Author: News Spotter
Published: 09/27/2012
Remember when consumers were told to “let your fingers do the walking” through the YellowPages to find local businesses? Those days have long since passed as local marketing trends have shifted to the internet. Unfortunately, many small businesses have not established a strong enough online presence to draw in new customers and build strong relationships with their current client base. If you have not yet taken advantages of the many local marketing opportunities that the internet affords you, it is time to reevaluate your strategy.
Here are four simple ways to boost the reaches of your local marketing by utilizing the internet.
1. Maintain a Professional Website
If your small business is not already represented by a website – start one. If your current website has been collecting cyber “dust” and has remained unchanged and unused for years – update it. Consumers are far more likely to give their business to a company that regularly updates a clean, concise, and professional looking webpage. Your page should be used to explain your services, introduce your customers to who you are and what you stand for, and provide links for current and potential clients to connect with you on other online mediums or to reach out to you for further information.
2. Manage a Blog
Blogs are best used for local marketing when they provide insightful, helpful information to consumers. In doing so, you are establishing a need – that is to say, your customers will be able to understand why they need you to provide them with services and helpful advice. This gives you credibility in your field, and enables you to build lasting relationships with your clients. By using keywords (generally these are words that you would expect consumers to type into a search engine to find companies like your own), you will become the top search result and draw in more new customers.
3. Be a Social Butterfly
Author: News Spotter
Published: 09/14/2012
A lot of people have been talking about the split between Twitter and LinkedIn, but nobody seems to have a very good understanding of what caused the split in the first place. This may not bode well for SEO Positive, a UK SEO Agency who uploads relevant Tweets to independent marketing agents’ websites. What we do know is that the divorce became official on June 29th, 2012, under semi-mutual conditions. Well, not really.
The reality is it’s more of a one-way street than anything else. Users of LinkedIn can still post updates from LinkedIn to Twitter but Tweets won’t appear on the LinkedIn newsfeeds. SEO Positive, the UK SEO Agency who manages Twitter, will likely see a huge drop in Tweets as a result of the split.
Logic
Admittedly it turned a few heads when news of the divorce tore across the web, with most people questioning the logic behind it. It was actually, according to Twitter, just another rung on the business ladder. “Expandable tweets,” which allow the viewer to see the entire conversation preceding a tweet, didn’t show up on LinkedIn. The interface didn’t support it. Michael Sippey, the Product Team Director at Twitter, addressed the issue in a blog post, indicating that it was essential for viewers to be able to view these expandable tweets, and that it just wasn’t happening.
Author: Guest Author
Published: 09/13/2012
If you want to succeed online, you need to implement search engine marketing (SEM) tactics. SEM refers to marketing through the search engines and includes search engine optimization as well as pay-per-click advertising. If you’re well versed in SEM, then you can implement the strategies yourself. If you still have no idea what SEM actually [...]
Author: News Spotter
Published: 09/12/2012
Even though many people may use Twitter just to keep in contact with their friends and family, there are plenty of businesses that are reaping the many benefits of this amazing social networking site. However, when setting up twitter for your business there are plenty of mistakes that most newcomers commit. Therefore, if you’re planning on using Twitter for business you need to make sure that you correct these mistakes before you begin your marketing campaign.
The Avatar
Whether it’s people or businesses, one of the biggest mistakes that people make is not uploading the perfect avatar. If you’re planning on promoting your business with an account you should definitely upload your business logo as the avatar. This way, people would be able to recognize you no matter what platform they come across you.
By doing this you would be building up trust, and hence, your followers could very well turn into customers and even long term clients.
Author: Deborah Anderson
Published: 09/11/2012
Thank you for your patience. With all of the changes over the past 10-15 years, with Twitter, er X.com, well, it isn’t really the same entity or platform, is it? So, this article definitely needs rewriting. And, it made me wonder if these things still exist at all? With Elon’s $43,000 price tag for 3rd [...]
Author: News Spotter
Published: 09/06/2012
In this world of computer technology and tech savvy, many realtors are using their connection to the internet to market their business. This is a great way for you to promote listings, open houses, price drops, and great deals online. With the economy the way that it currently is, you might be looking for a way to promote your business and market yourself to potential clients without spending too much. Social media marketing is genius because it’s free and millions of people use it on a regular basis. Here are the top five practices you should be doing on Facebook.
Use Social Media to Connect With Clients
Instead of handing out business cards and sending business emails, invite clients to “Like” your Facebook page or connect with you on LinkedIn. This allows them to see you in a professional light as well as keep them updated on your new listings, price drops, and open houses without having to flood their inboxes or voicemail with emails and voice messages. It’s also a softer way to connect with people, because it allows them to get to know you easily. Additionally, you can get to know your clients by checking out their pictures and likes; when they decide to buy a house you already have a pretty good idea of what they want and can present them with preliminary information almost as soon as they suggest working with you.
The second practice you should use is to maintain a constant flow of communication with your clients. Post about recent listings, updates to your business, and make sure to change your photos regularly. Get rid of photos of homes you’ve sold and replace them with new listings and great deals.
Integrate Facebook to Your Other Marketing Methods
You can use Facebook for more than just posting photos and updating people with your statuses. You can set up your business blog to automatically post links to your blog on your Facebook page so all your clients can have ready access to them. Additionally, you can send out a monthly newsletter on Facebook rather than through email. Many people have things like this sent to their spam box, which means they don’t see it. Putting it on Facebook means they are able to see it and are aware it is out there for them.
