SEO Services for Your Business
Hi! My name is Will Hanke, I'm an SEO expert based in Saint Louis, Missouri. If you're looking for search engine optimization for your business website, I invite you to learn more about me and how I can help you kick you're competiton's butt. I'm helping plenty of local businesses doing just that, so why not you too?
If you'd like to learn more about SEO, check out the last few articles I've written below, and let me know if I can help you with anything!
Written by Will on April 12th, 2010
There’s no question about it, if you’re a small business, you’ve got to be listed in Google maps, Yahoo Local and Bing Local. It’s not debatable. Just do it.
But by all means, take the time to do it right. You don’t want to look like an idiot because you ran through it so quickly. And it’s not something you can pay your twelve year old son Jimmy to do, neither. You don’t have to pay some business $299 to do it, either. That’s just crazy. Take the time on a Sunday night to get it right. It’ll be worth it. Click to continue »
Posted in local marketing, small business | 1 Response »
Tags: google, Google Maps, local, maps, small business, smb
Written by Will on April 6th, 2010
At last week’s Market Saint Louis Conference, one word seemed to dominate every session. It was mentioned more than anything else, and it wasn’t ‘Facebook’, ‘Twitter’, or even ‘social’.
What was the word that was mentioned more than any other? WordPress.
During my session on Local SEO, one of the business owners raised his hand and said, “All throughout these sessions the number one thing we keep hearing is blog, blog blog. Why is this so important to a small business owner?”
Click to continue »
Posted in blogging, small business | 5 Responses »
Tags: blogging, content, customers, search, small business
Written by Will on March 26th, 2010
Yesterday I added an event to Craigslist. Today I get this email
Quoting Jordan Miller <fcd@craiglist.org>:
I am VERY interested in your add. Please look and tell me if this is the one.
http://www.craigslists.org/fcd/ctd/909780589.html
Thanks !
At first I thought it was weird that someone would reply to a posting about an event like this. I closed it and didn’t think anything more until a few minutes later when I took a second look.
Ah ha!
The URL – check it out. It goes to craigslists.org. I’m not clicking on it. I’m betting anything it’s a spyware/malware site.
Sure enough, Google shows that site as only having 5 pages. Yeah, that’s because all the vicious scripts are hidden, probably.
If you’re posting ads on Craigslist, watch out for this one.
Posted in lemmings, spam | 1 Response »
Tags: craigslist, malware, phishing, scam, spam, spyware
Written by Will on March 9th, 2010
On April 1st I’ll be speaking at the Market Saint Louis conference about how any business can dominate their local area in search results. Along with myself are some other awesome speakers including Jason Tinnin from Saint Louis-based SimpleFlame and Derek Chew, former SEO lead at Yahoo!.
The conference only happens once a year, and there are only 100 tickets sold. It’s a perfect fit for small and medium business owners/execs. There are two tracks – a beginner and an advanced, so no matter what you’re expertise level, you’ll learn a lot.
The tickets are $249 each, but I’ve been given the green light to offer a pretty sweet deal. From now until tickets sell out, all purchases are Buy One Get One Free! But that’s not even the best part – if you use the promo code ‘SPEAKER‘ you’ll get $50 off of the ticket price. That means 2 tickets to this premier conference will only cost you $199!
How cool is that?
Like I said, this deal only lasts until all the tickets are sold out.
As if I need to sweeten it any more, the tickets also get you admission to the conference’s pre-event mixer on March 31st at 7PM. You’ll get a few free drinks and will be able to meet the speakers and mingle with all the other business owners.
It’s going to be so cool. I hope you can make it!
Details
Market Saint Louis
http://www.MarketSTL.com
April 1, 8am-4pm
Mixer (free with ticket purchase – sponsored by SimpleFlame)
HoteLumiere
March 31, 7pm
List of freebies: http://www.marketstl.com/register/freebies/
Posted in Marketing, St Louis, conferences, small business | No Responses »
Tags: discount, internet marketing, seminar, sessions
Written by Will on March 2nd, 2010
Many times when we come up with great inspiration for a blog post or twitter status update, we take it straight to the web and start typing. Since numbers and analytics data are what drive many of us, (perhaps we should call it egolytics), we’re always on the lookout for that one great post that drives a huge amount of traffic.
…and to you it seems like the most important post of your career. This is the one. You’ve got some great info and you’re ready to bust on the scene with a groundbreaking update.
It may be good info, it may bring you a ton of traffic, and get lots of inbound links, but it’s not your most important post.
Click to continue »
Posted in reputation, small business, social media | 3 Responses »
Written by Will on February 23rd, 2010
In a few weeks my wife and I are heading to Vegas to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. We’ve got the flights, the room and lots of time, but we don’t know what shows to see.
I’ve heard that Phantom is in town, but is it something we should see, or are there better shows out there?
What show do you think is a don’t-miss?
Posted in personal | 2 Responses »
Tags: fun, shows, vegas
Written by Will on February 16th, 2010
Freelancing entrepreneurs like myself often meet clients on the go, at local coffeeshops and eateries with free wireless. These places are great for their (usually) quaint atmosphere and decent food.
Last week I had the opportunity to meet with a new client. After a few reschedules, we finally decided to meet at the local Culver’s restaurant. While I usually pick somewhere like the Bread Company, this particular suggestion was mine for a few reasons:
- Client had kids in tow. Easy enough to stick them in an adjoining booth with relatively no maintenance or interruption
- Client was on their way to a movie.
The movie theater was across the street, so convenience was a factor
- Free wireless
I’ve got to have wireless Internet so I can dazzle them with pretty graphs and charts, right?
It seemed like a great idea, but it wasn’t.
The kids were great. Never bothered us once. But there was a problem – no outlets for the laptop.
It just so happens that my laptop decided to stop charging my batteries a few months back. It’s usually no problem – I just plug in and go. But with no outlets, I’m screwed. Totally. So I had to do the entire presentation with no laptop – not an easy task.
I shouldn’t say there were no outlets because there actually were several. The problem, though, is that they were on the roof ten feet up. I couldn’t see myself standing on the table so that I could dangle my power supply. Plus, the weight of the converter probably would have pulled the plug right out of the ceiling.
Culver’s, why are you offering free wifi? I’m assuming it’s to cater to that 17-39 crowd. But if they can’t plug in their laptops, you’ve lost them.
I won’t be back for any future business meetings at Culver’s unless the outlet situation is fixed.
Posted in St Louis, meetings | 1 Response »
Tags: fast food, laptop, restaurant, wifi
Written by Will on February 11th, 2010
I’m having a blast with the free Internet Marketing series I’m teaching here in Saint Louis. The room has been packed at each session and the one I’m teaching tonight is no doubt going to be the same.
Tonight will be the final of three awesome classes. Of the three, I enjoy teaching Marketing Your Business Website the most. It’s basically a ten thousand-foot view of Internet Marketing, including pointers on good domain names, design and of course SEO.
I’ve been teaching this particular class for over four years now, and the expression of people’s faces as I close out the curriculum is nearly always the same.
Shock. Surprise.
“We had no idea there was so much involved in getting our site to rank.”
“This is a ton of work and we’re already busy running our business.”
“We’ve got to do this but can’t believe all that’s involved.”
The realizations are always about the same. There’s a lot to do to get your site moving towards the top. There’s more than just coming up with a list of twenty keywords that you think are important (because your web guy asked you for them). Lots more. Not to mention social media, PPC or blogging.
So what do you do from here?
Click to continue »
Posted in beginner sem, site ranking, small business, web design | No Responses »
Written by Will on February 2nd, 2010
It’s February second and everyone knows what that means – whacked out people crowd around a groundhog and look up at the sky. And on TV one of the greatest movies ever made is playing – Groundhog Day.
It’s one of my all time favorite movies. I’m not even sure why it appeals to me so much, but any time it’s on, I watch. The idea that the lead character (aptly named Phil) is waking up every day of his life in the exact same scenario is too funny.
Once he figures out what’s going on, he starts testing. One day he steals the groundhog and drives off a cliff. Another day he drops a toaster into his tub while he bathes. Every day he wakes up and gets to do it over again.
Click to continue »
Posted in Marketing | 1 Response »
Tags: encouragement, forward, groundhog day, progress
Written by Will on January 22nd, 2010
I’m a big 80′s fan. Grew up in it, love the tunes and always look forward to the 80′s category at local trivia nights. When Kickin’ It Old School came out, I sat and laughed and laughed at the totally rad outfits and hip break dancing moves.
In the 80s I was warming up to a Vic 20, then Commodore 64 and Apple IIe. But now I use a badass Dell laptop, widescreen monitor and high speed Internet connection. The 80′s are fun to look at and reminisce about but I’ve moved on.
Unfortunately, many businesses haven’t.
Click to continue »
Posted in Marketing, trending | 2 Responses »
Tags: furniture traditions, internet, Marketing, online, policies
