JUMP Internet Marketing

The Key to Successful Internet Marketing for Small Business

I'm not going to try to convince you that your business needs a website.  I'm going to assume that you already believe it. 

Instead, I am going to try to help you focus your investment of time and the money you spend on your website by suggesting that you re-evaluate your strategy.  Think of this post as a mini yoga session for your business mind.

(By the way, if you're thinking, "I don't really have a strategy," then GREAT!  This post may help you get started.)

In a nutshell, the key to successful Internet marketing really has nothing to do with the Internet itself.  The key has nothing to do with facebook or twitter or viral video or blogging.

The key to success is telling a great story.

Through the years, many small business owners have approached us for help with their Internet marketing initiatives.  In every case, where the business owner had a great story to tell, the business has succeeded with help from its Internet marketing initiative.

Telling a great story means more than just introducing yourself on an About Us page.  Frankly, About Us pages are some of the worst content on the Internet.  They are boring.

Your story needs to be interesting and compelling.  What if its not?

Then, I think you're like every other small business owner who has become so tired of working in your business that you've forgotten why you started the business in the first place.  You may have forgotten the real story.

Go back to that time when you started the business.  You know why your customers buy from you.  You know what makes your business special.  Sure, as you tackle the day to day problems and struggle to improve processes you may not feel special.  Step away from that for a moment and write down your story. 

Now, before you look at your website, take a deep slow breath.  Because in this next step you will face the challenge or you will give up.  I've seen it overthat interferes with your success.  And remember, when you feel overwhelmed, that there is only one way to eat an elephant.

Now, look at your website. How well is it telling your story? 

Are you ready to make some changes?  Post your thoughts or contact us about our free monthly seminars.  Be sure to watch for my upcoming series, Eating the Elephant.

- Denise

So What's the Big Deal About Google Farmer Update?

I've stayed silent on the issue because I couldn't figure out how to say "I told you so" in a professional manner.  I've given up, so here's a great big, "I TOLD YOU SO."

To our customers and those who attend our eMarketing seminars and workshops, you know exactly why I am saying I told you so.

If you plan on being in business for the long term, then you are focused on your message and providing value for all of the content you publish on the Internet.  You don't go for the get rich quick schemes and you don't build content scraping sites so you probably weren't negatively impacted by the farmer update.

Like most efforts in life, if you offer value, you will receive value.  If you try a little trickery disguised as value then you will ultimately get caught.

So why do it?  Well, black hat and gray hat marketing tactics do pay off in the short term.  It's like the conversation I had with my brother about the very large publicly traded company that he works for (remaining nameless) that makes poor long term investment decisions because they are focused on quarterly numbers. 

My customers have built, or are building, well established businesses with a focus towards long term performance.  They are focused on providing the best value in web visitor experience. It's not easy, and it takes a lot of time.

Coincidentally (or not) that's what Google is focused on, too.  Hmmm. (OK, I confess to sarcasm.)

Denise

Our new video podcasts are only days away, stay tuned!

So what's even better than our monthly eMarketing series?  Our twice a month Video podcasts!

At the end of each month, we'll highlight portions of our monthly eMarketing series for those of you who missed the live seminar.

Then, around the middle of each month, we'll feature Amber with the JUMPFaster eMarketing Minute.  Be sure to subscribe to our blog to get the latest updates.

Get Extra Mileage from a Great Press Release

We've been touting the benefits of press releases for awhile now.  If you're one of our monthly marketing customers you know that I am continually requesting information from you about what's new in your organization.  What I really want to know is, what's news.

A decade ago, if your company wanted to publish news, it created a press release and submitted the release to the media. If you were lucky, your news was picked up and published in newspapers. Today, if your company wants to publish news, it can simply post the news on its website.  That is very easy to do, but doing nothing more than that is usually a costly mistake.

Why?  Don't we want to publish news to our customers and potential customers?  How is it a mistake?

Your website, unless it has TRULY great positioning in the SERPS only captures the attention of those who already know its there.  Sure, you might get lucky that your news attracts a few more visitors because your content performs well.  But why would you rely on luck when just a few extra steps will expand the reach of your message.

After all, isn't that the point of publishing news?  Don't you want to get the message out to as many potential customers as possible?  Then why would you only publish the news on your website?  You know my mantra is "Get a return on that investment."  If you only publish news on your website you are not maximizing the return.

The beauty of online press releases is that they expand your reach without a lot of extra effort.  There are free press release sites such as prlog.org that offer free press release distribution.  They will even host your news on their site. 

That's where the extra mileage comes in. Your news, your content, on someone else's site.  The viewers of that site become your viewers.

There is an even BIGGER benefit of submitting online press releases to help your SEO effort.  Be sure to attend our March eMarketing seminar to find out.  If you're outside the Tulsa area, contact me to find out when we will host a seminar in your area.

Denise
@d_brinkmeyer

How to Stop Wasting Your Website Dollars - Take the Second Step

In my previous post, How to Stop Wasting Your Website Dollars - Take the First Step, I talked about the two primary reasons that businesses don't gain traction with website leads and sales.

When I say, they don't gain traction, I mean that they are not regularly receiving leads through the website that can convert to a sale.

It's that simple.  If your website doesn't do that, then it isn't working for you.

It's time to be brutally honest. You're in denial if you tell everyone you have a "great website", but it doesn't consistently advance your business.

You have only two options:

1. Change your expectations.  Go ahead and give up on any expectation that the website will produce business.   Let it just sit there invisible to the whole world. 

2. Change what you're doing. Develop goals and a strategy to achieve your goals.  You can afford to develop a good search marketing strategy and the return will exceed any other marketing investment you may be planning.

If you're budget is small or if you believe that DIY is the best fit for you, then our Search Marketing eLab is the place to begin. 

If you have an existing website and don't have time or the confidency for DIY efforts, then a website audit is the best place to begin.

As always, if you have questions or need advice, contact us and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Denise