Categories
Marketing Search Engine Optimization

Methods of Houston Internet Marketing

The wау wе dо business аt thе moment hаѕ changed dramatically аnd thаt іѕ bесаuѕе оf thе internet, I аm gоіng tо explain tо уоu іn thіѕ article 8 dіffеrеnt methods оf Houston Internet Marketing. With email аnd thе internet wе nоw hаvе а wау tо show оur products, services аnd opportunities tо people worldwide, thіѕ gіvеѕ uѕ а wау tо constantly kеер іn contact wіth оur customers, prospects аnd leads.

1. SEO – Search engine optimization іѕ аn excellent method оf driving traffic tо уоur website оr blog, SEO works bу trуіng tо gеt уоur site оr blog tо rank high оn thе search engines. The wау tо dо thіѕ іѕ bу finding valuable keywords іn уоur niche thаt people search fоr everyday, then оnсе уоu find а keyword thаt уоu аrе lооkіng fоr уоu then gо аnd write ѕоmе content аrоund thаt keyword аnd put іt оn уоur site оr blog.You then hаvе tо promote thаt content уоu wrote аnd gеt bасk links аnd social media votes, SEO іѕ оnе оf mу favorite methods оf internet marketing.

2. PPC – Pay Pеr Click аllоwѕ уоu tо create ads thаt аrе linked tо high traffic keywords, what уоu dо wіth PPC іѕ уоu саn mаkе аѕ mаnу ads аѕ уоu wіѕh аnd bоth Google аnd Yahoo hаvе programs thаt аllоw Pay Pеr Click. Basically wіth Pay Pеr Click programs уоu decide hоw muсh уоu аrе wіllіng tо pay fоr people tо click оn уоur ad, аnd thе mоrе уоu wаnt tо Pay Pеr Click thе higher оn thе search engines уоur ad wіll be, thе price varies frоm pennies tо hundreds оf dollars. If уоu dо decide tо uѕе thіѕ method оf internet marketing mаkе ѕurе уоu hаvе еnоugh money tо uѕе оn іt bесаuѕе оnсе уоu stop paying fоr уоur ad іt wіll nоt rank high оn thе search engines anymore.

3. Google AdSense – Thе wау thіѕ method works іѕ уоu hаvе ads frоm оthеr peoples websites оn уоur website, еvеrу time оthеr peoples ads gеt clicked оn іn уоur site уоu wіll mаkе money.The price wіll depend оn thе keyword related tо thе ad, іf уоu don’t wаnt уоur competitors tо арреаr оn уоur site уоu саn block thеm out.One оf thе vеrу good thіngѕ аbоut Google AdSense іѕ whеn уоu pay fоr аn ad thаt wіll арреаr оn аnоthеr persons website thіѕ creates а bасk link tо уоur site which wіll eventually improve уоur ranking оn thе search engines thе mоrе bасk links уоu get.These ads аrе а vеrу effective wау оf generating lots оf traffic tо уоur site thаt уоu target аnd аlоng wіth thе оthеr methods іt іѕ оnlу оnе оf thе top effective methods оf internet marketing.

4. Banner Ads – Thеѕе ads аrе vеrу colorful, hаvе graphics, animated аnd thеу саn catch peoples eyes vеrу fast, уоu саn place thеѕе banner ads еіthеr аt thе top оr аlоng thе bottom оf а webpage.You іѕ аlѕо vertical banner ads which уоu саn place оn еіthеr side оf а web page, wе call thеѕе sky scrapers.So whichever type оf banner ad appears оn someone’s page thеу аlwауѕ link bасk tо а dіffеrеnt website, which wіll bе уоurѕ іn thіѕ case.I wоuld recommend thаt уоu trу tо avoid animated ads, bесаuѕе ассоrdіng tо statistics thеѕе types оf ads dо nоt work аѕ wеll аѕ thе ads thаt hаvе nо motion іn them.

5. Online Newsletters – Thіѕ іѕ а vеrу effective wау оf forming а relationship wіth уоur potential customers, wіth thіѕ method уоu саn constantly kеер people uр tо date аbоut nеw products, services аnd changes.On thе bottom оf thе newsletter уоu ѕhоuld mаkе ѕurе аnd hаvе аn opt іn аnd аn opt оut form, іf уоu wanted tо уоu саn аlwауѕ hаvе аn opt іn form оn уоur website which іѕ vеrу effective too.

6. Online Magazines – Thіѕ type оf method іѕ similar tо print magazines where уоu wоuld buy ad space fоr а сеrtаіn fee, аnd depending оn hоw muсh traffic thаt thе раrtісulаr magazine gеtѕ thіѕ wіll decide thе fee уоu pay.

7. Website Lead Generation – Wіth thіѕ method thеrе аrе services thаt саn provide уоu leads thаt аrе аlrеаdу qualified аnd уоu wіll pay а сеrtаіn price реr lead.The wау іt works іѕ thаt thеѕе раrtісulаr companies find роѕѕіblе leads іn а fеw dіffеrеnt ways аnd оnе оf thе ways includes cold calling, I соuld gо іntо а lot mоrе detail оn аll thеѕе dіffеrеnt methods оf internet marketing but іt wоuld tаkе mоrе thаn јuѕt thіѕ оnе article.

8. Online Directories – Thіѕ method оf Houston Internet Marketing іѕ where уоu hаvе loads оf dіffеrеnt types оf online directories аnd city guides, уоu аlѕо hаvе thе online yellow pages.You саn gеt уоurѕеlf listed under thе correct categories thаt relates tо what уоu аrе doing, wіth thе majority directories thеу hаvе а general listing which іѕ free аnd уоu саn аlѕо pay fоr adverts іf уоu wіѕh too.

So іn thіѕ article I hаvе оnlу explained thе basic principles оf јuѕt 8 methods оf internet marketing аnd there’s а good fеw mоrе уоu саn uѕе too, but remember thаt уоu dо nоt hаvе muсh оf а chance tо interact wіth potential prospects wіth internet marketing араrt frоm thе phone ѕо mаkе уоu portray thе rіght message online.

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Categories
Search Engine Optimization Website Conversion

What You Need To Know To Increase Sales and Stop Traffic From Bouncing

SEO, Social Media, PPC, banner ads etc are all important to drive traffic to your site!  But we all spend so much time trying to drive traffic and not many people focus on what to do when the traffic gets there!

Do a lot of people bounce from your site quickly?  Are you getting the sales you want/need?

There is something you can do to decrease your bounce rate and increase your sales!

IMPROVE YOUR COPY (sorry for yelling there, but wanted to make sure you got the message!)  🙂

Most people don’t realize the true value of good copywriting.  Copywriting is not something that you should consider as a possible way to increase results.  Copywriting is the FOUNDATION of driving sales.

I’ve heard everything from “my product is so good, people will want it, so I don’t have to try to sell it” (your product may be fantastic, but unless someone is compelled to buy it, they will never know it’s fantastic!) to “I want people to feel welcome on my site and I don’t want to be seen as pushy” (good copywriting makes people want what you have to offer, without making them feel you are pushing it down their throat).

So, no more excuses, people!  If you want to sell online, you need good copy.  Plain and simple.  No excuses, no arguments.

Not everyone can afford a good copywriter, so I want to share a blueprint with you that will help you do the best you can with your copy!

You need to use this blueprint for each product you sell.  Take the time to complete it and then refer to the answers to help create your copy.

Product or Service Name:

Who is my Target Audience?

Tips:

  • Think like the customer. What would you look for in product/service?
  • Build a demographic profile by noting: Gender, Age, Ethnicity, Family Status, Income, Occupation, Interests.
  • What characteristics do your customers share that you can use to specifically target them?
  • Understanding audience can make or break writing.  Use words/phrases that speak to their desires, needs and emotional triggers.

STEP ONE: Develop Your Foundation

(Identify Product Benefits, Emotional Triggers and Plan Your “Call To Action”):

1. Who will my product help?

2. Why should they care about my product or service?

3. How will it impact their lives?

4. How is my product better that the competition?

5. List the features of your product or service and break them down into the benefits.

6. What descriptive words help explain my product?

7. What emotional triggers affect customers who are considering my product?

Not sure what emotional triggers are:  Here are some examples:

  • Fear (ex: Don’t miss out on….)
  • Competition (ex: Be the envy of your competitors)
  • Desire to be a leader (ex: Everyone will recognize you as the expert in….)
  • Desire to be trendy or cool (ex: Now you too can have the latest technology gadget)
  • Need for instant gratification (ex: Get answers to your most pressing questions RIGHT NOW)
  • Desire for more free time (ex: Now you can write compelling copy in half the time)
  • Feelings of guilt (ex: For the cost of one cup of coffee per day, you could feed a hungry child for a year)
  • Desire for trust (ex: You’ll get an honest estimate with no hidden charges)
  • Desire to belong (ex: You’re part of the inner circle)
  • Desire to get a good deal and sufficient value in return for money spent (ex: If you find a better price for the same product, we’ll match it)

8. Can I obtain customer testimonials or expert opinions to substantiate my claims?  (This will help boost credibility)

9. Why would they not buy my product? What are the reasons to counter the objections?

10. What is my call to action?

11. What do I want my customers to do as soon as they read my copy?

12. How can I create a sense of urgency?

Sample words that create urgency: Act Now, Don’t Delay, Hurry In, Call Today, For A Limited Time, Don’t Miss It, While Supplies Last, Call Now, This Weekend Only, Don’t Wait Any Longer, One-time Offer, Get Yours Today.

Now that you have identified the answers to the above questions, write your copy and make sure you incorporate the key points from your answers above.

Once you have an outline of your copy, move on to the next step….

STEP TWO: Make sure you properly convey W.I.I.F.M.

What’s in it for me?

  • How can I communicate W.I.I.F.M. (WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?)
  • Example of conveying strong W.I.I.F.M. “Our SEO software is state of the art” – this talks about a feature and not what it’s in it for them.  Instead use “You’ll never have to worry about getting top rankings again”  Make sure they know without a doubt what they will get out of using your product or service.
  • How can I word my products benefits and differentiators do they talk to the customer and not about me?
  • Have I used “you” more than “we” in my copy?
  • Majority of your copy should be written in Second Person. (ex: “Through our first rate sales department we can deliver cars within 24 hours” = not good, instead use “You can drive your new car tomorrow”)
  • 80% of pronouns should be second person (“you”) and 20% should be first person (“we”).

STEP THREE: Cut, Cut, Cut! Avoid T.M.I.

Too much information

Yep, after all that writing, I want you to go back and cut things out to make sure your copy is tight, concise and to the point.  Ask yourself the following questions:

  • How can I keep my copy from being cluttered?
  • Have I deleted filler words?  Have I deleted extraneous information?
  • If I were a customer, what info would I absolutely have to see in order to buy?

Taking the time to make sure you convey benefits, tap into emotional triggers, address objections and make it clear what your prospects will get from your product or service is key to creating great copy.  Here are some other tips to keep in mind as you work on your copy.

Tips:

  • Great copy makes people think they not only want your product, they need it.
  • They need to instantly know how the product/service will help them: save time/money, feel better, make their lives easier etc.
  • Don’t make them guess, clearly tell them in headline to grab attention what they will get if they buy product/service.
  • Make sure every word adds value to the message.
  • Copy should speak more about customers and less about you.
  • Speak to target audience and not at them.
  • Don’t risk losing interest by providing too much information.
  • K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)
  • White space is good.
  • Avoid filler words like: very, really, that.
  • Hook with headline, tease with subhead, deliver key selling points and call to action with sense of urgency.
  • Be action oriented, concise, to the point and clear.
  • It’s OK to break grammar rules to be conversational.
  • Effective copywriting shifts your message away from what you want to say and towards what people want to hear.
  • Use descriptive words but don’t oversell or sacrifice integrity of copy.
  • Fear of loss and desire to save money are the greatest motivators.
  • Email marketing: your copy should follow the same rules, but your offer should be presented early in email.
  • Be persuasive, don’t just list benefits.  Make sure customers believe they can’t live without your product/service.
  • Don’t be modest or subtle.
Categories
Local Search Search Engine Optimization

How To Do Local SEO For Your Website in Five Minutes (or So)

SEO, the art and science of ranking well in search engines, is one of those things that is easy to learn but hard to master, so let’s focus on the easy part. You’ve got a website and it’s not ranking in Google so well for whatever search term you are coveting. So what do you do?

Here are some (hopefully) simple things you can do, or even better tell someone else to do, to get your SEO strategy in gear:

1. Figure Out Your Target Audience
Until you know who you are targeting there is not much point in doing SEO. What words are your potential customers searching with when you want to be found? What are different modes are they in when they are searching? Are they ready to buy? Are they just doing research? Are they big spenders or are they cheapskates?

In general pick terms that match up with your service, that you think will convert well (conversion is a another five minute discussion altogether btw) and that have good search volume. To get an idea of search volume use Google’s Adwords Keyword Tool which can be found here:
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Once you come up with your target keyword list…

2. Update Your Page Titles
The page title or “title tag” is perhaps the most important element of SEO. These are the words that appear at the top of your web browser when you are on a page. They are also the words that show up in the blue links in Google.

Put the search terms you are targeting in your page titles. In general keep the titles as brief as possible while at the same time making them appealing to searchers. No easy trick. Put the most important keywords at the beginning of the title. Don’t worry about getting this perfect the first time as these are very easy to change and Google usually reacts to these changes quickly. And if your website developer tells you these are really hard or expensive to change, get a new website developer.

3. Make Each Page Title Unique
It is also important that all of the pages on your site have unique page titles. A quick way to see if you have more than one page with the same title is to do the following search in Google:

site:yoursite.com intitle”the words in the title”

The results of this search will show all of the pages in Google that have these words in the title. Once you identify these problem pages you can update the titles to make them unique.

And make sure you add your city name to the titles as a lot of people search for your service in your city.

It also couldn’t hurt if you added some text to the actual page that uses the keywords you are targeting as well, in both the body of the text and the
h1 tag, which is typically the headline of the page. If you don’t have a page that targets the keywords you are using, add a new page that does.

You also should check the meta descriptions tags of each page to make sure those are unique as well.

4. Add a Few Internal Links

The number of links a page gets from its own site and which pages link to it matters. The home page is the most important on the site and so the pages that are linked to from the home page are also important. Figure out which pages you want to rank the most (and don’t say all of them) and add links from other pages to these pages. Make sure you use relevant keywords in the text of those links. For example if you want to rank the page for “pizza” use the word “pizza” in the text of the links that go to that page. Try not to use the exact same phrases in each link to make it look more “natural”. For example in some of the links use “best pizza” or “man that’s a helluva a pizza”.

5. Add Your Address to Every Page
Ideally every page should have your address and phone number. This is helpful for users but it also reinforces your location to the search engines. If your business has multiple locations then you may want to create a separate page for each location or at least a single page that lists all locations. Make sure you link to these pages from as many pages as possible on the site. It would probably be a good idea to list as many location names as possible on the home page too.

6. Claim Your Profile on Merchant Circle, Google Local Business Center, Yahoo Local, etc.
There are a huge number of yellow pages-like sites that allow you to update your business information for free. These sites get a lot of traffic and tend to rank well. At the least you should go to each one, claim your profile and make sure they are linking to your site. You may be surprised at how much business you can get from these free listings. Here’s of sites that offer a free yellow pages listing:

7. Make a Video
And I am not talking about a multimillion dollar production. Ask your kid to point the camera at you and start talking. Explain your service and try to be charming. Mention your website a lot. Then upload it to YouTube and every other free video site and title the video with your top keywords (e.g. “Best Pizza in Pleasanton”). Make sure your website is linked to from your profile. Then link to these video pages from your site with the keywords in the link text. You will be amazed at how easy it is for these pages to rank for your search terms.

If you want to do something more professional, there are a number of services that can help you including www.spotzer.comwww.mixpo.com,www.spotmixer.com , and www.turnhere.com .

8. Add a Blog To Your Site
A blog is just a simple way to add pages to your website. A good, or even bad, web developer should be able to set up a simple blog for you in a few minutes. If you don’t want it super customized it shouldn’t cost that much. Once it’s up start writing. I am not talking novels or even journalism. I am talking keywords. If you want to rank for “Pizza in Pleasanton” write a blog post called “Pizza in Pleasanton: What’s Cooking Tonight At Joe’s Pizza”. Go tohttp://blogsearch.google.com/ping and add your blog’s URL to Google’s blogsearch engine. Now everytime you write something on the blog it will instantly be added to Google, and each of those posts has a chance of ranking for the term you are targeting.

9. Make Sure You Don’t Have Any Technical Issues
There are a number of technical issues that could be preventing your site from ranking. An easy way to identify them is to sign up your site to Google Webmaster Tools at www.google.com/webmasters/start. By copying a short line of code to your site you can get an idea of some of the common problems that Google is having with it. Google provides you with some detail about the problem. There is not much you yourself can likely do about these problems, but you can at least show them to your website developer or a SEO guy and ask him/her to figure it out.

10. Get Links
Now none of this stuff will work very well if you don’t have any links to your site. The big search engines look at links from other sites as a sign of quality and trust. So you should spend the remainder of your five minutes thinking about what other sites you think you can get links from. Here are some of the obvious ones:
– Chambers of commerce/local business groups
– Local business directories/Local newspaper site
– Friends who have sites (including your kid’s blog)
– Partners/Vendors

There are hundreds of other ways to get links like writing articles for other sites, sending out press releases, adding your business info to social media sites, making a fool of yourself in public, etc.

It’s important to understand that SEO is not a one-time thing just like running a TV ad campaign is not a one-time thing. It’s a marketing tactic like any other. And as more people use the Web to find local services, SEO could become one of the more important components of your marketing plan. So get familiar with it today so you can master it tomorrow.

Ok, so maybe that took more than five minutes, but half the battle of marketing is just getting your attention right?