You’re looking for ways to drive traffic to your Local Business Website…

Gotta be quick, like today…

Gotta be cheap, better yet, Free… That Works!

Well here ya go…

With a little investment of time…

Here’re five of the quickest, easiest (and Free) ways to get drive traffic to your local business website today:

1.    Scout out Local Blogs. Add Value to the Conversation with Meaningful Comments
Blogs can be found on almost any subject so finding one that is interesting to your customers should be easy. For example, if your business relates to home improvement (handyman, paint store, hardware store, interior design, kitchen remodeler etc.)  look for home decor or real estate related blogs. Spend a few minutes reading though the recent posts and comments to get a feel of the community.

Go to Google Blog Search: search keyword plus your geographic area. For example, “homes & gardens Lancaster,PA”
A blog with lots of comments and regular readers is the ideal place to post your comment. Remember a blog is a community, not a classified site. Offer some relevant information or contribute to the conversation. There is usually a spot for you to list your website in the same area where you enter your name and email address. Enter your website here and not in your post. Self-serving comments are usually quickly deleted, wasting your time and the blog owners. Don’t do it. If your comments are interesting people will look to your website for more information.

2.    Connect with others. Check out Local Message Boards /Forums
Many communities have message boards set up for talking about local events, politics, news and businesses. Check with the site rules (usually posted at the top of most boards) to see if links are allowed in forum postings. If so use this area to provide a link to your website at the bottom of each of your posts. This is another area where it pays to check out the community and observe before jumping in to the conversation. Be respectful. Be helpful. Set up a signature link that draws people to you without being in their face.

3.    Post ads on classified ad sites
There are sites, such as Craigslist, where classified ads are not only allowed they are welcomed. Write a brief, compelling ad and provide a link to your website for more information. (Even better, create a “Clickable” Craigs List Ad with a Compelling “Graphic-Designed” Message) You can repost your ad often, testing different formats and offers to find what works best.  (This is also a great, low cost way to test you ad copy for direct mail or other advertising as well).

4.    Exchange links or banner ads with other non-competing local businesses
Leverage the traffic of other local sites by exchanging links with a local site that caters to the same customers but is not in direct competition with you. For example, an insurance agent and a realtor.

5.    Add your business to local directories
Local directories often rank high on search engines for many different terms so being listed with them can only help build your traffic. Many offer free basic listings as well as paid premium listings. Consider a premium listing if your budget allows for it. It can give you a decisive edge over your competition.

More on Driving Traffic to Your Local Business Website:

• To Get And Maintain Website Traffic You Need Unique Quality Content (ronmedlin.com)
• Backlink Building – One Of The Most Reliable Online Business Growth Strategies (ronmedlin.com)

What’s Your Number One Current Marketing Challenge?

Is it…

• Driving traffic to your local business website?
• Generating leads from your local website?
• Identifying your target market… your Ideal Client?
• Figuring out how to use Social Media Marketing… Twitter, Facebook, YouTube?
• Communicating with current clients?
• Eliminating price shoppers?
• Something else?

Please share your Marketing Challenge in the Comments Below.

Photo Credit: Flickr

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

 

 

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