Let’s face it, doing your own SEO’s (search engine optimization) can be a bit daunting, especially if you are new to the world of online marketing.
Gone are the days of the door to door salesmen (thank you!) and thanks to services such as “caller ID” and “no call list” telemarketing is quickly becoming a thing of the past as well.
With the internet now officially a part of our everyday lives, you must ask yourself “What are some of the ways that I can use search engines to work for me in order to maintain a constant flow of traffic and interest to my company’s website?”
It may not be a walk in the park, exactly, but fortunately, for you, it’s not exactly mission impossible either.
Let’s take a look.
Keywords and Content
First things first; keywords are key. You just are not going to be found if people don’t know what to look for.
After all, if you own a tree cutting service, you are not exactly going to market yourself under the “laser pointer design” keyword category now are you?
Use the Google keyword planner tool to get you started, choose a few choice words that pertain to you and what you do, and get to it!
Once that is done, get ready to really optimize your long-tail keyword utilities.
That means instead of just “tree” people are going to find you when they look up the exact phrase “tree cutting local”.
You can pay a small fee to certain search engines and sites, but in the end, $10 a month is an extremely small price to pay for people being able to see you and what you do.
Also, don’t be afraid to get some keyword ideas from your customers themselves. If someone mentions to you that they need a specific task and they found only you are able to fulfill their needs, go ahead and add that to your keywords and phrases too.
A little recognition can go a very long way. This leads you right into your next goal; the content itself.
What To Write
Here is where things can get a little tricky. You may think initially that once you have the client, they are already hooked.
This is simply just not the case. The reality is, once they find you, you are only on the first step to attaining a decent client base.
You may get them to your site with fancy keywords and catch phrases, but if there isn’t enough good content, chances are they are not going to stick around long enough to see what you have to offer.
Reach out to other bloggers and even others in your own field for advice on what sales and what doesn’t. Nothing is wrong with a little healthy competition, but it’s perfectly acceptable to help your fellow man, even if they are a so called “business rival”.
You will be surprised at how often others are willing to help an up and coming new company and, in return, you may help them someday as well.
A simple testimonial can go a long way, thus helping all parties involved. Everything that goes around comes around; even in (and sometimes especially) in marketing.
Using Other’s Websites
When pairing up with others, don’t be afraid of utilizing big name talents.
Google offers tracking services that can follow the traffic of your site down to the letter. Image searches may find images you yourself had posted and can be used to link back to your site.
Social media sites are an excellent source of constant content and can be used as an around the clock marketing tool which will reach thousands of people all over the globe in all time zones with just the click of a button.
The popular site WordPress is a fantastic place to post blogs and keep connected with people and provides it’s own in-house search engine of sorts to give you that much more of a boost.
Find out which blogs are most popular, create your own personal blog with your own information, and update it regularly to attain regular traffic.
If nothing else, Google has tons of free tools which anyone can use to get yourself off the sidelines and on the playing field.
Using Your Own Abilities
Understand that search engine optimization and branding are absolutely not the same. Just because you have a trusted name in business doesn’t mean it’s popular, and just because you are popular does not necessarily mean you are trusted.
In fact, some studies have shown that a customer is more apt to tell their friends about a bad experience rather than a good one so it is up to you to keep your name not only in the limelight but to keep your name is the POSITIVE light as well.
Don’t think of customers as dollar signs, think of them as friends and family.
Connect with them via a search engine on a personal level, not a so-called “target audience” level. Answer questions they may have before they even think to ask them.
Let their search be your instant sounding board for any concerns they may have. Create local listings on various social media sites and make sure your site is mobile-friendly for your clients on the go!
Think of your site holistically, not locally, and watch your child grow. Oh, and don’t be afraid to be reviewed by Google either. You’d be surprised how far a few kind words from a major search engine can go.
Staying On Target
Your name is who you are and what you do. There is no reason not to be proud of that. Through your efforts, a simple search by anyone can open the doors to worlds of opportunity you could only imagine.
With a simple click, your customer base will find you and before you know it you may find yourself the talk of the town.
So remember, in the world of online marketing, search engine optimization is not only your friend; it is your life long companion. Don’t believe me? Just look it up online.
Happy searching!
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