But here’s the thing—AI tools are designed to make your life easier, not more complicated. From automating customer service to simplifying your marketing strategy, AI is all about working smarter, not harder. 

So if you’ve been on the fence about incorporating AI into your business, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s explore the concept of AI and how these tools might be just the thing you need.

What Is AI for Small Businesses?

Before we dive in, let’s start with the basics. AI refers to the use of computers and software to simulate human intelligence. This can include anything from answering customer inquiries via web chat to analyzing mind-numbingly large sets of data to uncover patterns and trends.

However, there are a few misconceptions surrounding AI. AI isn’t going to replace your team or turn your business into a tech hub. Instead, it’s an affordable tool that can help with tasks like:

• Customer support: Local AI chatbots or virtual assistants that answer customer inquiries 24/7.
• Marketing: Automating your email campaigns, lead scoring, or content generation.
• Data analysis: Gathering insights from customer behavior and trends to make better business decisions.

The Benefits of AI for Small Businesses

Here’s where AI really shines for small businesses—it helps you do more with less! Let’s break down the key benefits:

Enhanced Customer Service

We’ve all been there—juggling a million tasks, and customer emails are piling up. AI tools like Broadly’s Web Chat take some of that pressure off by providing instant, round-the-clock responses. This way, your customers get the help they need, while you and your team focus on more critical tasks.

Picture this: Instead of manually answering the same frequently asked questions (FAQs), your chatbot can handle it while you manage more complex customer requests. It’s like having an extra employee who never clocks out, how sweet is that?

Cost Savings

AI can also cut costs by automating those tedious, repetitive tasks that eat up your time. Whether it’s scheduling, data entry, or customer support, AI can handle it faster and more efficiently. That frees up your resources—both time and money—to invest in the areas that matter most to your business, like growth and innovation.

For example, you might be spending hours manually scheduling appointments or updating spreadsheets. With AI, those tasks are automated, so you and your talent can focus on strategic improvements that will benefit your business in the long run.

Data-Driven Decision Making

If you’re making business decisions based on gut feelings rather than hard data, AI can fix that. AI tools can analyze data to uncover patterns and trends that you might not even be aware of, helping you make smarter decisions. 

Whether it’s improving your marketing strategy or figuring out what products your customers really want, AI gives you the insights you need to stay competitive.

Pro Tip: Start small with automation. If you’re new to AI and automation, the best approach is to start small and build up gradually. Begin by automating basic marketing tasks like sending follow-up emails, scheduling social media posts, or managing customer reviews. Not sure where to start? Check out this comprehensive guide on marketing automation for small businesses to see how automation can fit into your current processes.

Types of AI Tools for Small Businesses

So now that you know how AI can help, let’s look at the different types of tools available. These are tailored to specific parts of your business, from customer service to marketing and beyond.

Customer Service and Engagement

Think chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI-powered customer engagement tools. Tidio is a great example, offering live chat that enhances customer support, even when you’re not available.

Marketing and Sales Automation

From email marketing to lead scoring, AI tools like Zoho CRM or Hootsuite can automate your outreach efforts, track customer interactions, and segment leads to help you target the right audience at the right time.

Operations and Workflow Automation

AI tools can simplify day-to-day tasks like scheduling, managing inventory, or automating your workflows. Notion AI takes this a step further by integrating content generation and task management into a seamless process.

Data Analysis and Insights

For those who need help analyzing data, tools like PaveAI convert Google Analytics into actionable insights, so you’re not left guessing about your next business move.

Pro Tip: Automate repetitive tasks to free up time. One of the greatest advantages of AI tools is the ability to automate repetitive tasks, giving you more time to focus on high-value activities like strategy and customer engagement. By automating things like appointment scheduling, customer follow-ups, and even social media posts, you can streamline your operations without sacrificing quality. Learn more about how automation can transform your small business in our guide to give you the efficiency boost you need.

Top 10 AI Tools for Small Businesses

To give you a clear picture of how AI can support your business, here are some top tools to consider:

1. Broadly

Use Case: Lead Generation, Reputation Management, Customer Engagement
Description: Designed with small businesses in mind, Broadly’s AI-powered platform helps you connect with your customers, manage reviews, and improve engagement. Whether you’re looking to increase leads or deliver 5-star customer experiences, Broadly’s AI tools are built to streamline your processes and help you stay ahead of the competition.

2. ChatGPT

Use Case: Customer Support, Content Creation, Marketing
Description: This AI-powered chatbot can handle customer inquiries and help generate blog posts, social media content, and even responses to emails. It’s like having a content generation machine and a customer service rep rolled into one.

3. Hootsuite

Use Case: Social Media Management, Analytics
Description: Hootsuite uses AI to analyze your social media performance and suggest the best times to post. Small businesses can use these insights to optimize their digital marketing strategy without spending hours sifting through data.

4. Zoho CRM

Use Case: Customer Relationship Management
Description: Zoho’s AI assistant, Zia, automates workflows and predicts customer behavior, helping you manage leads, forecast sales, and improve customer interactions.

5. Grammarly

Use Case: Writing Assistance
Description: This AI tool ensures your writing is polished, professional, and error-free—whether it’s an email, a blog post, or marketing copy. It’s like having a personal editor for everything you write—plus it’s free!

6. Jasper (formerly Jarvis)

Use Case: Copywriting, Content Creation
Description: If you’re a small business with big content needs, Jasper helps generate high-quality content, from blog posts to ad copy, at lightning speed.

7. Notion AI

Use Case: Productivity, Content Creation, Task Management
Description: Notion AI takes the best features of Notion and supercharges them with AI. From task automation to content creation, it’s designed to streamline your operations and help your team stay organized.

8. PaveAI

Use Case: Analytics and Reporting
Description: PaveAI converts Google Analytics data into actionable insights, helping small businesses understand their website traffic and conversion rates without the need for a data science degree.

9. Tidio

Use Case: Customer Support and Live Chat
Description: Tidio offers AI-powered live chat that automates customer service and engagement. It’s perfect for businesses that want to offer real-time support without stretching their resources.

10. Canva

Use Case: Design and Marketing
Description: Canva’s AI-powered design tools help you create stunning marketing materials, even if you’re not a designer. From social media graphics to business cards, Canva makes it easy to create professional-looking content quickly and affordably. 

Pro Tip: Leverage AI-powered marketing tools. From customer segmentation to personalized email campaigns, AI-powered marketing tools can help small businesses deliver more targeted, effective marketing strategies. By using tools that analyze customer behavior and automate follow-ups, you can create even more personalized experiences for your audience. To dive deeper into the best marketing tools available, check out this article on marketing tools for small businesses, and see how you can improve your customer engagement through AI.

How to Choose the Right AI Tools for Your Small Business

Feeling overwhelmed by all the options available? Don’t worry, here are a few tips to help you pick the right AI tools for your business:

Identify Your Business Needs

Start by figuring out where AI can make the most impact. Do you need help with customer service, marketing, or perhaps daily operations? Focus on the areas where you’re feeling the most stretched and build from there.

Evaluate Features and Integration

Make sure the AI tool integrates smoothly with your current systems, so make sure to read the fine print. Remember, you don’t want to spend more time fixing problems than solving them!

Consider Costs and ROI

AI tools can be an investment, so grab a calculator and weigh the cost against the potential return. Will it save you enough time or money to justify the expense? This is what you need to determine.

Broadly: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Adopting AI tools for small businesses isn’t just about keeping up with the latest trends—it’s about unlocking new levels of efficiency, boosting customer engagement, and driving real growth for your business. From streamlining operations to automating your marketing, AI helps you do more with less, freeing up your time to focus on what really matters—scaling your business and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

For small business owners, now’s the time to explore the possibilities of AI. After all, the tools out there are designed to make your life easier, not harder. Whether you’re looking to improve customer support, enhance your marketing efforts, or make data-driven decisions, there’s an AI solution that fits your needs.

If you’re ready to see the impact AI can have on your business, why not start with Broadly? As a comprehensive platform, Broadly uses AI to help you manage leads, engage with customers, and boost your reputation—all in one easy-to-use tool. It’s the perfect solution to give your business the edge it needs to thrive. Schedule your demo with one of our experts today!

The post Top AI Tools for Small Business appeared first on Broadly.

In this blog, we’ll give you the down-low on what marketing automation is, why it works, and how you can leverage it today to speed things up tomorrow. If this sounds like music to your ears, keep reading.

What is Marketing Automation?

Think of marketing automation as a trusty sidekick—handling the boring and time-consuming tasks that eat up your day so you can focus on the bigger picture. In essence, it’s software that automates marketing activities so your life can be a bit less hectic. 

Marketing automation for small businesses can look like a lot of things, like: 

• Personalized email campaigns
• Scheduling social media posts
• Lead nurturing

And that’s just a start!

Here’s how it works: You set up triggers—like a customer subscribing to your newsletter—and tell the program to perform a desired action based on that trigger. The automation software takes it from there. 

It could send a welcome email, schedule a follow-up, and even score the lead based on their engagement. All this happens behind the scenes while you’re focused on running your business.

Let’s put things into perspective. Let’s pretend you own a small bakery. Sales have been down this month, so you use marketing automation to connect the dots between a customer’s birthday and the calendar date to automatically send a “Happy Birthday” email to your customers born this month with a special discount code. This can encourage them to visit your store—and you don’t even have to remember their birthday!

A study conducted by Forbes found that businesses use AI for a lot of things, including: 

• 35% for content production.
• 56% for customer service.
• 46% for Customer relationship management (CRM).
• 33% for product recommendations.
• 24% for audience segmentation.

And that is just a fraction of the interesting stats we found. However, it’s clear this isn’t just a trend—it’s quickly becoming an essential component for businesses of all sizes to stay competitive out there.

Obviously, if businesses weren’t seeing a benefit from marketing automation, they wouldn’t be using it, right? In the next section, we will outline the perks of marketing automation, and why you should care about it.

Benefits of Marketing Automation for Small Businesses

Let’s dive deeper into why marketing automation for small businesses is something you should have on your radar.

1. Time and Resource Savings

Time is money, especially for small businesses. Marketing automation lets you reclaim your time by taking over repetitive tasks. No more manually sending out emails or posting on social media at the crack of dawn. Instead, automation handles these tasks, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—growing your business.

Example: Imagine you run a local coffee shop. Every time someone signs up for your loyalty program, they automatically receive a series of welcome emails, introducing them to your brand, highlighting your best-selling products, and offering a discount on their next purchase. You set it up once, and it runs on autopilot, engaging customers while you brew that perfect cup of coffee.

2. Improved Lead Quality and Nurturing

Nurturing leads can be a delicate dance, but marketing automation ensures you never miss a step. By delivering the right content at the right time, you guide potential customers through their journey, increasing the likelihood they’ll convert into paying customers over time. And the best part? It’s all automated, so you don’t have to do anything.

Example: A small law firm could use automation to send out educational content to potential clients based on their interests—whether they’re looking for advice on estate planning or need help with a business contract. By the time they’re ready to hire a lawyer, your firm is top of mind, thanks to consistent, helpful communication.

3. Enhanced Customer Experience and Personalization

With automation raising the bar for the rest of us, customers today expect more than generic marketing messages. They want to feel seen and valued. Marketing automation lets you create these personalized experiences without the elbow grease. 

By segmenting your audience based on their behavior and preferences, you can tailor your messages to speak directly to their biggest needs.

Example: Picture a small online boutique for a second. With marketing automation, they can send personalized recommendations based on a customer’s past browsing history. If they’ve been eyeing a particular dress, an email highlighting a matching accessory could be just the nudge they need to make a purchase.

Pro Tip: Keep your customers informed and engaged without spending countless hours on manual tasks. Automated text messages are a powerful tool for maintaining communication, especially for sending reminders, updates, or promotional offers. Learn how to effectively implement this strategy with our guide on how to send automated text messages, and see how it can improve customer satisfaction and retention.

4. Better Data Collection and Analysis

It’s about time you stop navigating your strategies in the dark. There are so many ways to gather meaningful data these days, in fact, marketing automation tools for small businesses can even provide valuable insights into how your campaigns are performing. 

You can track everything from email open rates to social media engagement, allowing you to refine your strategies and improve your return on investment (ROI).

Broadly’s reporting and analytics features on Social Media Manager and Campaigns, for example, let you dive deep into customer behavior. Are your customers more responsive to emails in the morning? Does a certain type of post drive more engagement on social media? With this data, you can optimize your marketing efforts to get the best results.

5. Increased Revenue and ROI

At the end of the day, it’s all about maintaining that bottom line. Listen, we know that you don’t have shareholders to satisfy, you’re just trying to focus on keeping the lights on. That’s why what we’re getting at with marketing automation for small businesses is that it doesn’t just save you time, it can also be used to drive revenue too. 

Think about it, by automating your marketing efforts, you’re more likely to reach the right people at the right time with the right message—leading to higher conversion rates and more money in your pocket.

Example: A small vintage clothing store could use automation to send abandoned cart emails, reminding customers of the items they left behind and offering a discount to entice them to complete their purchase. It’s a simple yet powerful way to recover potentially lost sales.

6. Scalability for Growth

As your business grows, so too do your marketing needs. Automation software for small business scales with you, ensuring that your marketing efforts remain consistent and effective, whether you’re managing a handful of customers or thousands.

With marketing automation, you’re not just managing tasks more efficiently; you’re building a foundation that can handle growth without sacrificing quality or consistency. For instance, as you acquire more leads, automation allows you to scale your email marketing efforts from sending a few personalized emails to managing comprehensive drip campaigns that reach thousands of customers—the best part is Broadly can help with that!

Key Marketing Automation Processes for Small Businesses

Now that we’ve covered the benefits, let’s look at some of the key processes where small business marketing automation tools can make a difference for you.

1. Email Marketing Automation

Email remains a cornerstone of digital marketing, and with automation, it becomes even more powerful. You can set up:

• Drip campaigns: A series of pre-scheduled emails that guide customers through the buying process.
• Welcome sequences: A warm introduction to new subscribers, building a relationship from the start.
• Re-engagement campaigns: Target customers who have gone quiet, bringing them back into the fold.

Not sure where to start? Broadly’s email marketing tools make setting up these campaigns a breeze, helping you stay connected with your audience without all the mind-numbing manual work.

2. Social Media Automation

Social media is where your brand’s personality shines, but managing it can be time-consuming. Social media automation allows you to schedule posts, curate content, and monitor engagement—all from one place. This ensures a consistent presence without trying to remember a billion logins, switching between a dozen tabs, or the daily slog of posting.

Social media platforms like Google Business Profile are also a great place to build your reputation through reviews. With marketing automation tools like Broadly, you can automate Google review acquisition by setting up triggers to ask satisfied customers for their feedback via text or email, like this:

Pro Tip: Save time and ensure consistent communication by automating your text messaging. This approach not only helps you stay connected with your customers but also reduces the risk of human error in your communications.

3. Lead Nurturing and Scoring

Lead nurturing is about building relationships, and with automation, you can do this at a bigger scale than you would be able to otherwise. Lead scoring helps prioritize leads based on their engagement, ensuring that your sales team focuses on those most likely to convert.

For example, a small IT consultancy could use automation to nurture leads by sending targeted content based on the specific IT challenges the lead is facing, like downtime issues, while using lead scoring to ensure the most engaged leads get priority follow-up.

Did you know? Broadly’s CRM is designed to tackle the sales challenges local businesses commonly face, like losing potential customers due to missed follow-ups or disorganized lead management. With tools that help you manage and nurture leads effectively, you can ensure that no prospect falls through the cracks, turning more of those valuable leads into paying customers.

4. Customer Segmentation and Personalization

The key to effective marketing is first understanding your audience. Customer segmentation allows you to divide your audience into smaller groups based on specific criteria, such as: 

• Common interests
• Purchase history
• Engagement level

This enables more targeted and personalized marketing efforts.

Example: A small fitness studio could segment its audience based on class attendance, sending personalized offers for related classes to those who’ve attended similar sessions.

5. Analytics and Reporting

How are your campaigns really doing? If you are not quite sure, that’s a problem. 

Data is the backbone of any successful marketing campaign. With robust analytics and reporting tools, you can track the performance of your campaigns, understand customer behavior, and make data-driven decisions to improve your future marketing efforts.

Choosing the Right Marketing Automation Tools for Your Small Business

When it comes to choosing marketing automation software for your small business, there are a few key things to consider:

• Key features: Ensure the software offers the functionalities you need, such as email automation, CRM integration, and analytics.
• Budget: Choose a tool that fits your budget while providing the best value.
• Scalability: The software should be able to grow with your business.
• Ease of use: Opt for user-friendly tools with a manageable learning curve.

How do you exactly know what you need? We recommend jotting down a list of your biggest needs and goals and ranking them on a scale from 1-10. From there, couple those with features that would solve the problem to determine your top priority items. This is especially helpful if your on a tight budget. 

Broadly’s marketing automation solutions are designed specifically for small businesses, offering all the features you need to streamline your efforts and grow (without breaking the bank).

Implementing Marketing Automation in Your Small Business

Getting started with automation for small business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s a simple roadmap for success:

1. Create a strategy: Identify your goals and the tasks you want to automate.
2. Set up your tools: Choose the right software and configure it to meet your needs.
3. Train your team: Make sure your team understands how to use the tools effectively.
4. Monitor and adjust: Regularly review your strategies to ensure they’re delivering the desired results.

One thing we always recommend to business owners is to look for software that offers ample onboarding and customer support. You would be surprised how many popular platforms out there gatekeep support based on subscription level. Not cool.

Broadly’s 24/7 email and phone support is available to all, and we’re happy to help you get started with marketing automation every step of the way.

How does Broadly stack up to the competition? See how we compare to other popular software like Hubspot, Salesforce, and more in our Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best CRM for Small Business.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While marketing automation offers many benefits, it’s not without its challenges. Here’s how to overcome some common hurdles you might encounter:

Resource Constraints

Start small and focus on automating the most impactful tasks first. This will save you a lot of headache.

Data Quality Issues

Regularly update and clean your customer data to ensure your automation efforts are effective and accurate. Poor data can lead to missed opportunities and poor-performing campaigns, so it’s important to keep your data up-to-date.

Resistance to Change

While we all hate to admit it, introducing new technology can be met with resistance, especially if your team is used to doing things a certain way. To overcome this, involve your team in the decision-making process, provide adequate training, and highlight the benefits of marketing automation, such as time savings and increased efficiency to win them over.

Over-Automation Risks

While automation is powerful, it’s important not to overdo it. Too much automation can make your interactions feel impersonal, which can alienate your customers. Strike a balance by automating routine tasks while maintaining a personal touch where it counts most in customer communications.

Future Trends in Marketing Automation for Small Businesses

As technology evolves, so too does marketing automation. Here are some trends to keep an eye on:

AI and Machine Learning Integration

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into marketing automation tools, enabling more sophisticated customer insights, predictive analytics, and personalized experiences. This means small businesses can deliver even more targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

Conversational Marketing

Chatbots and AI-driven messaging platforms are becoming essential tools for engaging customers on their own terms. Heck, we even have an AI-assisted Web Chat of our own that our customers embed on their websites. These tools can automate responses to common inquiries, qualify leads, and even guide customers through the buying process.

Here’s an example of how our web chat responds to business hour inquiries:

Pro Tip: Missed appointments can be costly, but they’re avoidable with the right strategies in place. Automated appointment reminders can significantly reduce no-shows, helping you keep your schedule organized and your business running smoothly. Explore our tips on how automated appointment service reminders can be a lifesaver for managing your appointments and keeping your clients on track.

Omnichannel Automation

Customers interact with brands across multiple channels—email, social media, SMS, and more. Omnichannel automation ensures a seamless and consistent experience across all these touchpoints, allowing you to reach customers wherever they are.

Predictive Analytics

By analyzing past customer behavior, predictive analytics can forecast future actions, helping you tailor your marketing efforts for better results. This is especially valuable for small businesses looking to get the most out of their tight marketing budget.

Market Smarter with Broadly

Marketing automation is no longer something only the big guys can leverage—it’s becoming a necessity for small businesses looking to stay competitive and grow as well. By embracing marketing automation for small businesses, you can save time, improve customer engagement, and drive revenue, all while keeping your focus on what you do best—running your business.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your efforts, Broadly’s marketing and Local SEO automation tools are designed to help you achieve your goals with ease. Schedule a demo to get started.

The post The Marketing Automation Playbook for Small Businesses appeared first on Broadly.

There is no handbook on how to do effective SEO, and with algorithm preferences getting more complex, using automation can help you jump through fewer hoops to get effective local SEO.

In this blog, we will take a look into the basics of local SEO, and the growing trends of automation, and will give you 10 practical tips to best leverage automated local SEO for your business. 

Understanding Local SEO Fundamentals

It’s time to learn why local SEO is important for your business. People might make it out like SEO is some sort of advanced computer science mumbo jumbo, but in reality, local SEO is really just about optimizing your online presence to be useful and attractive enough to bring in more business from relevant local searches.

So, what does that all entail? It primarily involves a few tried-and-true strategies, including: 

• Google Business Profile optimization
• Listing and citation management
• Getting more positive reviews

Also see: 15 Clever Ways to Ask for Reviews

Key Local Ranking Factors:

So, how exactly do you get your name out there using the strategies we just mentioned? Here are some key factors you should consider:

1. Google Business Profile: Ensuring your profile is complete and up-to-date. This includes adding photos, updating business hours, and responding to reviews.
2. Citations: Maintaining consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) data across top local listing directories.
3. Reviews: Asking customers to leave positive reviews and managing them effectively. Reviews not only build trust but also influence local search rankings too! See how online reviews can boost your SEO.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget about phone users. Mobile optimization is super important since over half of local searches are conducted on mobile devices like phones and tablets (Statista). 

Search engines like Google and Bing give preference to mobile-friendly sites, so ensuring your website is following suit can greatly boost your local SEO performance. Not quite there yet? Broadly’s website services can help with that!

The Rise of Automation in Local SEO

As local SEO practices have evolved, so too have the challenges. Local businesses often struggle with the time-consuming nature of these tasks. Automation addresses these issues by leveraging AI and machine learning to handle repetitive grunt work, helping you to do local SEO effectively. 

By automating local SEO, businesses can maintain a consistent online presence, respond promptly to changes, and free up valuable time to focus on the more important stuff.

Click here to learn how to automate Google reviews for better customer engagement.

10 Local SEO Automations You Need to Implement

1. Site Monitoring

Maintaining optimal site performance is important for local SEO. Automated site monitoring tools help track key metrics like page load time, uptime, and broken links. These tools ensure your website remains accessible and performs well, which is key for a better user experience and improved search ranking.

Tools

• Google Analytics
• Pingdom
• UptimeRobot

Getting Setup

Use these tools to set up automated alerts for any significant changes in site performance. For instance, you can configure alerts to notify you if your site goes down or if there is a sudden increase in page load times.

2. Rank Tracking

Tracking your rankings for local search terms is key. It allows you to Identify relevant local keywords and monitor their performance using automated tools. This helps you understand which strategies are working and where adjustments are needed.

Tools

• Ahrefs
• Moz
• Broadly Local SEO

Getting Setup

Set up automated ranking reports and alerts to stay updated on your keyword positions. These reports can provide insights into how your local SEO efforts are paying off and help you make data-driven decisions.

See how you stand up to the competition with Local SEO. Maximize your business’s SEO and increase your online visibility with a local grid that tracks how your business ranks for searches in your area and the top keywords people use to find your services. 

3. Backlink Analysis

Backlinks are a critical factor in local SEO. Automated tools can help monitor new links, lost links, and the quality of these links. High-quality backlinks from reputable sites can greatly boost your local search rankings.

Tools

• Ahrefs
• Majestic
• Monitor Backlinks

Getting Started Tips

Regularly review automated backlink reports to ensure the quality and relevance of your backlinks. Focus your attention on acquiring backlinks from authoritative local sites to enhance your local SEO. 

4. Competitor Monitoring

Keeping an eye on local competitors can provide you with valuable insights. Track their rankings, content, and backlinks using automated tools. Understanding what works for your competitors can help you refine your own strategies and differentiate yourself.

Tools

• SpyFu
• SEMrush
• Ahrefs

Getting Started Tips

Use competitor data to refine your own local SEO strategies. For example, if a competitor ranks well for certain keywords, consider incorporating those keywords into your strategy.

5. Report Creation

Automated SEO reporting saves time and ensures everything is consistent across the board. These reports should include key local SEO metrics tailored to your customers’ behaviors and preferences. Regular reporting helps you track progress and communicate results to your team effectively.

Tools

• Google Data Studio
• SEMrush
• Raven Tools

Getting Started Tips

Customize reports to highlight the most important metrics for local SEO. Include data on rankings, traffic, and conversions to give your team a comprehensive view of performance.

Automation is for more than SEO. Discover how automated appointment service reminders can help your small business deliver better customer service.

6. Error Tracking

Technical SEO errors can negatively impact local rankings. Automated error detection tools can help identify and fix pesky issues quickly. Addressing these errors ensures that your site always remains search-engine friendly.

Tools

• Screaming Frog
• Sitebulb
• SEMrush

Getting Started Tips

Focus on fixing high-priority errors that could significantly affect your SEO performance. Common issues include broken links, duplicate content, and missing meta tags.

7. Keyword Ranking Information

Tracking local keyword performance helps you stay a contender in a sea of competition. Monitor rankings, traffic, and positioning changes with automated local SEO tools. This allows you to adjust your strategy based on real-time data.

Tools

• SEMrush
• Ahrefs
• Moz

Getting Started Tips

Use the data you receive to refine your keyword strategy and improve local SEO. Identify which keywords are driving the most traffic and focus on optimizing those.

8. Traffic Monitoring

Understanding local traffic patterns is crucial. Set up automated alerts to track significant changes in traffic. This helps you identify trends and respond to them proactively.

Tools

• Google Analytics
• Matomo

Getting Started Tips

Analyze traffic data to gain insights into your audience and optimize your strategy. Look for patterns such as peak traffic times and popular pages to enhance user engagement. 

9. Local Listings Management

Next, local listing management. Consistent business information across directories is essential. Automate NAP distribution, updates, and monitoring to maintain accuracy. This ensures that your business is easy to find and contact when customers need you most.

Tools

• Yext
• Moz Local
• BrightLocal

Maintenance Tips

Regularly check and update your listings to ensure they stay accurate. This includes correcting any inconsistencies in your business information across various platforms. If you don’t have time to do this task manually, Broadly’s Local SEO listing sync feature can do the heavy lifting for you.

10. On-page Optimization

On-page elements play a big role in local SEO optimization. You should automate optimization for title tags, meta descriptions, and schema markup because properly optimized on-page elements can improve your visibility in local search results. Read about simplifying local SEO for maximum ranking results in our recent blog.

Tools

• Yoast SEO
• All-in-One SEO Pack
• Rank Math

Best Practices & Tips

Ensure your on-page elements are optimized for local relevance by including location-specific keywords and phrases to enhance your local search visibility.

Looking for even more tools to test drive? Check out the best local SEO tools here to streamline your SEO efforts.

Future Trends in Automated Local SEO

Emerging technologies are set to further revolutionize local SEO. How, you might ask? Voice search optimization is becoming increasingly important as more users rely on voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. In fact, since 2019, over 42% of global users have conducted a voice search at least once a month (Statista).  

Staying ahead of these trends will help local businesses like yours maintain a competitive edge. And, as advancements in AI make these tools smarter, machine learning will continue to enhance the capabilities of automated local SEO tools. Click here to discover how to send automated text messages to enhance customer communication.

Some more helpful resources:

• How to Automate Email Outreach
• Simple and Effective Local SEO Tips for Auto Repair Shops
• Local SEO Tips for Contractors.

Get Local SEO Savvy with Broadly

Automating local SEO processes not only saves time but also improves your local business’s accuracy while leaving you with more time to focus on the important stuff. By implementing these 10 tips and tricks, businesses can boost their local visibility and drive more qualified traffic to their site and storefront. 

Embrace automation today to stay ahead in the competitive landscape of local SEO tomorrow!

The post 10 Tips & Tricks for Flawless Automated Local SEO appeared first on Broadly.

That’s right, automation isn’t just for big corporations anymore. It’s becoming a game-changer for small businesses too, helping you boost efficiency, cut costs, and enhance the customer experience. Let’s check it out:

Why Automate as a Small Business?

Increased Efficiency

Think about all the repetitive tasks you do every day, like responding to the same customer inquiries or sending follow-up emails. Automation for small businesses can handle these tasks for you, freeing up your time for more important things. For example, with email and text campaigns, you can send welcome emails to new customers as soon as they sign up, saving you from having to do it manually. 

Cost Savings

Automation reduces the need for manual labor, which means you can save on wages and minimize errors that could cost you money. For instance, an automated invoicing system can ensure bills are sent out on time and track payments without you lifting a finger.

Improved Customer Experience

Customers expect quick responses and consistent service. Automation helps you meet these expectations by handling tasks like automated appointment reminders or customer service inquiries swiftly. Imagine a chatbot on your website that answers customer questions 24/7—your customers get immediate answers, and you can get more sleep!

Areas to Automate in a Small Business

To boost efficiency and get more done, small businesses can benefit greatly from automating more stuff. Using tech tools to streamline processes, minimize errors, and free up time for important work is key. In this section, we’ll look at the main areas where small businesses can automate to better grow and succeed.

1. Lead Capture and Marketing Automation

Automating Lead Generation

Use tools like chatbots on your website to capture leads even when you’re not there. Social media automation tools are also great because they can schedule posts and engage with followers, keeping your online presence active.

Lead Nurturing and Follow-up

Automated text campaigns and follow-ups keep potential customers engaged. Set up a series of texts or emails that go out over time to keep your business top of mind.

Also see: Learn the essentials of sending automated text messages in this handy guide.

Setting Up Automated Email Campaigns

Platforms like Mailchimp or our Campaign Builder allow you to create and schedule texts and emails tailored to different segments of your audience. For instance, you could send a special discount to new subscribers as soon as they sign up using automation triggers.

Pro Tip: Have the creativity of a rock? We get it. When you are juggling a million things at once, who has the time to be creative? Look for an automated email campaign platform that also supports AI to ensure you can write engaging, on-brand messages fast. 

Here’s an example of what ours is like so you can gauge what to be on the lookout for:

2. Sales and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Automating Sales Processes

Tools like Salesforce and Yesware can score leads, assign tasks to your sales team, and schedule follow-up emails automatically.

CRM Automation Capabilities

Choose a CRM that integrates with your other tools. Look for one that can connect with your email marketing platform, allowing for more seamless data sharing and automation functionality.

Automating Customer Data Management

Keep your customer data organized and updated without manual entry. Automated systems can sort and segment your contacts based on their interactions with your business. 

3. Customer Service and Support

Automating Common Customer Service Tasks

You don’t have time for buggy tools that barely work. Implement intelligent chatbots that can answer FAQs, book appointments, or even process simple orders.

Automated Support Ticketing

Use systems like Zendesk or Broadly’s multi-channel inbox to route customer inquiries to the right team member. This ensures no request is overlooked and speeds up response times.

Customer Feedback Collection

Tools like SurveyMonkey can automatically send out surveys after a purchase or service interaction, enabling you to gather valuable feedback with a lot less hands-on work.

4. Operations and Project Management

Automating Project Planning

Platforms like Trello or Asana can assign tasks, track progress, and send reminders without manual intervention.

Invoicing and Billing

QuickBooks and Xero can automatically generate and send invoices, track payments, and even remind clients about due payments.

Inventory Management

Tools like TradeGecko can track your inventory levels, reorder products when stock is low, and manage order fulfillment automatically.

5. Human Resources and Employee Management

Employee Onboarding and Training

Automate onboarding with tools like BambooHR, which can send out training materials and collect necessary documents from new hires.

Payroll and Time Tracking

Gusto or ADP can handle payroll, track employee hours, and manage expenses automatically.

Employee Communication

Platforms like Slack, Google Chat, and Broadly’s Team Inbox can automate routine communications, ensuring everyone stays in the loop. 

Also see: Discover how automating Google reviews can streamline your online reputation management effortlessly.

6. Office and Administrative Tasks

Calendar Management

Tools like CalendarHero can help you manage your schedule, allowing clients to book appointments based on your availability. 

Document Management

Google Drive or Dropbox can manage and update documents automatically, ensuring everyone has access to the latest versions.

Data Entry and Backups

Zapier can automate data entry tasks by connecting different apps and transferring information between them. It can also handle regular backups to keep your data safe.

How to Get Started with Automation for Small Business

Looking to make your small business run smoother and save time? Automation can be a real game-changer. In this section, we’ll dive into the basics of getting started with automation for small businesses so you can boost productivity and efficiency.

Step 1: Identify Processes to Automate

List out all the tasks you and your team do regularly. Identify repetitive, time-consuming tasks that could benefit from automation. For example, if you spend a lot of time scheduling appointments, an automated scheduling tool could be a game-changer.

Step 2: Choose the Right Tools

Research automation tools that fit your needs and budget. Consider factors like ease of use, integration with your existing systems, and customer support. Platforms like Broadly offer a range of tools designed specifically for small business automation.

Pro Tip: Your time is valuable and often in short supply. Sometimes, it’s a good call to lean on an automation expert to streamline your small business operations and gather customer reviews effortlessly. That’s why Broadly’s review automation tools are worth a look. 

With easy integration and excellent customer support, Broadly offers a range of solutions designed to fit your needs. Take a step towards efficiency and effectiveness by exploring what Broadly has to offer. 

Step 3: Implement and Manage Workflows

Set up your chosen tools and test them to ensure they work as expected. Start with one or two processes and expand as you and your team become more comfortable with automation.

Step 4: Train Employees

Make sure your team understands how to use the new systems. Provide training sessions and resources to help them adapt to the changes. The smoother the transition, the more successful your automation efforts will be.

Also see: Check out how to automate email processes for enhanced productivity and customer engagement.

Step 5: Monitor and Optimize

Regularly review the performance of your automated systems. Gather feedback from your team and customers to identify areas for improvement. Automation is not a set-it-and-forget-it solution; it requires ongoing attention to maximize its benefits.

By following these steps, you can effectively integrate automation into your small business, enhancing efficiency and enabling you to focus on growth and strategic initiatives.

Calm the Chaos with Broadly Automation

By embracing automation for small businesses, you can unlock some major benefits, from increased efficiency and cost savings to improved customer experiences. Start your automation journey today and transform your business operations for the better.

The post How to Get Started in Automation for Small Business (and Why) appeared first on Broadly.

• Drive engagement
• Attract new customers
• Boost sales

However, keeping up with regular posting can feel impossible, especially when you’re juggling all the big responsibilities that come with being a local business owner. This is where social media scheduling tools can be very handy to you. 

You see, they help make creating, scheduling, and posting content a heck of a lot easier, ensuring your business always has a consistent online presence that is guaranteed to turn heads. 

Intrigued? Well, let’s dive in.

Why Social Media Scheduling Tools are Essential for Local Businesses

Keeping up with social media can feel like a full-time job in itself, especially when you’re also trying to keep your small business above water. But don’t worry—social media scheduling tools are here to make your life easier! Here’s why they’re a must-have:

Saves Time

Who has time to post every day? You sure don’t. With social media scheduling tools, you can plan your posts well in advance.  For example, a local bakery can schedule posts about their daily specials a week ahead, allowing them to focus more of their time on baking enough bread to satisfy the lunch rush.

Maintains Consistency

Consistency is key to keeping your audience engaged. Even when you’re super busy, scheduled posts ensure your brand stays active online. For instance, a fitness studio can maintain a regular posting schedule, sharing workout tips on TikTok and class schedules on Facebook even when the staff is busy with clients.

Do you know how often your business should post on social media? According to Hootsuite, you should be posting this often on these popular platforms:

• Instagram: 3 and 5 times per week.
• Instagram Stories: 2 times per day.
• Facebook: 1 to 2 times per day.
• X (Twitter): 2 and 3 times per day.
• LinkedIn: 1 to 2 times per day.
• Threads: 2 to 3 times per day.
• TikTok: 3 and 5 times per week.
• Google Business Profile: 1 time per week.

Optimizes Timing

Timing can make a big difference. Social media scheduling tools let you post when your audience is most likely to engage. For example, a restaurant might find that posts about lunch specials get the most engagement when scheduled at 11 AM, just before folks start thinking about lunch. In this case, perfect timing equals more hungry customers entering their door!

Learn more here: What is social media management?

Benefits of Using Social Media Scheduling Tools

Running a local business is no small feat, and keeping up with social media can often feel like a balancing act. That’s where social media scheduling tools come in—they’re like your trusty sidekick, making your life easier and your business more efficient. 

Whether you’re scheduling posts months in advance, optimizing your reach across multiple platforms, or diving into detailed analytics, these tools have got you covered. Let’s dive into how these tools can up your social media game.

Efficiency

Social media scheduling tools help you to schedule your posts days, weeks, or even months in advance. This frees up your time to focus on other aspects of your business. A clothing boutique for example can plan and schedule posts for an entire season, showcasing new arrivals and promotions without having to interact with the software for months. Just set it and forget it.

Several of these tools also offer AI functionality—like Broadly’s Social Media Manager! This means when you are tapped out of ideas, you have a little helper ready to swoop in and lend a hand, sparing you and your team from creative burnout. 

Reach Optimization

Social media scheduling tools ensure your posts reach the largest audience possible. You can use these tools to cross-promote content across different social media platforms through one simple social media automation. 

Do you have multiple locations? With Broadly, you also can post content to all (or some) of your locations simultaneously, saving you the hassle of copy and pasting the same thing over and over again. Here’s a sneak peek of what that looks like:

Analytics

Likes and comments are cool and all, but how are your social marketing efforts really doing? Social media scheduling tools can show you. They help you better track the performance of your posts so you can adjust your strategy based on detailed analytics and insights. For example, a local coffee shop can analyze which posts about new menu items get the most overall engagement and tailor future posts to highlight the most popular items.

Speaking of comments, are you struggling to keep up with the things your customers are saying about you? The cool thing about social media scheduling tools are their ability to actively listen out for and gather all the comments you receive in one place. That way, you can respond to questions and nice (or not-so-nice) feedback quickly.

With Broadly, you also have the option to generate a response with AI, so you can send consistent, professional, and on-brand responses in just a few clicks. Here’s what it looks like:

Key Features to Look for in a Social Media Scheduling Tool

Not all social media scheduling tools are created equal. Here are some main features you should be on the lookout for:

User-Friendly Interface

Would you use a platform that is more trouble than it’s worth? Of course not! That’s why you need to choose a tool that is easy to use, even for the team members who are not tech-savvy. 

A great place to start is by looking for drag-and-drop features, simple navigation menus, and crystal-clear instructions and resource guides.

Multi-Platform Support

This is especially useful for businesses with a presence on multiple platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. 

Content Calendar

Are you a visually oriented person? Then a social media scheduling tool with a content calendar might be advantageous for you. 

A visual content calendar helps you see all your scheduled posts at a glance, making it easier to plan and coordinate your content. For example, at Broadly, we offer a content calendar with drag-and-drop adjustment features that help businesses like yours stay organized and make tweaks easily.

Analytics and Reporting

Look for tools that provide detailed analytics on metrics such as: 

• Likes
• Shares
• Comments
• Engagement rates

This data helps you understand what content best vibes with your audience. As well, you should look for social media scheduling tools that compare and contrast data across all your locations, and carry the option to export your analytics data in easy-to-use formats like Excel spreadsheets.

Integration

There is nothing more frustrating than when platforms refuse to talk to each other. So, ensure the social media scheduling tool you choose is compatible with other tools and platforms you already use. 

Need a subscription diet? We get you. Did you know that some social media scheduling tools are more than meets the eye? For instance, Broadly’s platform offers more than just scheduling; it also offers review management, inbox communication, webchat lead generation, local SEO technology, and automated email/SMS campaigns.

How to Choose the Right Social Media Scheduling Tool for Your Business

You don’t need all the bells and whistles to run a stellar social media campaign. Here’s some strategies to help you find the best bang for your buck:

Assess Your Needs

Determine the specific features you need versus what would be “nice to have” based on your business goals. For example, if you need detailed analytics to track your posts’ performance, look for a tool that offers comprehensive reporting. 

How do I assess my needs? If you are having a difficult time determining what you need versus what you can live without, try writing down a list of features you need, and then ranking them from most important to least. 

If a social media scheduling tool does not include the things near the top of your list, it’s best to just walk away.

Budget Considerations

Evaluate free versus paid options to find a tool that fits your budget. Many scheduling tools offer tiered pricing plans, so choose one that provides the features you identified as important to you, at a price you can afford.

Ease of Use

Choose a tool that matches your skills. Exactly, why would you put yourself through a ton of headache when you don’t have to? We recommend looking for options that offer tutorials, customer support, and a user-friendly interface to ensure you can use them effectively.

Customer Support

Social media scheduling tools are run by people, not specters, so why put up with being ghosted? 

Ensure the tool you choose offers reliable customer support to assist you when you need it most. Good customer support can help you troubleshoot issues quickly, minimizing disruptions to your social media strategy.

And remember, this does not have to be just a customer support number, we’re talking about: 

• Resource articles
• Forums
• Blogs
• Video tutorials
• AI webchats

Top Social Media Scheduling Tools for Local Businesses

Our editors did the hard work for you and gathered a list of some of the top social media scheduling tools out there. Check them out:

Sprout Social

Known for its robust analytics and reporting features, Sprout Social helps you understand your audience better. It also offers a user-friendly interface and multi-platform support.

Buffer

A popular choice for its simplicity and ease of use, Buffer offers a straightforward way to schedule posts. It’s great for businesses looking for a no-frills, efficient scheduling tool.

Hootsuite

With comprehensive multi-platform support, Hootsuite allows you to manage your social media accounts from one place. It also provides detailed analytics and a content calendar.

Post Planner

This tool helps you find and schedule high-quality content that engages your audience. It’s perfect for businesses looking to mix curated content with their own posts.

Broadly’s Social Media Manager

Broadly allows businesses to manage their social media accounts, use AI to create, schedule, and post content, and respond directly to customer comments. Designed with small businesses in mind, this tool helps you streamline your social media marketing efforts and improve engagement.

See more tools here: Marketing tools for small business

Tips for Effective Social Media Scheduling

Plan Ahead

Create a content calendar to organize your posts for upcoming weeks or months. This helps maintain consistency and ensures you always have something to post. For example, a local bookstore can plan posts around upcoming author events, book releases, and reading tips.

Mix Content Types

Balance promotional posts with engaging and informative content to keep your audience interested. A local gym, for example, can mix posts about membership deals with workout tips, healthy recipes, and member success stories.

Monitor and Adjust

Nothing is perfect, and trends change quickly. That’s why you need to regularly review analytics to see what works and what doesn’t. Adjust your strategy based on these insights to improve engagement. For example, if videos about new products receive more engagement than other types of posts, consider increasing the frequency of video content you produce.

Engage with Your Audience

It never hurts to respond to comments and messages. It helps to foster a sense of community and build a stronger reputation with your followers. For instance, a local café can reply to customer comments about their favorite drinks or thank them for their visits, creating a more personal connection.

How Broadly Can Help

By using social media scheduling tools, you can ensure a consistent, engaging online presence that helps build and maintain strong relationships with your valued customers. Broadly is here to support you every step of the way with our powerful and easy-to-use tools.

Broadly’s solutions are designed to exclusively help local businesses attract, convert, and engage customers. Our Social Media Manager feature offers a comprehensive platform to manage all your social media accounts, create and schedule posts, and engage with your audience. With exciting new AI-enhanced capabilities, you can ensure your content is always top-notch and your posts are timed for maximum impact.

“The results have been great. [Broadly] has driven a lot of reviews for Google, Facebook, and Nextdoor, and it has brought more and more customers every single year.” —James, Auto Care

Ready to streamline your social media marketing and engage your audience like never before? Sign up for a free demo of Broadly’s services today and see how our tools can help your business grow.

The post Streamline Your Marketing with Social Media Scheduling Tools appeared first on Broadly.