Local SEO Tips

by Vancouver Google.ca/”title=”Get Found On Google!” >Search Engine Optimization Expert Mark Bossert

I’ve had a number of calls from local businesses who are upset that their website is not ranking for their keywords…

Sometimes it’s a case of where they had a good ranking and the competition has knocked them off.

SEO Mistakes To Avoid

More often it’s the result of a couple Google searches for what they think are the best search terms and their hated rival is occupying the top place in the search results.

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While searching through search engine optimization forums and blogs I have noticed webmasters commenting that Google is broken, when it comes to natural (organic) search positioning.

Search Engine Optimization (Google.ca/”title=”Get Found On Google” >SEO) can be rather tricky, and like marketing, is an ongoing strategy that you must stay on top of.   Google has also been known to change their evaluation formula and has not made their algorithms public, so it really becomes somewhat challenging to keep your SEO up to date.

SEO expert Shaun Parker has written a paper called: Is Google Really Broken? This is an extremely interesting and informative paper which I would highly recommend.

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Doesn’t it suck when people don’t respect the price you charge?  When they always want a special deal?  Well guess what?  It’s probably YOUR fault!

When people ring around for quotes on price, and it happens a lot with Yellow Pages directory ads, they’ll ring 2-3 businesses usually.  That’s what everyone has been ‘trained to do as consumers, and it’s the ads that force them to.  How?  All the ads look the same!

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This Axe Anthem Marketing Video is a must see.  Hilarious, short and brief.  Gotta give it to the Marketing people at Axe, they’re creative.

Would this work for your small business? Nope!   Ask me what Marketing strategies work for Your Small Business!

Spam first made its mark in the world in 1978 when Gary Thuerk, Marketing Director of Digital Equipment Technology sent an email solicitation to 400 employees at Arpnet.  The email created a few sales, but it also created fierce backlash.  Today, more than 180 billion spam messages are sent out each day to over 1 billion Internet users.  This staggering statistic makes it clear why spam is such a major problem for Internet users.   Many companies are working hard to solve the spam problem, but the first step to stopping spam starts with the consumer.

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Cashflow seems to be the buzzword these days…

The overwhelming majority of small businesses suffer from Cashflow issues.  The minority chooses to hide the fact.

Since the beginning of time, small business owners have been struggling to balance books and stay afloat.   My grandfather’s shoe factory in Vienna Austria was no different, his factory burnt down twice, in war times, and without insurance…  and he bounced back and rebuilt the factory.   Ask any small business owner and they’ll likely have similar tales of their business or those of family members.

Cashflow issues are the small business cliche…

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Do you find it challenging to put together a rock-solid elevator pitch that gets you instant attention and communicates clearly who you are, what you do, and why you’re the obvious choice?

Have you ever met someone that seems to talk alot but say nothing about their business.  Nothing earth shattering or memorably anyway?

You’re not alone.

Elevator Pitches can be very powerful or completely monotone.  Worse yet, they can cost you business.   It’s no wonder that there are many businesses out there struggling when they have a difficult time communication what it is they do and why they’re the obvious choice.  For you or their referrals.

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30 Second Spot from the Globe and Mail

The good news? The second quarter of 2009 saw an increase of 37.5 per cent in spending on internet ads from the same period in 2006;  the Internet’s share of the ad market doubled, to 19.2 per cent from 9.6 per cent.

The bad news? According to a MediaPost analysis, traditional media spending, which includes radio, billboards, and newspapers declined 30 per cent over the same period.

As a Marketing Consultant I’m not surprised by these statistics.   Before you “impulse market” and start picking mediums I want to CAUTION you…

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Here is this week’s TGIF Marketing Moment, the 2009 Superbowl 43 Best Commercials.  A great laugh for sure!

Warning:  If you are a small business owner, sole proprietor, or startup, you do NOT want to create “creative and funny” commercials like these.  Your Marketing Materials needs to bring home results and make the phone ring rather than entertain.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good laugh, but I’d rather be laughing all the way to the bank because my marketing message hit all the hot buttons and reached my target audience.

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