When performing competitive research for a new advertiser is see who has the highest ranking in local search. Generally this is where I find local businesses listed in Google places. Knowing who is listed gives me a good idea of who we are up against for top page placements. When I find a business spamming there account I check them off the list as a true competitor. Instead I consider them a helpful resource for driving more traffic to my client.

This is a lesson every business owner needs to learn if they what to be respected and trusted by internet users.

Don’t Spam Your Google Places Account!

Having 3 places accounts by using different addresses for you business, different business names or irrelevant keywords and content will not benefit you. You may have three different accounts with different website links and three different phone numbers but this could end of killing you integrity.

When potential customers are shopping for a business to spend there money with, they are looking for value, integrity and professionalism, just to name a few.

So, what happens when use spam a places account?

-You irritate internet users

-Confuse people

-De-value your business

-Appear shady

-Run the risk of being blacklisted

Things Not to Do:

• Appear to be 3 different businesses when in reality it is the same business.
• Appear to be bigger than you really are.
• Send people to the same palce directly or indirectly from different accounts.
• Use keywords and content that aren’t relevant to what you business offers.
• Use different pricing models for the same product or service.

Instead, Do These Things:

• Fill out your profile completely
• Add pictures and videos
• Encourage feed back and reviews
• Be relevant
• Be honest

Trying to rank high in search engines unethically may get you to the top quicker but you could pay a hefty price once the Google bots detect your manipulation. If you are found spamming you will be black listed and never being at the top again is a big price to pay.

Most people I find using these tactics are small businesses looking to appear bigger than they are. People will find out how small your operation really is eventually so be honest and let them know upfront. The majority of consumers prefer to do business with small companies; I generally do because typically smaller companies usually always provide better customer service.

Gaining top page ranking is important and do-able but it is always better to take the slow and steady approach for best long term results. A Google places listing is an awesome free tool and every business should use it, but do not ruin your reputation for short term results.

Adwords is a hard place to get website traffic especially when one doesn’t understand the fundamental metrics involved. Going it alone can be expensive and even more time consuming but hiring an expert isn’t for everyone. Here are some Pros & Cons to Hiring an Adwords Expert.

Pros

• Free up time for developing other areas of your business.
• Increased control over your PPC budget.
• Eliminate costly trial and error.
• Lowers the risk of failure dramatically
• Can compete in heavily saturated markets

Cons

• You become dependent on your Adwords expert.
• Finding the appropriate expert takes time and ample consideration
• Initial cost can make it more expensive to begin
• Dispense trust by handing over confidential data
• Commitment to long term strategies

You really only have two choices when it comes to advertising your business with Google Adwords: do the job yourself or hire someone else.

For more help on deciding which option is best for you and your business read should I hire an Adwords agency or do-it-myself.

This may actually end up hurting my business but I wanted to share this Awesome offer with you so you can get a professional SEO WordPress Blog Site Absolutely FREE! I have no idea how these guys can offer this, but they are and the websites Rock! I charge $600 to do the same thing you can get here for free!

What you get:

• 24 hour setup
• 20 Top Plugins
• $97 Premium Theme
• Automatic Updates
• Training Videos
• And so much more

You simply can not go wrong with this Free Website solution.

What is WordPress?

Well, for starters, you are viewing this post on my WordPress blog site! WordPress is a powerful Content Management System (CMS) that can be used for more than simply blogging. A great option for business wanting an easy way to manage their web site independently, eliminating the cost of hiring a webmaster for updates and changes. WordPress gives anyone an easy way to maintain, update and optimize their site in house.

Having a professionally installed and set up blog will get you well on your way to becoming a successful blogger. No other blogging platform offers more tools and advantages than WordPress. WordPress is with out a doubt the most search engine friendly blogging platform available by a long shot. 

But I Have to Write Blog Post’s!

Not with this set-up solution. You will love the fact that you get free content pre-loaded on your blog covering a topic of your choice like real estate, health and wellness, internet marketing, direct sells and more. Self branding has never been made easier.

Get Your New Blog Today

Is it Really FREE?

Anyone with a self hosted website must have a registered domain name and hosting. It cost $9.95 to register a domain name for one year and your first months hosting is included free. The blog install, $97 premium theme, 20+ of the hottest  pluggins, social media linking, automatic updating & training videos are all supplied at no charge to you.

Go ahead, set up your new blog now and see just how easy it is to have a professional website up and running in about one hour. If you are not thrilled with the results there is a 45 day money back guarantee so you can rest assured if you do not see the awesomeness in this sweet deal – you are out nothing.

Still not convinced that this is an awesome deal?

I am so confident that you will love your new blog that I am going to refund the 1 year domain registration fee of $9.95 to the first 20 people that take advantage of this special offer before midnight Friday, August the 12^th. 

You have nothing to lose and there are bonuses I haven’t even mentioned yet that will help you be a marketing genius! Get your free website today, leave a comment below or email me (brian@carboncopyconsulting.com) confirming you are up and running and when you are one of the first 20 people to take advantage of this special offer I will send you a check to refund your domain registration fee.

It’s Just That Easy!

Get Started Now! 

Blog or content marketing is a great way to reach customers searching for your business. But before you can generate visitors to your website using blog marketing, your content must be found. The most essential step in driving organic traffic with a blog post is to do keyword research. Choosing the right keyword is ‘Key’ for ranking your posts.

5 Steps to Do Keyword Research for Blog Post Ranking

In this example I am going to demonstrate how I would find keywords to write a blog post about a well know Network Marketing Company called Zija. I want people to understand the benefits of the products and know how powerful the moringa plant really is in healing the body.

Let’s Begin!

Step 1

First I will go to the  Google Keyword tool and enter the term ‘Moringa.” Below are my top 10 results. I would choose 3 of the top ten that would relate to my post on the benefits of moringa.

Step 2

I would then analyze my results further and choose keywords that were to my liking based of top competition as well. Here I would choose the top 3 and bottom 3. It is always a good idea to check for niche markets during the process. Be careful with low search competition though. Investing your time to rank high for low competition terms will in most cases be unprofitable.

Once I sort by low competition I have 9 keywords that may fit into my content and help me rank well in the search engines. I have chosen: ‘benefits of moringa’ for my top search term, ‘moringa for sale’ for my top competition and ‘moringa uses’ for my low competition keyword terms in this example. I would perform this analysis using all keywords.  Now to Analyze further.

Step 3

Next let’s go to Google, type our individual keywords into the search engine and see what the results are. What we are looking for here is the number of search results Google provides for our chosen keywords. You can see my results. I would do this with all of my selected keywords.

Here are my top 3 picks. My mentors always told me to choose a term with 300,000 or less search results for best results. I hardly ever choose anything with results under 50,000 unless I know that it is going to be a growing market space. Also, I am not afraid to use a term with say five or six hundred thousand results.

Here I am going to choose the term -benefits of moringa -for my blog posts main keyword. It is the most relevant and the highest searched term under 300,000 results. Moringa for sale and moringa uses can be used within my content somewhere to let people know how people use moringa and how they can find it for sale.

Step 4

After my keywords are chosen my next step is SEO! I want rankings and traffic, right! I will analyze further the search results under my “main keyword terms” and see where my competition has left a gap. I use this data to help choose a question based title, a description with reasons for reading my post and then a list of 3-5 broad keywords to use in my SEO.

Here are the top five results for the term – Benefits of Moringa – to analyze.

Know I know my competition and where they have left me room to stand out. I also found a few more keywords that will help me expand my phrases. Here is how I tell the search engines to list my blog post.

Step 5

Writing great content, and great it better be because their will be a lot of people clicking on it! Do not disappoint them. Create informative content that explains and delivers on what you promised.

Conclusion:

• Find high traffic, relevant keywords
• Analyze keyword search results
• Choose Main search terms
• Create SEO title, description and keyword list.
• Write blog post.

Tips:

• General rule of thumb for me is 3 hours for content only post and 3 days for search engine ranking post. Do your homework, write it, rewrite it and rewrite it again to make sure it is optimized to rank well, deliver on the title and be useful to your visitor.
• Do not over use your keywords. Place them into your content as they would be used in a normal conversation. Using the word moringa 8 times in one paragraph will get you black listed. It is not about spamming the search engines, it is about telling them what your post is about and being relevant to searchers.
• Over time you can see which post create the most traffic for your website and then use the keyword terms for search engine optimizing your website.

These steps are only going to work well for you if you have a self hosted blog such as WordPress.org. Assuming you already have a hosted blog, you should also have an SEO plugin. My favorite to date is All in One SEO Pack. Though your blogs default settings will work, a plugin often times makes setting up your title, description and tags simpler and more effective. Good luck!

Don’t Have a Self Hosted Blog?

Network Marketers! Share this post with your down line by using the social media site of your choice below. Much Appreciated!

Gathering up a list of the right keywords for a new pay-per-click campaign can be difficult. This is one simply method I use when selecting keywords for Google display advertising.

When you have set up an individual campaign to cover only your display advertising, choosing keywords for your text and banner ads is relatively easy.

Where to Find Keywords

Google offers a free keyword tool called Insights. This simply tool will tell you not only the top 10 searches for your chosen target market but will also tell you the top 10 fastest rising searches for your market. Twenty keywords per ad group are usually enough when beginning to test display advertising for your business.

How it Works

Since you reach out to your clients differently with display advertising, it is not imperative to find super focused keywords as it is with search marketing. The key with display is to advertise to people in your entire market and catch the ones interested. This method of marketing is very similar to outdoor billboard, radio, TV and newspaper advertising.

The first thing I do is select my broad keywords to reach all segments of my market. Let’s say you own a hardware store. You probable sell tools, fasteners, painting supplies etc. These would be your broad keywords; tools, fasteners, paint supplies. We would do this for every division of our services or product line.

Next, go to Google Insights and type in these keywords individually. Take the top search results and place them into your ad group then right a simply ad to let views know you have, tools, fasteners etc.

Conclusion

Keep your display keywords and ads simply. Do not try to focus too deeply. Although your keywords tell Google what markets you want to advertise in, monitoring your account and managing your placements properly is where you need to focus your time.

More information about the Google Display Network

This is going to be short and sweet, if you have questions please leave them in the comments box below or find us on Facebook.

This is a Gold Nugget for those of you who are starting a Google pay-per-click advertising campaign or have been experimenting with little or no results.

There are two different networks that your business can use on the Google PPC platform. Those are the Search Network and the Display Network (formally know as the content network). Advertisers do not get an explanation of the differences between the two nor how they work. It is simply recommended that you advertise across the entire system.

Networks?

The Search Network is designed to attract customers who are more likely to be in the buying phase of there shopping process. It is intended to reach buyers at the precise moment they are looking for your product or service.

The Display Network is designed to brand your business and advertise to shoppers through out their shopping process. You have the ability to advertise to a broader market and push your message out on the internet

The network that fits your business goals may include one or the other or both. You can decide and run your campaign accordingly. For a more in depth explanation,visit Google Help.

The Gold Nugget

Run your advertising in the search network and/or in the content network but separate them out into different campaigns. For best results you do not want to run one campaign that is set up to run advertising on both networks at the same time. You can select which network(s) you want to advertise with under the “settings tab” of your campaign.

Separating strategies, data and conversions will allow you to manage your different types of PPC advertising more effectively, optimize them for better performance and improve return on investment.

Told you it was going to be short. If you have questions or a comment  leave it and we will respoond.

Customers Are Looking For You 'Online'

Every local business needs a website; that is if you want to attract customers. Every lawyer, doctor, dentist, construction company, car dealership, restaurant, supply company, service provider etc. should have a website.

You do not need to actually do business on the internet to have a website. If your business is listed in the Yellow Pages then you will also want to be available to your customers on the internet – after all, they are expecting to find your there.

A simple website is very effective and more affordable than you may think.

How a Website Will Benefit Your Business

Even a simple website will help connect your advertising offline and online to your customers and to your front door. Would you not agree that it is easier to get prospective clients to visit your website than it is to stop what they are doing and come to your store front? The majority of the population is simply too busy to come to your store and commit to several minutes if not hours working with you to decide what best fits their needs.

Your website can act as a detailed business listing with contact & location information, be a relationship builder, a sales person or even a cashier depending on how your business is setup.

• Detailed Business Listing

This may not seem important but realize that customers look for your contact information and location exactly when they are ready for what you have to offer. In today’s world that isn’t from a phonebook! Rather it is from their computer, and more times than not, directly from there mobile phone.

• Build Relationships

People will do research looking for a reputable company to spend their money with. Allow you website to educate possible clients about your business’s strong suits and inform then why they can buy from you with confidence.

• Improve Sales

Giving detailed information to clients about your products and services from your website allows them to shop with you no matter where they are and no matter what time of the day it is. How much more effective would your advertising be if customers could visit your store front 24 hours a day 7 days a week verses only during your operating hours. How many more sales would your team close when interacting with customers who have already informed themselves about your company, researched the products or services you offer and are initially ready to do business. Customers strongly prefer to know what they’re coming to buy before they walk in your door.

• Make Money While You Sleep

If your business sells products, an e-commerce website offers huge advantages. Sale your products any time of day from anywhere in the world, while you sleep. Though an extensive website increases initial investment, imagine the possibilities.

How Much Will it Cost

With the vast number of website designers available today a website is probably one of the least expensive ways available to market and promote your business.

A basic informational website will provide a way for customers to contact you, learn about your company history and values, and research your products /services. Starter website like this will range from $500 – $1000. Larger websites for businesses with a broader range of commodities could range from $1000 – $20,000. E-commerce will add more depending on the mass of products you sell. The best an only way to find out for sure is to decide what all you want to promote and talk to a designer or consultant. Most websites are custom priced per individual need.

A Website for your business:

• Builds customer relations & describe products /services 24/7
• Allows customers to find & contact you effortlessly
• Helps improve your sales process by connecting your advertising
• Brings qualified buyers through the door
• Affordable & Effective

Contact us for more information and to learn how a website may help your business. See a list of all the Turnkey Business Solutions offered by Carbon Copy Consulting offers for your business needs. We are always happy to help you make the right choice in growing your business.

Customers are looking for your business online right now!

So, I get this request last week from a new business owner that wanted me to be-friend them on Facebook. Hey, I am all about new business so went straight to his page to learn more. I like to know who I am dealing with, same as you! What I found was not only amusing, but some what disturbing.

This guys business profile had no contact name, one lame picture and the best part is his business page said he was most interested in looking for women, dating and a relationship.

I tell my daughter this everyday “You have to pay attention!”  If you are going to promote your business on the internet then I suggest you not only pay attention when you set up your social media profiles the first time but if you haven’t done it in a while, go back and check to make sure it is up to date with what your business is about now! I got to thinking about this after seeing how a simple mistake can cost you. I looked at all of my social media profiles yesterday to make sure I wasn’t embarrassing myself or my business. I spent 2 hours updating them after seeing how outdated they were.

Point is this: Have a look at your profiles and make sure you are sending out not only the right message, but that you are branding your business for what it is. If you profile says one thing about you and your business and the website or search engine rankings say something different, I am a whole lot less inclined to do business with you!

Some argue that such a thing as ‘Effective Advertising’ doesn’t even exist. Small business owners across middle Tennessee are struggling and seeking to find new ways to drive more customers into their business with out spending more money.  It is time to open up to the future, do more with your advertising budget and get advertising results you can track, optimize and improve.

Traditional Advertising Method Downfalls

Advertising such as phone books, newspapers and magazines aren’t working well anymore and are outdated to the point of extinction. How many times have you looked in the phone book lately? TV, radio and billboard advertising have always been expensive; however they do produce exposure to a very large market close to home.

Problem with these forms of local advertising is you have no idea how effective they are. All you get are “statistics” provided by the companies that do the advertising. They can not tell you how many people found your business much less who spent money with you.

Business owners need advertising that gives the ability to control who sees ads, when they see them and allows them to precisely track how many customers are received from the advertising budget. There is a solution right at your finger tips for more effective advertising!

Google Search Engine Marketing

Often time’s companies overlook the internet for an advertising means because they do not understand how the marketing process works. Some simply find it to complicated or lack the knowledge to attempt it. Implementing a targeted pay-per-click (PPC) campaign on the Google Adwords Platform is by far one of the most affordable means of advertising.

You control ad placement, click price, advertising budget, demographic, geography, age range, and times of day to run your ads. The list goes on and on but the point is this; your business could be advertising to only people who need your help and doing it at the exact moment they need it, while tracking results and improving your advertising every month.

Not convinced?

People who use the internet to find local business is growing at a staggering rate; Thirty-Four percent last year alone. Reports also show that local search on mobile devices grew over Fifty percent from 2008-2009. Now that’s pretty good and all but here is the Jackpot. The Google Search Engine reaches 80% of the world’s population of internet users Every Day! You can no longer ignore the fact that when people want something they choose to find it online from their computer or phone.

Using Internet Advertising is an effective way to promote your local business

to targeted customers, exactly when they are looking for your business,

from anywhere in the world at any time of the day!

For more information about starting your first website or for help increasing your exposure with Google Pay-Per-Click advertising contact us now for details.

In today’s rate race of life, online exposure is your highest priced real estate! The number of people who search out businesses on the internet is growing at a staggering rate everyday. People want to locate you, contact you and Buy from you. Are potential customers finding your business Online?

Quick & Free:

The quickest way to the top of search engines for branding your business and providing customers with contact information is a Face Book page. Simple to create, easy to update, and allows customers to react with you and your business on a personal level. Using the leverage of the largest web sites in the world you can have first page rankings in no time!

What to do in a Nutshell:

• Create a Face Book account
• Create a Page specifically for your business
• Fill in all profile information in detail
• Use a clean picture or company logo
• List your website, email and phone
• Use keywords relating to your business (business name)
• Publish page & update at least 3 times a week
• Rank in the search engines

It is that easy and can be an extremely effective form of online advertising and company branding.

Already Have a FB Page?

Optimize it to rank better in search results. Use keywords, images and text relevant to your business and brand. Update status, post, links, photos, etc. a minimum of 3 times a week.

If you have a blog, post your articles to your FB page to add additional rankings.

Many people are using Social media website like Face Book, Twitter and Linked in to harness the power of free rankings. Use it to promote your business on the search engines and produce more traffic by simply showing up when people are interested in your business services.

Does it Work?

I use it and have a 3^rd and 4^th place ranking from FB as of today 6-30-10, when some one searches for my company name directly.  Type “Carbon Copy Consulting” into your search bar and take a peek!