In order to support the use of digital marketing tools, Telkom University lecturers provide regular assistance to staff and teaching staff at the Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School. In its sixth week this time, the Community Service team raised a topic related to “Utilizing various Digital Marketing Media (Google My Business, SEO and WhatsApp Business),” which was held online on Wednesday (09/02).
This particular assistance is a series of Community Service activities for Telkom University lecturers to welcome the New Student Admission (PPDB) for the Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School. The activity, which was held through the Zoom meeting, presented two speakers from the Faculty of Applied Sciences lecturers at Telkom University, namely Abdurrahman Rahim Thaha, S.T., MBA., and Rio Korio Utoro S.Kom., M.T.
Before delivering the material on Utilizing Google My Business and Search Engine Optimization, Abdurrahman Rahim played a video of a micro-moment conversation about finding the data or information we need. Abdurrahman explained that the first thing that needs to be done in digital marketing is to determine or ensure that the audience can find the Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School or us at the right moment.
In this case, the use of Google My Business is beneficial in search engine optimization, which is easier to find by customers. Also, it helps to manage Business Information to keep it up to date, post articles or photos to update about our business, and finally interact with customers. To understand and establish good relationships with customers,” said Abdurrahman.
Abdurrahman also emphasized that SEO is quite essential to develop a website. The advantages he mentions include that search engines are a source of information, traffic is dominated by content on the first page, websites are found through various keywords, increased brand awareness, and credibility, so organic traffic is easier to convert.
“In addition, there are seven SEO indicators that need to be considered, namely URL structure, use of SSL/TLS, content topics or intensely, content structure, meta tags, backlinks, and website speed,” said Abdurrahman.
There is still a need for website improvement from the seven indicators for Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School. One way is to use sharing tools to improve each indicator, such as matrix applications and website SEO support.
The first material ends with some notes on improvements made by the Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School to improve SEO for all the indicators described previously.
The following material is about Optimization of Whatsapp Business for Marketing Activities delivered directly by Rio Korio.
Rio has much experience using Whatsapp Business in several projects with traders in traditional markets. The material provided in this session is directly applied to the Whatsapp Business of the Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School, where the business tools are divided into three major parts, namely business profiles and catalogs, messaging, and Reach more Customers.
Rio explained explicitly that the first step that needs to be taken by the Tourism Vocational School of Telkom Bandung is to look directly at the business profile. Secondly, insert product photos into the school catalog. The third away message is used to provide automatic answers to customers. The fourth greeting message or greeting message provides an automatic welcome to new customers or customers who no longer interact with us. The fifth quick replace is used to answer quickly by typing shortcuts for questions asked by customers; and finally, Reach more customers by using a short link that can be connected to Facebook or Instagram.
The second material was closed by looking directly at the Whatsapp Business of the Telkom Bandung Tourism Vocational School and providing some improvement notes to be directly applied by the SMK.
Although mentoring is held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mentoring is theoretical. However, there are practice sessions, and of course, from implementing this activity, it is hoped that it will still provide benefits.