December, 2008

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Last Chance Deals

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

Today is the last day to take advantage of these deals:

SEO Audit $99 – Normally $199 http://www.whereismybusiness.com/seo-audit.php

Link Building Campaigns 20% off – http://www.whereismybusiness.com/services/link-building.htm

Missouri Wine Club 10% off – http://www.DrinkMO.com

Ok I know the last one isn’t SEO related but I promised my wife I’d put it out there.  That’s her baby.

What Are Your Goals for 2009?

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Well, by far the biggest year in Internet Marketing is drawing to a close.  How did you do this year? Did you surpass your goals? Did you have any goals? Did your business do well online? Did you see growth? ROI? Has your business taken a ‘new direction’ when it comes to your online marketing?

If I helped your business grow in 2008, I can’t wait to make it even bigger in 2009.  If not, that’s ok too.  I hope that this blog has shown you ways to create new revenue streams and programming shortcuts that will take your business to a new level.

Now, what are you going to do in 2009? Add video or perhaps a blog? Start a link building campaign? Did you just test the SEO surface waters and realize the potential?  The economy isn’t going to stay in the dumps forever, are you positioning your company to be way ahead of the bigger players in your industry when money once again flourishes?

Have you looked at your 2008 data and researched what worked and what didn’t? Where can you apply Pareto’s Law to reduce and refine?  What areas of your business can be trimmed and/or removed?  Should you expand or simply reroute?

What new marketing ideas do you have in store for 2009?  Giveaways? Video? PPC? New domains and websites? Expansion into new areas? Leveraging your newfound Internet traffic for better vendor pricing?  Will you pursue an affiliate program? Can other local businesses help yours grow? Can you join a group that will promote your business? Could you hold an event that will get you media exposure? Can you advertise in local papers or websites cheaply? Will social networking be a part of your plan?

And of course, money. What are your goals for next year? How about monthly? Can you compare to the past and forecast? How much can you make? How much can you save? How much will you have to put into untapped (and potentially lucrative) revenue streams?

And lastly, what would you like to be forecasting for 2010? If this were December 30, 2009, what would you like to be thinking about? What goals will you be setting then?

Make it happen.

Merry Christmas to All SEO/SEM Beginners

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Just wanted to drop a quick note to all my readers to say Merry Christmas. I’m in the office today for a few hours getting some things tidied up, and soon I will head home to enjoy a nice Missouri Wine and watch my kids eye the presents under the tree.

We usually let them open one present on Christmas Eve, and then the rest on Christmas Day.  It’s one of the few days of the year when they are eager to jump out of bed.  I usually get my videocamera ready, find some coffee, and otherwise lollygag around until they are ready to burst.  It’s a fun time for all.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday, and enjoys the family that you are able to be with.

Beginner SEO/SEM: You’re Worth More Than That

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

 

I bargained with life for a penny
And life would pay no more
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store

For life is a just employer
He gives you what you ask
But once you have set the wages
Why, you must bear the task

I worked for a menial’s hire
Only to learn dismayed
That any wage I had asked of life
Life would have willing paid.

– Jessie B. Rittenhouse

For those of you just getting started in SEO / SEM consulting, listen up.

Earlier this year I partnered up with a business colleague to do some revenue share for him.  Basically it was this: I do SEO for him and I get a percentage of the revenue that the website creates.  I actually do this for several local businesses, but I’m not sure that it’s the best option.

While small businesses love to ‘partner up’ with other business owners, I’m really having second thoughts about doing this in the future.

Here’s the deal.  You offer a great service, one that can propel a business (literally) into a new revenue stream. You have the know-how and understanding to create wealth.  And wise small business owners will see this and want it.  However, most small businesses lack one thing – money.  While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience that a lot of small business owners want a lot, particularly things they can’t pay for.  Of course, who wouldn’t.

If I owned a coffee shop, and in came a guy with a laptop, having meetings, talking to business owners, I’d want to know what he offered.  I’d want him to market my business.  But I’m just a little coffee shop owner, I don’t have that kind of money to throw at marketing.

Just a word of advice – RUN!

My wife often tells me that I’ve got this soft spot for people in a pinch.  For some reason I feel bad when I see a business owner struggling, and I want to help.  I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes – perhaps they’re really bad at accounting.  Perhaps they are funding useless causes.  Perhaps they have no idea what’s going on at all in their business.  Whatever it is, all I see is the outward sadface, and I offer to help.

Most often she’s right (dammit!).  She sees me working for these people ‘in hopes of a future return’.  She sees the kids wanting new this and that, and she sees me working away, but the bank account doesn’t increase.  I can’t blame her for getting aggravated.

So if you’re good at SEO, and you know it, don’t fall for these things.  You offer a damn good product, quality advice and the power to increase sales.  Don’t let it go for cheap.

Disclaimer: There are plenty of reasons to help out a small business.  I am in no means telling you to avoid these altogether – rather I’m telling you to be wise.  If you have a friend that needs help, throw him some link juice. Do a small link building campaign. But don’t go overboard just to prove yourself.  If you want to do that, do it on your own website, not someone else’s.