Watch Your Money with Search Engine Marketing

There is a new growth industry among us. Many companies want to convince you to write a check, appear on the 1st page of Google, and just watch your business grow. As in any industry, there are many credible companies with solid products that conduct their business in an ethical manner and produce good results. Yet, beware of the sharks that will take your money and provide little value in return.

The real story of gaining a strong online presence is a bit more complex. I have outlined some ways to improve your ranking with a solid investment of time over money.

* Optimize your site with good keywords. Go to a keyword index, such as www.wordtracker.com. You can find the keywords that online users search most often. Select three to five keywords for each page and have those words listed in the keyword section of your site's administrative functions. Then, make those words bold and place them at the beginning or end of a sentence. Bolding and placement will make it easier for search engine spiders to find these words.

* Use free classified directories as much as possible. Find ways to advertise your products or services online or possibly remotely. Place ads on Craig's List, Backpage, City Listing, GoGinzo and others. You might be surprised about how many credible customers are using these sites to look for products/services. However, there is a second reason to use these directories. Each time you place an ad, you have an online presence. If you place a free ad that says Copywriter in Denver on Craig's List, and a user does a search for the same phrase, then they may find your ad without logging into Craig's List at all.

* Make an effort to use social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Digg. The more connections, associations and links that you make to solid sites, the better off you will be in terms of searchability. The true value of LinkedIn will not be from a former associate looking you up years later (although that might happen). The best benefit of these sites is from someone looking for your service and reading about expertise that you provide. The more connections or associations that you have, the easier it will be for someone to find you and your website.

* Lastly, blog, blog, blog. As a professional, you have knowledge and something to say that people will find valuable. Start your own blog and post frequently on other ones. It will increase your knowledge, make you more visible, and can be entertaining.

In summary, if you have the funds to pay a company to move you up the search engines, then consider it a valuable option. Yet, be careful that your service is one people often look for online. Also, as in many other things in life, research and know the company who will do the work.

If you follow these ideas listed here, you can substantially increase your web presence with an investment of time instead of money. This presence will not grow overnight. However, you will steadily build an online brand and increase your web hits by incrementally becoming more connected and visible in the crowded, yet crucial online marketplace.

Get Crazy

Generating revenue for your business is tough work. It often requires a focused and creative approach, in which sales and marketing occupies a high percentage (at least 40%) of your time. As businesspeople with a long list of other items, it becomes easy to tinker with the website, organize files, and continually answer e-mail. Of course, staying organized and responsive is important. However, unless you set aside solid blocks of time to market your business, make sales calls, and do whatever it takes to obtain more clients, your business can slide into trouble. Here are some key steps:

1) Place marketing time slots directly into your schedule and limit distractions
2) Set specific goals for leads generated, and networking contacts per week
3) Continually follow-up with all key contacts
4) Diversify your efforts with at least five defined marketing activities
5) Have fun and go for your goals!

10 Low-Cost Ways to Market your Business

In entrepreneurial business, generating sufficient revenue is the most important concern. Often business owners randomly shoot in the dark in an attempt to find that one marketing idea that will solve their issue. Instead, consider developing a plan with many ideas that can be implemented simultaneously, such as:

1) Databases - Develop a database of customers, prospects and key stakeholders. Send out a monthly e-blast to inform, inspire, and entertain.

2) Seminars - Host an educational event at your place of business or at a public venue to inform the public about the benefits of your product or service.

3) Associations - Join at least two associations, a chamber of commerce and an industry trade association and get fully connected throughout each organization.

4) Get Wired - Make sure your website is visually appealing, content rich, and optimized for access on several search engines.

5) Networking Partners - Make sure that you have a defined list of at least 12 networking partners with whom you can consistently exchange leads.

6) Mail - Despite online advances, the US Mail is alive and well. Develop a consistent and viable direct mail campaign using considerable repetition.

7) White Papers - Write an informative paper about important ideas in your industry and make it available for downloading on your website.

8) Media Releases - Send out media releases about new products, company updates, or key events to local newspapers.

9) Blog - Link a blog to your company website to create buzz.

10) Go Crazy - Get creative, persistent, and assertive in developing new clients - your business depends on it.

Give several of these ideas a chance at the same time. You may be surprised at how your marketing accelerates.

When Small Businesses Lack Capital?

Most small businesses do not have the funds to engage in comprehensive advertising. Yet, without a serious attempt to generate revenue, it can become difficult for the company to survive (forget about thriving for now). Without money, the business should invest in the main resource it has in abundance - time.

Many small business owners are hesitant to throw their time at the problem. Instead, they choose to procrastinate the difficult work of doing anything and everything to generate revenue, the lifeblood of small business. There are many inexpensive ways to build a business through extensive networking, company networking partnerships, blogging, parties/open houses, and just plain hitting the street.

By just putting together a comprehensive plan, you may be surprised that the revenue may come rolling in quicker than expected. Any comments?