Economy Blues affecting your Marketing Budget?

Don’t get discouraged because of the economy. Marketing in an uncertain or now, dangerous economy calls for some very thoughtful strategies. When money is tight is not the time to give up marketing altogether, but scaling back on banner advertising and big branding campaigns may be in your bottom line’s best interest. However, don’t give up completely. Online Marketing Experts recommend focusing more on local search and reputation management. What can you do as a business owner to improve your ranking?

#1 – Mind Your Content

Make sure your content is quality, you say what you do and you have accurate and good information on your website!

#2 – Build Your inbound Links!

I preach and preach and you are starting to listen (I think). Build your inbound links. Write an article, comment on a Forum, create a blog. Everything you do to get your name (and your company’s name) out there on the web – of course linking back to your site – can only help you! Don’t forget to link it back to your site!!!

#3 – Get active on Your Marketing

Many site owners can’t afford to hire someone like me to help them with their website marketing. In this economy, it’s understandable. Marketing is the untangible expense and the first to be dropped in many cases. However, a good business person knows, you have to continue to market or you will not continue to bring in business. Just because you had to cut your maketing manager doesn’t mean you should stop your efforts altogether. Many online marketing techniques only cost you time. So get out there and pound the keyboard. I’ll get you started.

See there what I just did? I sent you a Newsletter, you clicked on a link and I got you to visit my blog. (Unless of course there are other online marketing forces at work here and you stumbled across my blog inadvertently). Newsletters are a great way to offer information in exchange for a click. If you have something to say that would be helpful to others, send it to them in a Newsletter, or an informational email!

Another great resource is the Webmaster Help Center on Google. Check it out. Analytical tools, advice, even a blog! That will keep you busy for a while, but remember to come back for more tips and tricks on boosting your site. Until then

Cheers
Colleen

Easiest Way to Get Listed in Google

I love my iPhone. There are so many things about it that I love, but my favorite thing is Maps. The other day I was out spending the afternoon with my daughter and we wanted to get some sushi. We weren’t in our own neighborhood so we didn’t know where to go. I clicked on maps, typed ’sushi’ into the search and tada! At least 20 little red pins marked Sushi restaurants in and around the city we were in. I tried this when I got home and noticed that, sadly, my favorite Sushi stop wasn’t listed. Why?

What most people do know is that these business locations are showing up more and more often in searches. What they don’t know is that Google Maps locations are created by the business owners themselves. Getting your business listed in Google Maps is free, easy, and immediate. Why wouldn’t you take advantage?

All you do is go to http://www.google.com click on Maps. On the left hand side you will see a link: “Put your business on Google Maps’. Do it!