Small businesses and online marketers looking to cash in through the Internet must be familiar with search engine optimization, SEO. SEO looks to maximize a website’s visibility through strategic use of keywords and key-phrases that boost a website among a search engine’s rankings. When potential customers search for anything, search engines generate a giant list of websites that seem to match the search terms. To organize these results, search engines use complex algorithms and website info to determine a website’s place on the list.

Small Business Limitations

Small businesses have limited financial resources. To grow, a business website must squeeze maximum profit from every dollar spent on website and SEO costs. SEO firms offer services promising to enhance search rank and overall business visibility. However, the owner(s) of a small business may not have sufficient funds to risk hiring a full-service SEO firm. This is not to imply that SEO should be ignored. On the contrary, SEO should be a high priority for a small business trying to expand its customer base. Today, an Internet presence is as important as a physical address. But unlike a physical address, a small business can deftly move to more profitable real estate with relatively little cost and hassle, all by making the best of SEO and other e-marketing methods.

SEO Firms and Workshops

Despite the limited budgets of most small businesses, SEO firms can still be useful in boosting a website’s online reputation. A business can hire a firm to provide an overall strategy, leaving details and implementation out of its service package. This strategy is then implemented by the business owner, not the SEO firm. This method lets the business get the “gist” of an SEO firm’s expertise while limiting costs.

An SEO workshop may be worth the investment in time and money. If possible, research the speaker and topic(s) before attending. An industry expert has to be relevant to your niche and target demographic. What works for one type of website or business may not necessarily work for another. Ask SEO workshops about how to translate high rank into revenue. High rank in search results does not guarantee business success if there are no sales corresponding to increased online popularity.

SEO by Yourself

Without a firm, a small business has to generate their own content and SEO strategies. Fortunately, this is not very difficult. Google and Bing offer free SEO Guides to anyone who is interested. Studying and understanding these guides goes a long way to increasing a website’s rank and search result placement. Find other examples and illustrations of good SEO to help your business. Competing business websites, popular blogs and conversations with more experienced SEO professionals will all help.

When creating content for an SEO strategy, slow and steady wins the race. Constantly increasing popularity is better than being “hot” one day and “not” the next. Reputation for quality and expertise is not built up quick. While generating such a reputation — and a corresponding fan/customer base — sales will also increase gradually. From a long-term perspective, this slow growth is better than rapid and flashy expansion. A gently increasing clientele gives the business owner/webmaster slack and time to test new pricing and customer service strategies. A website or pay processing system may be overwhelmed if it is not designed to handle a sudden influx of orders, sales and/or visitors.

Find a Partner

If you lack the funds to hire an SEO firm, but don’t want to do the work yourself, another option may be to find someone to partner up with. Maybe you know a friend or acquaintance who is well-versed in SEO. Ask them to help you with SEO and offer them a small equity in your business. It may sound like a huge risk to you, but the potential benefits that may come from it, is even greater.

Get a Loan

The problem that many businesses have is that they lack working capital to grow their business. At some point, you have to make a decision to grow your business one way or another. Running your business on status quo isn’t going to grow it. In fact, when times get tough, your business will suffer against those that took a chance to grow their business. People generally do not like the idea of taking out a loan, but putting money back into your business is an investment. SEO is an investment that you should strongly consider.

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When building business ratings locally, first step you should always be registering in Google Places. Registering is easy- just make sure you have your address listed on every page and in the title of the contact page. When utilizing Google Places, mention areas, streets, and nearby shops that are local to your business. For example, use references like, “Across the street from the Starbucks on West 3rd Street and Santa Monica” to further assist potential customers in understanding where you are on the map. Try and be as obvious as possible when doing so – Google knows exactly where things are but people often do not.

Sample search displaying local search results

Utilizing local SEO creates less competition in the same space. Searching for something specific like a hairstylist locally by a specific city or county is much less difficult than searching for one nationally. You should have luck in working with neighboring blogs, websites, and community pages that know your business from word of mouth or seeing it in the neighborhood. They can link mentions to your website, making it visible to the people you’ll want to see it. In addition, obtaining backlinks from local sites by sponsoring an event or donating to charity is also a key move in excelling in local SEO. People like supporting small businesses, so always ask for positive reviews and direct people to these pages as much as possible. The more positive reviews you have, the more new customers will want to visit you. This technique is also better for the wallet. Local websites may not offer you advertising space for free, but they will surely allow you to buy a banner or text link for much less than a bigger, national site.

It is apparent that the smart phone is becoming a key source to search for local businesses. Listing your business on a local map is an excellent decision for small companies that want to be found by people on-the-go that are in the need of a specific good or service at that immediate moment. Ensure you have a mobile version of your website that is readable and reliable on smart phones or this may sway potential customers away. Encourage customers to “check-in” when they visit your business – this will show up on their Facebook page along with your “Place.”

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Option 1: Hire a Marketing Agency

These guys are the experts, right? Why not hire them to create a logo that will most definitely attract customers. Chances are you’ll be pleased with your new logo, but at a price. Marketing agencies usually come with a steep price and there are much better options for getting a custom logo design.

Option 2: Hire a Freelance Designer

Hiring a freelance designer is a great way to get a logo professionally done. Design is their job so they’re usually good at it. You can expect a few great designs at a decent price. The problem with this is there won’t be very much variety in the design. Sometimes it’s tough to get across the idea in your head to the designer to put on paper, and this can be a major problem.

Option 3: Do-It-Yourself Logo Maker

Creating a logo in house is a great idea; the only problem is you’re not an artist. This can lead to a sloppy, unprofessional looking logo. DIY sites like LogoSnap.com and LogoGarden.com provide a great opportunity to make a professional logo without the expensive cost of a marketing agency or freelance designer. Go to these types of websites and follow the instructions for a professional logo. Using this type of service will establish a professional brand leaving the competition behind.

Logo design and branding will continue to be a huge part of any business. Don’t get persuaded into spending big bucks on a logo that you might not like. Set a logo design budget that you’re comfortable with and get your money’s worth.

About the author: Zach is an experienced web designer that specializes in logo design and graphics for marketing material.

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When utilizing a free website it is imperative that they offer their clients the following:

• Professional, unique design
• Current, state-of-the-art technology
• No advertisements
• 24 hour customer support
• Affordable, upgradable websites
• Advanced features and tools
• Marketing support

When finding a company that offers these must-haves, give them a shot and test the water. Remember that they need to earn your business, just as you work hard to earn business from your clients. Determine if they are meeting your expectations and representing your brand as you specified. If everything looks in order, then keep active with your website, and start reaching out to a broader sphere of influence.

Some “Dos and Don’ts” in Running your Business Website

Networking and link building is all part of the work involved in running a successful business website, but don’t make this overly complicated. In an article published through The Huffington Post, the author warns business owners not to overwhelm their website with links that will send their potential customers into “surf shock”. Keeping your website clean and free from annoyances will offer better results in keeping people in your website. After all, if you went into a shop and it had signs posted everywhere and clutter in the aisles, would you want to stay?

Using other online resources to promote your website is not only a smart move, but in today’s competitive online market it is essential to your growth. Many website companies offer marketing support with social media platforms such as Facebook. If your company provides this option, USE IT. Recently, Facebook has gained tremendous popularity as an online tool for business marketing. Its mission was, and still is, to make the world a more open place by providing a platform in which people can share thoughts and ideas. Approximately 175 million Americans log into Facebook every day. It has grown to become a huge cultural obsession, and businesses are tapping into this. Be sure to contact your website company’s marketing department, and ask them how you can utilize Facebook to broaden your sphere of influence in the business world.

Your Brand, Your Reputation

Having a business website not only serves the purpose to offer a platform where clients can make transactions with you, but a good website will allow you to control your brand and reputation. Your free website must showcase you as an expert and leader in your industry. You will also want to use it to build credibility, and to ensure you have your client’s trust. Also, running a blog on your website is a great way to give your website good organic ranking in the search engines, attract new customers, engage current clients, and promote yourself as an expert in your field.

Remember, your free business website is not “an online business card” for people to refer to; it is your identity as a professional. Be selective in which company you partner with to build your website. You are, after all, putting your identity, brand, and reputation in their hands.

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Winning government contracts can be very financially rewarding but also very straining as it’s far from a simple process. The first step would be to make sure your company is capable of accepting government contracts and is comparable with the wealth of other companies vying for a piece of the pie. Before you start bidding on government contracts, grow your business to its full potential by hiring an online marketing agency. Check out reviews for a number of different agencies, such as viewing Yodle client reviews, to find an agency that fits your company.

Once you’ve got a business that you believe is capable of handling government jobs, seek out an intermediary company. There are plenty of companies out there with the sole purpose of helping small businesses navigate the challenging world of government contracts, and using one will ensure that you will find success a lot easier. These companies will charge you, but the fee usually is well worth it because it takes a huge stress out of the picture when first attempting to win some government contracts.

When you do seek out one of these companies, be absolutely sure that they are reputable. There are a lot of online scams that claim to guarantee you success in winning government contracts, so be wary. Always search online for reviews on the company you’re looking at, and if it seems to be a scam, move on to the next. Another suggestion is checking out the Small Business Administration, which offers many of the same services that a fee based company offers, for free. Regardless if you’re planning on bidding for a government contract, the SBA is a great resource for small businesses.

Once you’ve determined what it is that you’ll be bidding on, you need to search around for some opportunities in your area. The Small Business Administration’s website is a great place to start your search. You’ll be able to find lists of agencies in your area that are in need of certain services. Before you approach the agency you’ve identified could benefit from your services, make sure you’re well versed on the agency’s needs, including what their problems have been in the past and how they see they can solve them.

Once you’ve identified some agencies for jobs that you believe you’re capable of, you simply need to register with the Central Contractor Registration to get started. Once you’re registered, you’re all set to begin bidding on and winning government contracts.

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Research Local Business Resources

Many new entrepreneurs are unaware of how many resources are available to help them plan, organize and implement a new business venture. The US Small Business Administration is one of the most recognizable organizations that can assist local businesses, and the SBA has chapters in a large number of communities. Representatives can offer consultations about writing a good business plan, preparing financial budgets for a new venture, understanding legal requirements and recruiting the best employees.

The SBA and similar organizations also offer financial assistance for new business start-ups. Entrepreneurs who meet certain application criteria can secure grants or low-interest loans to help them offset expenses, such as office rental deposits, computers and beginning product inventory. First-time business owners often feel overwhelmed at the large volume of information to organize for a new start-up, so SBA counselors are available to help them with each step of the process. These types of entrepreneurial training sessions often carry little or no cost as well.

Invest in the Local Community

Once a new business is up and running, the next important step is to become an invested part of the community. Some business owners feel this investment needs to be financial in the form of donations, and they are unable to do so before they begin turning bigger profits. Other methods of investing in the local community do not need to be financial at all. They can include mentoring local students who are interested in a business’s niche, offering unpaid internships or speaking at local high schools and colleges about what is involved in being a business owner.

Use Local Listing Directories

Promoting, advertising and marketing a local business are key areas of focus, and they are critical to bringing in steady customer numbers. Establishing an online presence is now an essential component of these efforts, and the first recommended step is to sign up for several local business directories. Some of the most recognizable ones are Yelp, Manta, Yahoo Local, Google Places and Yellow Pages. Business owners can submit their company names, street addresses, phone numbers and website links to a local directory for potential customers to find when searching for specific products or services.

Submitting a business’s basic information to these directories is one of the simplest first steps to building the necessary web presence. Many first-time business owners are unsure if they need to have a complete company website before submitting to local directories. While a complete website is ideal, a new business owner can decide to have just the basic website created before submitting to local directories. The sooner a company’s contact information is online, the better the potential for attracting higher customer numbers. A new business’s website can always be expanded and updated after local directory submission.

Learn about Social Media Campaigns

After signing up with local directories and launching a company website, a local business has higher chances of profitability if the owner interacts with customers through social media. This marketing strategy helps a business owner learn details about his or her customer base, such as preferences and needs that the company can meet with products or services. Essential parts of a successful social media presence include a Facebook business page, a Twitter account and a LinkedIn profile. Some savvy entrepreneurs also spend time talking to their core customers about which other social sites they use on a regular basis. This tactic will help with strategies for expanding a local business’s social media influence.

Local directories and social media profiles are two means of attracting online attention from potential customers. The number of social sites and associated information may seem large to business owners who are new to social networking, so many start-up consultants recommend beginning with smaller and simpler strategies in this case. Combining online marketing with community participation will make a difference in a local business’s long-term profitability.

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Popularity

The usefulness of Facebook as a marketing tool requires an accurate estimate of the number of small businesses that use this form of social media. This number is difficult to estimate due to the large variation between sources. Almost 50 percent of small businesses don’t use social networking at all according to Hiscox, an insurance company for small businesses. Facebook only accounted for 19 percent of the businesses that use social media in this survey. Palore is an Internet marketing firm that surveyed small businesses about their use of social media. This survey showed that 54.2 percent of small businesses have a Facebook page and 22.3 percent of small businesses have a Twitter account and a Facebook page.

Customers

Customer engagement is a primary factor in determining the effectiveness of a marketing strategy. Facebook is more likely to be useful for large businesses that have stores in many locations. The Roost Local Scorecard is an analysis of Facebook pages for small businesses. This analysis found that an average of 15 percent of the “likes” on the Facebook page for a small business were from local users, which means that a Facebook page would provide little benefit for small businesses.

Budget

A business must consider the cost of a particular marketing strategy, especially small businesses with limited financial resources. Facebook does not charge a fee for creating a Facebook page, but a Facebook page used to market a business requires a substantial investment of time and money. This includes the resources needed to update the page with fresh content and respond to comments. A large business typically hires consultants to maintain a Facebook presence, but small businesses often must perform these tasks themselves.

Objectives

The effectiveness of Facebook also depends on your specific marketing objective. Small businesses typically rely on sales leads more than brand awareness to increase revenue. Facebook can be highly effective in building brand awareness, but it is less able to generate sales leads. A lead generation program that consists of rewarding people for referrals is often more beneficial to small businesses. These businesses may generate leads with a direct mail campaign. Webmaster tools can also allow small businesses to implement pay-per-click and SEO campaigns.

The post Is Facebook Marketing Good for Small Businesses? appeared first on AddMe Blog.

Small Business Owners Can Create Video for Marketing

Even though most individuals are familiar with home video cameras, they may not realize that they can create a useful and effective online video with even simple video equipment. Videos add important information and live action to website promotion and should definitely be included in design. In addition, putting that short and simple video up on a free social media website like YouTube, Facebook or LinkedIn can expose that advertising message to millions of potential viewers.

Why Include Online Video Marketing?

URL Submit, add URL and other efforts aimed at site promotion are a step in the right direction. A webmaster or company owner can conduct website submission to major websites like Google and Yahoo, and they can design a landing page that has search engine optimization in mind from the start quickly and easily. Automated site submission is the best way to get the business website out there for search engines to discover. Your business video can draw in visitors if you post it on social networking websites and on YouTube and link back to your website. Social websites attract about 800 to 900 million visitors each month; it is becoming increasingly more important for small businesses to think big and include social media video marketing plans as part of their overall advertising strategy.

Online Video Contributes to Website SEO Content

As website submission is accomplished, it is time to examine website content. In addition to creating interesting, relevant and important copy on all pages, the landing page should be especially geared towards search engine optimization (SEO) for best results. This means including keywords in copy, META tags and descriptions, and in online video marketing. Put the video on the front page and on all inner pages where it adds importance to the page. Use SEO copy in the video caption.

Online Video Marketing Basics

Start your video production with a few basics in mind:

• Keep it simple and short. Thirty seconds to about 3 minutes is best, concentrating on just two or three main points.
• Include keywords and be sure to overlay your web address on all videos.
• Upload your videos to social media — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. This keeps your costs to a minimum and exposure at a maximum potential.
• Include video topics like a company tour, interviews with personnel, product demos, how-to videos and new product announcements.
• Use an inexpensive camera with 320×400 pixels and do your own editing.
• Use analytics tools to determine how visitors are reacting to and viewing your videos.
• Check out Google AdWords for video and YouTube for Marketers options to enhance the impact of your online videos.

One precaution: Be sure material you use is not infringing on someone else’s copyright. Remember the legal aspects of public display of materials and product claims before you site submit.

The post Online Video Marketing is Big for Small Business appeared first on AddMe Blog.

Here are a few tips for surviving in the smart phone era:

Think Local, Even If You’re Not
Even if you offer services or sell products to people across the country, a local profile can’t hurt. It establishes that you have a physical location and are an actual company, which goes a long way in alleviating any fears of an online scam. Though it may seem silly today, there are still plenty of people that don’t trust what they see online.

Provide Contact Info
Include your physical address, mailing address, phone number, and names of cities, towns, and neighborhoods that you serve on every page of your website. This information establishes your location and makes it easy for a customer to find you.

Submit to Local Directories
This is an important part of a local SEO link building campaign. Basic listings to the Google, Bing, and Yahoo! local directories are free and well worth the time that it takes to submit them since they rank well. It’s also a good idea to submit your site to other local listing sites like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Local.com. There may also be some local niche or industry specific directories for local businesses.

Incorporate Locally Targeted Keywords
When doing keyword research, always think nationally first, and then incorporate local terms. It’s a good idea to use the city and the city and state. For example, if your keyword research tells you that “decorative art gallery” is a good keyword, target “San Francisco decorative art gallery” and “San Francisco CA decorative art gallery”. If you are located just outside of a large city, use your city and the large city to increase traffic.

About the Author:
Brick Marketing is a Boston MA search engine marketing and B2B SEO company.

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