Tag Archives: Google Panda update

Ranking #1 in Google is Best: Myth or Reality?

Posted on by
Reply

It was common just a few years ago for business owners to insist that they want to be ranked #1 in Google search. And just a few years ago that was both more critical. And it was actually possible to achieve relatively easily. Google_logo

Nowadays, not so much.

With all the changes in the world of internet search, updates to search engines (remember the cutely named, but not so cute in results Panda and Penguin?) this has become more of a challenge.

Especially for local businesses, we have seen the search results change dramatically month to month as the search engines change the way they deliver results to the customer.

So what should you do?

First, keep in mind that searching on the internet is organic–meaning that it changes and evolves.

Second, recognize that the search engines underlying goal is to make money. Sure this includes taking in money (a  lot of money) in advertising. But if that is all they did they would lose the end user–the people who are actually using their service. For free. That means they will keep changing and tweaking their systems in an effort to give the best results for the person conducting the search.

Third, face the fact that people are placing more and more faith in on-line reviews and ratings.

What does this mean for the local business owner?

Be willing to keep learning about local search, or be willing to pay someone to do it for you. The old days of placing the same old ad in the phone book or newspaper are gone. Not that you can not or should not advertise there. For some businesses print media is still a very valuable marketing tool.

Know what works for you–know how your customers are finding you right now. We’re finding that this varies by region as well as by business type. And of course, it changes over time. You need to keep asking your customers or clients how they found you. Don’t assume that just because last year most of them found you on Yelp* that next year they will too, any more than you would assume that because the phone book worked for you in 1990 it is still the best bang for the buck today.

Ask your best customers if they will give you a review online. Don’t offer them a free service or a discount in exchange for a positive review. That violates most terms of service. Simply ask them if they are happy with your work if they would do you the courtesy, or a favor, by writing a review.

Don’t worry if you are not in the #1 position on Google. Look to see who else is in the results with you. Take your business owner hat off and try to look at the results like a potential customer would. Which listings stand out the most? Is it the #1 listing? Maybe not.

Current studies indicate that listings with more reviews and especially lots of positive reviews with stars get clicked on more often–even if they are lower in the search ranks.

Focus on making your current customers happy. Ask for reviews.

And if you need more help, call in a professional–just don’t let them tell you they will “guarantee” that you will be #1 in Google. Now you know they can’t and that isn’t the bottom line anyway.

Successful Facebook Timeline Suggestions for Local Business

Posted on by
Reply

If you are a local business without a Facebook page you might not know what the big fuss is all about. And, if you don’t already have a Facebook page, then you might not think you need to care.

Unless you have more clients and money than you can handle, then you definitely want to care about Facebook. Google is constantly updating its algorithms and more and more weight appears to be placed on social media for ranking your business pages in the search engine rankings.

Depending on your specific industry there may be other social media venues that are important for your business, but Facebook is still the #1 place to be seen, and found, on the internet social scene.

The good news is that you can put your own personality or brand on your Facebook page much more easily now with the Timeline format. Big businesses are using Facebook Timeline to their advantage and so can you.

Read more (and see examples) here:

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-ways-businesses-are-using-facebook-timelines/

Of course, these are mostly BIG companies with big advertising budgets. And don’t kid yourself into thinking that Facebook is not advertising–it really is. And these companies prove that it is internet advertising that works.

Facebook Timeline for business

But just because they are spending megabucks on their advertising campaigns doesn’t mean that you should ignore Facebook any more than you would ignore other advertising media. You don’t buy full-page ads in national magazines that would suck up your ad budget for the next 10 years…but that doesn’t mean you never have a print ad out there. Same logic. Stick within your budget, but you must allocate some funds into advertising (that works for your business!) if you want to continue to grow and be profitable.

After all, you provide a service or product, but the purpose of business is to also make money.

Check out the Timeline ideas and start to think about how you might adapt them for your own Facebook page.

Of course, we are here if you want some help, whether it is building a page or tweaking it.

Google Panda Update Goes Global

Posted on by
Reply

Here in the US we have been dealing with the repercussions of Panda since February…well, world, get ready it is your turn!

Not sure what the Google “Panda” (aka “Farmer”) update is? Read more in this article from WebProNews.

Whether this will hurt or help small businesses in the long-run is still topic of much discussion. In the meantime, give your customers good content. Focus on what you do well and don’t try to “game” the system. If you follow those guidelines you will probably be okay.

And remember–Google may be powerful, but they are not the only game in town.

Making sure your Local Search and Social Media campaigns are balanced helps keep your business from suffering too much when (definitely “when” not “if”) any particular player changes the rules!

If you aren’t sure if your business is represented in a balanced way then contact your internet marketing provider and ask for an update.

And if you’ve been trying to do this all yourself, this is a great time to delegate that to someone else so you can get back to focusing on your business and leave the marketing to folks like us.