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Posts Tagged ‘Small Business Marketing’

Why Coupons work for Small Business

Written on March 6th, 2012 by
Categories: Small Business Marketing

Doing business in today’s market means caring about your customer and taking good care of them so that they do business with you forever. What a better way to show your customers that you care, but to give them something. Coupons have been around a long time and they are starting to gain a significant amount of popularity, especially over the past 5 years with the economic downfall.

Here’s an article from the Huffington Post – Small Business section that discusses why coupons are on the rise for Small Business. Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/OxavA

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Posted in Small Business Marketing | No Comments »

Local SEO means “bye bye” Yellow Pages

Written on May 23rd, 2011 by
Categories: Local SEO

Local SEO vs. YellowPages

Local SEO means bye bye Yellow Pages. . San Francisco is looking to band the Yellow Pages from being delivered to business and residences unless personally requested.

The year is 2011 print media has been tossed out the window like a bad habit. Consumers have traded in there piles of phone books for a green alternative such as a laptop or smartphone. This enables them to find more relevant information from across the internet. The saying “let your fingers do the clicking” has never been as relevant as it is in today’s marketplace.  Today people want to read reviews and research online the places they visit or purchase products from beforehand. I guess this creates some sense of security for an individual that does not have a reference or past experience with a particular business or service.

The internet is the key to today’s economy. And for a business owner to be found by a prospect or client when needed is the key to doing business. This was the idea with the Yellow Pages, and now has moved onto online Search with Google and Bing at the forefront. This new innovation has given individuals the opportunity to find exactly what they are looking for by researching reviews, and past experiences through online directories and syndication sites.

So I ask you to ask yourself; when was the last time you picked up the Yellow Pages to find a local business such as a Dentist or Roofing Contractor in your local area?

Ummm exactly, because you most likely don’t remember in that it’s been so long, right?

Now with that said, ask yourself is your business optimized across the internet with a web presence and social media profile.

Because in today’s economy business owners need every advantage possible to be successful, and being found online with a positive reputation makes cents and if it makes cents it makes dollars. So don’t short change you or your business and be found online.

Reputation Management and Local SEO are the keys to driving new business through the doors now that the Yellow Pages are fading out. Online Directories are the foundation on which this will be based on.

 

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Posted in Local SEO | 3 Comments »

4 Most Common Small Business Search Engine Marketing Mistakes

Written on February 15th, 2011 by
Categories: Google Local Optimization, Local SEO, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Most Common Search Engine Marketing Mistakes

Scared of being erased from the first page of Google?

Once you get the taste for ranking on the search engines it becomes a bug. A nervous tick that keeps you awake at night pondering how your website can rank higher for more keywords. In some instances for a small business owner trying to gain exposure on the internet without a large web presence they may be tempted to trick the search engine but this can lead to disaster.

Have you ever been flagged in your Google Places account or had your website appearing on the 1st page one day and the 7th page the next? Then you need to read this article about the 4 most common mistakes small businesses make when utilizing search engine marketing.

1) Patience – Instant gratification is great but anything on the internet takes time. It is normal to expect movement in rankings after changing your web presence although the search engines have to do their due diligence first. We suggest making optimizations to your website all at once then allowing the changes to be indexed and cached by Google before making more changes. Allow 3 – 4 weeks for changes to reflect.

2) Grey Hat SEO – One of the most common issues we see are small businesses padding the name of their Google Places Listing with keywords. This may work for a little while but ultimately will hurt your ranking once the search company’s robot finds out. It is never a good idea to just pad the keywords in instead of working them into the content. Some websites we come across have html files, alt/title tags and images being named long strings of keyword. A better approach would be to utilize one keyword in these elements or mash words together that are different but create many keywords you are going for.

3) Web Presence – More websites is not always a good idea. Sometimes we get clients with 5 – 10 websites all for the same company. If each website had different information including telephone numbers and different overall intentions they would be alright but still unnecessary. However, if each website has the same contact info and site data it will only creates confusion for the search engines.

4) Paid Placement – Another common mistake we see from small business owners is PPC through Adwords for placement on the 1st page. It is ok to use paid placement to rank if you are waiting for your organic growth from local SEO but you can lose that placement as soon as the money dries up. Organic ranking on Google does not get charged per click and will not go away once you stop paying, do not be fooled by front page placement that is not through search engine optimization.

It is true that anyone is capable of getting to the first page of Google but the internet marketing industry is changing rapidly and the algorithm for searches is always expanding. Also there are more robots scanning the web than ever looking for improper usage of linking and content.

If you can find a local SEO company with a good reputation, competitive price tag and a team that is accountable plus answers the phone, then you may as well go with them. They will be able to do the job quicker and more efficiently than someone who does not work with the search engines daily.

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Posted in Google Local Optimization, Local SEO, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing | 1 Comment »

Online Marketing Earns the Search Engine’s Respect through Relevancy

Written on October 13th, 2010 by
Categories: Online Marketing, Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Online Marketing Reputation Management

Online Marketing Reputation Management from one source

Mysterious as they seem algorithms are basically just logic through a scientific equation. Since search engines cannot tell where a business stands in real life and what it consists of through print and offline marketing, SE companies like Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask use algorithms and web crawling robots to rank a company’s prestige.

Logically if information about your company appears all over the web, most importantly on relevant sites that are business related then your business will be looked upon with respect by search engines. Online marketing earns respect by providing information about your business in relevant locations.

Consistent Data that Earns Relevancy
• Company’s name
• Complete Address
• Phone Number
• Website URL
• Email Address
• Services Offered
• Brand Carried
• Company Descriptions

If your company’s information is consistent meaning your name appears exactly the same on all forms of online marketing including capitalizations and symbols such as $, &, #, etc. then search engines will give that listing more respect. More respect from Google means more business.

To be more clear, the more pieces of relevant data the better. Be sure not to miss the little things though, if your address is 1234 East Main st. on your local business listing then it should be the same on all your online marketing. Be sure not to let small errors slip through the cracks like making it 1234 E Main st. or 1234 East Main Street, even 1234 East Main St should be taken into consideration. After all, how hard is it to keep all your companies information uniform and professional?

Reputation management for your online marketing can keep your information relevant and consistent across the web. Most likely you have heard of a local SEO expert but many times there is no real management happening. Most companies web presence optimization has no accountability and further more you need to check all across the web just to be sure that the info is getting spread.

A reputation management company still offers local SEO services but with accountability. True online rep managing companies provide graphical data along with software that can display all information about your business from the web.

Online Reputation Management provides
• Where you are listed
• To what extent you are listed
• Which sites are displaying reviews
• An average rating of reviews
• Aocial mentions such as tweets

If you want to be on the first page of Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask then you need online marketing that is relevant, consistent and manageable. Online reputation management teamed up with a local SEO expert provides just what a small business needs when attempting search engine marketing.

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Posted in Online Marketing, Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing | No Comments »

Get Reviews – A Proactive Owners Small Business Marketing Tip

Written on October 12th, 2010 by
Categories: Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Small Business Search Engine Marketing Tips

Small Business Search Engine Marketing Tips

So you’re at the forefront when it comes to small business marketing. Your website is completely optimized and you’ve done search engine submissions along with directory submissions. Basically you have a web presence that should stand out above the rest. Although when you search for your business on local sites like Google Local Business Listings, Yahoo Local and Bing Local you are on the first page but at the very bottom.

Like most small business owners who have taken on the task of search engine optimization for their website and search engine marketing for their business you are at a standstill once you’ve reached a certain position on the search engine page rankings. Where do you go from there?

If you are doing small business marketing you probably do not have a lot of time to research how to fix your problem or even manage your reputation online. Most likely you are helping customers out or you are out doing work but that’s the beauty of this tip. While you are helping customers and servicing their needs you have the opportunity to provide your business with local SEO. Expert or not all, you need to do to help boost your page on the local business listings is ask for reviews and ask for them properly.

What do I mean by properly? Small business owners are a friendly group of people who usually get along with members of the community. You’re a business owner …and that’s how you are, right? Sometimes a customer may ask you what they can do for you, other than just paying you. If you are an internet savvy owner then you know that a review on the internet could help boost your company’s reputation. So you ask them to post a review about you on Google or Yelp but you forgot to add in the most important part.

The TIP
Reviews have a greater impact when they contain keywords that support searches. Let’s say for example I have an insurance agency in Los Angeles, Ca. It is probably a very competitive market and most likely it will take a lot of work to climb to the top of the searches. Reviews from clients that contain keywords will help to boost me up to the top of the searches.

Do not be afraid to teach your customers how to add keywords into their reviews. It’s as simple as letting them know, if you write a review about my business please don’t forget to tell everyone which service I provided you and please let them know that I am this type of business. In my example a review by someone stating they got the cheapest boat insurance around after searching many insurance agencies would help me to rank for prospective clients searching for boat insurance and insurance agencies.

So a proactive owner looking to do small business marketing without the help of a reputation management company or a local SEO expert can help to boost their business to the top of the local searches on the Google Local Business Listings, Yahoo Local and Bing Local could find that the answer is right under their noses. Asking customers if they could write reviews about your company or service and asking if they can add in important facts and keywords is probably the easiest way to help your search engine marketing for a small business.

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Posted in Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing | No Comments »

Local SEO Technology Geolocation Marketing & Targeted Traffic

Written on September 29th, 2010 by
Categories: Bing / Yahoo Local Optimization, Google Local Optimization, Local SEO, Small Business Marketing
Geolocation Marketing Local SEO

Targeted Traffic comes from Geolocation Marketing

Do you know the difference between shopping and buying? Shopping means I don’t know what I want so I am looking around and weighing out my options. In other words I may waste your time having you answering my questions, showing me products or waiting for me to make my decision. Buying means I need a product or service, my money is in hand and all I want is a place to get it. Small business marketing can drive targeted traffic that is ready to make a purchase to your location through local SEO and geolocation.

Who wants to waste their time answering questions, showing products and waiting on someone for free? A prospective customer can end up never purchasing anything and all that time goes down the drain. Business owners want targeted traffic that is looking to make a purchase the same day, better yet that same hour. They are looking for customers that know which products and services they want who’s only need is a place to purchase them.

Iphones, Droids and Blackberrys all have a new technology called geolocation built in and more smartphones utilizing the technology are being released every other week. Applications provided by companies like Foursquare, YellowPages, Twitter, Facebook and others supply users with data through geolocation technology. Data such as which restaurants are nearby, how far away they are, reviews, products and services as well as their hours of operation but where do you suppose that data is generated from?

Businesses that have a strong web presence will benefit most from geolocation because the data provided is being pulled from around the internet. Since every application and device uses different ways of generating information about businesses it is a huge benefit to have your business information posted in as many places as possible. Not to mention that relevancy on the web is what drives your company to the top of the search engines.

Geolocation is new technology that will drive targeted traffic to your location if you are marketing correctly online. After all technology is the future of business and it is the future of marketing. If your internet marketing efforts are not geared towards location or mobile browsing then you will be missing out on a large market in the future. Local search engine optimization (SEO) will help you spread your company’s data across the internet so that applications can find it and display it to targeted traffic in your area.

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Posted in Bing / Yahoo Local Optimization, Google Local Optimization, Local SEO, Small Business Marketing | No Comments »

Google TV Brings Search Engine Marketing To Those Searching

Written on September 28th, 2010 by
Categories: Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Google TV Search Engine Marketing

Search Engine Marketing As Seen On Google TV

Can you say bye bye to your favorite standard cable channels? Not this generation. Although we are a breed of convenience, so having the power of a customizable query of programs and videos available all across the web is not out of the picture.

Google TV is going to bring the search engines to your living room. With a 46 inch HDTV monitor by Sony, or plug and play add-on box how could you go wrong? Google is going to combine your standard cable channels with search engine results and millions of videos online. The television is running on the Android operating system with the ability to run Google Maps, Gmail, Facebook apps, Youtube, and Twitter.

So with that said you can say Opportunity is Knocking.

Business owners now have the ability to reach their local market in their living rooms. This new opportunity is available through Google Maps and Youtube optimization also known as web presence optimization. This cost effective approach to branding and marketing your business with content, videos and informational commercials is genius.

Now small business owners are in the same arena as the big corporations. With the right support and guidance they now have the ability to reach the masses to compete and dominate.

Market shifter yes I said “market shifter”, I believe this will resemble the change from CD’s to Mp3’s and wave files, but this is going to be the change from movie theaters and DVD’s to YouTube and Hulu in your living room on the wall. Reaching millions has never been easier, but with that said ruining your reputation or having your reputation ruined is just as easy. As I said in my last post make sure you have a reputation management system or team in place before marketing online.

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Posted in Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Marketing | No Comments »

The Mobile Takeover – Local SEO Small Business Marketing for Smartphones

Written on September 24th, 2010 by
Categories: Local SEO, Search Engine Marketing
The Mobile Takeover

The Mobile Takeover – Local Search Engine Marketing

Have you noticed the Mobile Takeover or the word WiFi popping up everywhere? Well this is bigger than you just having the ability to get on the internet from virtually anywhere in the world. This is a plan by industry leaders to create an infrastructure to support the communication needs of today’s society and create the most convenient method possible to find the answer to any question (search) or facts (news).

So with that said the world today is mobile and on the go. The mobile takeover is in full gear with smartphones such as the Iphone, Droid, Blackberry, IPads and Navigational systems in automobiles. This is an open door into a new revenue stream for a local business owner to be a convenient answer to a search in the palm of a prospects hand. Americans are driven by convenience and the internet these days, so when a business owner makes his or her online presence convenient, meaning to come up on the front page of the search engines for relevant keywords and/or phrases. They will be doing their small business marketing the biggest favor that would increase growth and branding.

Mobile technology and wireless internet are door openers. Working to get your foot in the door is one way at looking at optimizing your business, which would be to have a website that is SEO friendly and mobile compatible. Now what? What do you do with your foot in the door? The answer is kicking the door down and getting recognized through local search engine optimization and search engine marketing.

A local SEO expert can be the answer to local business owners needs for generating business in new markets. A local SEO expert will guide a business owner through this mobile takeover to take advantage of this unique opportunity. The opportunities are endless in this day and age for a business owner to reach customers and grow brand awareness. And with the right team and plan in place a business owner is arming themselves with the ability to be a dominate player in their local area and industry.

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Posted in Local SEO, Search Engine Marketing | No Comments »

LocalSEOSites.com Youtube Commercial Released for Search Engine Optimization

Written on August 27th, 2010 by
Categories: Bing / Yahoo Local Optimization, Google Local Optimization, Local SEO

Small business can benefit tremendously from local search engine optimization provided by an SEO expert. LocalSEOSites.com has released a small Youtube commercial to show the benefits small businesses have when marketing to their local community online with search engines. Watch the video and leave a comment to let us know how it was. Also be sure to join our Feedburner to get optimization tips, tricks, how-to’s and 101′s sent directly to you.

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Posted in Bing / Yahoo Local Optimization, Google Local Optimization, Local SEO | No Comments »