2022 Google Search Statistics from Worth Knowing for B2C Marketers

google home page on cell phone
One of the things we love most about our work at Green Apple is the variety of businesses and industries we support. Our clients range from a B2B construction company to a B2C early childhood center. While the overall marketing philosophies and approach are similar, the tactics we use for each client can often be very different. In this post, we wanted to highlight some of the most essential 2022 Google search statistics for clients who are marketing directly to consumers. 

7 Important 2022 Google Search Statistics for B2C Marketers

Here are seven of the most interesting and insightful statistics for marketers and brands in the B2C space: 
  1. Almost half of all product searches begin on Google. (Source) 
Just like many other searches, 46% of consumers start with Google when looking for a particular product or service. Knowing where product searches start can help marketers understand the potential impact throughout the different stages of a customer’s buyer journey. 
  1. Nearly 35% of people will click on the first result of a search. (Source)
You need to rank first on important keywords for your business because that statistic drops dramatically after the #1 position. 
  1. 63% of Google’s US organic search traffic originates from mobile devices (Source) 

Mobile devices have now become the dominant search method for consumers. This is a  number that continues to increase year after year. Therefore, optimizing your pages for mobile ranking and usability is crucial to your business’s success.
  1. Paid search ads can boost brand awareness by 80%. (Source) 
If you want to improve your visibility, PPC links allow you to “buy” your way into the search results. The more people see your brand, the more likely they’ll interact with it. 
  1. 90% of users are likely to click on a page that lands on the first search engine results page. (Source).
If you can’t make the #1 search result, you should still try to get on the first page of Google search results. Based on survey results, it’s evident that people trust the first page of Google to help them find what they’re looking for. 
  1. Four times as many people are likely to click on a paid search ad on Google (63%) than on any other search engine, including — Amazon (15%), YouTube (9%), and Bing (6%). (Source)
The reality is that PPC advertising on Google is more effective than on any other platform. Investing in Google search advertising is still one of the best ways to reach customers who are looking for your product or service. 
  1. 23.6% of U.S. e-commerce orders originate from organic search (Source)
Having an intentional SEO strategy is essential for B2C businesses, especially for those in the eCommerce space. The last thing you want is for a competitor to swoop in and steal potential business because they ranked higher than you on important keywords and keyword phrases.  As a full-service marketing agency, we’re constantly looking for ways to help our clients use every tactic at their disposal to grow their business. Our SEO Silo™ service was specifically created to help local companies boost their brand visibility and improve their online presence through SEO marketing. If you’re looking for ways to maximize your SEO efforts or improve your ranking on Google, our team has the experience and tools to help.

How to Turn Customer Reviews into Solid Marketing Content

african american woman typing
If you have raving fans, it’s great to let potential leads know it! Customers take online reviews seriously, and the role it plays in consumer decisions continues to increase. Research from BrightLocal shows just how seriously potential customers take online reviews. 84% percent of buyers give online reviews the same weight in decision making as personal referrals.  Online reviews are now starting to eclipse referral-based business. as Northwestern University finds that consumers are 270% more likely to buy a product or service with 5 positive reviews than a product or service with no reviews. That’s hugely significant! In order to harness the power of these reviews, use them in your marketing efforts to increase consumer trust and boost sales.

Use Customer Reviews To Enhance Your Website SEO

There are a few ways to do this. The first is simply to embed the code for Google Reviews in your website so that Google Reviews. This is a good option if the majority of your reviews are positive. Google’s search engine algorithm will recognize the embedded rating system and is likely to rank your site more highly as a result. 

The second way to utilize customer reviews is to include them on your website, either by using parts of the review text directly or by including graphics of the positive reviews on your site. (Don’t forget to change the alt text on these images so that they’re search-engine friendly) Google and Yelp hold a high trust cache with consumers, and citing positive reviews can help your brand leverage that trust. 

Use Customer Reviews on Social Media

You may also have the advantage of. Keep an eye on videos or posts that tag your brand. If you have a social media manager, have them proactively research any posts where your product or service is tagged. They can use tools like BuzzSumo or Mention to help with this. If they come across a positive review, have your team DM the content creator to ask if the review can be used  in marketing materials.  Some reviewers are happy to offer their thoughts gratis, while others work as part or full-time product influencers. Both types of social media reviews can be helpful to weave into your marketing strategy. Screenshots and re-posts of positive reviews can build brand awareness on multiple platforms.  

Let Negative Reviews Spur Institutional Changes

Online reviews through Yelp and Google provide business owners with what they say they want most: anonymous feedback close to the point of sale. But business owners are also human, and harsh or negative reviews can leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth. After you take some time to feel frustrated, see if you can find the kernel of truth in their words. The frustration may be about an inefficient process, an unhelpful team member, or a product flaw.  Rather than stew in frustration, take specific actions to address the issue. However, don’t revamp your entire process over one negative review. Reflect and ask your employees if they’ve also seen evidence of what the review mentions. If it comes up several times, it may be time to analyze and address a potential pain point. 

Be Proactive about Interacting With Reviews

If you don’t have a Google My Business account or haven’t updated the account you have, you could be missing out on major opportunities to shape how your brand is perceived. One of these ways is by interacting with online reviews. Brands that interact with customers on Google cultivate a reputation for being proactive and conscientious. Plus, interacting with reviews often can allow you to pinpoint and identify possible customer needs or frustrations before they go viral.  In the world of online reviews, negative feedback begets negative feedback. It shouldn’t go unaddressed, or you may see more of it. Instead, if you see a review that’s unfair or lacking context, you can provide that in your response to an online review. You can also offer to make it right, which goes a long way in securing customer loyalty. It says to potential buyers, “Even if we make a mistake, we will correct our error.”

Need Help Utilizing Your Positive Reviews?

Our strategic, full-service marketing team can help you plan and deploy an innovative marketing approach to court customers and build brand loyalty. Contact Green Apple Strategy today to schedule a consultation. Our team is happy to sit down with you to discuss your marketing goals and how we can help you achieve each and every one of them.

Your Guide to a Healthcare Public Relations Strategy

emergency-room-sign-at-hospital
Are you in the healthcare field? Do you want to find your target audience and show them how you can help improve their well-being? Well, a public relations strategy just might be the key. Your audience can find you online, but we should never assume that they will. Even with excellent SEO, you might miss out on reaching that one person who is in dire need of your services without a solid PR strategy. If your marketing strategy is missing PR, we’re here to help. To get you started, here are a few considerations as you build a robust healthcare PR strategy.

1. Identify Newsworthy Content

Information is changing rapidly in the healthcare industry. Topics of conversation can sometimes change before you even have time to put out a story. That’s why you must stay on top of what is relevant and timely—because that’s what your audience needs to hear. Preferably, you would be the first to give them this information, allowing them to view you as a leader.  Your PR team should always look for the most relevant information to share that will add value to your audience’s lives. Try to identify newsworthy and engaging content that people outside your organization either want or need to know.  Make sure that all content fits the following criteria:
  • Timely
  • Relevant
  • Well-researched
  • Easy to understand

2. Build Relationships with the Local Media

Networking is a powerful tool in any type of business, and the media is no exception. Your relationship with local reporters, journalists, and media outlets can skyrocket the effectiveness of your overall PR strategy. When local media professionals know you on a first-name basis and understand the value you bring to the table, they are more likely to reach out to you with questions or to work with you on stories for their outlet. 

3. Become a Subject Matter Expert

You have experience and knowledge in your healthcare specialty that others will find helpful, but you have to find a way to share it outside of your office. One way to do this is to become a subject matter expert (SME) for different channels, such as local media, social platforms, and podcasts. Once you focus on becoming a thought leader in your industry and sharing what you know with those around you, your audience will begin to look to you as their go-to resource for information on that subject. Reach out to those in the media, letting them know what you specialize in and that you are flexible and available when they have questions.

4. Submit to HARO Requests

If you want to hit the ground running and offer advice now, you can subscribe to receive HARO emails. Each email will be a list of requests from media outlets asking for firsthand experience or thoughtful insight into particular subjects. Review the emails to see if there is an opportunity that you could contribute to and take the time to write to the journalists—submissions are usually fairly quick. When a journalist chooses your insight to feature, they will also cite you as the source and link your business, providing you with valuable backlinks that increase your SEO success. 

5. Consider the Channels You Will Use

Your healthcare content is only successful if you reach the intended audience. You want them to take action or learn something from your information, right? So, it’s important to consider where your target audience will be most likely to find your content.  A few options are:
  • Online and print healthcare publications
  • Your website
  • Social media
  • Local or national news
  • Billboards or other public displays
PR doesn’t have to be intimidating with the right strategy. With these five tips, we hope that your team will feel confident to move forward with a PR plan that boosts the image of your healthcare organization. 

Design a Results-Driven PR Strategy with Green Apple

Could your healthcare office become a leader in your field? We think so. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our team is happy to discuss your goals and how we can help you achieve each and every one of them with PR and comprehensive marketing.