The document discusses how businesses can adapt to changing customer preferences and expectations by going fully digital. It notes that most customers now prefer communicating with businesses through texting and messaging apps rather than calls or emails. The document then provides three ways for businesses to succeed: 1) getting online reviews to build trust; 2) allowing customers to text or message the business; and 3) directly texting customers. It argues this can help businesses better engage customers, save time, and increase sales and appointments. Specific tactics discussed include setting up a textable phone number, using messaging to book appointments, and keeping up with customers through automated responses.

1. From Search to Sold -
100% Digitally
David Hepworth, Pest/Lawn Director
Podium

2. Agenda
● Who am I
● The trends & opportunities
● 3 ways to adapt for success

3. Podium is modernizing
local business
Our Investors:
Our Awards:

4. Convert More Leads Convenient Customer
Experience
Save Time &
Consolidate Efforts

5. What has changed

6. Change in channel, change in behavior

8. Less than half of business owners
say they are very effective at
communicating with customers.1

9. 66%
Of businesses believe
customers prefer to
engage with a business
through email.2
60%
Of businesses believe
customers prefer to
engage with a business
through phone calls.3
89%
Of customers prefer to
engage with a business
through texting or
another messaging app.4
Business perceptions and consumer
expectations are misaligned

10. Basic Slide Title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur
adipiscing elit. Sed semper quam gravida ipsum
efficitur aliquet. Donec eu ultricies purus, non
auctor tellus. Duis vitae sodales nulla
Image goes here (delete this placeholder)

11. Get found with
Reviews
01
Termite exterminators near me
Competitor
Competitor
Your Business

12. Sales Discovery
86% of consumers read
reviews as part of the
buying process
Builds Confidence
57% of consumers won’t use
a business that has fewer
than four stars
Recency Matters
85% of consumers feel
that reviews older than 3
months are not relevant

14. Google & potential customers
trust your current customers more

15. ½ Million Google Reviews

17. Sub-Vertical
Pest Control

18. Impact of Reviews on
your Business.
*Google My Business Interactions

19. Let People Text
& Message You!
02

20. Basic Slide Title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur
adipiscing elit. Sed semper quam gravida ipsum
efficitur aliquet. Donec eu ultricies purus, non
auctor tellus. Duis vitae sodales nulla
Image goes here (delete this placeholder)

21. Texting = Huge Time Savings
“We get so many questions that we can’t handle the volume through phone and email. With Podium,
it’s so easy to keep up and stay organized.
About 65% of our customer conversations through Podium result in a sale, the rest are customer
service questions. I was leery of price at first, but loved the idea of fewer emails and phone calls. I
decided to try it and it paid for itself in two days. We answered so many questions and sold enough
in those two days that I’m a customer for life!”
Buck H, Owner

22. MAKE YOUR LANDLINE TEXTABLE
Engage with customers
on their preferred
channels
89% of consumers want to
engage with a business via
text messaging—meet them
where they are now
Create a single point of
contact for your
customer
Eliminate confusion of
multiple numbers by
converting your existing
number into a textable
number
Promote your textable
number everywhere
Let customers know they can
text you where they see you
now—website, store, email,
social media, and ads

23. Convert more website
traffic into texts
● 89% of consumers would like the
option to message a business
North Valley
- Pest -
Your Local
Pest Company

24. 220,000+
Pest & Lawn
leads/requests through Podium
North Valley
- Pest -
Your Local
Pest Company

25. Google
Click-to-Chat
Allow Customers their convenience
● Call
● Message
● Directions
● Website

26. Talk to customers on their
preferred channel and manage
interactions from one inbox.
All your messages
in a one simple
Inbox

27. Text your
Customers!
03

28. Texting = Huge Time Savings
Just spoke with the owner of Atlanta Violins who was raving about how much Podium has helped her
business during COVID!
With her employees unable to work, she was able to get back to all customers on one phone through
Podium and even updated their phone tree to tell customers to text them and are now booking appts
all through text in Podium! She said now instead of having to take 12 calls at once (which a single
person simply can't do), she can take 12 texts at once and with the help of auto responders,
customers know she will get back to them ASAP - resulting in a better customer experience, higher
response rate, and much less time wasted!

29. Texts get opened.
Emails go unread.
Calls go unanswered.
● First to get a bid
● Less Missed Appointments
● More Rescheduled
● Less headache for the office
● Get Paid Faster
● More customer Reviews/Feedback

30. Texts get opened.
Emails go unread.
Calls go unanswered.
● First to get a bid
● Less Missed Appointments
● More Rescheduled
● Less headache for the office
● Get Paid Faster
● More customer Reviews/Feedback

31. Texts get opened.
Emails go unread.
Calls go unanswered.
● First to get a bid
● Less Missed Appointments
● More Rescheduled
● Less headache for the office
● Get Paid Faster
● More customer Reviews/Feedback

32. Wrap-up
● Collect Google reviews now!
● Let people text & message you!
● Text your customers!

35. Website: try.podium.com/
Text or call: 1-833-276-3486
Email: david.hepworth@podium.com

36. Sources
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting
https://www.twilio.com/learn/commerce-communications/how-consumers-use-messaging
https://www.twilio.com/learn/commerce-communications/how-consumers-use-messaging
Podium 2020 State of Local Business Report
Podium 2020 State of Local Business Report
Podium 2020 State of Local Business Report
Podium 2020 State of Business Texting