Number One Question for Small Business

How Do I Promote My Business With Online Marketing?

Some cost-effective ideas to utilize the power of the Internet:

Potential customers will find your website using Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In the long term this could be one of your most dominant tactics. The perks of search engine optimization are obvious and measurable. How does SEO work? Very easily, if your website doesn't rank high in the search engines (hopefully the 1st or 2nd page) for your leading search terms (keywords), more likely your potential customers won’t see your listing. 90% of people who search online will not look further than the 1st page when searching for products or services. Web sites prominently displayed on the first page of Google or other search engines, get the most visitors, and this translates into more customers.

Social media marketing (Facebook,Twitter.etc) are just as competitive as Google, as social media platforms businesses are connecting with potential customers. Using Facebook and Twitter allows your business to create trust and exposure. Nearly everyone is familiar with Twitter and Facebook, and a huge amount of local and small businesses are taking advantage of this with increasing regularity. Why not you?. This is a free way to be seen by potential consumers who need your product or service. Creative use of Social Media will quickly and easily mark you as a knowledgeable business.

(PPC)Pay per click advertising – The PPC ads show on the top and right-hand side of Google's search results. This is a fast way to capture traffic to your site, but it can be costly. Also, this isn’t as effective as regular (organic) ranking. Over 80% of every click goes to regular listings with only the leftovers 15% going to Pay-Per-Click ads. One more downside to PPC ads is they stop showing when you stop paying, while the regular(organic) listing will stay for years without any more effort on your part.



Google Business (used to be called Places) – Most small businesses are geared toward their local community. If this is your business, your website must target your local area as city and state. When people use search engines to find products or service, Google knows their general location and will return results based on the search term. DO THIS FOR YOUR BUSINESS TODAY: Create a Google Business account with relevant information about your business and business categories. In some cases, your business will already be listed. You just need to claim it and enhance what Google already knows about your business. Local search results appear at the top of the 1st 1st-page results, before the organic listings. Test this out yourself by typing your product or service in Google and see what happens.


Your competitors are already using this great tool. Don't lose out! Potential new customers, especially, since this is a free service from Google.

If Local Business Consulting can help you with any of the above-listed items; please don't hesitate to contact us.
 Sign Up Today for our Free Website Analysis Report.

This report includes:
1. How your business appears to the search engines.
2. Which keywords are associated with your company.
3. Analysis of the structure of your website, i.e. description, meta tags, header tags, etc.
4. How you stack up with your competition.
5. Recommendations on how to better position your company on the Web.

Local Business Consulting Services Include:
Google+
Facebook Fanpages
Facebook Ad Campaigns
Search Engine Optimization
Website Maintenance
Keyword Research

Internet Marketing Without the Hassle

Finding a good  internet marketing company for your business can be tough. 

One internet marketing enthusiast is on a quest to change that.

 Marketing on the internet can sometimes feel as if you are learning something in "GreeK".  There are so many choices it is natural to feel out of your league.

  And to my surprise, there are companies here in America that still don't have a business website.  There are so many different voices out there with so many different viewpoints that most small business owners are ready throw in the towel from the frustration.

Most businesses are frustrated because instead of  wasting their time speaking with a salesman, they just want answers.  You want a company who is there to listen and help; to give you proper feedback, and to walk you through the process from A-Z. 

I recently spoke to a potential client about marketing their business on the internet. They have a website but have done little to nothing in ensuring their website will generate new sales.

So you have a business and you put up a website because someone told you needed one.  NOW WHAT? 

There are literally billions of websites out there. If they don't see you when they do a search for a product or service; then you might as well write a check to your competitor!

I understand small and mid sized business.  I know that what they really want is for someone to listen to their ideas and create solutions based on their individual needs.  At Local Business Consulting, we educate, we enlighten, and work hand-in-hand to develop a strategy for success, then we execute.” 

  

Local Business Consulting  does not see our clients or potential clients as money trees.

  We see a business that is trying to stimulate their own economy.  We see an opportunity to serve our local community.

For your Internet Marketing Maryland needs, get it touch with us today to see for yourself how it feels to be educated and helped, not sold.

Local Business Consulting,  a Maryland based  Internet Marketing Firm with national clients  desires to help small and medium sized businesses achieve their business goals.
Receive expert and knowledgeable skills that can help your website rank high in search engines. Please visit http://www.localbusinessconsulting.co or call 301-943-3492 for a free no-obligation consultation today.

Business Owner's Fantasy

If Only This Were True

Yes, it would be great if your product or service was the only one showing up. Now the reality: No matter what your business, you have competitors who are also vying to be seen by potential customers. 


Millions of searches are done everyday for a product or service (Tweet This)
, and the local business owner needs to be in the right position and page to take advantage of these searches.

So what is a small to medium sized business owner to do?

 Here are a few tips you can do today to increase your page and search rankings.

1.  Google+ Places

Google has a free service for local business owners - search Google for your company name and check to see if you  have a Places Listing.  If you don't have one, create one. If your company is listed; make sure it is verified. (I am always amazed how many companies have not done this). The Places listing will allow you to update your company information, choose business categories, upload images, and videos. Just by doing these things Google gives you street "cred".  Also spy a little on your competitors, you can see right away it they have not claimed their listing, which will give your a leg up on them in the Page Ranking War.

2. Website Analysis - Search Engine Optimization

Having a properly optimized website for the search engines(Google,Yahoo, Bing), is one key strategy business owners often neglect. This is how the search engines decide how to rank you based on what they find when those little "robots" of theirs starting running in the dark of night to find new content.

The "robots' are looking for content, keywords, descriptions,images,page titles,meta tags, and your location.

3.  Online Business Directories and Citations

There literally hundreds of online business directories and citation sites where you business can be listed. Doing this increases your changes of the search engines picking up your company as a true business entity. Here are a few to check out for yourself.

manta.com

merchantcircle

local.com

yellowpages.com

citysquares.com

yelp.com

I hope this information will help you get started on moving your business forward. The internet is here to stay and if you are not on the highway involved in the traffic, know that your competitors are.

Promotion Time:

Local Business Consulting will analyze your website and social media outlets and return to you the best strategy to engage with your current and potential customers.

Fill out our quick form today to receive your free website analysis report.

Please follow us on these social network sites:

DIY and the Social Media Maze

Most local business owners are one-person shops. Tweet This

From opening to closing, from accounting to taxes, from supplies to merchandising; you do all of this because your budget contraints demand it.

The do-it-myself mindset is a necessity in today's world, you don't have money to throw around and waste on paying for services when you can do it yourself.

What about marketing? 

Are you doing all the marketing needed to keep your business in front of new and current clients?

There's a range of options available since the day of the Yellow Pages and Direct Mailings.  Now there's the internet and all the different ways to market your business on the world wild web.

If you have a website - great -  that's the first step in being seen on the web. If you haven't made that dive yet, I encourage you to research and find the best hosting  and domain name company for your budget.

I personally recommend Go Daddy.com as almost everyone can afford $150.00 or less per year to have a website, domain name, and your own company email.

Now, let's go back to the Do It Myself Group

Yes, you can do all of the internet marketing, social media, and website setup yourself; the question is: Should You?

Here's a List of what you need if you are going to go it alone:

1. A website(please no flash only) properly configured for the         search engines

2. A range of keywords that describe your product or service.

3. Your Business submitted to all the top Online Business Directories

4. Your Business submitted to the top Search Engines (Google,Yahoo,Bing)

5. A Google+ Places Business Listing

6. Social Media Accounts (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, to name a few)

This list is a great starting point, each one of these items will take a investment of your precious time if you are going to do it yourself.



The longer you wait, the greater the chance your competitors are moving ahead with using the power of the internet to expand and grow their businesses.




Please contact us if you decide you need assistance 

Local Business Consulting offers a free consultation and our paid services are designed to fit your  marketing budget.

Online Advertising for Business Owners

When Was The Last Time You Saw This:

This Yellowbook, delivered to my driveway is still in the bag. I don't remember when it showed up. I don't even know how it made it through the door. All I know is, I never open it to search for a product or service.

You and I both know we go the internet just as naturally as putting on our shoes.

Fact 1: Statistics show that only 7% of people use the Yellow Pages Regularly and 53% never even use it at all.

Fact 2:  78% of all Americans use the internet on a regular basis.

Fact 3:  Customers see your business upon searching for you directly with industry terms such as “Baltimore Dentists”.

There Are So Many Options Available

As a business owner the internet offers many ways to advertise, but how do you choose?

1.  If you have a website GOOD!

2.  If you are using social media you are doing well.

3.  If your business is listed on the big three( Google, Yahoo, and Bing) you are doing better.

Take a look at this video and then make a decision to move your business to the next level.

Local Business Consulting will help you take advantage of the internet with website analysis, keyword research and search engine optimization.

Will Google Adwords Express Work for Your Business?

Google recently updated their Google Adwords Express

Take a look at the video from Google's YouTube Channel

Now that you have watched the video are you excited.. Can't you just see the customers flowing into your business? This is a great way for a small business owner to enter the pay-per-click market without having to know all the ends and outs of Google Adwords.
Before you jump in, here are some things you need to know:

1. You must first have a Google Places Account
2. The Google Places Account needs to be set up correctly
3. Your ads can only be created with the categories Google offers.

Even though I like the fact that Google is attempting to make it easier for the local business owner to get into online advertising;if your budget is tight; like most small business owners;this might not be the best way to start off with online marketing.
Here are my suggestions:

1.  Yes  - Do create a Google Places Account(free)
2.  Setup a business page on Facebook(free)

Start listing your business on the online business directories i.e. Yelp, Bing, Yellowpages, Angieslist, and Manta just to name a few.  There are thousands of them out there.

OR

Contact a Internet Marketing Specialist(hint,hint)

Local Business Consulting help you start the ball rolling with a Free Website Analysis Report

If you don't have a website there are still great ways to use the power of the internet to market your business.


"Let Us Help You Stimulate YOUR Economy"

Is the Samsung Galaxy SmartWatch For You?

Samsung Releases The Galaxy Gear SmartWatch

This new addition to an already crowded market of gizmos is lighting up the tech world.

Scheduled to go on sale September 25 at $299; who is ready to jump right in and purchase?

The Smartwatch is:

•  lightweight
•  touchscreen
•  messaging
•  voice controls
•  bluetooth
•  hands-free calling
• camera

  I love the fact that you can drop it in the toilet and is still works

Before you get all excited about the Smartwatch know that it only works with certain Samsung devices.





I Have a few questions:

If you lose your phone will your smartwatch find it?

What about internet browsing?

Will ads start showing up?

If you forget your phone can you still make calls or does your phone need to be in close proximity?

If you use the camera can you upload to your social media sites?

And most importantly how will businesses take advantage of  this new technology?

At this time it is just another gadget; but who knows, with upgrades and enhancements, the Smartwatch could become a "Must-Have"

 






 

I

Are You Using LinkedIn?

LinkedIn Is Where Business Professionals Hang Out

LinkedIn  isn't just a networking service; it's a powerful service for business professionals.


If you are a local and small business owner, wouldn't it be great to connect to Owners, CEO's and Decision Makers; who have need of your product or service?


LinkedIn allows you to create a profile and start adding connections; you can search for connections by company, interests, and people. LinkedIn also allows you to upload your email list to see if any of your existing contact are using this service.


 Just remember this is not where you spam, This a place to connect, engage, answer questions, and even ask questions from the top experts in their fields.


One of the best resources on LinkedIn are their Groups. There are thousands of groups with 100's of thousands of members who are potential connections for your business. Most of the groups are open so anyone can join and start the engagement process.


People who hang out here are not talking about, Lil Wayne, Beyonce's baby, or what Justin Bieber tweeted about today.


These are business professionals with real solutions and also real problems, which you as a business owner can solve.


To help you get better acquainted with LinkedIn and it awesome possibilities; I have created an introduction Video. Please Check it out







If you need further assistance with LinkedIn or other Social Media Outlets.
Please contact me
pcook@localbusinessconsulting


You can also find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Join my circle on Google+


Local Business Consulting
"Is Your Company Being Found?"

Location Location Location

Where Are You Located On The Internet?

I'm sure most of us have heard this phase. It has been used in both residential and commercial real estate.

For a homeowner the location of the home purchase is so important,that people will spend top dollar to be located in the right city, neightborhood, and street.

In the commerical world; for a local shop owner, location is important for foot-traffic.

Since my focus is on the internet I STILL use the phrase location, location,location.

What about your  search location, organic location, paid location

Some things just don't change in regards to basic marketing.
Your business needs to be where it will be seen.

If you are a local business owner, and have a brick and mortar location; not only is foot traffic essential to your business success, now your location on the web is just as important.

A vital fact: 80% of searches are looking for a product or service in their local area.  This should cause a light bulb to turn on.

If that many searches are done each month, what would just 5% seeing your business do for your bottom line?

Let's say you own a Landscaping Business: Google says there are
2.7 million searches done each month for the keyword "landscaping". 

I hope you are getting how location, location, location is just as important on the internet as the  shop on Main Street.

I submit to you that the corner shop can bring in customers from  your local community,  if they find it when they perform an internet search.

If you have not listed your business on the top search engines (Google,Yahoo, Bing), I have to ask why not?  Your competitors are!!  If you have not setup your Google Places listing, why not? Your competitors have.  Why give them all the (location) traffic.

Location 1 -Search Engines Listing
Location 2 - Online Business Directories
Location 3 - Social Media(Facebook,LinkedIn,Twitter)

Local Business Consulting is here to help!
Contact Us Today for a free consultation.

Tell us a little about your business and we will tell you how to  start using the internet as a geniune business tool

Facebook Says They Want To Help Small Business Owners

I saw a tweet today about Facebook allowing anyone with a Business Page to promote it without third party applications.  

As I am always looking for ways to reach more people with my Internet Presence Service, I immediately clinked the link to the article:

Not one to rely on one source I checked out the Facebook For Business page and true enough;
Facebook is now allowing you to post to your status promotions and contest.

The best part about this is there is no charge unless of course you want to select the $5-$50 promote your post option.

I jumped right on this and decided to pay $15 to reach around 2,000 Facebook Followers:

I am now waiting breathlessly to see if this works!

I will let you know if this a successful way for any small business owner to create engagement and potential new clients with this method.

How To Support Your Community and Help Yourself

Did You Know There is a National Trend Happening Right NOW!

I am talking about a relatively new trend called "Cash Mobs".

If you have never heard of this, you are not alone. "Cash Mobbing" is being done all over the country and right now it's not getting a lot of media attention.

What is a Cash Mob?

A Cash Mob originated from the "Flash Mob" craze we experienced a few years back. A "Mob" would show up at a predetermined location; sing, dance, perform and then disperse.

Now all over the country and even the world, "Mobs are showing at predetermined locations and spending money. What's so great about this is, Cash Mobbing is being done at local small businesses. In today's economy, the small business owners are getting hit the hardest, and having a "Mob" show up at their storefronts with $20 or more to spend is a great boost for these struggling owners.

What are the Rules?

There are only a few rules:

1. Spend $20;
2. Meet three people you didn’t know before;

• HAVE FUN!!!

Why Should You Bother?

You are a part of your community, and every business you support with a little infusion of cash, helps the community at-large.

After all they are your neighbors, friends, and family struggling to stay afloat.  GIVE THEM A LITTLE HELP.

How Can You Participate?

Groups are forming daily and are starting to appear on the social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.

Search Facebook and Twitter for cash mob and you will see a list of people and pages discussing their experiences and information on the next Cash Mob in their local community.

Are You A Local Shop Owner?

There is no money required from you. You only receive a few day's noticed that you are about to be "Cash Mobbed". Shops are usually selected by the existing groups who vote and talk up a business.

There is a way however to get your business name out there on the social outlets.

Here's a contest where you submit you name and give a short description of your business and you could be selected.

Click here to participate in the Cash Mob Saturday Contest

Google Analytics - Are You Using This Free Tool?

THOSE ELUSIVE SITE VISITS

If you have a website, hopefully you are getting daily visitors.
If not this is a later discussion. Ok, back to the issue. Visitors are getting to your website. Do you know where they are coming from and what they are doing after they get there?
Take a look at this funny video on Google Analytics




Here some important questions you need answers to:
1. How many visitors
2. What pages do they see
3. How long do they hang around
4. How are they getting to your site
5. Are they organic or paid

I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU

Google has a free tool available to anyone who has a Google Account and it's called Google Analytics. 

Although at first glance it can give your hives; if you really want to discover pertinent information about your visitors, I recommend you study and delve into this tool.

The Google Analytics tool will return to you valuable information;   from how many visitors to referring sites.


We need all the help we can get on website SEO, keywords, page depth, and a large number of factors in increasing our internet presence.

Discover the favorite keywords searchers are using to get to your site; Find out if they are looking at your other pages,  and how long they are staying around(Bounce Rate).

Go ahead sign into your Google account and install the Google Analytics tool today. You will be surprised and how this tool can help you in your internet marketing efforts.

I hope you find this information helpful.

You can always contact me via:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIN

Why Aren't You Using Google?

Can Your Potential Customers Find You On Google?


Google is the number one search engine in the world!


What about YOUR world? Do you have Google Places Listing?


Check out this video from Local Business Consulting on Google Places with some real examples of places listings, and how essential this free tool can help your business to be found when potential customers do a Google Search.




Check out our website for this month's special  Google Places Account Setup/Website Analysis Combo

Odds and Ends

What Are The Little Things Needing Your Attention?

Growing up in a household of 12+(their was always an extra relative or two); each week the girls in the family were assigned a  task: Laundry, Kitchen, Bathroom, etc., and the all encompassing "ODDS and ENDS".

Since my mother never remembered who the Odds and Ends was assigned to; She would just yell out:

"ODDS and ENDS" which meant the person with this job for the week would try to hide. (LOL)

Let me be truthful: I hated when "Odds and Ends" was my assignment for the week. You see: all the other tasks could be completed and you had the  balance of the time for your yourself, but "Odds and Ends" meant you were on-call. It didn't matter if you were trying to read, watch TV, or play outside; When she called out "ODDS and ENDS", your life became hers!

This is the way most businesses operate. There are so many pieces and little oddities which must be taken care of in order to be successful.

Have You Taken Care of Your ODDS and ENDS?

1. Are You Using Internet Marketing For Your Business?

2. Have You Checked Out Your Google Places Listing?

3. Have You Submitted Your Business To The Online Directories?

4. What About Optimization for Your Website?

5. Do You Know How Your Competitors Are Using Internet Marketing?


Order Your Free Website Analysis Report Today

For the business owner; these little tasks have not yet appeared on your radar. But they definitely should be.

The internet is not going away and more and more local business owners are using the internet to market their business.

 Start off 2012 with a clear plan to take care of your "ODDS and ENDS"

Mobi Domains and Contact Forms

Help! My .Mobi Domain Will Not Let Me Add Forms

Ok, so I added a (dot).mobi domain with website tonight, turned on the instant mobilizer and WOW! my website is not mobilized.

Hold on not so fast; If you have done this you know how cumbersome it can be to navigate an entire site from the mobile phone.

What's a person to do?

If you're like most local business owners you don't need your entire site on the mobile, just a few images, a contact form, maybe a call-out or two about special offers, etc.

Now to the meat of the issue:

1. Godaddy 
Logon to your Godaddy account and upgrade your .mobi to add website tonight.

This service is great to add images, content, your phone number, etc.

2. WHAT IF YOU NEED TO INSERT A FORM

This is where it get's tricky;  I use a service, AWeber, which is great as  it gives me the code in different formats. All I have to do is insert the code  into Website Tonight's Design Page, Right?  WRONG!

You see, a .mobi domain will not code  Aweber's forms, so you are stuck with an upgraded plan with no way to collect names, emails and  phone numbers from potential customers.

3. I HAVE FOUND A SOLUTION

I decided to  search for a service which would allow me to insert forms into my .mobi domain.

I chose Formstack  for a couple of good reasons:

Watch this video.

It is quite simple for us "non-web developers."
1.  Formstack has a 14 day free trial
2.  They have a monthly plan which is quite reasonable
3.  Form Submission Data, meaning it collects and holds your data
4. Lots of other features you may like.

Don't believe me?  check out my .mobi domain:  http://www.localbusinessconsulting.mobi

So far I am pleased with the Formstacks' service.

Google Local Listings

Are  You Using Google For Your Business?

It has been said that "a picture says a thousand words", So instead of a lot of text in this post; I decided to just add a video... Would love to hear your comments.

Welcome To Local Business Consulting

Order Your Free Website Analysis Report Today

Amazon Tripadvisor and Fake Reviews

ARE REVIEWS IMPORTANT TO YOUR WEBSITE RANKINGS?

I just finished reading the reports on how Amazon and TripAdvisor have paid other companies to post fake reviews to their websites.  If these ONLINE GIANTS ARE WILLING TO FORK OVER BIG BUCKS FOR REVIEWS, IT MUST BE IMPORTANT!!

What about your business on the web? Do you have a place where your satisfied customers can go and rave about your great product or service?  If not maybe you should look into a couple of online search engines and directories which allow for this enchancement to your business listing.

Since GOOGLE is the largest search engine in the world; let's start with them.

Google has a service called Google Places, which allow any small business to create or claim their business listing.

Once you are all set up Google looks at your business and ranks it based on locations and business category. Google uses a ranking called the Local Pack 7 - which means when  a search is done for a product or service; Google returns it's top 7 results on the first page listed as local search results.

Take a Look At this Graphic:



A QUICK SEARCH ON YARD SERVICES IN BELTSVILLE, MD RETURNED ONLY TWO GOOGLE PLACES LISTING.

If you own a lawn service business this is a great opportunity for you to be listed on Google's First Page

Once you get your business listed on Google the real fun begins with asking your satisfied customers to go online and post great reviews about your product or service.  Google loves this and will push your business listing to the top based on how many reviews you have.

Go ahead type in a search term for you business and take a look at the results.  Is your business listed?  If not, get started today!

If you need help in setting up a Google Places Account - Local Business Consulting  offers this service.

Contact Us Today and let us help you STIMULATE YOUR ECONOMY







What Is Organic Traffic?

Organic Does Not Mean Fertilizer

How is everyone on this wonderful Memorial Day?

First let me give a shout out to our veterans who serve all over the world to protect and defend the United States from enemies far and near.  I have two sons in the military and am proud of their service to our country.

When most of us think of organic we think of all the health food proclaiming to be organic this or organic that.

My discussion today will about search engine traffic and what it means when you read or hear about traffic which is organic.

Organic Traffic is when people click on your website without you have to pay for it. This is good news for us small business owners with a very limited advertising budget.

So, then, the question I know you are asking is how do I get organic search traffic.  I am glad you asked.  One of my favorite ways is to make sure I am taking advantage of all the free online business listings that are available.

If you haven't added your business to online directories, here are a few: Just click their links and check them out

Manta

Merchant Circle

Yelp

Localeze

There are literally thousands of them out there - most of them are free with a premium service to those of us who have a little monthly cash to throw their way.

Here is a graph from my Google Analytics Page

Definitions:

 Direct Traffic: Traffic which comes when http://www.localbusinessconsulting.co is typed in the browser or clicked from a link

Referring Sites: This can come from many places and these can be both paid and free ex. I run Facebook Ad and if someone clicks on the ad this is considered a referral. Also is some clicks my link from my Facebook Fanpage this is also considered a referral.

Search Engine: This is the one I really love. Say someone is looking for internet marketing help; They might use this search term in Google and either my website link will show up or my Google Places listing will appear.

Run your own test and put  in a search term which describes your business? Is your company listed?  If so, you are making the right steps to ensure potential customers can find you.

IF NOT? Don't wait! Get started today implementing some of my strategies to get your company listed and found on the internet.

My best and most recommended way to get organic traffic for the local and small business owner is Google Places. Or course, Yahoo and Bing also have local listings for business, but since Google has most of the search traffic; this is the place to start.

If you need a little help and have questions, drop me an email.

For a free internet marketing report and a free consultation on your online marketing needs.