At the onset of the pandemic, small businesses, especially those that did not have any particular online presence, greatly suffered as consumer trends quickly escalated toward the digital space. Upon seeing the gap and realizing how local search marketing affects the community level, local SEO strategist Erica Booker initiated a game-changing solution in response to the trying times.
The 39-year-old DC native is the founder of ACE Online Solutions, a company dedicated to helping small businesses grow by equipping them with scalable, data-driven solutions. Erica Booker launched a rapid response during the pandemic through her company’s Local Small Business Toolkits. It comes with online business essentials like a website, ratings and reviews manager, reputation manager, and social media manager.
Erica Booker and her team are known in the community for being pivotal in how small business owners navigate the market during the pandemic with their “What’s the Move DC?” platform. The virtual doorway is a local, online small business directory geared toward helping clients reach more customers in the community. It has seamlessly allowed business owners to transition into the digital space.
As statistics reveal, 46% of Google searches are made locally within a community, mostly for inquiries on local businesses, their rating, products, location, etc. Furthermore, Erica Booker shared that 25% of local businesses were forced to close their doors because of low sales and customer turnout. “Business owners should believe in a local business listing, just as much, if not more, as they believe the importance of social media,” said Erica. “Essentially, by not having a local business listing, small businesses could be leaving billions of the table, strangling the local economy,” she added.
Through her company, Erica Booker served her community by providing customized dashboards for her clients based on their specific business marketing goals. Simultaneously, the company’s “What’s the Move DC?” platform has helped consumers get more information about a local business. Erica and her team have delivered astounding results to place their clients on top of online searches made through Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.
“Our goal is to allow the client to be as hands on or as hands off as they choose to be without missing or losing data,” shared Erica Booker. Seeking to provide a seamless solution, Erica and ACE Online Solutions built their local business listing with their clients in mind. In turn, local business owners can quickly inspect their online presence without being bombarded by unnecessary data or disjointed information.
Additionally, Erica Booker aimed for the platform to be as accessible and cost-efficient as possible so local businesses can easily connect with their customers. The expert believes in the power of consultation, making her clients aware of their options and supporting whatever they want to achieve. Erica and her team have provided exponential results throughout the pandemic. They have consistently helped keep the small business community in DC thriving.
Asked what motivated her to utilize her expertise for other people, Erica Booker shared that she wanted to take on the social responsibility that comes with entrepreneurship and leave a positive impact on her community. Indeed, she is lifting the local economy and, in time, will be of assistance to more business owners across the country.
Learn more about Erica Booker and the “What’s the Move DC?” platform on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.
