Walt Goshert » local search

Just as there are ways to drive traffic- visits, phone calls, inquiries- to your local business in the offline world, there are endless tactics to increase traffic to your local website.

Now with “Inbound Marketing”, you can have customers coming to you via your website to do business with you rather than interrupting them with paid ads. It’s not that paid ads don’t work; (in fact, paid Online Ads DO work to jump start traffic to your local website) they simply don’t work as well. Inbound marketing positions you with respect and credibility.

The Online World of Inbound Marketing is relatively new, and constantly and rapidly changing. Every day a new twist or angle seems to emerge. However, just because it’s new, doesn’t mean you should dismiss the possibilities of how it can work for your local business.

7 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Local Website:

1. SEO- Search Engine Optimization. Most websites realize at least 50% or more of their traffic coming from Search Engines. Google isn’t going away. Yet, SEO has changed from the early days… a mere 10 years ago. If anything, SEO has become more simple, yet more difficult to achieve top search rankings and results. It’s more simple because automated website tools take care of the techie website coding part. Yet, SEO is a tougher battle to achieve rankings because creating fresh, relevant, consistent keyword targeted content is more important than ever.

2. Social Media- Facebook and Twitter got lots of buzz last year. Both offer local businesses free tools to engage prospects and customers, build relationships, spread word-of-mouth, and bring “warmed-up” visitors to your website.

3. Pay per click(PPC)- Buying keyword placement in the search engines is a quick way to get found online and drive traffic to your local website immediately… for a price. If your website is up to snuff (able to convert visitors into sales) PPC is a proven way to get a traffic bump right away.

4. Local Search- Local SEO requires a bit of a different approach than regular SEO. Winning the Local SEO battle requires careful geographic and keyword targeting along with listing your business consistently in multiple business directory sites. Many of these business directory sites offer both free and enhanced paid listings to increase your local website exposure and your website traffic. As more Mobile Phone applications and use emerges, look for Local SEO is more important than ever.

5. Video Marketing- Video marketing is largely an untapped avenue for local businesses. With an inexpensive “instant” video camera, it’s simple and easy to record videos and upload them to YouTube and other video sharing sites. Many local businesses shy away from video thinking it’s too complex and that it requires professional quality. Not so. Make your videos real and authentic and you’ll be surprised how your prospects and customers will share them online.

6. Blogging- It’s never been easier to get a blog set up and going. With a blog, you’re in control of your updates and adding information to your website- you’re no longer held hostage to your web designer charging you for every little update. A local business blog is great for your SEO effort, and along with Social Media promotion, is the tool to position you as the “go-to” business in your community.

7. Online Word-of-Mouth- When you’re armed with online free social tools such as Twitter, Facebook Business Page, Google Local Business Listing, a presence in various local business directory sites, your blog, your YouTube video channel… you give your customers a powerful way to spread the word about your local business. Your customers now have a platform to give you real honest feedback and opinions… and spread this message to hundreds or even thousands of local prospects online.

As search engines add more relevance to input from Social Sites, such as how many online reviews your business has received, how many views,how long they view, and did they share your YouTube video, it’s wise to start a proactive campaign to build a postive, powerful online reputation.

So…
How many of these 7 ways are you effectively using to drive traffic to your local website?

Yes, creating a website and online presence that effectively drives traffic can be overwheling for many local business owners. No matter how you decide to drive traffic to your local website, keep in mind that you must first have a local website worth marketing. All the traffic in the world isn’t going to increase your sales one dollar if your website doesn’t encourage visitors to call you, email you, or visit you to do business.

Make getting your website up to speed your first priority… then unleash the traffic.

What do you say?
What questions do you have about “How-To” Drive Traffic to Your Local Website?

Flickr Photo Credit: realSMILEY

Different Tips to Increase Website Traffic (slideshare.net)
How Organic SEO Can Be Used To Catapult A Website Up In The Search Engine Rankings. (ronmedlin.com)
Free or Low-Cost Tools for Marketing Your Business Online (lazerpromotions.com)
Facts About Traffic Generation (mt-soft.com.ar)

Twitter and Facebook? What Does Google Think?

Walt Goshert — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:49:37 +0000

Ok… so in light of Google Buzz and Real-Time Search, where does Twitter and Facebook really fit into the Google mix?

Not from is Twitter and Facebook competition to the Google empire,(another whole conversation that’s been beat to death) but does Facebook and Twitter actually help your Google Search rankings?

And, for discussion here, we’re going to table Real-Time search results for a different conversation.

So, from a pure SEO play…

You’re sitting there wondering…

Do links from Facebook and Twitter increase your Google ranking?

After all, Twitter and Facebook, next to Google and YouTube are the top sites online. You’ve heard that links from top sites into your local website helps boost your Google rankings. Increased Google rankings mean better chances for your website to show up for your key search terms on Page 1 of Google. Showing up on Page 1 of Google translates into more visitors to your website, more phone calls to your local business, and ultimately, more sales and money in your pocket. Yep, that’s how you’d like to see it work for your business.

Since you’ve heard so much about Twitter and Facebook, and they’re both Free Sites, you’ve decided to build Profiles and Pages, and are attracting Friends and Followers. You’re posting to your Facebook Fan Page and Wall, and sending out Tweets with links back to your website.

All this activity… but is it working?

Is it helping to increase your Google ranking and begin the “Happy Cycle” that leads to sales in your local business?

Let’s get the answer straight from Google. Here’s Matt Cutts, a Google software engineer and head of Google’s Webspam team.

Ok, so what is Matt telling us here?

1. Links from Twitter and Facebook are treated the same as any other site. Google does not distinguish them.

2. Lots of Facebook Personal Profiles are set to “Private”. If set to “Private” for Friends viewing only, the Google bots can not crawl your Facebook Profile and pick up the links.

3. Facebook Fan Pages are Public and are DO Follow links vs. NO Follow. As DO Follow, they will help increase your Google rankings if you have links from your Facebook Fan Page pointing back to your website or blog. I’m seeing comments on different sites that question if this is really true. Here’s a tool to check DO Follow/ NO Follow links if you use the Firefox Browser.

4. Twitter links in Tweets are NO Follow, but the link in your Twitter Profile is DO Follow (as are links in your Personal Profile on most all Social Marketing sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, Mixx, Yahoo Buzz, LinkedIn, etc.) This is a good reason to go out and create Profiles at as many of the Social Marketing sites as possible and include a link back to your website or blog.

5. Links on Tweets to your site are NO Follow, but remember, keywords you use in your Tweets now show up in Google’s Real-Time search results.

(In case you’re wondering DO Follow=Good, passes link juice on to your site. NO Follow= Not necessarily bad, but you get no link juice benefits. NO Follow is used on sites like Twitter to discourage SPAM commenting)

Your Three BIG take-aways here to increase your Google rankings from Twitter and Facebook:

ONE: Turn your Facebook Personal Profile “Public” if you have links to your site and want them to help you.

TWO: Set-Up a Facebook Fan Page for your business. Update it often with links back to your site. Check these links from time to time to make sure they are DO Follow. ( Somehow, I don’t think Facebook will announce this…)

THREE: Include a link in your Twitter Profile and all your Social Marketing Profiles. Get active on Social Marketing sites that fit your business. Build followers. AS you build followers, your Social Marketing Profile page increases in Google rank and passes more link value back to help increase your Google ranking.

Now, is this alone going to rocket you up the rankings for competitive keywords?

No.

But, if Facebook and Twitter are tactics and tools you’re using in your social media marketing strategy to build relationships with prospects and clients, why not get the most leverage out of them?

Because with On-line marketing, like many Off-line marketing tactics it’s not any ONE thing you do, it’s a combination of many things and how they fit into your overall marketing strategy.

So, you see, when you increase your Google ranking…

You start the “Happy Cycle”:

Your site shows up on Page 1 of Google, first for less competitive keywords, and eventually you start “owning” keywords in your sweet-spot.

You begin to see more visitors at your website.

These website visitors call you, fill out a site inquiry/lead form, print out a coupon…

Then these website visitors show up at your business with a coupon in hand, or you’ve set an appointment to see them.

They like what you do, how you do it, and hire you to solve their wants and desires, problems and challenges.

They give you cash, check, or a credit-card. They pay you.

Bottom-Line: More sales and more money in your pocket.

Flickr Photo Credt: Lall

Google News Tries Sharing With Facebook, But Where’s The Buzz Button? (techcrunch.com)
Want to Friend Me on Facebook? Please Use My Public Page or LinkedIn Instead (techipedia.com)
Social Selling (thecustomercollective.com)
Just How Popular Are You? – How To Check Right Now (thenextweb.com)

The Mayor of Your Zip Code?

Walt Goshert — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:01:46 +0000

Right now. Today. 2010.

Each and Every local business has a rare and unique opportunity.

Some will grab this opportunity and run with it. A few already have.

Unfortunately, many will miss or dismiss this opportunity.

Fear and confusion will hold them back.

With Local Search, getting your business found on Google, Yahoo, Bing… along with the social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube… local businesses of all sizes and shapes have a free/low-cost “Neon Flashing Sign” for marketing in today’s digital world.

However, it requires many local business owners to change their mindset and how they view their business.

Traditional Marketing and Advertising techniques such as Yellow Pages, Newspapers, Radio, and TV… and even “Old School” Word-of-Mouth and Networking are losing their luster and impact when everyone is wired and looking for information and connections through their online networks.

“Every Company is a Media Company”

“While it’s true that anyone with social media skills can become a successful new media owner or producer, it’s existing small businesses that need a mind shift. Rather than starting a blog to promote your business, you should be creating new media assets that transform your business into something bigger.” – Brian Clark, publisher of a leading online site, copyblogger

So, here’s the first check of your marketing thinking…

Do you believe that creating new media assets about your local business… blogging, social marketing on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube… will transform your business into something bigger?

Now, let’s take things a step further…

John Jantsch, of Duct Tape Marketing, in a Hub Spot interview, claims there are real opportunities to “Rule Local Search” for all types of local businesses in nearly any location.

But, big challenges exist in pulling it off:

Q: What kinds of unique opportunities do inbound marketing techniques like social media and blogging offer small businesses that aren’t available with traditional types of marketing like print advertising and direct mail? Why is it so important for small businesses to take advantage of these modern channels?

John Jantsch Answer: “Over time the single greatest opportunity is to rule the local search landscape. 20-30-year-olds go straight to their mobile browser or Google Maps to find everything – shoes, food, insurance, a dentist, you name it. If they don’t find you by doing that, then you don’t exist.”

Q: To play devil’s advocate, what do you think are the biggest challenges associated with implementing these inbound marketing methods, and how would you suggest marketers overcome them?

John Jantsch Answer: “Time, fear, big scary blank white monitor screens. You can’t really practice inbound marketing tactics without committing to producing content, lots of it, over long periods of time. This is not something you can hire a consultant for, get an intern to do one week, go to a workshop, or buy a great book – you’ve got to make it part of the fabric of your daily life. Sorry, no magic dust.”

Here’s the thing…

These 20-30 years olds (and a whole bunch of 30-55+ year-olds too) who are hanging out online, attached to their iPhones, are the present and future of your business. They use local search and online social networks to find everything.

Will they find your local business?

Are you going to step up and Rule Local Search… Become The Mayor of Your Zip Code... for your business?

Three Best Ways to Use Social Media (online.wsj.com)
Fostering Community With Social Media – Midwest Newspaper Summit 2010 (slideshare.net)
Google Local Storm is Brewing (ducttapemarketing.com)
Social Media Predictions for 2010 (lazerpromotions.com)

Google Local Business Listing:Photo Tweaks and Tips

Walt Goshert — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:28:51 +0000

Now, you’ve claimed your Google Local Business Listing…

But, one or two lame photos?

Come on… Show me more!

Ok, so, you’re asking…

“Why is it so freakin’ important to add my own photos, with Keyword Tags, to my Google Local Business Listing?… I got a real business to run here!”

First of all…

If you don’t, there’s a chance Google will auto-fill your Local Business Listing with stock photos…

Or… even worse…

Photos of your competitor.

Now aside from Google taking liberties with your Local Business Listing, you probably already realize…

Pictures DO paint a story and stir the imagination in the minds of your prospects and clients.

Today’s online world is a multi-media experience. Plain old text ain’t gonna cut it.

While Local SEO pros are divided about how much influence photos have in determining your Google Local Business Listing rank in the 7-Pak rankings, everyone pretty much agrees…

Photos do improve Click Through Rates to your website, potential phone call inquiries, and visits to your store, shop, or showroom.

Your Google Local Business Listing accommodates 10 photos. Use a variety of photos to portray your Local business.

Your location/building/store front.
You and your staff
Your Products
Your Services

In addition to adding your 10 Photos to your Google Local Business Listing,here are two tricks to get the most mileage from your Photos online.

1. “Tag” all your Photos with Category and Geo-Targeted keywords. For example:

“kitchen design/build , Lancaster County PA” on a Photo of a recent kitchen remodel project.

Tagging helps the search engines find keyword information. Tagging your Photos also makes organizing them easier. As you take and add photos to your website and other areas online, when you’ve added tags, it’s easier to sort and find related photos- both for you when creating new content, and visitors to your website.

2. Post your Photos not only on your Google Local Business Listing, but also add your Photos (with keyword “Tags” of course) to:

Picasa- Google’s Photo sharing site.
Flickr- Yahoo’s popular online Photo sharing site

Now, with only a bit more time and effort, after you’ve posted 10 Photos on your Google Local business Listing, 10 Photos on your Picasa site, 10 Photos at your Flickr account, you’ve now claimed 30 more spots, with your keywords added, for your Local Business. You’ve taken one little additional step. Yes, while it might seem like a waste of time and duplication of information, keep in mind this information you provide goes into the huge Internet database. Search Engines are simple the tools your prospects use to find information in this database.

It’s these little tweaks… claiming your Google Local Business Listing, and then taking the steps that 99% of businesses don’t take, like adding photo Keyword tags and then posting to Photo sharing sites…

These are the little things that make the difference of your business getting found on-line rather than your competition.

Not only have you claimed more spots in the Google Game. You’ve given your prospects an interesting way to learn more about your business.

Oh, one more thing. Each day, more and more Local Business sites and Directories give you the ability to create free Local Business Listing. Many of these sites have the option to upload and add your Photos.

You’ll want to claim your Local Business listing at these sites, and while you’re there add your Photos.

Check out sites to list your Local business for Free such as MerchantCircle.com, Kudzu.com, and Yelp.com.

Plus, don’t forget possibly the Number One place to Profile your Local Business… with unlimited keyword tagged Photos.

Do you know you can create a Business Page on the one of the top five busiest sites Online… for Free?

And include unlimited, keyword tagged photos, with links back to your website?

Yep, a Facebook Business Page allows you to upload and create Photo albums of your Local Business.

Stay tuned…

More Google Local Business Listing Tips.

And Coming Soon:

All about Facebook Business Pages

Flickr Photo Credit: victoriapeckham

More on Google Local Business Listings:

Understanding Local Listing Sites as Google Changes the Game (marketingvox.com)
Local business listings hijackings

Walt Goshert » local search

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