A common misconception is that having multiple domain names will increase your site’s search engine rankings. It’s not uncommon for a business to own their name as a domain, as well as several keyword-specific domain names.
While that’s not a bad idea, don’t buy extra domain names with the thought that you’ll point them to your existing site for an SEO boost. It just doesn’t work that way. [Read more…] about Before You Buy That Domain Name
For the brick and mortar small business, it’s all about local.
Forget about SEO, blogging, gaining back links, and posting to Facebook and Twitter for just a moment. If you want to draw visitors to your physical storefront, you need to focus on ‘local’ first. Get the local part right, and the rest will begin to make sense. All paths will lead directly to your door. [Read more…] about It’s All About Local
Strategy is integral, but you need strong branding for any strategy to be effective.
From where we sit, we see companies growing and evolving to accommodate their new ideas and bigger visions. It’s exciting to watch businesses grow in defiance of what the news media hands out on silver platters. It makes dramatic story lines, and we should listen with compassion, but those stories don’t have to shape your reality.
I want to caution you, however, that growth and vision may require basic, often costly changes, that shouldn’t be ignored while you’re building. Even if your new idea is simply a better conception of a previous business, how you brand it will absolutely impact your ability to attract the customers you desire – and the ability to make the money you’re envisioning. [Read more…] about How Does Branding Impact Your Ability to Attract?
When Gary’s Quality Plumbing came to us for help with their website, they were having difficulty getting customers to find them online, and had been told their web pages needed work. [Read more…] about Simplified Copy Helps Consumers
We’ve just returned from a trip to Dallas, TX to participate in Sandi Krakowski’s ‘Divine Call of God on Your Business’ event. It was a wonderful business and personal growth experience, with great speakers and inspiring messages. The two biggest take-aways for me were in the area of relationship building and my readiness to act on things I already know to be true. (More on these in a future post.)
On the way to Texas, we spent the night at a cute, retro motel that we never would have even heard of had it not been for social media and Google Places reviews. [Read more…] about Local Business Reviews Are Powerful
Your Website is Your Secret Weapon
According to research firm, Bredin Business Information, over 85% of small businesses reported using their website to generate new customers in 2011, followed by email and search engine marketing.
We talk to business owners daily about their web page updating and new website builds. People still struggle to get their heads around the real value of their websites. The last few years have changed the online aspects of our businesses a lot, and we can expect more changes to come. Making the most of smart online tools will simplify your life once you make the commitment to learn how to manage them. Your most important tool is your website. [Read more…] about How Valuable Is Your Website Content?
