Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge, Episode #32
Revolutionizing Small Business Marketing with Virtual Storefronts
Show Notes
About The Guest(s):
Tobin Brognier is the inventor of Virtual Storefronts, a platform that provides small businesses with an easy and efficient way to have an online presence. With a background in photography and digital marketing, Tobin understands the challenges that small businesses face when it comes to creating and managing a website. Virtual Storefronts aims to simplify the process by offering a subscription-based service that builds and maintains a virtual storefront for businesses, allowing them to focus on what they do best.
Summary:
Tobin Brognier, the inventor of Virtual Storefronts, joins the show to discuss how his platform is revolutionizing the way small businesses create an online presence. Virtual Storefronts eliminates the need for businesses to have their own website by providing them with a dedicated virtual storefront that is built and maintained by the platform. This allows businesses to save time and money while still reaching customers online. Tobin explains how Virtual Storefronts works, the benefits it offers to small businesses, and the nationwide launch of the platform.
Key Takeaways:
- Virtual Storefronts replaces the need for small businesses to have their own website by providing them with a dedicated virtual storefront.
- The platform builds and maintains the virtual storefront for businesses, saving them time and money.
- Virtual Storefronts uses keywords to educate Google about the products and services offered by each business, improving their search engine visibility.
- The platform offers features such as live feeds and hands-free publishing to help businesses engage with customers and share important updates.
- Virtual Storefronts is launching nationwide, allowing small businesses across the country to benefit from the platform’s services.
Quotes:
- “Virtual Storefronts is an invention that replaces the need for Main Street.” – Tobin Brognier
- “We build the Virtual Storefront for you. It’s a short form, about five minutes. You can order it, and it’s delivered usually within a week.” – Tobin Brognier
- “Google doesn’t know what’s at your local business, and that’s what we’re looking to change.” – Tobin Brognier
- “We want to give an unfair advantage to the local business owner that is competing against Arby’s or McDonald’s or Walmart.” – Tobin Brognier
- “Our job is to get people there, not to spend time on the platform. Every other platform is part of the attention economy. We’re outside of the attention economy.” – Tobin Brognier
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Episode Details
Virtual Storefronts: Revolutionizing the Online Presence of Small Businesses
As technology continues to advance, it has become increasingly important for businesses, especially small and local ones, to establish an online presence. However, many small businesses struggle with the time, effort, and technical know-how required to create and maintain a website. This is where Virtual Storefronts comes in. In a recent interview with Tobin Brognier, the inventor of Virtual Storefronts, we delved into the innovative solution that aims to replace the need for traditional websites and empower small businesses to thrive in the digital world.
Simplifying the Online Presence of Small Businesses
Virtual Storefronts is a groundbreaking invention that offers a comprehensive solution for small businesses to establish an online presence without the hassle of building and managing a website. Tobin Brognier, the mastermind behind this invention, recognized the challenges faced by small businesses in adopting digital marketing strategies. He explains, “Even in 2023, there’s domain registration, there’s hiring someone to build a website, even out-of-the-box solutions. It’s just not an easy thing to do.”
The goal of Virtual Storefronts is to simplify the process by providing a platform where businesses can easily create and manage their online presence. With a basic subscription of $199 per year, businesses can have their Virtual Storefront built and delivered within a week. This includes search engine optimization to ensure their visibility on platforms like Google. Tobin emphasizes, “We create a list of keywords that describe the business. Google is crawling those keywords and indexing. It’s like opening the front door of your local business to Google in a way that it’s never been done before.”
Empowering Local Businesses in the Digital Landscape
One of the key aspects of Virtual Storefronts is its focus on empowering local businesses to compete against larger franchises and chain stores. Tobin explains, “We want to give an unfair advantage to the local business owner that is competing against Arby’s or McDonald’s or Walmart because those businesses have that marketing advantage.” By providing a platform that showcases unique local businesses and their offerings, Virtual Storefronts aims to level the playing field and highlight the value of shopping locally.
The target clients for Virtual Storefronts are locally owned businesses that are not part of a franchise. This includes a wide range of professionals, organizations, and non-profit entities. Tobin states, “If you’re locally owned and you’re not a franchise business, you’re qualified.” By catering to this specific group, Virtual Storefronts ensures that its platform is tailored to the needs and challenges faced by small businesses.
The Features and Benefits of Virtual Storefronts
Virtual Storefronts offers a range of features that make it a powerful tool for small businesses. One of the standout features is the ability to easily update and customize the storefront. Business owners have full control over their storefront, allowing them to add or remove keywords, update business descriptions, and even add links to external websites. This flexibility ensures that businesses can keep their online presence up-to-date and relevant.
The platform also includes a live feed feature, where businesses can make announcements or share updates with their customers. This feature eliminates the need for businesses to rely on social media platforms or other channels to communicate with their customers. Tobin explains, “We just need to tell shoppers about a weekly announcement. We just need to tell shoppers that we just need a reminder on a bulletin board.” By streamlining the communication process, Virtual Storefronts enables businesses to focus on what they do best – serving their customers.
The Nationwide Launch and Future Outlook
Virtual Storefronts initially conducted a pilot program in western North Carolina to test the viability of its platform. With the success of the pilot, Virtual Storefronts is now gearing up for a nationwide launch. Businesses from all over the country can now sign up and take advantage of this innovative solution. The nationwide feed will showcase businesses from various regions, providing shoppers with a comprehensive view of local offerings.
The implications of Virtual Storefronts are far-reaching. By simplifying the process of establishing an online presence, Virtual Storefronts opens up new opportunities for small businesses to thrive in the digital landscape. It empowers local businesses to compete against larger franchises and chain stores, giving them a marketing edge. Additionally, Virtual Storefronts fosters a sense of community by highlighting the unique offerings of local businesses and encouraging shoppers to support their local economy.
As technology continues to evolve, Virtual Storefronts is poised to revolutionize the way small businesses approach their online presence. By providing a user-friendly platform and a range of powerful features, Virtual Storefronts is bridging the gap between small businesses and the digital world. With its nationwide launch, Virtual Storefronts is set to transform the way we shop and support local businesses.
In conclusion, Virtual Storefronts is a game-changer for small businesses, offering a simplified and comprehensive solution for establishing an online presence. By empowering local businesses and highlighting their unique offerings, Virtual Storefronts is reshaping the digital landscape and fostering a sense of community. With its nationwide launch, Virtual Storefronts is poised to revolutionize the way we shop and support local businesses.
Contact Information for Tobin Brognier
Website: https://virtualstorefronts.co/
Timestamp | Summary |
---|---|
[0:00:00] | Introduction to Virtual Storefronts and its purpose |
[0:02:00] | Explanation of the pilot program in western North Carolina |
[0:04:00] | Target clients for Virtual Storefronts |
[0:06:00] | Features and benefits of Virtual Storefronts for businesses |
[0:11:00] | Demonstration of a Virtual Storefront and its functionality |
0:12:27 | Virtual storefront address and description customization |
0:13:18 | Editing and design capabilities, including mobile editing |
0:14:20 | Link buttons and file swapping options |
0:15:33 | Live preview of website changes |
0:16:46 | Internal search feature and versatile linking options |
0:17:17 | Weekly announcements and bulletin board feature |
0:17:54 | Merchant control over feeds and new Hands Free feature |
0:20:07 | Simplifying platform usage for time-saving and prioritization |
0:22:37 | Providing up-to-date information for small businesses |
0:25:01 | Serving merchants’ needs first and building trust with customers |
0:26:42 | Importance of prioritizing local businesses and community builders. |
0:27:43 | The need for in-person interactions and technology that supports it. |
0:30:42 | The limitations of Google Local listings and the power of Virtual Storefronts. |
0:35:50 | Introduction to nationwide launch and live feeds for local communities. |
0:39:00 | Invitation to visit Virtualstorefronts.co and engage with local businesses. |