A secret way to improve your local business competitive advantage on the web is to spy on your competition and then simply outdo them. In this article we will look at how to do that using Google Trends.
Google Trends is often used to get trend information on hot topics and searches, but you can also use it to investigate the performance of your competitor’s website over a period of time.
Follow these three steps to get data on your competition:
Go to Google.com/ trends
In the search term box, type in the website address of your competition. You can compare two or more competitors by adding their website addresses.
In the new window that appears, click on the Websites link
Google Trends shows you the following data:
Daily Unique Visitors
The daily number of unique visitors that visits the site over a period of time is shown using a graph. You can change the time frame using the pull down menu titled “all years”.
By analyzing this data, you will be able to tell what years, months and days attract the most or least number of visitors and also if the traffic to the site is increasing or declining.
Regions
A list of countries where the site is most visited will also give you pointers on your competitor’s popular markets and you can even know which regions in a country attract the most traffic by simply clicking on the country link.
Also visited
This list shows other websites visited by the same people who visit your competition. This gives you insight into other sites your local business is competing with. You can use the same process to investigate them too.
Also searched for
This list gives you search terms that are used most by those visitors. You can use this list to add new keywords to your content to draw in more visitors to your website. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
A final resource that helps you spy on your local business competition is the website called Alexa. Alexa is most popular for its ability to rank websites based on traffic flow.
Go to Alexa.com and type in your competitors website address in the search box and you will be given the following data upfront:
Alexa traffic rank
Traffic rank in the US
Number of sites linking into the website
To get more detailed information, click on the ‘get details’ button and you’ll uncover more secrets about your competition such as:
A brief summary of the products or services they offer, the percentage of traffic that comes from search engines, the number of years the site has been in operation, the demographics of the visitors they appeal to, how long each visitor takes on average on each pageview and to the site in total.
In-depth analysis of various categories such as:
Traffic stats- unravel the sources of their traffic
Search-find the top search terms driving traffic to the site from search engines
Demographics-discover who their most popular visitors are by age, gender, race, education and location
Contact- find out who owns the site, their contact and the size of their company
Reviews- check out positive and negative reviews about the site
Related links- shows the link network they have developed
Clickstream-shows you the sites visitors go to after visiting the competitors site (downstream) and the sites they visited immediately before landing on their site (upstream)
I hope that this series of articles on how to legally spy on your competition has given you the tools to measure the strengths and weaknesses of your competition and enabled you to compare your local business to theirs so that you can outsmart them. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
If you have been struggling to improve your rankings and wonder why your competition always seems to outrank you, there are resources available that will unmask their strengths and weaknesses. In this article we look at how to do this using Quantcast.
The beauty of Quantcast is that it offers your local business great insight into the demographics of your competition. Demographics reveal the characteristics of your target market so that you can customize your marketing to reach out to them.
To get you started, go to Quantcast.com and type in the website address of your competition in search box at the top of the page. Quantcast will then show you some interesting information:
1. Traffic
The estimated monthly number of visitors per month in the United States. You can also view the number per day or week and the trends over 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
2. Demographics- the demographics are divided into the following categories
Male and Female
Age bracket-3-12,13-17,18-34,35-49,50+
Race- Caucasian, African American, Asian, Hispanic and Other
No kids and Has Kids from age 0 to 17under the age of 18
No kids and had kids from age 0-2
No kids and has kids from age 3-12
No kids and has kids from age 13-17
Annual income brackets $0-30k, $30-60k, $60-100k and over $100k
Educational level: no college, college and graduate school
To get a simplified overall view of your competitors demographics, click on the ‘demographics’ tab and Quantcast will display the people your competitor’s site is most popular with in the various categories.
Armed with this information, your business can tailor its marketing efforts to appeal to the same popular target markets and imitate the success of the competition. In our next article we will look at a third resource to spy on your competition called Alexa.
Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
If you have ever wanted to advertise your local business using the Google Adwords program, this article will show you how to create an Adwords account in three easy steps. It should take you not more than ten minutes to set up a new account.
Go to google.com/Adwords and follow these three steps
Step 1 Create an account
Create Google account: this is where you create a new account. Google asks you if
you have an email account and password that you use with its other services like Adsense, Gmail, Orkut or iGoogle or
you do not use these services
Chose the second option b) to create a new account.
Choose an email address name
Type in a password
Re-enter your password
Fill in the captcha section
Click ‘Create account’
Step 2 Set Time Zone and Currency
Note that you cannot change your time zone and currency and they remain permanent so think carefully as you choose them
Choose your time zone by selecting your preferred country and the right time zone for your location in the country
Choose the currency you would like to use to pay Google and the one Google will use to display all money values in your account
Click ‘Create’
.
Step 3 Verify Account
Google congratulates you on opening your new Adwords account and requests you to open your email to click on the confirmation link they have sent you. They do this to make sure that the email address you provided is correct.
Go to your email account, open your inbox and click on the verification link sent by Google
Google confirms that your email address is correct and that your Adwords account is now active.
You can now go ahead and create advertisements with the Google Adwords program that will drive traffic to your local business website. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
A common mistake business owners make in video marketing is to make a great video, upload it and then do nothing, and yet wonder why they never sell anything. The truth of the matter is that any self-respecting local business wants to ring up sales not just to entertain or inform people.
The problem is that we are often reluctant to pinpoint exactly what we want to accomplish. So as a business owner, ask yourself: what exactly do I want the viewer to do after seeing this video?
Do I want them to opt-in to my email list?
Do I want them to buy a product?
Do I want them to visit my blog?
Do I want them to join my Facebook fanpage?’
Do I want them to Tweet me?
Once you know the specific action you want your potential viewer to take, then tell them to do just that. Craft your copy to include your call -to -action message in these three areas of your video:
Within your video content
Within your annotation text
Within your description
Here are a few call- to- action sentences you may use:
This video shows just one use of our product. Get more free tips when you purchase this amazing product by visiting my blog at abc.com/blog
Click here to watch more cosmetic surgery videos
Sign up for our free newsletter on interior decoration by clicking this link
By doing this, you will be able to see tangible results from your video marketing. Better yet, you will be able to accurately measure how effective a particular video campaign helping you to know what works and what doesn’t work. For example you will know which copy works better, which videos bring in more sales conversions, which videos generate more opt-ins and so on. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
“The money is in the list.” Almost everyone marketing online repeats this statement over and over again, but in reality the money is in the list only if people actually open your emails. If your subscriber doesn’t open his mail, your business will not make a sale.
The average person gets around ten emails a day and if he has multiple email accounts or forgets to open his emails for a couple of days, then he is in all likelihood going to be staring at an Inbox full of over 20 messages. Considering these facts, why would he open your business email and not those from others?
The secret to getting your emails opened is found in the title and first line of your message. These are the two parts of your message people see first as they scan the list of emails in their inbox.
Use these tips to create strong and compelling titles and first sentences for all your emails:
1. Use power words- these are words that are grab people’s attention
Create curiosity E.g. Did you get this product? Guess who’s coming to town?
Use Humor
Create shock factor E.g. Facebook overthrows Google
Stir Controversy
State Facts e.g. 10 people will die of cancer today, Fly to London for $500 this month
Employ Boldness E.g. New, important, Open now, Here it is, Free, Discover, Secret
2. Format your title
Use Brackets or parentheses. Believe it or not, these actually double your open rates.
For example instead of writing your title as-
Important garden chairs on sale, you would rewrite that as
Important (garden chairs on sale) or (Important) garden chairs on sale
Capitalize one or two words in your title. Using the above example, the title would now read (IMPORTANT) Garden chairs on sale
Use quotes to also get attention. E.g. New “Italian Cooking” EBook.
3. Short titles. Use no more than 40 characters and make sure your title hits your subscriber’s sweet spot of need. Keeping your title short enables it to be read faster and keep the readers attention.
I hope you now realize that your business’s emails have to be captivating enough to grab your subscriber’s attention and that it only takes a little creativity to increase your open rates.
Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
An email list is a great way to create a continuous stream of income for your local business because you can automatically communicate with a targeted list of people over and over again without starting the whole sales process from scratch.
But how exactly does one build that coveted email list? First one needs to drive traffic to your squeeze page and secondly one needs to get them to sign up on that squeeze page.
Here are ways to drive traffic to your squeeze page:
Social media- you can drive your Twitter and Facebook followers to your squeeze page through your tweets or your business’s fanpage. The wonderful thing about generating leads this way is that your followers can help you drive even more traffic for free due to the viral nature of social media.
Article Marketing- this free method works by submitting articles related to your business to article directories and providing a link to your squeeze page through the author resource box or through anchor text links.
Video Marketing- uploaded videos on YouTube or other video sharing sites should have links that direct people to your squeeze page
Pay per click – if you can afford it, this is a very quick way to drive traffic to your squeeze page. You can place ads on search engines, social media sites or specific websites that have high levels of traffic in your target market.
Affiliate traffic- you can sign up affiliates who will do the work of driving traffic to your squeeze page in exchange for a fee per signup. You obviously have to consider the cost to benefit ratio before you use this method.
Having driven traffic to your squeeze page, it is now time to persuade people to sign up. How to do that is covered in our next article, “How To Build Your Local Business Email List: Part Two- Super Squeeze Pages”
Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
When I think of ways to get my email list subscribers to click my links and take action that will generate sales, I often remember the saying that goes “you can get a horse to the well, but you can’t force it to drink.”
That analogy is so true in email marketing because you can have a list with thousands of people on it, but that doesn’t mean anything unless you’re able to turn that list into hard cash when you need to.
Here are ways to get people to take action
Give them clear cut calls to action. This might seems obvious but unless you tell people to take specific action, they won’t. People often need to be taken by the hand and shown exactly what they need to do. You therefore need to include action sentences such as: Click here, Buy Now, Place your Order Here, Click this link, Here’s how to get your product.
Provide money back guarantees. These put your prospects at ease and give them confidence to whip out their credit cards. Offering a solid and genuine guarantee protects your prospect from bad deals and getting ripped off. You can offer a 30 day guarantee where they can get a full refund if they are not happy with a product or service.
Quality guarantees. This is useful for certain products especially technical gadgets, machinery, automobiles and food products. Assure your clients with warranties, quality certifications etc
Offer to covers extra costs like shipping and handling so that your customer feels your business is covering more risk in the transaction than they are. This will also give you an edge over your competitors who may not be willing to foot these expenses. As you go the extra mile in customer service, customers will choose you over other local businesses.
Offer bonuses such as accessories related to your offer for free. For example, a coffee shop may offer a free mug on all purchases of fresh roasted coffee beans. You can also increase your sales by offering bonus packages where you sell a product package for a discounted price.
For example, the coffee shop could offer a three- pack package of fresh roasted coffee beans in different aromas for a discounted price that results in a $10 saving to the customer. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
If you are new to the concept of social media marketing, then the concepts might seem completely foreign to you.
Luckily, once you understand just a few basics about how to use social media marketing to your advantage…
…you’ll enjoy increased business success faster than you can probably imagine.
Here are the three top ways to use social media marketing to your advantage – no matter what line of business you are in!
Not On Facebook? Open An Account!
Yes, Facebook started as a way for college students to communicate – but it’s so much more than that now!
If your business does not have a Facebook presence, you are making a major marketing mistake…
…and even worse, you’re probably paying more than you should to market your business.
Facebook is an inexpensive way to reach a wide range of clients and truly connect with them.
With Facebook, you can broadcast catchy new marketing campaigns as soon as you think of them.
You can let your friends and fans know about new products you have, and you can clue them in to an upcoming sale.
You can give them a sense of pride for dealing with a local business.
Whatever the case may be, Facebook can be your new best friend – literally.
What’s So Great About Twitter? Tweet For Success!
Twitter is one of the best ways to keep your contacts updated about anything.
Whether you’re changing your hours, running a lunch special, or offering a bargain on a repeat service for existing customers, tweeting to customers gives them an immediate reminder that you are thinking of them, and value them.
It also gives you a platform for creating a feeling of immediate need, for whatever it is you’re offering, within your customers’ minds.
Find Someone To Manage Your Social Media
As the owner or manager of a small business, you have enough on your plate.
You probably work long hours, and the last thing you want is one more task to take on – especially one that might seem completely foreign.
Get a marketing company with a good reputation to take on the task of maintaining your social media marketing.
You’ll reap all the benefits, and your return on investment will be incredible. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
Social media marketing is an approach to marketing that uses social media outlets like facebook, twitter, foursquare and others in an attempt to promote a change in people's behaviors…
…so as to encourage in some way the betterment of the individual or of society, as well as the betterment of the business atmosphere through a feeling of interconnectedness.
The same methods used in conventional commercial marketing are used in social media marketing – but with a twist…
…the end-goal is often to benefit the person or society as a whole in addition to the organization that is doing the marketing.
Social media marketers attempt to influence a social change in the business atmosphere in several ways.
They use specific call to action marketing methods, and they offer rewards to those who want to participate.
Let’s pretend we’re talking about a company that wants to reward customers and spread a social message at the same time.
That company may try to make a change by:
* Changing internal attitudes (e.g. educate about the harm of cigarettes to convince people to stop smoking for their own personal safety)…
…while offering rewards like a gym membership free for a month with proof from a witness that smoking has ceased.
* Removing the need for the individual to change or to convince them to stop using a product in the first place (e.g. creating a 100% safer cigarette or a cigarette substitute).
As you can see, the two examples provided are very different.
The gym wants clients, and they want to promote better health.
The cigarette substitute marketer understands people like to smoke and wants to give them a (we hope) healthier alternative.
Some examples of how social media marketing is used include:
* requesting that people not smoke in public areas (All kinds of businesses can promote non-smoking and offer rewards that can help people quit)
* convincing people to obey speed limits (Police departments and school systems like to give messages like this)
* encouraging the use of contraceptives (Public health messages)
* encouraging people to come try a new product, or sign up for a trial service (any business could use this!)
Social media marketing combines a mix of traditional marketing principles that include the “four Ps” of marketing. These are:
1. Product: Ranging from tangible products to intangible ideas.
2. Price: What the consumer needs to do in order to obtain the social marketing product.
3. Place: The way that the product reaches the consumer.
4. Promotion: Using advertising, public relations, promotions, media advocacy, personal selling and entertainment vehicle to create and sustain demand for the product.
In addition, some social media marketers add four additional “Ps” to contribute to a successful program (this applies particularly to nonprofits):
1. Publics: External and internal groups involved in the process/target and secondary audiences, staff, supervisors of program.
2. Partnership: Organizations and audiences with similar goals.
3. Policy: Advocating change in social policies to precipitate and encourage changes.
4. Purse strings: Discovering funding (corporate sponsors, state grants, etc.) for the program.
According to a 20-page publication published by Turning Point designed to help people apply effective social marketing to their public health programs…
…and practices, the following table summarized exactly what social marketing is and what it is not:
Social Media Marketing IS:
* A social or behavior change strategy
* Most effective when it activates people
* Designed for those who have a reason to care and who are ready for change
* Strategic, and requires efficient use of resources
* Integrated, and works on the "installment plan"
Social Media Marketing IS NOT:
* Just advertising
* A clever slogan or messaging strategy
* Reaching everyone through a media blitz
* An image campaign
* Done in a vacuum
* A quick process
Behavior-induced change is not easy – and the proof of the pudding is to ascertain whether your marketing plan made a difference.
If your target audience in fact is engaging in the desired performance, then you have succeeded in your endeavor.
If you can establish a cause-and-effect relationship between your social media marketing program and changes in the buying behavior of your clients or the action your nonprofit’s participants take, then you have succeeded. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
Social media marketing is a necessity for growing your business in today’s climate.
While just about everyone knows at least a few things about how to make social media marketing work well…
…hardly anybody has a good understanding about the type of mistakes that can be made, nor do most people know how to avoid those mistakes.
The good news is, we’re about to put you in the ranks of the few –
…here are three top social media marketing mistakes companies make, plus valuable insight for avoiding these mistakes.
Failing To Monitor Your Social Media
You’ve done a great job of setting up your Facebook page, and you’ve made friends and fans all over the place.
Don’t expect your social media marketing to keep on running on its’ own.
One reason social media marketing works so uncannily well is its’ “social” aspect.
You should be updating constantly (at least once every day or every two days) and you should be paying attention to what friends and fans are telling you.
Read the messages that come in – don’t just delete them!
Answer every message that seems to require a response.
If you fail at the “social” aspect of social media marketing, you’re just another company, just another cog in the machine.
One of the best ways to avoid making this mistake is to assign someone the task of monitoring your social media for you.
This way, you don’t have to wade through everything that comes in, and you can be a resource for the person or team who handles your social media marketing.
Your customers will appreciate the way you interact with them, and you’ll be getting an awesome ROI.
Ignoring Complaints And Failing To Admit Fault
This is one of the biggest social media marketing mistakes any company of any size can make.
Imagine you have a dissatisfied customer, who decides to spread his aggravation with your company all over twitter and Facebook.
What do you do? Should you ignore the guy and hope he goes away?
Absolutely not! If you make this mistake, people are going to start to wonder.
Be friendly and courteous, and show your customer you care about him. Make a public apology.
While eating crow might not feel the best, it’s a great way to show that “social” side of your business.
Who knows, you may even endear yourself to your customers, even more.
Everyone makes mistakes, so if you’re caught in a mistake, don’t lie or cover it up.
Handle it, and move on.
Failing To Provide Incentives
Don’t expect fans and friends to flock your way without providing them with an incentive to do so.
Offer special discounts to your loyal customers, and give out helpful hints on a regular basis.
My favorite greenhouse gives gardening tips every day, and for some reason, I can’t help but go there and buy more plants and products.
I also give them lots of recommends.
This is just one example of how much people love to believe that they are getting a value, and illustrates the fact they enjoy passing the things they like on to others.
This is one of the biggest reasons social media marketing works, so give good incentives, and watch your business grow. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
Video marketing is super hot, and everyone wants a piece of the pie.
Chances are, you have been subjected to video marketing yourself – some good, and some terrible.
As you are planning your own video marketing campaign, set yourself up for success – not abject failure!
Here are three top reasons video marketing campaigns fail to work as intended.
Reason #3: Your Video Is Long and Boring
Why in the world would anyone want to voluntarily sit through ten minutes worth of someone droning on about whatever it is that he or she is (quite obviously) trying to sell?
And, why would that same beleaguered viewer want to pass a long, boring video on to a friends?
Keep your video marketing campaign interesting. Get to the point. Finish up in three minutes or less. Create interest and curiosity.
A long, boring video will tank, every time.
Reason #2: Poor Quality
If your video is hard to see, or is headache inducing due to a poor picture, people will leave.
It doesn’t matter how funny it is, how great your message is, or how good a job you’ve done with marketing it.
Be sure your video looks good, and that people can hear the message you are trying to convey.
Reason #1: Your Video Is Nothing Special
Ouch! Don’t take it personally if your first few attempts at creating a video don’t get you the kind of results you’re looking for.
Here are some things to remember that will make producing an effective video marketing campaign just a bit easier:
* There are a zillion videos out there on the internet.
Which ones are getting views? A new video that doesn’t convey a passionate message in an entertaining way is just not going to be watched and shared.
* Before you start, take some time to look at what others are doing.
What appeals to you? What doesn’t? Why?
* Use what you have learned to create something special and unique, and let your marketing specialist help you with this process.
Don’t be afraid to step out of the box!
We live in an age where fun and creativity are king.
Remember: You want your video marketing campaign to be enjoyed and shared.
Have fun with the process, and your business will benefit in remarkable ways. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
If yours is among the many small businesses that has taken advantage of everything social media marketing has to offer, then you might find yourself struggling to keep up at times.
You might wish you had more hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to do plus stay on top of all the latest social media marketing trends.
The Problem: Keep Up With Demands
Just about two short years ago, social media marketing was a bit less complicated than it is now.
Business owners felt they could manage everyday tasks plus keep up with their Twitter feeds and Facebook fan pages.
Since social media has enjoyed such a boom, there are a lot more options for monetizing as well as expanding marketing opportunities.
If you’re trying to do it on your own, you’re very likely feeling completely overwhelmed.
You know social media marketing is important, and there is no way you could (or should!) cut it out of the picture.
The question is, how can you take advantage of everything social media marketing has to offer, while running your business and living your life?
If you are one of the millions of people who stay up until the wee hours administering a social media marketing campaign, getting a few hours of sleep, spending all day running the business, and burning yourself out completely in the process, then you need an answer – and you need it fast.
The Solution: Delegate
If you are tired of burning the candle at both ends, it’s time to do something about it.
Hiring a company or individual who specializes in handling social media marketing for businesses can give you back some of those precious hours – last time I counted, there were still only twenty four of them in a day.
By letting someone else wade through the heaps of information, manage your fans, friends, and tweets, upload your videos, and keep your blog moving, you can take back the hours you need to replenish yourself and truly enjoy your life more.
An added bonus: Using a firm that specializes in SEO and social media marketing can help your business grow in a whole new direction.
Making this one simple change in the way you do business can make a difference in your company’s outlook – as well as your own! Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
Local business owners who succeed with SEO marketing can compete in an ever-changing marketplace, and can keep their businesses operating and thriving, even during challenging times like these.
If you’re new to SEO, it is understandable that you’ll have a lot of questions.
When we talk about how SEO works, there is a lot of ground to cover. Like anything else, you’ve got to have a starting point.
Keyword research is one of the most important aspects to using SEO within the framework of your business.
Here are three things that will make the process of keyword research geared toward eventual SEO marketing a lot easier.
Don’t worry – once you get started, you’ll find it’s easier than you may think.
Tools Are Important!
Google’s Adwords for small businesses costs a little money, but is one of the easiest, most comprehensive tools you can use to research keywords.
If you want to get your SEO marketing campaign up and running quickly, hiring an expert to do the research for you can take the frustration as well as most of the time out of the process.
While you might feel tempted to do SEO marketing research all on your own using free tools, keep the fact that your time is valuable in mind, and weigh the costs of using that time to do your research versus using your time in a more profitable way.
Get In The Back Door
If your business is in a specific niche – let’s say, restaurants in Washington, DC, then you might have a tough time trying to outrank top competition.
So, shoot for the back door.
Use the fact that many consumers use misspelled words, and keep that in mind while you’re looking for the right keywords to use within your SEO marketing plan.
In addition, think about using words that competitors might not have thought of, and think about using various combinations of keywords to help your local business rank better.
Be Specific!
Combine keywords so your site is easy for search engines to find.
Using our DC restaurant example, let’s say you offer sushi.
Use combinations of the words “sushi”, “Washington”, and “DC” instead of just using the word “sushi” to try to rank.
Test this out for yourself: Type “sushi” into your search box, and look at what comes up.
Next, type “sushi Washington”, and you’ll see some better results.
Finally, type “sushi Washington DC” and you’ll see a comprehensive list of restaurants that rank for sushi in DC.
Failing to be specific is a major waste of time and money, so don’t skip this step!
With just a little knowledge of your own, as well as a clear goal in mind and a smattering of professional assistance, you can conduct your research quickly and start optimizing – it’s money well spent, especially when you consider the fact that SEO marketing is one of the best ways to make your business, whatever it may be, better than ever. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
Your small business has finally gone online, and you're starting to see some success – congratulations!
Let's take a few minutes to discuss blogging as a tool for marketing your products and services.
I have found, in talking to business owners, that there is some confusion about blogs – what they are, why they exist, and whether or not blogging is beneficial.
What Is A Blog?
A blog, short for “Web log” is a way to inform the world about what you have to offer.
It's usually written in an informal, easy to read format.
Many people like to include a shot of humor into their blogs, while others are all about business or promoting special deals.
In a nutshell, a blog is a way to get people to notice your company.
If it's fun and entertaining to read, or if it contains special information that the customer has not been able to find anywhere else, you're likely to have made a new friend for your business.
This being said, you've got to know how to write and use your blogs so that Google notices them and picks them up when people are searching for the product or service you are trying to promote.
You can write all day, but if you don't optimize, you're basically wasting your time.
Why Is Optimization Important?
Optimization gets you noticed.
People who are searching for what you have to offer will click on the results that show up at the top of their search – so you want to place yourself or your business into a position to get those clicks.
You want to be noticed!
If you don't optimize, your blog won't be helpful.
Sure, you may have some customers who know about it follow and comment, but you won't be using it as an effective marketing tool.
You'll never be able to attract new business with a blog that is not optimized.
Top Optimization Tips
* Be specific! Name your location and your service specifically.
* Find out what keywords are most often associated with your business, and use them!
* Don't be afraid to get help. An experienced SEO team is worth its' weight in gold. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
LinkedIn is a social network that is geared toward linking together small businesses.
This network – well over twelve million strong – provides an opportunity for folks to stay in daily and weekly touch with their current clients, as well as their potential clients (leads).
Here is a short list of the ways that you can use LinkedIn to improve your chances at small business success!
* As noted, use LinkedIn to stay in touch with people who resonate with your business. These can be current clients, potential clients, or folks who are interested in your business or have similar or related businesses.
* Ask your peers about their vendors.
* Trade services.
* Use the LinkedIn’s Groups directory to search for industry associations and networks.
* Find out which conventions your peers (and possibly your competition) is attending (or are likely to be planning to attend). Similarly answer questions and show your expertise.
* Use Group Answers (pull-down menu in Groups) to see what questions people are asking (and who those people might be!)
* Fund Raising: Though you might not actually ask for help raising funds for your venture, just being connected to the right people may provoke them to offer you assistance.
* Combine your efforts with other social networking accounts such as Twitter – or even Facebook (You can actually sync your contacts between LinkedIn and Twitter.).
* Provide links to your small business blogs to show your expertise in your area
Make sure you abide by the rules that LinkedIn sets for business and small businesses. You want to avoid any association with spamming.
Like any other business-related activities, this can all take time.
Yes, you have to check in daily and spend time reading other people's blogs and questions and answers.
But using them also adds a certain mystique to your corporate image.
Do you want to be seen as the conventional, stodgy homegrown business?
Or do you want to be seen as an entrepreneur?
Finally: Be forewarned: Like other social networks, LinkedIn can become a respite away from business-related business.
Be mindful of this and steer clear of the temptation to socialize.
Keep community and business functions separate, or better yet, hire a firm to take on some of the most time consuming social media marketing tasks for you.
Your time will be your own, and everything that needs attention will be handled immediately. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
You know your small business exists.
You probably spend a good portion of every day running it!
The question is, how can you get people who have never been there before to notice you?
Google Places is one great way to do it.
Whether you are on a well-travelled corner, or if you’re tucked away on a winding country lane, Google Places will inform potential customers about your location, as well as give them information about the products or services you offer.
Why Google?
While there are other search engines out there,
Google is by far the most popular, as well as the most comprehensive of them all.
What Is Google Places?
Google Places is a free service offered by Google, to help business owners inform consumers about their hours of operation, products and services, special offers, and more.
Your business can display photographs and videos on Google Places, and you can communicate with clientele and get important feedback that can help you improve your bottom line.
What are Google Places Tags?
Google Places offers and additional service that places special tags that look like coupons over your business.
Tags are a way to stand out to potential customers, and while they don’t improve SEO rank, they do create better perceived value.
As of January, 2011, it is free to try Google Places Tags for 30 days, and the service costs a flat rate of $25 per month if you choose to continue using it.
Why Google Places Works So Well
According to the folks at Google, one in five internet searches are directly related to locations.
Since Google places allows business owners the ability to update their offerings in real time, customers can find you and you have the opportunity to create a sense of excitement by adding special coupons just for customers who find you on Google Places.
Add Google Places for smartphone users, and you just might see your business improve by leaps and bounds.
The bottom line is, your customers and potential new clients are looking for what they want on Google, and if you are there, you are going to be noticed.
No one can pass up a great deal, so come up with a promotion, put it up on your Google Places Place Page, and watch the magic happen. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
How Many Friends Do You Have? Facebook Builds Loyalty
There's a lot of buzz around social media marketing, and for good reason.
Let's take a few minutes to look at how facebook builds loyalty.
If you're like most people, then you probably have a personal facebook account, where you keep track of your friends and family.
You might have located an old high school sweetheart, or found out that your old nemesis from sixth grade is now a preacher in middle America.
Whatever the case may be, facebook is a fun way for people to connect.
It's also extremely addictive – and that makes it a super effective marketing tool – one of the best, least expensive ways to build loyalty.
While you might be one of the few folks who does stay off facebook in your personal life, people like you are few and far between.
Let's take a closer look at why facebook is such an important part of any social media marketing campaign for small, local business!
Build Loyalty
Have you ever noticed that the more stake you feel you have in something, and the better relationship you feel you have with an entity, the more likely you are to feel loyal toward it? Whether your company offers a certain type of service or a certain product, having a presence on facebook and inviting your customers and potential customers to join will help you build a loyal following.
Facebook Accounts Build Themselves
Well, not really – you do have to interact to make the most of facebook.
But, as social media marketing goes, facebook is easy.
Here's an example:
You build a facebook profile with basic information about your business and a few snazzy snapshots.
Now you're up on facebook, but you don't have any friends yet.
Don't worry – they'll show up.
Once you've gotten your profile up, it's time to start looking for people you know.
Go through your customer list, and look for them on facebook.
Invite these people to be friends or fans! Once you have some friends or fans, invite them to participate in a special offer – let's say you have a coffeehouse:
Facebook Friday! Friends and Fans get a latte for $2.
Come in and see our new fireplace!
You'll be swamped on Friday, and you'll be building brand loyalty through social media marketing. So, take a look at facebook, see what different companies are offering, and come up with your own plan. If you are pressed for time, consider hiring a consultant to help you with this aspect of marketing your business via social media – you'll be thrilled with the results. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
You’ve heard all the buzz, and your curiosity has been piqued.
What in the world is social media marketing, and, can your company benefit from it?
What is Social Media Marketing?
In a nutshell, social media marketing is a form of marketing your business via platforms labeled “social media.”
Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and LinkedIn might be things you have heard of…
…and you might very well have noticed certain types of businesses using these platforms to create excitement about the products and services they have to offer.
Why is Social Media Marketing Successful?
Social media marketing at its finest helps businesses to connect with existing clients and potential customers on a whole new level.
People find things they like, and they share them with others.
As the sharing continues, the businesses that use social media marketing to their advantage see amazing growth…
…and find that their interactions with their clientele are, overall, much more positive.
What Kind of Businesses Should Use Social Media Marketing?
Whether you have an apple orchard or a dairy farm, a restaurant or a bike shop, an auto dealership or a nightclub,
a midwifery practice or a life insurance company, social media marketing should be part of your overall picture.
Simply put, there is no type of business that cannot put social media marketing to work!
Let’s pretend for a moment that you have an apiary.
You and your honey bees spend summers growing flowers and making honey.
How can social media marketing work for you?
First, you connect with people who are interested in what you have to offer.
You don’t make them come to you – you link to them.
Linking to other businesses is helpful, so in your case, let’s make friends with local restaurants, bakeries, greenhouses, and farmers.
They’re out there!
Now that you are friends with them, you can attract their friends.
You’re suddenly very popular – and people want your honey.
They find out you sell honey online, and they order it like crazy.
Now, you keep the buzz going.
Keep putting pictures of your gardens and videos of your bees up on your Facebook page.
Make it fascinating. Show your passion, and share your interest in keeping bee populations healthy – sell honey and related products all at the same time.
As you do this, you’ll find you’ve got the kind of clients you want and need - and best of all, you don’t need to do much to make this happen.
No matter what kind of business you have, get in touch with a social media marketing expert and put them to work.
You’ll find the rewards are absolutely amazing. Browse our Digital Marketing Services at https://www.RedCowAdvertising.com/
