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November 2017 Marketing Ideas Calendar
Just so you know, these marketing calendars we share each month will often vary from year-to-year because of interesting new holidays or topics. Plus, some of these don’t happen on the same date each year but rather a certain day-for example: the 2nd Tuesday in November. We will add various celebrity (or otherwise historical figures’) birthdays, and historic events so be sure to subscribe so you never miss an edition of this Monthly Marketing Ideas Calendar.
Marketing Ideas for November 2017
Looking for ideas for social media posts, blogs, emails or in-store promotions? Take a look at these ideas and stand out from the crowd.
Novemeber Monthly Holidays
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
Aviation History Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Family Stories Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
Greens and Plantains Month
Historic Bridge Awareness Month
International Drum (Percussion) Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Movember
Military Family Appreciation Month
National Adoption Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Month
National COPD Month
National Diabetes Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Gratitude Month
National Home Care and Hospice Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
\National Long-term Care Awareness Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Native American Heritage Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Novel Writing Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pepper Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Pomegranate Month
National PPSI AIDS Awareness Month
National Raisin Bread Month
National Roasting Month
National Scholarship Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
Vegan Month
Weird Holidays to Use for Marketing Ideas
Famous November Birthdays
Nov 6 – Laurene Powell Jobs – Famous as Businesswoman, Widow of Steve
November 7 – Marie Curie – First Woman to Receive a Nobel Prize
Nov 8 – Gordon Ramsey – Chef, Restaurateur
Nov 19 – Jack Dorsey – co-founder of Twitter
Nov 19 – Ted Turner – Media Tycoon
Nov. 20 – Joe Biden – Famous as Vice President
Nov 27 – Bill Nye – Known as the Science Guy
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November Weekly Holidays
November 5-11
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
November 11-19
National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week
November 12-18
Geography Awareness Week
National Split Pea Soup Week
World Kindness Week
November 13-17
American Education Week
November 17-23
National Farm-City Week
November 19-25
International Fraud Awareness Week
National Family Week, November
National Game and Puzzle Week
Better Conversation Week
Church/State Separation Week
November 22-28
National Deal Week
November Daily Holidays
11/1/2017 World Vegan Day / National Authors Day
11/2/2017 National Men Make Dinner Day (Must Cook, No BBQ Allowed!) / Traffic Directors Day
11/3/2017 National Housewife’s Day
11/4/2017 National Candy Day / National Stress Awareness Day
11/5/2017 Daylight Saving Time Ends – First Sunday in November
11/6/2017 National Nachos Day / Saxophone Day
11/7/2017 National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
11/8/2017 National Cappuccino Day / National STEM/STEAM Day
11/9/2017 National Scrapple Day
11/10/2017 Marine Corps Birthday
11/11/2017 Veterans Day / National Sundae Day
11/12/2017 Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
11/13/2017 World Kindness Day
11/14/2017 World Diabetes Day
11/15/2017 America Recycles Day / National Educational Support Professionals Day
11/16/2017 National Fast Food Day / World Philosophy Day
11/17/2017 National Take a Hike Day / National Baklava Day
11/18/2017 Mickey Mouse Birthday
11/19/2017 International Men’s Day / National Play Monopoly Day
11/20/2017 International Transgender Day of Remembrance / Universal Children’s Day
11/21/2017 World Hello Day / National Stuffing Day
11/22/2017 Tie One On Day – Day before Thanksgiving
11/23/2017 Thanksgiving Day
11/24/2017 National Day of Listening / Black Friday
11/25/2017 Small Business Saturday – Shop Small
11/26/2017 National Cake Day
11/27/2017 Cyber Monday
11/28/2017 National French Toast Day / National Day of Giving
11/29/2017 Electronic Greetings Day
11/30/2017 National Meth Awareness Day / Computer Security Day
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October 2017 Marketing Ideas Calendar
Good marketing gets attention. Here’s a list of more than 50 ideas you can use to create blog posts, social media posts, and in-store promotions.
Marketing Ideas for October, 2017
I found a fantastic new FREE image library. Click this image and find all kinds of great photos to use in your marketing. (Oh, and October is National Chili Month.)
Monthly Holidays
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
AIDS Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Class Reunion Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Employee Ownership Month
Financial Planning Month
Halloween Safety Month
Health Literacy Month
International Walk To School Month
LGBT History Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Apple Month
National Arts and Humanities Month
National Book Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Cookie Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Go On a Field Trip Month
National Pasta Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
National Pork Month
National Pretzel Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Reading Group Month
Tackling Hunger Month
Vegetarian Month
World Menopause Month
Weekly Holidays
October 1 – 7
Great Books Week
International Postcard Week
Mental Illness Awareness Week
National Work From Home week
Kids Goal Setting Week
October 8-14
Earth Science Week
Veterinary Technicians Week
National School Lunch Week
October 15 – 21
Bully Bystanders Unite Week
Freedom of Speech Week
Medical Assistants Recognition Week
National Business Woman’s Week
National Friends of Library Week
National Teen Drivers Safety Week
October 22 -28
Red Ribbon Week
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
National Massage Therapy Week
Daily Holidays
10/1/2017 International Day of Older Persons
10/2/2017 International Day of Nonviolence
10/3/2017 National Techies Day
10/4/2017 World Animal Day / National Taco Day
10/5/2017 World Teachers Day / National Do Something Nice Day
10/6/2017 World Smile Day
10/7/2017 National Frappe Day
10/8/2017 National Pierogi Day
10/9/2017 National Kick Butt Day / Columbus Day
10/10/2017 World Mental Health Day
10/11/2017 National Coming Out Day / National Emergency Nurses Day / National Stop Bullying Day
10/12/2017 National Gumbo Day
10/13/2017 Navy Birthday
10/14/2017 National Motorcycle Ride Day
10/15/2017 Global Handwashing Day / National I Love Lucy Day
10/16/2017 National Dictionary Day / Boss’s Day
10/17/2017 National Pasta Day
10/18/2017 National Chocolate Cupcake Day / Medical Assistants Recognition Day
10/19/2017 National Seafood Bisque Day / National Get Smart About Credit Day
10/20/2017 National Mammography Day
10/21/2017 National Sweetest Day
10/22/2017 International Stuttering Awareness Day // National Mother in Law Day
10/23/2017 iPod Day
10/24/2017 National Food Day
10/25/2017 Chucky, The Notorious Killer Doll Day / Sourest Day
10/26/2017 National Day of the Deployed
10/27/2017 National Frankenstein Day
10/28/2017 National Make a Difference Day
10/29/2017 World Stroke Day
10/30/2017 National Candy Corn Day / National Speak Up For Service Day
10/31/2017 Halloween
The Search Engine Optimization 80/20 Rule
SEO is the long-term marketing investment that pays for itself over and over. This is where you get the customers who are in “buying mode”…the best kind of prospect! Get a free SEO analysis to learn how your website can be even better at getting new customers. Click Here.
This article is about the fact that organic search results get more clicks than paid ads…and why this is important for business owners to know and understand.
1st I will define ORGANIC SEARCH RESULTS: When a person searches (on Google, for example) for something online, they get a list of search results. On this search results page (SERP), there is often a group of listings (results) at the top of the page which are notated as Ads. Google sells these spots to businesses who are willing to pay for this space on the search results page. The results beneath the Ads are called Organic Search Results. These are placements which Google considers the most relevant search results. That is, the search results most likely to meet the needs of the person searching.
The higher a website or a web page ranks in the organic search results, the more likely the person will click and visit the website.
If you’ve been in business for any length of time or at least studied business or even personal development in any capacity, you’ve probably heard of the 80-20 rule also known as the Pareto Principle. The core of this principle is that 20% of your activities make up 80% of your productivity. It also usually means that 20% of your customers represent 80% of your income. It could also mean that 20% of your Investments produce 80% of your positive results.
Comparing Search Engine Optimization to Google Adwords (Paid Traffic)
This post compares building a better, search eingine optimized website to investing cash into Google Adwords (also known as pay-per-click or PPC).
This morning I was watching a webinar talking about Google search results and the relationship between paid advertising online and organic search engine optimization and how the 80/20 rule applies.
In most cases where people are looking online for a local business, for example a plumber, an electrician, an attorney, an accountant, a chiropractor,… The search results will almost always yield about 7 search results on page one which are paid ads. These are also known as AdWords ads. These are usually in a group of three or four at the top of the page and three or four all the way down at the bottom of the page. They are indicated by a specific emblem which indicates these are ads.
Between the ads are what we call organic search results. These are the search results which are generated by Google and are determined by a number of criteria, many of which can be influenced by search engine optimization techniques. These are NOT paid ads.
Organic Search Results Get 80% of the Clicks
It’s a well-known fact, and you can look it up, that organic search results get more clicks and therefore more visibility than the AdWords ads. And guess what the ratio is. You got it… 80% organic and 20% ads. Therefore, out of every 1000 searches, the ads get 200 clicks, and the organic ads get 800. Both marketing tactics have their advantages. Read on!
Advantages of Using Adwords
The advantages of using AdWords are
- You will drive traffic to your website and your message.
- You only pay if people click on your ad and visit your website. If no one clicks you don’t pay.
- You can set a daily, weekly, monthly budget and a maximum price you’re willing to pay per click.
Disadvantages of using Adwords:
- Clicks can be expensive. Depending on your industry and the competition fighting for those High positions on the search rankings you could pay anywhere from $0.50 per click to over $20 is per click.
- Clicks don’t necessarily mean customers. You will pay for a lot of clicks which never become customers. Only a fraction of them will.
- Advertising with AdWords is a process and very much a science. The average person cannot possibly hope to optimize their AdWords campaigns effectively. Yes, you may meet with success but hiring a trained and experienced expert will yield better results. Therefore you are looking at adding a professional fee on top of the cost of the ads.
Advantages of investing in organic search engine optimization
- For every 1,000 searches for a business like yours if you occupy a spot on the organic search results, you have an 80% better chance of being selected over the adwords ads. As I said above 80% of the people choose from the organic listing and only 20% of the people choose among the ads.
- A click on your organic listing cost you nothing. This is a gift. Google helps businesses with good websites and good search engine optimization show up in the search results.
- The investment you make in time to learn and Implement search engine optimization where the money you spend to get an expert to do it for you will continue to work for you almost indefinitely. Yes, there is a cost to this either to pay an expert or to spend the time and money to learn this skill but the payoff is enormous. In many respects, search engine optimization gets even better with time.
- If you are optimization is exceptionally good (and with a little luck) and you are the first search result under the paid ads, statistics show that this position gets 40% more clicks than all the other search results on the page. So out of 1000 searches for a product or business like yours, you could potentially get 400 website visitors.
Disadvantages of Organic SEO
- Slower results. Once you start paying for AdWords you are almost certain to start showing up on search results and getting traffic to your website. Not necessarily so with Organic search results.
- Nothing worthwhile is easy. Search engine optimization is a process. It’s actually a continual process. It takes time and time is money.
In my personal and expert opinion I think search engine optimization is one of the best investments you can make in marketing your business. Search engine optimization can work in conjunction with almost every other marketing investment and activity you engage in. Including social media, blogging, video, and even offline marketing efforts such as print ads, sponsorships, radio ads, Adwords campaigns and any other Grassroots marketing you may do will all be enhanced by the efforts you make in building a better website with content that will be a benefit to your potential customers, clients, or patience.
The FASTEST way to get people to your website is by paying for the traffic. Adwords works.
The best LONG TERM MARKETING INVESTMENT is a methodical and well-planned investment in search engine optimization.
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How to Create Website Content Fast and Easy
The title of this post is called how to create website content fast and easy. I’m not actually
writing this blog post, I’m saying it. I’m using a free tool. It’s a Google app called Voice Note II.
Voice Transcription Helps Create Website Content and Blog Posts Like This One Fast & Easy
This FREE app transcribes everything you say! I’m speaking into a microphone and my words are being transcribed into this program. It’s a great
tool which is saving me a lot of time and letting me write the way I speak.
Search Engines Love an Active Website
Adding fresh content to your website periodically is a really good idea because Google loves to see
a website that’s alive and in motion. A website which continues to add content is viewed by Google
as a website that has a higher level of authority in its industry. Even if you are in a small
business which only serves customers locally, you will be rewarded by having lots of activity on
your website, specifically new pages or blog posts added regularly.
While adding these pages to your website you will naturally be adding content which could be a match
to what people are looking for online. This is how you get your business and your website to show up
when someone is looking for a product or service like yours- even if they don’t already know you
exist. This is the magic of search engine optimization.
Optimize Your Website By Talking!
Talking into the microphone on a subject that’s on your mind- this could be as simple as describing
a product or a service, or telling the story about a service experience. You don’t have to know anything about search engine optimization to better optimize your site.
SEO and Social Media Fuel Combined
You’ll be adding valuable content to your website, but this sort of content also makes excellent fuel for your social media posts. Simply copy the website address also known as the URL into the post along with a sentence or two
about what the post is about and a photograph or image. Facebook will show your post to more people
if you include an attention-getting image. When they click the link or click the image your web
page or blog post will open for your audience to read. This click brirngs the person back to your
website. This is a little bit of extra website traffic. All website traffic is an indicator to
Google that your website is relevant. And relevancy is a criteria which Google uses to determine if
they’re going to show your website in the search results. Clicks from social media to your website
are a valuable component of search engine optimization.
Proof Read Your Transcription Thoroughly
After you’re done speaking to this voice recorder it will be necessary for you to proofread and make
some corrections and add some punctuation. But you will have created valuable website content which
will help your business. Of course this technology can also be used for drafting letters or emails.
Sure, it may lack the finer elementsof grammar but people can deal with this and it’s also fairly acceptable today in business talk so
long as you’re not in a white collar industry. If you are in a white collar industry then you should
have no problem fixing the grammar when you go back through the content and make your corrections.
I hope you find this information and this tool valuable to you. If you want to receive more useful
tips in technology or online marketing simply click here to subscribe to our One Good Idea
Newsletter. We will never bombard you with emails. Just good information delivered to your inbox a
couple times per month.
We also have a YouTube channel where you can subscribe consume tidbits of information
on short videos and you can subscribe to that in order to be notified every time a new video is
published. You never know when your next good idea could be a business breakthrough for you. It
happens all the time.
This blog post contains over 700 words. When I type I struggle to reach 300 or 400 words. By
speaking into the microphone I can make a more complete message which serves both my audience and my
search engine optimization goals.
Productivity Tool-Screen Capture Technology
I love using the screen capture software. When I need to explain something I want one of my helpers to do, I just open Screencast-O-Matic.
Speed and Accuracy Increases With This Low-Tech Tool
I often work with people who aren’t in the same room with me. Sometimes they’re not in the same city, state, or country. When I need to get something done through my team of experts, I’ll use Screencast-O-Matic to capture what’s going on on my computer screen and speak to narrate my message and my instructions are crystal clear. This is a big time-saver and the message can be saved and reviewed by the recipient indefinitely.
I also use Screencast-O-Matic a lot when I want to explain something to a client. It’s great to be able to capture what’s going on on my computer screen and narrate the situation. Not only is it as good as looking over my shoulder, it’s actually better because they can watch it over and over again and save it for future reference if needed. It’s also easy to share the screen cast video with someone else or even use it to make social media posts.
Training Videos and Client Demonstrations
In the video accompanying this blog post I demonstrate how I was showing a client of mine this successes we’re achieving with their search engine optimization. It’s convenient for the recipient too because they can watch and listen instead of read which is often faster and more comprehensible.
Screencast-O-Matic is a free software. I pay $20 a year for the pro version because sometimes I make longer videos. I think they give you unlimited videos which are up to 10 minutes in length for free. But since I sometimes make longer videos I’m happy to pay a mere $20 to have longer-length videos. This software has been serving me well.
Can you use Screencast-O-Matic in your business? I’m finding it very useful. I hope you do too. If you like these tidbits of information then please sign up for my newsletter so you can be notified every time a New Edition comes out. Go to the small business University YouTube channel And subscribe. That’s another great way to be notified of small business tips and ideas.
And don’t forget, anything that’s on your mind about marketing your business online is fair game. Just ask me anything you want about your website, social media, email, search engine optimization, Google AdWords… I’m happy to help you out with some expert guidance.
Optimize Online With Photos
We live in a very visual world today. People consume more pictures and videos now that we have all have pocket sized devices with which to take photos
and record video as well as consume it. Pictures capture attention which then lead us to read on for details.
Effectively Use of Photos: Advice According to Google
This blog post is specifically focusing on recommendations by Google to optimize your local business profile page ( at this point in time it is
called the Google My Business Page, formerly known as Google Places).
Google recommends adding photographs to your Google my business page.
They say specifically that businesses who post new photos have a better chance of their business showing up on the search more often.
If Google is flat-out telling you this is a smart strategy for getting your business more visibility online, I think you should take their advice.
In the video embedded in this post I show a business which I’m aware of and their Google profile image use old and serves only to confuse ho tential
customers. See below for a snippet of Google’s advice.
The business is in Allstate Insurance Agency office. They have taken space in this little shopping center in New Jersey. The photograph which is the
profile photograph for this page does not show the Allstate Insurance office because the photo was taken before the Allstate Insurance office took
over the space. Ideally someone should go out and take a fresh picture of this Shopping Center and post it on the Google my business page. When a
business takes control of their Google my business page they have the ability to add unlimited numbers of photos. I would also recommend to the owner
of this agency to take photographs of the inside. Maybe get some photos of some smile and smiling employees, the Allstate logo, a picture of the
receptionist desk, and maybe the franchise owner. The old image of the shopping center should be removed entirely and refreshed with the new photo.
Besides Google there are other places where a local business profile and be optimized with fresh photos. There’s Yelp and yellow pages and business
finder and plenty of others. You never know how somebody is going to discover your business For the First Time online. It’s a simple exercise anyone
can do and it’s worth an investment of a couple hours to find your online profiles and optimize the information and the photographs.
3 Local Business Marketing Tips
One of the easiest ways to stand out online over your competition is by having a bigger and more complete website. What do I mean by that?
Search Engine Optimization Is Much About Website Content
A website with more content matching what people are looking for is going to show higher in search results.
Most websites have about four five six pages. Home Page. About Us page. Contact Us. Our Services. Our Mission.
Testimonials. And most business owners can’t imagine what else they could possibly need on their website.
The way to expand your website is to add pages for every single product or service you sell. For example, it’s not
enough just to say you’re an electrician on your website. People don’t always look or an electrician. Sometimes they’re
looking for outdoor patio lighting. Where they may be looking for swimming pool lighting. Or motion detector lighting.
Or they may be looking for LED lights to replace their current lighting. There are all kinds of ways people look for the
things they want online and when you have a page dedicated to each and every service or product you provide you have a
greater chance of getting the higher positions on the search engines for that specific search. When people land on your
website and find that you have a page dedicated to exactly what they’re trying to buy, then your chances of getting the
call is drastically better.
If you own a bakery you might bake bread, rolls, cakes, pies, donuts, cupcakes, danish. Maybe you specialize in certain
items. I would suggest you make web pages or all your products. But you need to start somewhere so first you start with
the things that you specialize in- the things that are most important to you.
Let’s take pies for example. If it were my bakery I would showcase every individual pie that I sell on its own web page.
This way if someone is looking for the best pumpkin pie in town, your bakery would likely occupy the top position in the
search. And you can do this with every single item you sell.
Search Engines Favor Businesses Which Get A Lot of Reviews
Another vitally important aspect of local business marketing today he is acquiring lots and lots of favorable online
reviews. You need to have reviews on Google, Yelp and maybe TripAdvisor, or maybe Home Advisor, depending on your type
of business. It’s very important to ask your customers to review your business, especially when you know you’ve done a
great job serving them. The more favorable online reviews you have the greater the chance that you will show up higher
in search results especially on Google. But lots of people use Yelp as their search engine and your highly rated reviews
will go a long way and getting you new customers.
Mobile Friendly Websites Move Up In Search Engine Rankings
Mobile friendly websites are websites which change their visual form depending upon what type of device is accessing
them. We call this “mobile-responsive.” Google knows if your website is built on a mobile friendly platform. If it’s
not, and if there are other websites competing for the same positions in the search results, your website will drop down
on the results list and mobile responsive websites will take its place.
If you our website is more than a couple years old there’s a good chance that it was made on a platform which is not
mobile friendly. It is crucial today to have a mobile-friendly website. Portable devices now account for about half of
all website traffic. The search engines favor websites which are mobile-friendly. If your website is not mobile friendly
it will drop lower and lower on the search results.
Your website and and should be an asset to your business. It should be a customer acquisition machine. Do you need any
help with these Concepts we are here to help. All you need to do is ask us some your questions and we’re happy to answer
without any cost of obligation.
Monthly Marketing Calendar for September, 2017
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September, 2017 Holidays and Marketing Idea-Starters
Use this list to jog your mind so you can create interesting, attention-grabbing Social Media Posts, Blog Posts, In-Store Specials & Promotions, and Email Messages.
Get one like this every month FREE! SUBSCRIBE HERE.
September – Monthly Holidays
Baby Safety Month
Better Breakfast Month
Classical Music Month
Fall Hat Month
Little League Month
Intergeneration Month
International Square Dancing Month
National Blueberry Popsicle Month
National Chicken Month
National Courtesy Month
National Honey Month
National Learning and Development Month
National Mushroom Month
National Papaya Month
National Piano Month
National Potato Month
National Preparedness Month
National Rice Month
National Sewing Month
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Month
Self Improvement Month
Whole Grains Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
March – Weekly Holidays
Sept 1 – 7
National Childhood Injury Prevention Week – September 1-7, 2017
Sept 4 – 8
National Payroll Week
Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week
National Waffle Week
Sept 10 – 16
National Suicide Prevention Week
National Biscuit and Gravy Week
September 9 – 11
National Days of Prayer and Remembrance
Sept 11 – 17
National Assisted Living Week
Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week
National Environmental Services Week
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
National Nephrology Nurses Week
September 13 – 21
National Eczema Week
September 17 – 24
National Farm Animals Awareness Week
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
National Singles Week
National Keep Kids Creative Week
National Security Officer Appreciation Week
September 25 – 30
Active Aging Week
Health Information and Technology Week
National Fall Foliage Week
DAILY HOLIDAYS
9/1/2017 National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day
9/2/2017 National Blueberry Popsicle Day
9/3/2017 National Welsh Rarebit Day
9/4/2017 National Labor Day
9/5/2017 National Day of Charity
9/6/2017 National Read a Book Day
9/7/2017 National Beer Lover’s Day / National Grandma Moses Day
9/8/2017 International Literacy Day / National Ampersand Day / Stand Up To Cancer Day
9/9/2017 National Teddy Bear Day
9/10/2017 World Suicide Prevention Day / National Grandparent’s Day
9/11/2017 Anniversary of 9/11 / Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
9/12/2017 National Video Games Day / National Day of Encouragement
9/13/2017 National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day
9/14/2017 National Eat a Hoagie Day
9/15/2017 National LGBT Center Awareness Day / Greenpeace Day / Google.com Day
9/16/2017 National Play-Doh Day / National Stepfamily Day
9/17/2017 Wife Appreciation Day
9/18/2017 National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day / National Cheeseburger Day
9/19/2017 Talk Like a Pirate Day
9/20/2017 National Punch Day
9/21/2017 International Day of Peace
9/22/2017 AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day / American Business Women’s Day
9/23/2017 National Great American Pot Pie Day
9/24/2017 National Cherries Jubilee Day
9/25/2017 National Comic Book Day / National One Hit Wonder Day
9/26/2017 National Pancake Day
9/27/2017 National Women’s Health and Fitness Day
9/28/2017 National Strawberry Cream Pie Day
9/29/2017 National Coffee Day
9/30/2017 National Hot Mulled Cider Day
August Holidays 2017
Hahah…and you thought there were no holidays in August!
Marketing Ideas for Small Business in The Dog Days of Summer
August Marketing Calendar
Monthly Holidays For August, 2017
National Crayon Collection Month
Family Fun Month
National Catfish Month
National Eye Exam Month
National Golf Month
National Peach Month
National Water Quality Month
Romance Awareness Month
National Coffee Month
National Goat Cheese Month
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Weekly Holidays for the Month of August
August 1 – 7
International Clown Week
National Bargain Hunting Week
National Minority Donor Awareness Week
National Psychic Week
Simplify Your Life Week
World Breast Feeding Week
August 6 – 10
National Scrabble Week – August 6-10
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August 7-13
National Fraud Awareness Week
National Farmers Market Week
National Health Center Week August
National Smile Week
National Apple Week
National Assistance Dog Week
Exercise with Your Child Week
August 8 – 12
Elvis Week – August 8-12
August 14 – 20
National Motorcycle Week
National Resurrect Romance Week
August 15 – 21
National Aviation Week
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August 19 – Sept 5
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
August 25 – 31
Be Kind to Humankind Week
Daily Holidays
8/1/2017 National Raspberry Cream Pie Day / National Minority Awareness Day / Respect for Parents Day
8/2/2017 National Coloring Book Day
8/3/2017 National Watermelon Day / National Grab Some Nuts Day
8/4/2017 National Coast Guard Day
8/5/2017 National Mustard Day
8/6/2017 National Root Beer Float Day / American Family Day
8/7/2017 Purple Heart Day / Lighthouse Day
8/8/2017 National Happiness Happens Day / National Frozen Custard Day
8/9/2017 National Rice Pudding Day / National Book Lovers Day
8/10/2017 National Lazy Day / National S’mores Day
8/11/2017 National Sons and Daughters Day / National Presidential Joke Day
8/12/2017 International Youth Day / National Middle Child Day / National Garage Sale Day
8/13/2017 International Lefthanders Day
8/14/2017 National Creamsicle Day
8/15/2017 National Relaxation Day
8/16/2017 National Tell a Joke Day / National Rum Day / National Roller Coaster Day
8/17/2017 National Thrift Shop Day
8/18/2017 National Mail Order Catalog Day / National Ice Cream Pie Day
8/19/2017 Orville Wright’s Birthday / National Soft Ice Cream Day
8/20/2017 National Radio Day
8/21/2017 National Senior Citizens Day
8/22/2017 National Tooth Fairy Day
8/23/2017 National Hug Your Boss Day
8/24/2017 National Waffle Day
8/25/2017 National Whiskey Sour Day / National Kiss and Make Up Day
8/26/2017 National Dog Day / National Women’s Equality Day
8/27/2017 National Just Because Day
8/28/2017 National Cherry Turnovers Day
8/29/2017 International Day Against Nuclear Tests
8/30/2017 National Grief Awareness Day
8/31/2017 National Trail Mix Day
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How to Advertise Free Online
The purpose of Small Business U. and the information we provide is to help business owners navigate the minefields of marketing, advertising, necessary computer equipment, tools & technology, and to protect you against perils and expense of misinformation so you can make better decisions on these topics.
This post is contains information which is easy to understand, easy to implement, requires no technical skills and, the value of which should not be underestimated.
Free Online Advertising and Marketing For Any Small Business
There’s no need to be tech-savvy to leverage many of the free marketing and advertising resources on the web. Want more new customers? In this post you’re going to learn five ways to expand your online footprint so your business become can become more visible online. If you want new customers who don’t already know you exist, I’m about to teach you how to do it.
1. Do a Google Search of Your Phone Number
The first thing you do is type your business phone number into a Google search. Look at the results. I advise you to do this on a laptop or desktop computer so you can see all the search results.
You’re probably going to find your phone number is listed on some websites you’ve never heard of. Click on them. It’s very likely you have your business profile on websites you never knew existed!
However, many of them will probably have incomplete or sometimes incorrect information about your business.
Most of these websites will give you the opportunity to claim your listing and modify it. Take advantage of this free advertising opportunity.
A. Make sure your business address and phone number are accurate. Sometimes these websites get this Vital Information wrong.
B. Add your website address. If someone visits this page you want your website address to be there as a clickable link so they can visit your website directly.
C. Add your logo and photos. Most of these sites will allow you to upload dozens of photos. Take advantage of this, especially on Google and Yelp.
This image illustrates how you can have your business profile and website link on many different online directories and search engines. All these points get thousands or even millions of monthly visitors. And when you have a presence there, it creates a sort of gravitational pull when someone is online looking for a business, product or service like yours.
D. Thoroughly describe your business, products, and services. Use whatever resources these website make available. Take advantage of this and be as thorough as possible.
How to Keep Up With Your Competitors Online
2. Spy on Your Competitors Online and Expand Your Marketing Reach
This will be an eye-opener and a possible marketing breakthrough for your business. Type the phone number of your competitors into a Google Search and compare the results with yours!
Is your business listed everywhere your competitors are listed? If not click on those listings. Most of them will have a link or a button somewhere on the page which says “add a business.”
Add your business profile to every Free Directory possible. I’ve been providing this service to local business owners ever since the search engines and directories for local businesses first began to emerge and bring focus to “local business” marketing. I call it the internet gravity wheel.
It was and still is the cornerstone of my message in seminars consulting and services we provide at Small Business University.
If you have any questions or comments about anything in this article, CLICK HERE.
Online reviews are an amazing marketing opportunity. Read on!
Online Reviews as Free Advertising
3. Online Reviews-A Powerful (and FREE) Marketing Weapon
Yelp, Google, Home Advisor, Facebook, these are all places (and there are others) were you can acquire online reviews. These are valuable opportunities most businesses neglect. In fact, most business owners frown upon them because there is source of headache. But they truly are a marketing opportunity and I’ll explain why:
A. The Search for Online Reviews Puts Your Business in Front of More People Actively Looking for a Business Like Yours RIGHT NOW. Nearly 9 out of 10 consumers refer to online reviews when making buying decisions these days. If you have a presence on review sites, you will be seen. Often, you don’t even have the choice of having a presence on review sites because they’ll put you on without your knowledge. It’s a reality we have to live with so we might as well make the best of it. People who look at reviews are almost always in the process of making a buying decision very, very soon.
B. Take Control of Your Profile. When you intentionally add your business profile to review sites or claim a review site which is was done for you, then you will have the ability to modify and optimize your profile. You may also be notified by email (depending upon the site) when someone leaves an online reviews and this is the opportunity.
C. Positive Reviews
Obviously positive reviews are essential. And your business you should take every measure to make sure your customers know you plan to deliver a five-star experience. When I work with restaurants for example, I recommend printing and inserting a card inside the menu which reads something like this: “Thank you for joining us for dinner. Your satisfaction is our priority. If your experience tonight is anything less than perfect, please let us know now. We’re here to serve you to the best of our ability and to deliver a great experience. The chef is in the kitchen right now whipping up his/her amazing creations and every one is made to order, so please be patient.”
On the bottom of this card, it reads: “To get our weekly specials list, coupons, and a birthday gift, fill out the form below” where thee’s a place for at least 2 names and email addresses.
By insisting that customer to let us know of any dissatisfaction now, during the meal, this card effectively gives the customer bit of responsibility for their satisfaction and has has effectively reduced negative reviews and improved the quality of reviews overall.
Further, those who fill out their contact information are clearly interested in returning to the restaurant and will likely cooperate if asked to provide a positive review. Even of you’re not in the restaurant business, can you think of a way to prepare your customers in advance to assure a quality experience?
D. Negative Reviews: Turning Lemons into Lemonade.
Negative reviews can even turn positive if you handle them in a positive way. Let’s face it, some people just want to find something to complain about. Also, sometimes it’s possible to have a quality or service failure. Negative reviews are inevitable.
The good news is, you can respond to negative reviews and if you do it in a classy fashion, potential customers can read your classy of response. A classy response will garner respect for you. The negative review is neutralized. In some cases you can even win back the unhappy customer who could actually become a raving fan. This is good stuff.
E. Repurpose Your Reviews
You can copy and paste positive reviews from the review sites onto your own website. Adding a page of testimonials on your site is smart marketing. You can even link them back to their source (on Yelp, for example), which confirms their legitimacy.
YouTube as a Marketing Powerhouse and it’s FREE
Need help leveraging YouTube for your business? We can help! Call 1-866-799-2825 or CLICK HERE
My last and very effective recommendation for free advertising online is YouTube. By having videos on YouTube, You’re effectively adding content to the world’s number two search engine behind Google. YouTube videos can also be easily embedded onto your website. The topic of video marketing can fill a book. I won’t go into great length here but I WILL be writing more on this topic. I’m very passionate about it.
I will say that effective videos online are not like TV commercials. Instead, they’re more like helpful tips or demonstrations which add value to the consumer experience. Informational and demonstration videos position you as the helpful expert and your business as the trusted business in your field.
Anyone with a smart phone has a camera good enough to capture video to post on YouTube and your website. It’s truly a gift.
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If you have any interest in learning more about any of these topics, please give me your feedback here. Perhaps we can do a webinar or an online group discussion. Likewise, if you want me to go into depth in any of these topics let me know that too. Thank you for reading this post.
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