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.

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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"

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

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

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







Is Your Business a Kinetic Military Action?

KMA FOR SHORT

I have been listening to and reading about the Obama's administration description of our miliary's involvement in Libya.



The phrase has now become famous or infamous depending on your point of view.

This phase "Kinetic Military Action" or KMA for short peaked my interest in using the phrase from a business standpoint.

OK, let's dig deep:

Kinetic: pertaining to motion, caused by motion, energized.
Military:pertaining to war or soldiers
Action: something done or performed.

Now you may know the meaning of each of these words; but put them together and you get a unique way of looking at your business from a militaristic point-of view.

Do you see your business as a military campaign? If not why not. Even Facebook and Google uses the term "Campaign" for their Pay-Per Click Services.

Do you see your competitors as your friends?
Are there "Actions" you are performing everyday to increase your business, get your brand out there, and bring in the customers?

So you can see how I view this "Kinetic Military Action" as a business concept we engage in everyday. We may have a different name for it, but we are implementing it all the same.

If you view your business as a military campaign; there will strategy, resource allocation, best weapons to use, and even a coalition of sorts to help you accomplish your goals.

HOW ARE YOU USING KMA TODAY?

Online Advertising Made Easy

For small and local business owners, online advertising is a mystery you just don't want to discover.

Let Local Business Consulting make your transition from print media and the yellow pages to the internet easy and cost-effective.

How much do you spend a year on the yellow pages and drop-mailings a year to get your business new customers?

Want if I told you, you could cut that cost by 40%!
Think of what you can do in new hires, new equipment, etc. with that extra 40%

Contact Local Business Consulting Today and receive a Free Internet Marketing Report on your Business Segment.

http://www.localbusinessconsulting.co
pcook@localbusinessconsulting.co

From: http://www.pitchengine.com/localbusinessconsulting/online-advertising-made-easy/126419/