What makes a good small business website: 2023

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

Today we’re speaking with Dr. Robert J. Moore, owner of Moore Foot & Ankle Specialists in Houston Texas. Dr. Moore spoke with us at length about what he sees are the keys to using digital marketing to grow a medical practice – what has worked for him and what he’s seen in the online medical community, including: ●      How to find quality leads and reach the right audience●      Lead generation strategies●      Streamlining your marketing workflow and having everything under one roof●      The value of Google reviews and how to get clients to leave them●      What makes an effective medical website and how he utilizes landing pages●      How getting specific on his niche specialty helped him with his marketing●      The effects of Covid and telemedicine on his practice●      Incorporating SEO, pay per click, social media, and more.  Here at Hibu, we’re dedicated to helping small businesses across America succeed and grow. If you liked what you heard in 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: [link]➜ Check out Dr. Robert J. Moore and his practice here:https://mfaspecialists.com/ __________________________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/hibu Hibu 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 #HealthcareProfessionals 

Lucas Underwood, owner of L&N Performance Auto Repair and co-host of The Auto Shop Owners Group (ASOG) Podcast, joins us to take a close at digital marketing for auto professionals. Lucas talks to us, in detail, about what's working for his shop, what he sees and hears from fellow shop owners, and where he thinks a lot of auto shop owners are going off track.