ Boost your local SEO and listings accuracy✔ Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, updated, and consistent with your branding✔ Leverage customer reviews to build trustGet In Front of the Right Customers✔ Target your ideal audience with paid search, social, and display ads✔ Reach customers everywhere they spend time online✔ Use retargeting ads to stay top of mind and guide them back to your businessGet Into Your Numbers✔ Track your website traffic, leads, and ROI✔ Use data and AI insights to identify your best leads and optimize your campaigns✔ Access all your performance metrics 24/7 with the Hibu Dashboard________________________➜ Get a Free Digital Marketing Score for your Small Business: https://hibu.com/free-tools/online-performance-report➜ GET IN TOUCH:www.hibu.com877.237.6120➜ SOCIALS:https://www.facebook.com/hibuUShttps://www.twitter.com/hibuushttps://www.linkedin.com/company/hibuhttps://www.instagram.com/hibuusa/https://vimeo.com/hibuHibu is a leading provider of synchronized digital marketing for small businesses across America. With Hibu, you get all the digital marketing your business needs, all from a single provider, all working together to maximize results.#Hibu #marketingsuccess #DigitalMarketing #SmallBusinessMarketing #Hibu #LocalSEO

AI is everywhere – it’s on our phones, it’s in our cars, and it’s definitely having an affect on how customers find your business online. On this episode of Small Business Small Talk, hosts Ian Messinger and Lauren Schenk discuss the growing power of AI with Hibu's Chief Information Officer Ira Klein and Senior Project Manager Gretchen Ast. They talk through AI's evolution, including machine learning (supervised and unsupervised) and generative AI, and they delve into how Google's AI-generated answers (AIO) has already changed the search results page in a big way, and the importance of SEO, local rankings, and E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) for small businesses. They also discuss all the ways Hibu is using AI to help clients improve content quality, avoid time-wasting robo-calls, and streamline customer review generation. Hear why it’s important for your small business to adapt to AI's evolving role in search and customer engagement, and how Hibu can help you take the next step.

Hibu has enhanced its digital marketing solutions by adding advanced optimization to the client’s Google Business Profile (GBP) which will increase online visibility for Hibu’s small business clients.  RC Thompson, Hibu’s AVP of Digital Product Management, walks us through the reasons why GBP optimization is crucial for any digital marketing campaign, and how Hibu is optimizing clients’ profiles.With the rise of AI-generated content, having a complete and accurate GBP profile is increasingly important for small businesses to differentiate themselves from competitors. Hear how Hibu’s enhanced GBP optimization will help generate new leads and customer reviews for Hibu clients.For more information, see our official press release.

 Hibu News Update: Now, Hibu clients can get important notifications on their phones, tables, desktops and laptops – wherever they choose. Listen to this very quick update – about 90 seconds, give or take – as Nick Hopkins, Hibu’s VP Product, Strategy & Development, gives us an inside look at Hibu’s new Web Push Notifications. For more information, see our official press release.  

➜ Listen to Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu on all your favorite podcast listening platforms: https://smallbusinesssmalltalk.buzzsprout.com/Craig Plummer, Director of Traffic Product Development at Hibu, joins us on the podcast today to discuss how Amazon Ads can support service based small business.Starting in mid-2023, Hibu had the opportunity to partner with Amazon Ads to test Sponsored Display with a group of Hibu clients. Sponsored Display leverages Amazon Ads’ rich audience insights built from shopping and streaming signals, advanced AI, and machine learning technology to engage audiences across Amazon, Twitch and thousands of apps and websites.  Sponsored Display has long been used by businesses that sell on Amazon but recently expanded to include businesses not selling in the Amazon store – including many of the types of local businesses that Hibu specializes in helping, such as home services contractors, consumer services, automotive services, and travel and hospitality. ________________________➜ This episode: https://hibu.com/blog/marketing-solutions/how-hibu-fortified-one-client-s-digital-marketing-by-adding-amazon-ads-sponsored-displayHere at Hibu, we’re dedicated to helping small businesses across America succeed and grow. If you liked what you heard on this episode, make sure you subscribe and leave a review! As we discussed, sharing great reviews is key to succeeding online – even for a podcast. Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu gives you the insider expertise your local business needs to compete online. Small Business Small Talk brings you informative conversations with digital marketing experts who specialize in online marketing for small and medium-sized businesses.________________________➜ Get a Free Digital Marketing Score for your Small Business: https://hibu.com/free-tools/online-performance-report➜ GET IN TOUCH:www.hibu.com877.237.6120➜ SOCIALS:facebook.com/hibuUStwitter.com/hibuuslinkedin.com/company/hibuinstagram.com/hibuusa/vimeo.com/hibuHibu is a leading provider of synchronized digital marketing for small businesses across America. With Hibu, you get all the digital marketing your business needs, all from a single provider, all working together to maximize results.#Hibu #SmallBusinessSmallTalk #amazonads

We're talking SEO with Mike Quayle, Managing Director of Marketeering Group – everything from what SEO is to how it can make or break your local business. This quick episode is loaded with information that could dramatically increase your online visibility. 

Paul Altobelli, Hibu's Website Product Lead, walks us through an in-depth discussion about what your local business website needs to have today to drive in leads and keep you competitive online today. Paul talks about a recent study he did on HVAC websites across the country – what's working, what's missing, and what sets some sites apart from others when searching for local HVAC businesses. If you own a local business – whether it's HVAC, some other service provider, or anything else, you're sure to learn a lot of ways your website could deliver more customers.

Today we’re speaking with Dr. Jordan Job, DDS (@jordanjobdds) to discuss his journey as both a dentist and small business owner, marketing strategies that have worked for his dental practice, and the lessons he's learned along the way.Here at Hibu, we’re dedicated to helping small businesses across America succeed and grow. If you liked what you heard on this episode, make sure you subscribe and leave a review! As we discussed, sharing great reviews is key to succeeding online – even for a podcast. Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu gives you the insider expertise your local business needs to compete online. Small Business Small Talk brings you informative conversations with digital marketing experts who specialize in online marketing for small and medium-sized businesses. ➜ See how Hibu is making digital marketing easy for local businesses across the country: www.hibu.com ➜ Check out Dr. Jordan Job, DDS:https://www.jobddsdental.com/

Today we’re speaking with Tracy Brucks, owner of Style and Grace Salon & Day Spa in Champaign, Illinois. Tracy chats with us about her experience navigating the salon and spa business as a new salon owner. After she took over an existing salon business, she both rebranded her business and expanded digital marketing efforts. Listen in as we discuss:Buying an existing business, rebranding, and revisioningGoogle reviews in service-based businessesNavigating Covid in a salon businessHow to build trust and clear communication with your clientsHow to improve business by tracking leadsInvesting in marketing and advertisingNew updates coming to her business soon!Here at Hibu, we’re dedicated to helping small businesses across America succeed and grow. If you liked what you heard on this episode, make sure you subscribe and leave a review! As we discussed, sharing great reviews is key to succeeding online – even for a podcast. Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu gives you the insider expertise your local business needs to compete online. Small Business Small Talk brings you informative conversations with digital marketing experts who specialize in online marketing for small and medium-sized businesses. ➜ Listen to Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu on all your favorite podcast listening platforms➜ Style and Grace Salon & Day Spa:https://www.styleandgracecu.com/https://www.facebook.com/styleandgracesalondayspa/https://www.instagram.com/styleandgrace_salon/________________________Get a Free Digital Marketing Score for your Small Business:https://hibu.com/free-tools/online-performance-report