Category Archives: Driving Your Website

Email Marketing

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Google AdWords campaign can be a bit scary for the novice business owner.  These need to be monitored and tracked to see if the results are new clients to your business.

My client base is service oriented from auto repair shops to veterinarians.  The ones using pay per click campaigns are finding the calls increasing, but the price shoppers’ phone calls are consuming a lot of time and are showing no return.  For the business owner with no staff this presents an issue of not getting back to the work of the day.

I am seeing a huge interest in email marketing for the very purpose of referrals.  Specialized services like transmission repair are not an often repeated service.  But for the business owner a satisfied, trusting client is the ideal person to refer a like-minded friend or family member.  Where service industries used to have loyal clients trends now are to price shop everything.

Begin to collect email addresses from your clients.  Develop a newsletter.  Auto mechanics keep on top of vehicle recalls.  Veterinarians can remind of “flea season” as we move into summer.  Giving advice from your profession has value.  Become a trusted source via email and ask for referrals.  If you want to include an incentive to your existing client AND the referee it’s even more attractive.  Most of us are happy to recommend a business we have a great relationship with.

And always put “review us” icons at the bottom of each email.  Reviews help drive websites!

 

Website Marketing

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Your website has become the cornerstone of your business.     All roads of marketing point to your domain.

Website RedesignIt’s not uncommon to want a new look for your website. A “refresh” can be the solution. Change photos, add a JavaScript slide show, update the page content and a critical step: review the SEO. Google changes rules more than 500 times in a year.

Thinking about blogging? A blog is a huge asset to driving your website. You know your business, who better to write short articles and post periodically? Sites adding new relevant content are seen as reliable and this, in turn, improves your rankings. A blog on your website is an easy way to add regular content while expanding your web presence. Give me a call if you have any questions. ph 909.595.0610

 

Mobile MarketingIt’s hard to ignore the usefulness of “going mobile”. Our phones have created a new market place for businesses.

Your mobile website needs to feature the most important aspects of your desktop website in the most user friendly way with quick download time. Equally important is giving the user a quick way to view your full website and avoid a frustrated user experience.

Give me a call if you have any questions. ph 909.595.0610

Online Reviews Your online reputation is part of your internet presence. It’s an opportunity to engage with customers via websites they trust to to be accurate.

You may get negative reviews, but you can turn this into a positive, by addressing any issues. The fact your business has responded to a negative review  often is the tipping point for a potential customer. It’s an opportunity to  build customer confidence in you and your company.

I have created Webmaster Services to help you fine tune your online presence to make it a more effective marketing tool. Give me a call for more details, or read online.

Mobile Website

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Business owners are questioning the need for a mobile website.

Easy to say every website can benefit from a mobile website, but if you have a large site, or limited budget you will be weighing the “if” and “when”.  While there are many solutions selling “free” mobile websites – businesses need to control and maintain their internet presence.  “Free” still means something is out of your control.   Know the tradeoff, before using free products and confusing your target visitors with websites you may abandon in time.

These websites (below) each created a simple mobile website mirroring their existing site.  A simple solution and cost effective.  For my auto repair shops a mobile website is a must.  People stranded roadside need to get to your contact info quickly.  You can encourage them to bookmark your website – no more hunting directions at the last minute, everything is at hand.

Animal hospitals’ clients emotions run high when in need of their vet, or a new vet.  Having the website be mobile friendly, means one less bounce if the full site takes too long to load.  Think about what your business needs.  If you have a large website – begin to plan to be sure to be mobile friendly.  Your existing website will probably need some changes in order to use styling sheets which can create the mobile website output, without maintaining a separate mobile site.  You want to engage all visitors on the platform of their choice.

Google Reviews

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Many of you know Google reviews changed once Google+ became a push-for Google.  There is no longer a name associated with the review until the reviewer goes back to his/her old reviews and updates.  Still they have been working for the business owner.

You may have also noticed the “star rating” – up to four stars, but you don’t see any rating for your business.  Until recently Google only displayed a rating when you had more than 30 reviews, then giving a rating.

New rules: Google now will only show a 4 star rating when you have 30 or more reviews within a 12 month period.

Good to know the rules!

Legitimate Reviews

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With so much focus on reputation management AKA online reviews, businesses are tempted to have employees or friends post reviews.

I spoke with a marketing company recently offering in their package to “post reviews for you”.

The reasons for not engaging in this practice begin with ethics.  If you’re still considering it to give your website an edge up it’s important to know most likely this will come back to haunt you.

People are not fooled.  A business with all 5 star reviews makes you read further.  I have several clients who have legitmate (under 10 reviews) – 5 star reviews.  In reading them it is very obvious these are not fake. If a company has 100+ 5 star reviews – and you begin reading, fake reviews typically show themselves in verbiage.  If viewers are suspicious they can report this to Google.

Read more about how to spot a fake review.

Most review websites have sophisticated software in place to flag suspicious reviews.  With Google it’s even easier as they track your IP address if you use Google search, any site with Google ads, etc.  They note all this information.  Google is excellent at putting pieces together, and if you get banned by Google – who controls search results – where do you think your website will land in these results?

Playing by the rules benefits everyone – and speaks well of your business from that first step.

Directory Listings in Error

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Many of my clients are emailing with concern when they receive a message like this:

You have claimed your listing on Google, but I noticed your business information is incorrect on a number of sites online. Click here to get a free report detailing how your business info appears on Yahoo!, MapQuest, Yelp and 30 more sites.

Most of you have, or will receive the message from one or more sources.  Many companies are offering to correct your listings.

 These are sent even if most of the information accurate.  There are so many variables, perhaps a directory changed and now allows you to post photos, or expand your listing.  You may have been in business a long time, moved, or used tracking numbers you no longer use, there are a lot of factors which can make one listing be incorrect.  Directory listings have evolved. If you haven’t updated in 2 years, you’ll see dramatic changes with new opportunities to expand your listing.

Online Reviews

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People can now talk about your business in a variety of public forums.  Most of us welcome this.  It does have its downside – that one unhappy customer.  The one you tried exhaustingly to satisfy.  If you’ve been in business long enough – it either already has happened, or will happen.

Manage your online reputation by ackowledging those who have reviewed your business. This is an extension of how you appreciate your clients.  AND that one unhappy client.

Etiquette is simple – thank those positive reviewers for taking time to post and engage the unhappy one – calmly.   Avoid tit for tat.  You can admit a mistake, if that happened, and apologize.  If you have an offering to make amends, do so.

Your response doesn’t have to be extensive.  Potential clients will read how you responded.  Consumers know there are some people who are very hard to please, but a step toward addressing any negative review goes a long way.   More is telling in HOW you handle the unhappy client; and can speak well to potential clients.

Don’t avoid a bad review.