Local Wisconsin SEM Blog

Is Your Website Marketing Stuck in a Rut?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:12:00 +0000

The beginning of a new year is a natural time to give your online marketing efforts a thorough checkup. What might you add to your marketing arsenal? What current activities need tweaking for better performance? And are there activities that should be cut out altogether?

What Gets Measured, Gets Managed

Peter Drucker once said, “What gets measured, gets managed.” This is especially true in terms of your website and Internet marketing efforts. The only way to really know which efforts produce results - which exact efforts should be repeated - is through tracking, then analyzing your results.

We can talk about revving up your online promotion through search engine optimization, content marketing, pay per click advertising or banner ads, but without a really good tracking mechanism in place, you'll never know exactly which efforts pay off. How can you improve what you cannot measure?

Google Analytics is our tool of choice for tracking. We install it on every WordPress site using the Google Analytics for WordPress plugin by Yoast. With this tool, we can quickly see which blog posts draw the most visitors, where in the world these visitors are located, what keywords drew them in, how long they stayed on site, how many pages they visited and the path they took through our site, and so much more.

So, step one for today: If you already have Google Analytics or another statistical tracking tool installed on your site, give it a thorough review. If you're not currently tracking, don't delay even one more day. Sign up for your free Google Analytics account today.

Related Article:
Is Your Website Invisible?

Making Virtual Business Solutions Work

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:32:00 +0000

Virtual marketing departments and outsourced business solutions are becoming more mainstream with improved technology. Companies can outsource everything from human resources to data entry, and marketing to off-site consulting. Why not? Work previously requiring overhead can now be completed with shortened man-hours and reduced office space. It isn't as simple as turning over the keys, however, and some of the issues that used to be uncovered during the employee hiring process may not be as apparent when hiring an entire department. Additionally, getting those issues resolved might be handled differently.

Communication is the key

It is every bit as important to communicate effectively with a virtual department as it is with an in-house department. Regular meetings should still be kept, and guidelines should still be adhered to. One of the most effective ways to work together is to schedule video or phone conferences weekly to discuss the parameters of outstanding and pending work. Staying 'in the loop' will allow open conversation - an opportunity to praise work well done or identify areas for improvement. At the same time, it is equally important that the outsourcing company is reachable and willing to discuss questions or concerns stemming from the virtual department.

Keep these things in mind:

Spell out exactly what is expected of your virtual department. Documentation can be helpful.
Discuss dates for product or project completion. Virtual departments work for several companies and will have requirements due to their time lines as well as the outsourcing company's expectations.
Working together will assure that goals are met.
Require accountability. What is the hierarchy within both companies for problem resolution?
Have a good attitude.
Working Smarter Should Work

If your company isn't using collaborative tools and team effort to accomplish goals, working virtual won't be more efficient. The end results should be easier to accomplish, not more difficult. Using something as easy as Google tools, like G-mail, Google Docs, and Google Reader can help multiple people work on, approve, and share vital information so individual tasks can be managed off-site.

Other helpful collaborative tools that help with various aspects of communication include:

Mikogo.com - Screen sharing and voice conferencing. Allows the presenter to change between screens for different screen sharing perspectives. Also provides a pointer for the other participants to comment directly on the presenter's screen. Large file transfer ability is also a plus.

Deskaway.com - File and document sharing with up to date communication and task management in a secure environment. Allows projects to be broken into tasks and individually assigned all under one project listing. Also shares large files and comments with all or certain team members. Great for project approval due to the comment structure and editing ability. Additionally manages time for entire projects as well as individual team members.

Dropbox.com - Largest free file share I've seen. Easy desktop application allows a drag and drop for files, documents and images, and task bar alert when new information is included. All team members can access at the same time quickly and seamlessly. One member can drop a file in the box, and other members instantly have access to it.

Virtual Problem Resolution
Somewhere, somehow, or sometime a problem will arise. When it does, how will it be resolved? Part of that question has already been answered above. First, know the hierarchy involved within each business. Know who to go to when issues are not resolved. Second, have a good attitude - even in adversity. Nothing gets the defenses up like feeling an attack coming on, and you won't get the resolution you've hoped for without practicing patient people skills.

Patient people skills? Yes. No matter what side of the circumstance you're on. Remember that people are only people, and even if everyone is truly trying to do their best, something still may go wrong. Having a good attitude isn't taking abuse, neglect, or irresponsibility with a smile. Rather, it's recognizing that the whole picture may not be evident to the naked eye, and deciding you're not going to let an issue destroy relationships.

If the situation has a poor outcome and your company has handled it well, you'll be better prepared for the next scenario. Understand that sometimes the resolution of a problem is a parting of the ways.

On the other hand, apologies, flowers, and concert tickets can go a long way.

Susan Hamilton is a freelance business writer from the Dallas, TX area, and business member of the virtual marketing collaborative Zero To Sixty Marketing LLC, serving small to mid-size businesses nationwide.

Article Source: Making Virtual Business Solutions Work

Small Business Grants - Are You Eligible?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:00:00 +0000

By Kennedy Angle

Government small business grants are a hot topic of discussion among small businessmen with limited access to funds and capital. The federal government does not provide grants for developing or expanding a small business; but the state government does.

Small business grants are handed out to entrepreneurs by their home state governments. It is not very difficult to get business government grants, though it is time-consuming. The federal government on the other hand, does provide some low-interest loans to encourage and assist upcoming entrepreneurs. The criteria to get a small business grants usually depends on location, race, sex, sales revenue, total number of years in business and the purpose for which it has to be funded. The requirements for grant eligibility are specific and one must be prepared thoroughly for it with a clear-cut plan.

The initial steps involved in seeking business government grant are:

You have to spend a good amount of time and resources to search for small business grants program in your state. Thanks to computer and internet it has become less tedious now.
After you have searched a grant program matching your business plan, hire a consultant to apply for the plan. The consultant will make your grant application a presentable one before the state authority. Alternately you can spend some time learning the grant application process and apply. Remember you have overcome bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Define for yourself the time limit-do you want it now or wait for a year.

To find small business grants, one can look into the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CDFA). This CDFA lists thousands of grants from all government agencies. Many of these business grants are targeted at rural business improvement, minority business development or export-oriented businesses. After finding a Small Business Grant suiting your business needs be prepared to undergo lengthy and time consuming process of approval. You must be ready or tough competition as the grants' funds are limited.

There are some tips to receive a grant.

Complete and accurate information of your business outfit is necessary. If your application contains incomplete details or inaccurate information, it may not make through the review process or may end in an ordinate delay.
It will be advisable to interact with your grant officer and come to know their concerns, budget limits, and constraints with your grant.
A well prepared business plan and demonstrating your strong business acumen will make your approach a discernible one. A smarter strategy would be to show the benefits it will make to US government agencies.
Bringing in an outside expert or consultant would add credibility to your application. Also it would create an impression of professionalism.
Keep tracking your application process. It will be helpful to be in contact with a concerned grants officer in a non-intrusive manner to tilt the balance in your favor.

If you are looking to venture on your own you need to apply for Business Government Grants.

Article Source: Small Business Grants - Are You Eligible?

Tour de Fest Supports The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:05:00 +0000

Participation in Paperfest's 6th annual Tour de Fest bike tour is unlike any other. What a great place to meet others in the community concerned with the issues associated with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease and myeloma. To those who know, those diseases impact every area of life for the entire family. Since early symptoms aren't as apparent as an allergic reaction or broken bones, these diseases often go undiagnosed until in their later stages. Supporting families and community members, diagnosticians and staff all come together in recognition and fellowship of each other in this phenomenal display of camaraderie on July 17, 2010.

This year's bike tour will begin and end at Kimberly, Wisconsin's Sunset Beach. Participants will choose the length of their course, varying from 18 - 100 miles. SAG wagons will regularly patrol routes to ensure the safety of the bikers and offer water or assistance as necessary. Bus rides to showers after the rides will be available to everyone who would enjoy attending Paperfest's activities afterward with their families.

It's no small event. Music, refreshments, games and rides will all be a part of this venue. Don't miss out! Register now, the first 300 to sign up will receive a free water bottle. Advance registration is open until July 4, and after that will increase by $5.00.

Proceeds from Tour de Fest jersey and t-shirt sales benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest voluntary health organization, improving the quality of life of patients and their families.

Sign up today.

Why Do WI Contractors Need Content?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:16:00 +0000

In the July 2009 edition of Phc News, Dan Holohan made some good points about the quality of Web sites contractors use, and makes a great argument about the need for content on these sites. You see it all the time - service company Web sites making no attempt to engage their readers. Many contractors believe that aspect of their business is either not worth their time, or not worth the money to do right. He asks,

How many times have you rolled your eyes and looked down on the low-bidder when it comes to the heating business? That bum who doesn't have the right tools, or the proper insurance, or even a decent truck. That stinker who tracks in mud and is doing his on-the-job learning on every job. You can't stand that guy, right? So why look for that guy when it comes to building a Web site? Why buy on price alone? Or try to do it yourself. Is Web design your specialty?

WOW. You said a mouthful, Dan. Truth be told, in our business you see that quite a bit. The logic says 'keep the price down,' but the way to keep the cost down isn't to present yourself sub-standard. You're a contractor. You want a fair price for a quality job. You do what you do because you're good at it. When it comes to your advertising, the same thing applies. Throwing foolish money away on flash and hype isn't the answer, either. Quality doesn't mean gaudy, it means pleasing and fully functional.

The online atmosphere is saturated. Engaging your customer is absolutely the most important thing a service and contracting business can do besides providing quality workmanship. While many feel that updating posts and answering questions is 'giving away the farm,' the opposite is true. Your business won't be hurt because you've empowered your readers with inside information. Your business will be hurt by ignoring the fact that the answers are being provided by everyone else already, and if you're not involved, your credibility is affected.

What Qualifies as Content?

It may surprise you to know that content is many things, not just updated posts. Keeping your posts updated at least once a week is important for several reasons, one being the ability it has to be fed into an email subscription newsletter as-is. Using an email follow up campaign like AWeber allows your reader to opt-in and opt-out, and allows you to track the types of information that your readers enjoy the most. Providing newsletters to your readers brings your post right into their inbox, and isn't spam because they first request it, and then have the ability to get out whenever they want.

Another reason blog updates are important is because news changes often, and your readers need to know it. When you respond to your reader's comments, you engage them, and possibly you hand-feed them an answer that brings them right into your gates. If problems exist in your company response, a blogging platform allows you a way to remedy the situation. No matter how much you don't want to know what's lacking in your business, it's always better to address issues head on, and you'll be the better for it. Blogs are not the only source of content, however, and you may enjoy using these types of updates:

FAQ's - Answering or posing a question is helpful dialog, and very good updated content when used regularly.

Pictures - Before and Afters, and new products.

Video -That's right, you don't have to write your blog post. For around $40 USD you can get a video camera that sits right on your computer. If you spend two minutes discussing an industry issue, new product or service, that video can get uploaded to YouTube as well as your site. That's a great link.

Service industry professionals and contractors should make the most out of their online presence. Putting the customer's needs on the forefront of new material draws powerful benefits now and down the road.

Gary's Quality Plumbing serves the Plano, Murphy, and North Dallas sector. For all your plumbing needs, call family-owned and operated Gary's Quality Plumbing. Susan Hamilton and Zero To Sixty Marketing LLC offer a full service virtual marketing department, and specialize in the small business and home-based service communities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_H

http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Do-Contractors-Need-Content?&id=3646509

Do You Have a Link Strategy?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:22:00 +0000

If you're doing your own small business marketing, and you're using the Web to attract your customers, you need to be sure that your Web site is getting the most possible traffic. Simply repeating a keyword in the SEO description is not the way to do it if you plan on long-term success. A redundant, pointless description doesn't attract the types of readers who convert into sales. It doesn't even provide any SEO benefit.

Instead, carefully thought out SEO descriptions grab your reader's attention because you've interested them in the first place. You will have a much higher chance of a sale if that reader peruses your site than if they click on your link wondering, "What's that?"

But getting that client to click on your link if you're not found on the first page is pretty slim, because most people never make it that far. A key ingredient to accomplish that is a great link strategy. That starts with referencing other material with links to specific topics that relate in some way to your niche, and ends with a great deal of back links from other sites into yours. Not just any site will do. Hook up to the wrong site, and all the hard work gone into your site could suffer. The links you need have more authority than yours, and you won't attract them willy-nilly.

High-authority back links are very helpful to the authority your site will enjoy when an outsider realizes your information is worth mentioning on their site. That can happen when you comment on their site and are allowed to leave a link back to your domain, you engage in a two way dialog in the comment section, or it can happen if you're reviewed and mentioned in it.

Other outside links can be built by you and your team, putting some effort into writing informative, interesting, or controversial topics, and using Web 2.0 sites to link back to the original site you're promoting. All of those methods have some relevance to your 'big picture', but here's where I see many problems that can ultimately have very negative effects. You don't want to go to all that trouble and then lose credibility over too many reciprocal links or poor anchor text use.

Keywords are very important - if they're the right keywords. Industry-standard word use usually isn't going to help the small business owner or contractor that's trying to develop their Web presence. Market Samurai breaks down the keyword research to finely tuned words and phrases that can be craftily woven - not stuffed - into your online writing. Words that many of your clients currently search on, but your competitors ignore, or simply haven't found out about yet.

When you carefully use keywords in anchor text that links from a Web 2.0 site such as Weebly, WordPress.com, Blogger, Squidoo, etc., you begin to develop authority on your Web site for those keywords. Using an effective strategy will improve your visibility over time.

Ah, time...the other factor. The longer your site exists with continual updates and activity, with active unbroken links and user-friendly navigation, the more you will gain credibility in the search engines. Shortcuts won't be effective long term, and if you get penalized for them, can take you down a peg or two for a long time. You're much better off to get your strategy in order, continue to update, and know that staying in the game is infinitely more important.

Susan Hamilton is a freelance commercial copywriter in the Dallas, TX area. Susan has a passion to see the small business survive during economic hardship through better marketing practices, and teaches home-based, service, and contracting businesses how to compete inside their market. Read more about small business marketing strategies on Inside Line.

Can a Dormant Blog be Revived?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:17:00 +0000

A neglected blog is a sad affair. Once a blog has sat dormant for 11-months, is it better to delete it and put it out of its misery or can it possibly be revived? I honestly don't know the answer to that question ... how 'bout we figure it out together?

It's been an intense several months, lots of ups and downs both in business and in our personal lives. We started a new business, Zero To Sixty Marketing LLC. Anyone who's started a business knows how all-consuming a new business can be. It's fun, exciting and exhausting.

Zero To Sixty Marketing is a virtual marketing department serving small businesses nationwide. Our "staff" are independent business owners, each with a stake in providing the best possible service for a reasonable price. So far as a team, we've taken on the layout, design and marketing of a niche magazine, built and wrote copy for several search engine optimized Web sites, created advertisements for print and Web, designed trade show materials, and wrote lots of copy for brochures, sell sheets, press releases and business profiles. Our goal is to provide agency-quality services at freelance prices. That doesn't mean we're cheap, but our overhead is low and we pass our savings on to you.

So where does that leave this Local Wisconsin SEM Blog? My initial goal was to help you develop online strategies and show you steps you can take to draw local traffic to your business. The need for this information is just as strong as it ever was, so if you'll forgive my absence, I'd like to pick up where we left off.

Today's tip is rock solid and simple. Whether you've heard it before or not, you absolutely need to build quality links to your Web site or blog.

Link building includes things like commenting on blogs, writing articles that point back to your Web site, posting links to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and an assortment of social networking sites, getting involved on forums associated with your industry, submitting your site to local business directories, even setting up feeder Web pages that point back to your main site. It’s not a do-it-once type of endeavor, but something that is done systematically, and the results are cumulative over time.

So where do you start? How does a busy business owner find the time? You set a reasonable goal - say 3 blog comments in a one-week timeframe, and you make the time. In subsequent weeks, you tackle other link building activities, one small step at a time.

Read more about link building for a better Web site.

Image Credit: a.drian on flickr

15 Places to Submit Your Site for Local Search

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:01:00 +0000

What kind of traffic are you drawing to your Web site or blog? A local business owner in Neenah, Wisconsin who relies on physical traffic walking in the door needs to be found by buyers in and around Neenah. Are you reaching your target market? Where do you rank on the local search engine results page?

Submit Your Site to Local Directories

A Web site, alone, will not drive people to your door. That's just the first step in the process. Take the time to search engine optimize your site for keyword phrases relevant to your market. Make sure your business address (including zip code) and phone number is included on every page of your site. Mention the communities you serve. Once this complete, it's time to begin promoting your site. Step one is to submit your site to local directories.

Doug Williams lists 15 local directory resources, most of them free, in today's post on his blog, Where to Submit your Site for Local Search.

Technorati Tags: Neenah WI, local search, directories, marketing small business

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:44:00 +0000

Chances are you know someone affected by breast cancer. Over 182,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women this year, according to the American Cancer Society. When you add that number to the women who are already fighting this disease, the numbers are staggering. This October, The Hair Connection in Neenah, Wisconsin is joining with women around the country to promote breast cancer awareness and prevention.

Because breast cancer has affected staff and clientele, owners Jeanne Mykel and Connie Koehnke want to help spread awareness and contribute toward funding research. Getting involved to meet the needs of the community is a win - win for everyone. All through October, a pink donation box will be available in the lobby for customer donations, and 10% of all retail sold will go directly to the "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" campaign for breast cancer awareness.

During the promotion, customers will be draped in pink capes, offered pink lemonade, and for every sale of a pink flat iron, the manufacturer will contribute $10.00 toward breast cancer awareness. The Hair Connection will also donate $1.00 for every new client haircut and $5.00 for every hair color.

"I really like the pink flat iron idea," said Susan Hamilton, parent of two teenage daughters and Race For The Cure participant for the last five years, "Women need to be aware of the choices they make everyday in their diet and exercise that contribute to their breast health in the long run. The flat irons are a great reminder. Eating right and staying in shape are two ways you can greatly reduce your risk of breast cancer, and I like the idea of starting every day thinking pink."

Risk factors for breast cancer are more prevalent in Caucasian women, and are greatly increased with age, lack of physical activity, and the accompanying weight gain. Risk is increased again if a family member has been diagnosed with the disease. The staff of The Hair Connection would like you to learn more about what you can do if you're supporting someone with breast cancer, or if you are concerned about your own breast health. Contact www.komen.org for more information. Together we can fight this disease.

The Hair Connection, located at 1325 Commercial Street in Neenah, is a full-service salon, offering affordable hair styling and the latest hair cuts for the whole family, full-service tanning with large tanning beds, depilatory and nail services. For more information, visit www.HairConnection.net or call 920-722-2341.

Can Small Business Afford Healthy Wisconsin?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Wisconsin small business owners, there's a health reform plan before the Senate that will have a direct impact on your bottom line. How much of the cost of "health reform" are you prepared to shoulder?

Healthy Wisconsin sounds good on the surface. Who's going to argue against affordable health care? Unfortunately, that would be me ... because it's not really all that affordable to the self-employed or Wisconsin small business owners.

Take note of how Healthy Wisconsin will be financed.

All employers must pay 9-12 % of wages of their employees (up to the limit of taxable Social Security wages, which is currently $102,000). Employees must pay 2-4% of their Social Security wages.

An actuarial analysis estimates that the actual figure in 2007 would have been 10.5% for employers and 4% for employees (4% maximum of $102,000 per family). For small firms of ten employees or less, the employer share will be phased in over three years.

(THESE PAYMENTS REPLACE THE PREMIUMS AND OTHER PAYMENTS FOR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE NOW BEING PAID BY EMPLOYERS AND WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.)

The average family income in Wisconsin is about $42,000. So for the average family, the cost would be $140 per month in payroll deductions. On average, the employer would pay about $370 per month.

Self-employed persons and those with income but no wages pay 10% of income up to the Social Security wage limit.

I don't know about you, but for this Wisconsin small business owner, that's a little steep! I don't have employees, don't have health insurance, and certainly don't approve of a government mandated 10% of my income going toward health reform.

I can't comment on the relative cost of this initiative for businesses who already offer health insurance. But for those of us who don't have it - it's not because we don't want it - it's because the entry cost is too high. Somebody show me the math ... who thinks that a new tax of 10% of net income is an affordable cost to the self-employed? And by the way, there are NO exemptions.

Join the Fight Against Mandated Health Care & New Payroll Taxes
The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) is working on our behalf to defeat this initiative. Your help is needed. If you agree that Healthy Wisconsin is not in the best interest of Wisconsin small business, add your name to the NFIB Wisconsin statewide petition. I'll have scanned in and available as a download later today - but please, don't wait. If you don't see a download link right now, while you're thinking about it - contact me. I'll fax or email you a petition by the end of the day.

Time is of the essence. We have approximately 49 days to make our voices heard.

Marketing Your Wisconsin Small Business Online

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:19:00 +0000

Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking tool that I've written about extensively on my Express Marketing Memo blog. Among other things, I use it to keep track of articles I want to share with my readers. The following post (bookmarked in March) is long overdue, but way too good to pass by.

Back in March, Greg Sterling of Screenwerk did a rundown on the Search Engine Strategies Panel “Why Local Is Different.” Speaking of local search engine optimization, he says, “When will people learn … LOCAL IS THE INTERNET. The Internet is not a transactions platform (mostly); it’s a marketing platform that drives offline (read: local) transactions.”

Your local Wisconsin small business needs an effective Web site, not necessarily to process transactions … but rather as the foundation for all of your marketing efforts. If you’re buying any form of media to advertise your business and you don’t yet have an effective Web site, you’re probably making an expensive mistake.

Read the rest of Greg’s post on Screenwork, then draw your own conclusions about the important role your Web site plays in marketing your local Wisconsin small business.

To Reach Local Buyers, Write Local Content

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:36:00 +0000

It almost sounds too simple ... write quality content, gain quality visitors ... but this simple marketing strategy will work for any small business, whether you rely on local foot traffic or you conduct an e-commerce business strictly online.

This post on the Duct Tape Marketing Blog reminds us that for the local business, that same content is simply more focused. Read more about winning the local search game, including excellent advice for locally focused content, inbound local links, and the importance of properly formatting your content with HTML mark-up.

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Facebook for Local Wisconsin Business Owners

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:57:00 +0000

You’ve probably heard - Facebook isn’t just for college students anymore. No, the once exclusive domain of the college crowd has been adopted by parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and increasingly by business owners.

28% of small business owners have registered with at least one social networking site, according to a 2008 Warrillow & Co. survey. It also found that fast-growth companies were much more likely to participate in social networking than slower-growth companies. Could there be a correlation?

Read Full Post: Are You On Facebook?

Announcing Paperfest Battle of the Bands, Kimberly WI

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:17:00 +0000

In keeping with Saturday's post about publishing press releases, I'll add the first one. Please help us spread the word about a worthwhile event in Kimberly, Wisconsin. If you have a band, or know any members of bands in the Fox Valley area, let them know about this opportunity:

Bands seeking exposure, prize money, and a chance to play in front of thousands at Appleton's Octoberfest celebration should sign up now for Battle of the Bands at Paperfest.

Eighteen bands with three songs each will compete in the opening round on Saturday, July 19. Five finalists will advance to play a 45-minute set on Sunday. Cash prizes go to all the finalists, with the winner playing a paid gig at Octoberfest.

Official judging to be provided by the Lawrence University music department. A Fan Favorite award will also be presented to the band with the most fan votes on Saturday.

Openings remain, but not for long. Bands wanting to compete should sign up now. Entries must be received no later than July 5. A complete list of guidelines and entry forms are available at www.paperfest.org/battle.htm.

Battle of the Bands is part of Kimberly's annual Paperfest celebration. Paperfest has raised and donated more than $500,000 for community and civic organizations. Learn more at www.paperfest.org.

For more information, contact Cindy at info@Paperfest.org or call 920-882-1788.

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Wisconsin Business & Event Press Releases Welcome Here

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:44:00 +0000

Early morning in northeast Wisconsin is awe-inspiring ... at least in my backyard. We live on the edge of town, meaning there's farmland behind us. Mornings are noisy, but not from people-noise. We have a wonderful, diverse bird population, an adventurous chipmunk that likes to tease my dog, at least one large rabbit, horses in the distance, and the occasional deer and coyote. It's peaceful and satisfying. All winter long, I look forward to this short sliver of time when I can sit on my patio with notebook and coffee and just be.

Everybody needs a recharge now and then, especially business owners. We tend to obsess out the day-to-day stuff at the expense of nourishing our souls. Your recharge may look different from mine, but mine requires nature ... spending time outdoors in Wisconsin's natural beauty ... acknowledging and thanking the One who created it all.

Thank YOU too, for hanging in there while I gave this blog some more thought. Local-Wisconsin SEM Blog started with a flash of inspiration, before giving much thought to the sustainability of writing more than one blog on the the topic of marketing while managing a growing business of my own.

This morning, I woke up with a solution. Do you ever do that ... mull something over, set it aside and just let it marinate, then wake up knowing exactly what to do? That may be a topic for a future post, but for now, I'll just share this: Writing about marketing isn't enough. Through this blog, I want to help people who own businesses in Wisconsin to improve their marketing results in a tangible way.

In addition to a stockpile of local search opportunities that I have yet to cover here, I'm going to begin featuring local businesses and events in my home town of Neenah, as well as Menasha, Appleton, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and throughout all of Wisconsin. Send me your Wisconsin-based business press releases, success stories, questions or comments, and if they're appropriate to my audience, newsworthy or just plain interesting, I'll publish them here. You'll find my contact information on my profile page.

MyBlogLog Verification

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Local Search - Will Customers Find You?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:16:00 +0000

Schmap Local is a browser plugin that promises to relieve you of all the tedious scribbling of phone numbers and driving directions on scraps of paper and backs of envelopes. You simply download the plugin to Firefox or Internet Explorer and it recognizes and saves addresses and phone numbers as you browse the web.

It links automatically to a map and driving directions, prints and emails addresses and phone numbers or sends them via text message to your mobile phone. Sounds like a handy tool to have on the desktop!

But whether you download and use Schmap Local or not, one thing is certain. This application and others like them are the wave of the future. Not only are your customers looking for you from behind a computer, they're also searching for the products and services they need from their mobile phone while sipping coffee at the corner coffee shop. My question remains, will they find you?

Schmap Local draws its address and phone numbers from Yahoo Local, Google Maps, AOL Yellowpages, CitySearch, Live Local and Superpages.com. Is your business listed correctly in each of these directories?

Related Articles:

Update your business directory listings

Can customers find you on Google Maps?

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Can customers find you on Google Maps?

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:32:00 +0000

Sally Smith returns home from a long day at the office to her home that's substantially colder than it should be. Sure, it's -10 with a -35 windchill, but the thermostat should have kicked in and the house should be near a comfortable 70 degrees. The thermostat reads 52 degrees and now she's worried ... what's wrong with the furnace?

Sally's never worried about the furnace before, other than changing out the filter a few times every year. She has no idea who to call, but she throws on an extra sweater and types "furnace service neenah wi" into the Google search box.

If you're an HVAC contractor or repairman in Neenah, will Sally find you in the Google search results? Will she find your business on the Google map with a little pin that shows your location? The answer can be yes to both questions IF you claim your Google Maps listing and IF your web site is optimized for local search terms.

To claim your Google listing, you'll need to register for a Google account. You do that right from the Google home page. After you've registered and logged-in, click on "preferences" or "account" in the top right corner of your page. On your account preferences page, under "Try Something New," click "more." Midway down the next page, under the "search" column, click on "Maps." Once on the Maps page, there's an option to add or edit your business listing.

Or, here's a quicker route once you've registered and logged-in: Google Local Business Center. Simply fill in the form and proceed page-by-page to categorize your business, add hours, types of payment accepted, a photo and custom information. You can also add coupons to your listing, if appropriate. Once complete, you'll need to validate your listing before your listing will appear live on the map.

We'll talk about optimizing your site for local search in a future post.

For more common sense small business marketing tips, I hope you’ll also check out my Express Marketing Memo blog.

Related Articles:

What is local search?

What does 2008 have in store for local?

Using Google Local Business Center to Bring in New Customers

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Recession Proof Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:10:00 +0000

Despite the gloom and doom economic message we’re bombarded with daily, now is not the time to slow down or to stop spending on marketing your business. In fact, now may be the best time to ramp up your marketing efforts!

20 recessions have been recorded in the last 100 years. Ten of those have occurred since World War II. Independent studies of businesses during and after recessions show that those who marketed aggressively throughout a recession fared much better than those who had cut back on their marketing efforts.

Neither the b2b or consumer market stops buying during a recession. However, they will become more selective as they look for goods and services with the most value. In fact, during a recession, the pressure to do more with less causes businesses and consumers to shop more aggressively.

Focus on Value
For the sake of this article, I’m assuming you already offer a valuable product or service. But are you effectively communicating that value to your customer base? Have you determined the answer to the question, “why should anyone do business with me?”

How’s Your Visibility?
Are you sharing your unique story on a web site, in a newsletter, through press releases and through your day-to-day interaction with people? These are all important to local search marketing.

A web site can no longer be considered an optional marketing expense. The majority of business decision-makers and consumers look first to the Web to learn about new products and companies. If that’s where your customers are looking, will they find you?

Do you offer a newsletter, either online, a print version or both? At this point my blogs take the place of an online newsletter, but I’ll soon be offering a print version. Why reach out through the mail instead of just focusing online? Because research shows that it’s an effective way to reach another segment of my target audience. Where are the best places to reach your target audience?

The stand-alone press release, created by a small business and emailed and faxed to the media is usually a waste of time and money. A well-thought out idea, discussed with an editor or reporter, with the press release provided as a supporting document is another deal altogether. In addition, there are online press release submission outlets, some ad-supported, but free to use, and other high quality outlets that only accept submissions with payment. If you’ve provided information about your site and links back to your site, you’ll reap visitors to your site in addition to general awareness about your business.

Day-to-day interaction with people is important because none of us live in a vacuum. For example: I tell my friends and associates about the Hair Connection, a really great local hair salon. I’ve written a review for them on one of the many local review sites, where other people can see that I’m very happy with their services. Eventually some of these people check out the Hair Connection web site, where they can learn more about services, prices, and how to find them. Once on the site, people watch their short video, subscribe to their newsletter and learn about monthly specials. And then they tell their local friends and the cycle starts again. It’s all part of local search at a very common sense level.

For more common sense small business marketing tips, I hope you’ll also check out my Express Marketing Memo blog.

Related Articles:
How to reach business decision makers

What is local search?

What does 2008 have in store for local?

Do you need a blog?

Marketing in a Recession

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my RSS feed.

Talk back to me! Are you cutting back or ramping up your marketing efforts this year?

Local Opportunities for Wisconsin Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Voigt) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Online local visibility has never been more important to small and mid-sized businesses in Wisconsin. Without an online presence, you're leaving a crucial piece of your marketing undeveloped ... and that's costing you business.

If you own or manage a Wisconsin-based business that depends on drawing local customers to your door, this blog is for you. We'll discuss online strategies to draw local traffic to your business. And not just strategies ... we'll dive in and I'll show you precisely what steps to take. I'll provide resources and links to the information you need to actively promote your business locally online.

As you can see, this blog is just getting started. Thanks for stopping by! You can be notified of new posts by subscribing to my feed.