Would you just run a newspaper ad once and expect it to continue to generate calls or traffic?  Of course not.  It’s the same thing online.  You want people to find you when they are looking online, which means that you need to continually be enhancing your online presence with new, relevant information.

Contact us for a personal consultation so we can help you create a plan to optimize your marketing campaign and social media on a monthly schedule to keep your information Fresh!

We call these places “Influence Engines” and they include:

• Local Search Engines like Google Places, Yahoo Local, and Bing Business Portal
• Social Networking Sites like Facebook, Yelp, and Twitter
• Online Business Directories specific to your region or metropolitan area
• Internet Business Directories like Superpages.com and Kudzu
• Online Directory Assistance sites like 411.com
• AND, many category-specific directories relating to your industry

They all matter to your business because they can have a huge impact on how easily people find you online.  You need to get your information listed and encourage customers to post comments and reviews.  This is one of the first things you should do to get leads and customers from the Internet.

Watch this video to learn more about Influence Engines.

By now, if you know anything at all about Internet Marketing you have, at the very least, heard of Google Places.  What you may not know is that Google already has your information, but it’s up to you to make sure it’s accurate, current, and that your page is optimized.  You have the opportunity to provide pictures, video, a complete description of your business and much, much more.  The more information you can give about your business, the more likely you are to be found on the first page of Google.

Let’s not neglect the changes that Google has made in the last year, either.  They are putting much more emphasis on reviews than ever before and aren’t pulling those reviews from other review sites anymore.  Oh, they are still there, but they are only provided as links below the actual Google reviews.  It’s more important than ever to make sure your customers and clients are seeking you out on Google to place their review of your business.

Check out the video below about the importance of Google Places.

My suggestion is to get out there and claim your Google Places page!  Make sure your information is accurate!  Optimize your page!   Let your customers know and ask for their positive reviews.  Take full advantage of the opportunity that Google has given you.  I hope to see you on the web!

Facebook currently has over 850 million users now. Just think of the possibilities for getting the word out about your business.  The ability to create a Fan Page for your business is simple yet it’s a powerful marketing tool.  But it needs to be done right.  Facebook is a Social network.  It’s where people go to find fun information and share it with their friends.  A lot of businesses try to make it an advertising tool, like a newspaper or print ad.  Don’t make this mistake!  Give your fans good information that they can use so they will keep coming back.

Twitter is an online social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, also known as “tweets”. Users can subscribe to other users’ “tweets” and are then considered followers.  Tweets can be done from a mobile phone or you can set it up to connect to your Facebook page or blog to direct your users to information that you have to share.  All of my Facebook posts are automatically set up to post to my Twitter feed.

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 120 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.  The keyword here being “professionals”. Whether you’re looking for a career opportunity, winning new clients or building your professional reputation, LinkedIn connects you to jobs, sales leads and ideal business partners.

YouTube is the second largest search engine behind Google.  And YouTube is owned by Google now.  According to this article,“10 Fascinating YouTube Facts That May Surprise You“, in Mashable written in February this year, more video content is uploaded to YouTube in a 60 day period than the three major U.S. television networks created in 60 years  and the average YouTube user spends between 15 and 25 minutes a day on the site.  There are more than 300 Million users who watch more than 200 Billion (yes Billion) videos each month.  But to get your own video found, it needs to be optimized for the search engines just like your website.

It can quickly become overwhelming I know.  You need to be in as many directories as possible, but Social Media should be directed to where your prospects and customers actually hang out.

Information

My first consideration is the information. I don’t begin my work on a site by typing “<HTML>”.  I begin with the question, “What is your message?”  I review any current print literature.  I lead a planning session to identify exactly what your message is and how it should be organized for web presentation.  Then I start the design.

The User

Concern for the web user is my second consideration.  I believe a page should load fast, information should be easy to find, and all pages should have a consistent, pleasing look.  Here is a list of significant considerations:

Attractive Design.  Color balance; graphics selection and placement, choice of background, menu, and text style make up a professional site.

Logical Navigation.  Navigation bars should be intuitive to page visitors.  Web pages are not viewed sequentially like a television commercial.  The user is interactive.  Careful organization and presentation allow visitors to quickly locate the information they need.

Browser compatibility.  All of my sites are compatible with major browsers. I currently test on Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome.

Compatibility.  I strive for compatibility to the standards recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium. Because not all browsers interpret valid HTML and CSS in the same manner, I make decisions that create the better presentation for most users.

Manageability

My final consideration is manageability of the site.  Consideration of how the site is to be managed after it is designed should be a cooperative task.  I’ll help you plan for several possibilities.

There is so much more to Marketing your Local business online than just putting up a website.  A website is very important but the website has to be found in order for you to get your message about your product or service out there.

I will discuss Design, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and a host of others.  We will also cover Video and Article Marketing.  So come back often to see what we have to say.  Leave us a comment and share with your friends.