The DSRPT Cheat Sheet for any Business

This is going to be a long read, but it’s a cheat sheet so it’s definitely worth the time. This cheat sheet is what many years of studying businesses and curating the way for any business to succeed if it’s done right. We believe in it so much that we carry this cheat sheet with us to every meeting we go to as this is the “Root to Fruit” way for you to ensure stability.

Of course, it all starts with Google.

This is the foundation of your online presence. Google My Business (GMB) is a crucial tool for businesses looking to enhance their visibility locally, so claiming and managing your profile ensures that you business appears in Google Maps and local search results, providing essential details such as business hours, location and contact information.

Did you claim and start managing your GMB? Great! Are you done yet? Definitely not. The next critical step is verification and syncing your Name, Address, Phone Number (NAP) details. Google prioritizes businesses with verified information and discrepancies in your NAP across different platforms can confuse potential customer and hurt your SEO. Ensure that your business details are consistent across your website, GMB and all online directories for maximum visibility.

Once verified, the next step is to optimize your profile. Adding relevant business categories, high-quality images, services and updating your business description with keywords can significantly improve your chances of showing up in results. Optimization is not a one-time task though, but it’s an ongoing process of refining your profile to align with user search behavior and Google’s algorithm updates.

The power of customer feedback cannot be understated. Positive reviews are a major ranking factor and influences customer decisions. Managing your GMB reviews helps build trust with potential customers and shows Google that your business is reliable and relevant. Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews and ensuring that those reviews are replied to (whether they’re positive or negative) creates a dynamic of trust. Review management should be an integral part of this strategy, also known as reputation management strategy.

Google Business View is a 360 degree virtual tour that allows customers to explore your business from the comfort of their own devices. This experience boosts customer confidence as they can visually see your space ahead of planning their visit. Businesses with virtual tours tend to attract more views and drive higher engagement while also helping you with the clicks that assist in ranking you on Page 1 of Google.

Your website is the digital storefront for your business and the backbone of your online presence. A well-designed responsive website that reflects your brand identity and provides valuable content enhances your presence and user experience to help drive conversions. Optimizing your website for mobile devices is particularly crucial as well since more customers use smartphones to browse and make decisions.

Incorporating commercial videos into your website and GMB also helps increase engagement and allows you to showcase your product and services in a dynamic way. Videos capture attention faster than text, helping you communicate your message more effectively and boost your SEO ranking as well.

A strong social media presence is crucial and helps you engage with customers where they are and where they’re constantly looking. It is also a great place to showcase your products, drive traffic to your website and give a glimpse of what your company is all about. Sharing your updates across the social media platforms builds a community around your business and this also includes having them posted on your GMB to have people who find you know more about you and what you stand for.

All the efforts in building your online presence, whether it’s through GMB, your website or your social media, must be aligned with a well thought out Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. SEO helps in increasing your ranking on Google and ensures that when potential customers search for services or products that you offer, your business is among the first that show up! SEO involves a lot of work whether its on-page SEO or off-page as well.

While SEO is essential for organic growth, Google Ads allows you to reach customers instantly by placing your business at the top of search results for relevant keywords. Google Ads campaigns offer targeting flexibility, allowing you to reach specific audiences based on location, demographics and behavior. A well-structured Google Ads campaign complements your SEO efforts by driving immediate traffic to your website.

Most people in modern days are mobile-first. Having a dedicated mobile application can set your business apart by providing a more streamlined and personalized user experience. Whether for e-commerce, customer service or loyalty programs, mobile applications offer a direct communication channel and encourage repeat business through push notifications and convenient access to your products or services.

Implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system helps you manage customer interactions, track sales and streamline operations. These tools centralize your data, enabling your team to provide better service and more importantly, make data-driven decisions. In short, a CRM improves customer satisfaction and loyalty, while an ERP ensures that internal processes run smoothly and efficiently.

As technology evolves, companies are embracing Digital Signage and VR/AR to create immersive customer experiences. Digital signage provides dynamic displays for promotions, while VR/AR applications allow customers to engage with products in innovative ways. These technologies are becoming essential tools for businesses in retail, real estate and even tourism by enhancing customer engagement and setting you apart from competitors.

The online business journey is not an easy one and differs from one company to another. Having said that, we believe that this roadmap is not only the best way to start and continue your journey, but it’s also tried and tested by many businesses in various industries.

Need a helping hand? We’re more than happy to consult and even help through each step of it. Reach out here and let’s have a cup of coffee together!