For many businesses, the COVID-19 crisis’s rolling lockdowns and daily disruptions make a strong digital presence critical to their very survival. It’s essential that your website is current, accurate, compliant with regulatory standards and highly visible during these unprecedented times.
Kymera has helped small independent businesses and national franchises alike compete digitally and grow market share. One overlooked-but-essential digital detail is ensuring that your business information is correct and consistent everywhere it appears.
Business Directory Syncing
There are literally hundreds of online business directories, but if your street address appears even with a small difference on one platform, Google may not recognize that address, which can hurt your online search ranking. Many don’t realize that even a small inconsistency can cause big problems. For example, suppose your street has both a name and a route number, and you get reviewed on Yelp by a customer. But instead of listing your address as 1234 Route 425, the reviewer posts it as 1234 Elm Street. Or they mistype it as “1234 Eim St.” Our platform will find that inconsistency and overwrite it with the correct information to protect your spot in future search results.
Using proprietary technology, Kymera offers business directory syncing across dozens of popular information platforms, including Google, Google Maps, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Bing and more. This means that consumers will be more likely to find you through an online search. And when they do, they’ll get the correct details — business name, specialties, hours and location — no matter where they find you.
Website Accessibility
Another area where many websites fall short is Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. There are no explicit federal guidelines about what a website owner must do or provide in this regard. This has led to a surge in website accessibility lawsuits since websites are deemed spaces of “public accommodation” and are thereby required to provide equal access to the disabled.
In 2018, there were 2,285 accessibility lawsuits — up 181 percent over 2017, and this number increased by more than 50% in the first half of 2019 (over a comparable six-month period). Amazon, Target and many other large companies have been forced to pay for compensation and extensive site redesigns after successful suits. But it’s important to realize that the ADA applies to any business with 15 or more employees, and many small firms have faced litigation. Kymera can update your site so that it’s more accessible to those with disabilities.
Regulatory Compliance
If you’re in a highly regulated industry such as finance or health, we can help ensure your site’s compliance with industry-relevant regulations. For example, the State of Florida currently mandates that assisted living facilities (ALFs) post the number of patients and staff who test positive for COVID-19. Kymera has helped ALFs integrate that information into their websites and even created code that allows them to automatically update that information daily.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenging and chaotic climate for many businesses. And you’ve likely got your hands full managing remote workers, applying for federal assistance, obtaining protective equipment and just keeping the lights on. Kymera can help you strengthen your digital presence and improve your website accessibility during this difficult time. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for your business.
Sources:
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/website-accessibility-law/285199/#close
