Archive for the ‘Search Engine Marketing’ Category
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
Are you an individual who runs a locally owned and operated business? If you are, your targeted market is likely the individuals who live in and around your community. Although your first though may be to reach your targeted market though local newspaper advertisements, radio advertisements, the yellow pages, and other local advertising techniques, you may want to start thinking about using the internet, namely search engine marketing.
It seems as if many locally owned and operated business owners have come to see the internet as an enemy. After all, with the popularity of online shopping on the rise, many business owners need to compete with online retailers. Yes, the internet may bring you and your business competition, but you shouldn’t completely write it off. Did you know that the internet, if properly worked, can actually bring you customers? It can if you use it as a form of local advertising and it can bring you business in more ways than you could have ever imagined.
Search Engine Marketing
As previously mentioned, search engine marketing is something that you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with. Search engine marketing is a term that is used to describe a marketing approach that has been implemented and proven successful by many online business owners, but it can also work for locally owned and operated business owners, like yourself. What you need to know is that the way that customers shop and find companies to do business with is changing. For instance, did you know that 70% of shoppers surveyed by Nielsen//NetRatings use the internet to research local businesses? They did and this is something that you and your business can capitalize on.
The Importance of Local Search
One of the many ways that you can use search engine marketing to help you with local advertising is by having an online website and having it optimized by the search engines. You can either do this yourself or hire the services of a search engine marketing specialist or company. By having applicable content on your website, internet users can find it when they perform a local search. A local search is when a business owner uses the internet to help them find a local business. Local searches are often performed with phrases like “fine dining restaurants in Denver,” or “children’s clothing stores in New York.” By having applicable content on your website, your prospective customers can find it by performing a local search.
When customers use a local search to find a local business, they want to know what type of items you sell or what services you offer. That is why it is important that you have an online website outlining that information. You will also want to provide your prospective customers with your business address, so they can visit it should they like what they find online. Also, you may want to provide your prospective customers with easy ways to contact you. This can be done by placing your telephone number online or even by creating a business email address for yourself or your business.
What is even more interesting than the fact that 70% of those surveyed said they use the internet to research local businesses is the fact that 89% found their local search either “somewhat effective,” or “very effective,” according to Nielsen//Net Ratings. What does this mean for you? It means that if you aren’t already using search engine marketing as a form of local advertising, you may be losing a considerable amount of money.
Tags: local advertising, Search Engine Marketing, SEM, SEO, small business growth, The Long Tail
Posted in Search Engine Marketing | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
Are you the owner of a locally owned and operated business? If you are, are you familiar with search engine marketing? If you are not, you may want to see what you are missing. Unfortunately, many locally owned and operated business owners do not realize the gold mine that is search engine marketing. If you are interested in running a successful and profitable business, you will want to use search engine marketing as a form of local advertising.
SEM and Local Advertising
Search engine marketing is an online marketing technique that can be used to help locally owned and operated business owners, just like you. Unfortunately, there are many who believe that search engine marketing is too complicated to understand. Yes, it can be complicated in some aspects, but, as previously mentioned, search engine marketing is a successful form of local advertising; a form that may be able to increase your business profits. A recent study conducted by Nielsen//NetRatings found that 70% of survey participants used the internet to research local businesses. In fact, 46% did so within the last ninety days.
Search Engine Success for Small Businesses
One of the first steps in search engine marketing is to have your own online website. This alone is also considered a form of local advertising. What you will want your business website to do is educate your prospective customers. For instance, do you sell a product or a service? If you do, you will want to outline all of the products and services that you sell. You will also want to let your prospective customers know how they can find you and your business. You will want to outline your business’s address, as well as your telephone number. You may even want to think about creating an online email address for you and your business.
Hire An SEM Specialist
As it was previously mentioned, search engine marketing can be somewhat complicated. While it is more than possible for you to do your own search engine marketing and online local advertising, you don’t have to. You can hire the services of a search engine marketing specialist or company. For many, this is the best approach. For instance, another study conducted by Nielsen//NetRatings found that 51% of individuals performed a local search with a general phrase, like “doctor.” 49% performed a more generalized local search, including location, like “doctor in New York.” If you aren’t sure how to incorporate these phrases into your online website to help your business, a search engine marketing company or specialist may be your best bet.
Should you decide that you would like to use the services of a search engine marketing specialist or company, you need to carefully choose you who do business with. Online, you can find a large number of search engine marketing specialists or companies; however, you need to remember that not all companies and specialists are the same; they don’t all produce the same results. You will want to look for a search engine marketing company or specialist that not only has affordable rates, but one that also guarantees their work. This will help to make sure that you truly benefit from this unique type of local advertising.
Tags: Charles Preston, SEM, SEO, small business growth, small business marketing
Posted in Search Engine Marketing | 2 Comments »
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Are you a local business owner? Whether you run a grocery store, a clothing store, a jewelry store, or even a tax preparation service, there is a good chance that the majority of your marketing is focused on your local community.
Online Advertising
Although local advertising is a necessity, there is something that you may not know. Your local community is likely turning to the internet to research their options for buying products and services, even locally. That is why you may want to think about incorporating search engine marketing into your business’s local advertising plan.
As it was previously mentioned, a large number of individuals are now turning to the internet to research local companies that they may be interested in doing business with. That is why it is advised that all locally owned and operated businesses, even small businesses, use search engine marketing to their advantage. Unfortunately, many business owners do not realize just how many of their prospective customers are using the internet.
Search Engine Marketing: Necessary for Business in the 21st Century
There are many who assume that it isn’t enough to change their marketing plans. However, did you know that Nielsen//NetRatings performed a study that showed out of 2,866 individuals, 70% of those individuals had used the internet to research local businesses?
When you think about it, that number is pretty amazing. That means that a large number of individuals are now starting to change the way that they shop locally. In the past, many individuals relied on coming across a business own their own or hearing about a business through word of mouth. While these approaches are still used, it is plain to see that many more individuals are now starting to do their own research online. One of the many reasons for that is because it is easy.
A simple standard internet search, also known as a local search, and your prospective customers could easily find out information about you and your company, including your business telephone number, your address, as well as information on what type of business you run.
One of the best ways to make the most out of search engine marketing is to have you own online website. One of the best ways to acquire new customers is have a website filled with information about your company. For instance, if you sell products or services, you will want to describe them and so forth. Perhaps, the most important piece of information to have on your website is your business’s telephone number and possibly even a business email address.
Another study, conducted by WebVisible showed that 68% of prospective clients contacted a company using the telephone number they got off the company’s website. Although not as popular, 16% contacted the company in question by sending them an email.
As you can see, the internet plays an important role in your business and it has actually been doing so for a while now, even if you didn’t realize it. That is why it is advised that you incorporate the internet and search engine marketing into your local advertising plan, if you haven’t already done so.
Tags: Charles Preston, local advertising, online advertising, Search Engine Marketing, SEM, SEO, small business growth
Posted in Search Engine Marketing | 1 Comment »
Friday, October 9th, 2009
Are you the owner of a business that is considered to be a locally owned and operated one? If you are, what forms of local advertising do you use?
If you are like most locally owned and operated business owners, there is a good chance that you use local phone books, newspapers, and the mailing of fliers. While these are nice local advertising methods, you need to think about incorporating the internet into your local advertising plan, if you haven’t already done so.
When it comes to using the internet as a form of a local advertising, the process is often referred to as search engine marketing. An example of search engine marketing involves creating an online website for your business.
By having information about your business displayed online, your prospective local customers can find it. If you have enough information about your business, they may just show up; however, a study conducted by Nielsen//NetRatings showed that 68% of survey participants got the telephone number of a business and many intended to use it to contact the business in question. In short, the more information you supply, the better.
How Can Search Engine Marketing Help Your Business?
Although it is nice to know that search engine marketing can help your business, you may be wondering exactly how so. What you need to realize is that many consumers don’t just use the internet to shop online anymore. Instead of using their local phone book, many consumers are now using the internet to search for and familiarize themselves with local businesses, like yours. Out of 2,866 people surveyed, 70% stated that they had used the internet, namely a local search, to help them find a local business.
What does this mean for you?
This means that prospective customers are using the internet to learn more about your business, like where it is located, what you offer, and so forth.
What is nice about this form of local advertising is that if individuals who come across your business online like what they see, they will likely come to your place of business or contact you for more information. For many consumers this is nice, as it can save them time and wasted trips. Should someone find what they want with your business, you will likely have acquired a new customer, thanks to the internet and a local search.
While getting one new customer, from a local search is nice, did you know that you will likely get more than one? Another study conducted showed that Nielsen-WebVisible found that 54% of survey respondents would recommend a business that they found in a local search to those that they know. The top methods of referrals were recorded as being verbal recommendations, as well as emailed links.
What does this mean for your small business?
It means that even if an individual doesn’t come across your business’s online website through a local search, they may still hear about it from someone else who did.
In short, there are a number of different ways that search engine marketing can help your business. An increase in customer counts, customer referrals, and profits are just a few of the many reasons why you should be relying on local searches, search engine marketing, and online local advertising.
Tags: Charles Preston, local advertising, Search Engine Marketing, SEO, small business growth
Posted in Search Engine Marketing, Small Business Growth Strategies | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
If you are a website owner, whether or not your website is used to sell goods or services, you may be concerned with the amount of traffic that you are receiving. If you rely on your website for income, the traffic your website receives can have a positive or negative effect on your finances. If you are interested in getting the most out of your website, you are encouraged to learn more about website marketing.
The main purpose of website marketing is to bring traffic to your site. There are an unlimited number of websites currently operating over the internet. While some of these websites may be unique, most contain similar information or products. To make your website stand above the rest you will need to market it the proper way.
While marketing your website may sound easy, to some it isn’t. Website marketing simply doesn’t entail letting a few people know that your site exists. Instead, you will want to target the whole world of internet users. Unfortunately, this can be a long and difficult task. If you are unable to find the time to market your own website you can easily obtain the services of a professional website marketing specialist.
Website Marketing: What You Need To Know
Whether you decide to handle the marketing of your own website or you obtain the services of a professional, there are some important things you need to know. To start a successful marketing campaign, you will need to familiarize yourself with website marketing and everything that it includes.
Even if you plan on using the services of a professional marketer, you still need to familiarize yourself with website marketing. This will give you an idea as to what you should expect from a professional.
Perhaps the easiest way to market your website is to make sure that your website is picked up by the most popular search engines.
SEO: Keywords, Links, And More
It is ideal that your website appears on the first or second pages of search results. To increase your search engine ranking, you may want to create informational articles or have a professional create them for you. Basing your articles around a particular keyword is the best way to increase your website’s search engine ranking.
Link integration is another effective way that you or a professional website marketing specialist could help to increase the page views that your website see. This is most often done by trading links with another individual who has a website with information or products that is somehow related to yours. If are implementing your own website marketing strategy, you will want to contact other website owners. By offering to display a link to their website, if they provide one to yours, you may see a dramatic increase in traffic.
Search engine optimization and link exchanges are just a few of the many ways that you or a professional website marketing specialist can market your website. Additional website marketing methods may include email marketing, pay per click advertising, and much more. Even if you do not use these website marketing methods, you are encouraged to at least examine them. You may be surprised just how easy it is to increase your website’s traffic.
Tags: Charles Preston, SEM, SEO, small business growth, Website Marketing
Posted in Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Small Business Growth Strategies | No Comments »
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