Many of you know that I specialize in building local business formulas for my clients online.
Early in my career, I was very fortunate to work for 2 enterprising real estate entrepreneurs in NYC who developed a step-by-step local business development system.
The plan was simple, just focus on defined local markets and become the local expert. Recently, they sold their business for a reported $100 Million. This formula works. Continue reading
Local and neighborhood marketing online is the new frontier thanks to the fresh direction the Internet is taking. In April, Google is changing its algorithm to feature only mobile-friendly websites in their top searches. Since 90 percent of mobile search is local, Google might as well come out and say, “Get local or get out of town.”
If you’re still not convinced that local marketing is the future, consider the timely launch of the new .NYC domains. The .NYC domain is not just a domain. It’s a local domain that will, in time, make New York City look like its own local search engine. Think Google New York City. Continue reading
If you have been struggling to get results online, then you need to learn how a local website will change your business and produce a steady flow of new customers.
Read below the 101 things I apply to client sites and websites I own. The list will help you get started on a smooth path to online success.
You may want to grab a cup of coffee before you start reading about what works for me. It’s a long one.Continue reading
How much does a new customer generate in profit for your business? How many do you need each month? Where do you start? The bottom line is that over 90% of consumers are searching online with over 80% of local customers choose a business they’ve found online. That means those businesses who invest in search engine optimization are growing their business while those who don’t are falling behind. Continue reading
In this post I’m going to discuss search engine optimization, what top SEO companies do and review the uniqueness of the Manhattan market. I’m going to hopefully provide you with ideas that will help you get more customers.
I’ve been developing a local seo marketing company for the past 10 years. Before this entrepreneurial venture I was a real estate broker in Manhattan with a boutique building sales company. We developed this business one neighborhood at a time wearing down a lot of shoe leather in the process. Continue reading
The core fundamentals of search engine ranking and ranking at the top of a Google search specifically (Bing and Yahoo make up about 20%) has not changed. It’s still all about picking the right keywords, quality onpage content and inbound links from other sites.
Keywords – In some cases, ranking for a high traffic keyword will produce huge traffic and sales. However, 90% of sales typically come from longtail keywords. If not familiar with a longtail keyword, it’s a query or a question. To be profitable, you need to rank for hundreds of search terms.
The question is, how do you rank for 100’s of search terms and unknown search queries? Continue reading
You need to buy the domain, but the combination of a simple website, a .NYC domain name and Google my Business will reward you with huge returns on your investment.
The reality is this. The world is going local and in the case of New York City, it’s going hyperlocal. For example, if you trip and fall and chip your tooth at 14th Street and Fifth Avenue, you’re not going to pull out your IPhone and search for dentists in NYC. You are going to search emergency dentists near Union Square or near 14th Street. That’s hyperlocal and the dentist who gets your call is the one who ranks. With a .NYC domain name, that emergency dentist has an edge over all others (example – www.joethedentist.nyc ).
The bottom line is that a .NYC domain name is valuable and the new Google my Business tools validate that fact.. For local businesses a .NYC means more customers if you have the right strategy for promoting your business. Continue reading
The video and images below show how to add keywords and content to your videos and Google Hangout vids on YouTube. If you are a beginner, these steps will help you get started. Continue reading
How The Heck Do I Get Leads From My Website?If you’re not getting any leads from your website, you’re not alone. The question you need to ask is why?
No one has ever needed my help for a website that works so I am forced to solve this problem. Everyone has the same issues. Usually it’s the same solution.
In fact, it’s why I built my business. My first website never got any leads. I hired a big company to build my site. I thought they knew what they were doing. I was wrong.
So let me tell you about a recent meeting. I won’t name any names to protect the innocent. You might be able to relate.
Scenario
Client has an ecommerce site selling supplements. He could have purchased a new Porsche for the money he spent.
The problem he has is the same that I had and likely the same problem you have. He jumped in the deep end without learning how to swim first.
What I mean is this. Before diving in, develop your internet plan first. Don’t get a web site first, don’t start a Facebook page,a Twitter Account or Your YouTube Channel.
Start with doing keyword research first, then figure out how you will use those keywords as part of an ongoing strategy. Just because you have a website,a Facebook account, a LinkedIn profile, does not mean people will call you.
There Are 5 Steps to Getting Started in the Right Direction
The 5 steps in order above are your key to creating a firm foundation for attracting new clients. Pretty simple and always overlooked.
The Number 1 biggest mistake I see my clients make is developing a website and social media pages, then trying to figure out to get business. Always start with keywords, strategy, content, then your website followed by blog updates.
The Local Model
Let’s get back to the supplement business and I’ll explain his game plan.
Lets call him Mr X.
Mr X wanted to talk about his web site but stopped him cold in his tracks. I told him the key to success is a strategy that can be replicated over and over, then expanded. His strategy starts with keywords and where his target market is located.
Mr X has a retail store and a trade area of approximately 300,000 within about 15 minute drive.
So, why try and go nationwide when he hasn’t dominated his local market. Nationwide marketing is hard, it’s huge. Why not focus on dominating his local area and make sure he ranks for every possible keyword phrase In his market.
It’s very simple. I like to use the analogy of cooking chicken with a spice cabinet of 50 herbs and spices. There are unlimited ways to cook chicken with 50 spices. Blogs and keywords are the same. For example. Mr X has many supplements for athletes. Supplements for muscle, supplements for cadio, supplements for gaining weight, supplements for losing weight. Supplements are like our chicken. For weight loss, for weight gain, for muscle, for cardio – these are the spices.
Now, he has 3 towns with 300,000 people. The question is, what percentage will buy supplements? Lets say it’s 1% or 3,000 people. How much is each customer worth? If each customer purchases $100.00 per year, that’s $300,000.00 in sales.
A first look, Mr X may say that’s not enough. But let’s say the blog strategy produces $300,000 in new sales. Lets say it only takes 1 blog per day. Then what about posting each blog on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In. Maybe even Pinterest. You see, the blog is the driver. Everything online starts with the blog. The blog starts with keywords and strategy.
Then we need to look at other uses for supplements. Headaches, arthritis, energy, I’m sure there are many niche markets and lots of local buyers.
The 5 Step System Starts with Keywords
You see how it all starts with keywords?
Need a few keyword ideas for your market? Go over to Amazon. Look at books in your niche.. Look at the table of contents and look at how well the books rank on Amazon. The information is right there on Amazon. All the research has been done for you. Amazon is my first place to search for keywords and ideas. You can also look at the reviews to see what kinds of words people use in their comments.
You can also go to Magazines.com. Here you can look at magazines by niche and industry type. Again, all the research has been done.
These sources will get you started. From here you can start to formulate a strategy.
For Mr X in the supplement business this is an outstanding low risk, low expense strategy. He can start by dominating his market with a solid plan.
He can position his business and retail store as the go to source for supplements in the area. Once he sees what is working, he’ll know how to expand. But without a starting point and a feasible plan, all the videos, Facebook updates, paid ads will not produce.
When it does work, he’ll have a long term plan that can be replicated over and over.
The Strategy
No matter what business you are in, this is the basic strategy.
Looking for leads for your website? Let me know if this helps.
If a virtual office is legitimate for Google Places, it opens up amazing business models for businesses who want to go nationwide or global without the expense of permanent locations.
For example, my business provides a range of online marketing services for companies nationwide. If I had a virtual office in every major city, I could appear as a marketing titan while working in my pajamas in my basement. I could go as far as having live, virtual meetings with a shirt and tie and an impressive backdrop with computers, books, picture of my yacht (i don’t have a yacht) and photos of me with celebrities. Who would know?
So before getting in to what a virtual office is and are they legitimate for Google Places/Plus you have to ask yourself. Will a business model based on deception succeed? And what is deceptive?
A virtual office provides businesses with a commercial address, mail delivery, local phone number, office space and conference rooms available by hour, day, week or month.You also get listed in the building directory and reception services for answering phone calls..
For my business a virtual office in NYC is perfect. I’m in Connecticut but frequently in New York City for meetings, maybe once per week. Without an office or access to a meeting room, I’m subject to meetings in coffee shops, hotel lobbies, restaurants or client offices. Without an office location I’m really an out of towner.
In a scenario where you actually use your virtual office location and you are a legally registered business in the state, this is legitimate or at least passes the smell test of a legitimate virtual office.
Certainly a Google Places listing in NYC, or any major city, provides credibility. And a nationwide Google Places strategy provides huge credibility plus tons of new business.
Google Places Produces Leads If you rank well on Google Places you will get calls from customers searching online. So, in theory, I could get virtual office locations nationwide for $50.00 – $100.00 per month and build a nationwide business. But, is gaming the system worth the risk? Every business has a different situation. What does Google say about it? Click here for Google Places for Business Quality Guidelines.
Here’s a summary of 5 Important Guidelines
Google has a disclaimer on the bottom of their guidelines page. It’s worth taking a look. Yes, I would say it’s possible to have a nationwide Google Places strategy with virtual office locations and from what I read online, many do. The question is. Do you want to build a business model based on gaming the system? And what does gaming the system really mean to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.