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Why YOUR Small Business Should Care About SEO
Because SEO the cheapest and easiest way to get more new customers, now and in the future.
“Why should I care about search engine optimization? I’m just a small business. I don’t have a lot of money to spend on SEO.”
Friends, SEO is THE way to compete with any size company in your field of business. Good SEO has nothing to do with how much money you spend on it. It has nothing to do with tricks or shortcuts.
Good SEO has more to do with what you know about SEO and about how your website communicates with potential customers searching for a product or service like yours, even if they don’t already know you exist.
This article WILL give you insights that will help you make better decisions about your website content and better decisions when you’re looking for help with your website and digital marketing in the future.
All the while, your website will serve your customers better and consequently, you will get more customers.
How Search Engine Optimization Works-Demonstrated
In this article, I am in the act of demonstrating a fundamental search engine optimization strategy. I’m showing you how it works. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
- I’ve created a sensible title for this page. It asks a question about search engine optimization. Many people search the internet for information about SEO every hour of the day because it’s such a valuable skill to understand. The title of the page tells Google what this page is about. That’s vitally important for good SEO.
- I typed 3 short paragraphs that are relevant to the page title. This also signals Google that the content appears to match the title. Although this may seem obvious, it doesn’t necessarily happen. The average business owner isn’t aware of the value in this small but important element. (Pssst…neither do a lot of SEO service providers.)
- Next, we have bold Subtitle which reads This is How Search Engine Optimization Works. This bold type is in H2 format, otherwise known as a Header Tag, and in this case, the 2nd header tag on the page. The Page Title is being used as the H1 tag.
Continuing This Search Engine-Friendly Article About Search Engine Optimization.
As we continue with this tutorial about optimizing a website (or web page) for gaining search engine attention, notice the 3 elements above:
- There is a bullet list in the section under the H2 tag. While this isn’t necessarily a necessity, it does have SEO-rich content, all within the important ideas in the article. A bullet list is orderly, it breaks up long swaths of text, and this, therefore, more readable. This has many benefits (but we won’t get into all that detail right now).
- Then we have an image. It’s actually a colorful block of text but in the form of an image. Images have their own SEO characteristics if done properly and this article will have a link right here when the content describing the optimization of an image is created.
- The image above also has a Call-to-Action. A call to action (CTA) is smart marketing because it’s designed to get a website visitor to make make a decision. I often recommend an offer such as a coupon, a limited time offer, or some kind of free and valuable information. When someone clicks on a link on your page and it takes them to another page on your website, therefore it’s a signal to Google that your website has value. It’s called an internal link. You’ll learn more about this in another article on our blog about the benefits of internal links.
- Finally, we have another Subheading and this is the H3 tag. The H3 tag gets to be rather meaningless and any further heading tags can just remain as H3 tags. (Don’t use H1 or H2 tags more than once in a post or page.
Search Engine Optimization is One of Your Best Marketing Investments
When I say SEO is one of your best marketing investments, I’m talking mainly about your investment in time, not money. You, the business owner understand more about your products and your customers than anyone else. Since you know more about customers think about your product, the words they use and the questions they ask, you are the best person to create search engine friendly content for your website.
When the words and phrases on your website (particularly the page titles and header tags) are a close match to what a potential customer is searching for, your website will have a much better chance to appear at, or near the top of search results.
The Top Benefits of Good SEO:
- Potential customers will find you at the precise moment when they’re in the act of making a buying decision.
- It lasts indefinitely. Once you add content to your website, it stays there to serve you and your customers as long as your website does.
- It gets better with age.
- It allows you to compete with any size business in your field.
- Building a good SEO website that attracts more new customers adds value to your business. Your website becomes an asset.
You can’t get these kinds of results from any other type of advertising, even with bucket loads of money to spend on it.
Learn more about the benefits of good search engine optimization here.
May 2018 Marketing Ideas Calendar
As a service to small business owners, we give you over 50 marketing idea-starters every month. If you’re not already getting this resource in your email each month, SUBSCRIBE!
Monthly Holidays for May, 2018
National English Language Month
National Month of Hope
National Canine Fitness Month
National Internship Awareness Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Awareness Month
National Donate Life Awareness Month
National Cannabis Awareness Month
Month of the Military Child
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Autism Awareness Month
National Couple Appreciation Month
National Decorating Month
National Humor Month
National Landscape Architecture Month
National Inventor’s Month
National Jazz Appreciation Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Poetry Month
National Volunteer Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Famous Birthdays in May
5/2 Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)
5/2 Donatella Versace
5/5 Lysie Snyder (Heiress of In-N-Out Burger)
5/14 Mark Zuckerberg
5/21 Al Franken
5/27 Jamie Oliver
Weekly Holidays
April 29-May5
Small Business Week
May 6-12
National Pet Week
National Nurses Week
Public Service Recognition Week
National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 13-19
National Etiquette Week
National Salvation Army Week
Police Week
May 20-26
Public Works Week
National Emergency Medical Services Week
Get this FREE RESOURCE EVERY MONTH, SUBSCRIBE!
Daily Holidays in May, 2018
5/1/2018 May Day / National Foster Care Day
5/2/2018 National Truffle Day
5/3/2018 National Day of Reason / World Password Day
5/4/2018 National Star Wars Day
5/5/2018 National Cartoonists Day / Free Comic Book Day / Cinco de Mayo
5/6/2018 National Nurses Day
5/7/2018 National Melanoma Monday
5/8/2018 National Teacher Appreciation Day
5/9/2018 National Bike to School Day
5/10/2018 National Shrimp Day / National Clean Up Your Room Day
5/11/2018 National Military Spouse Appreciation Day
5/12/2018 National Archery Day / National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day
5/13/2018 Mother’s Day / National Apple Pie Day
5/14/2018 National Dance Like a Chicken Day
5/15/2018 National Chocolate Chip Day
5/16/2018 National Sea Monkey Day
5/17/2018 National Graduation Tassel Day
5/18/2018 National Visit Your Relatives Day / Nascar Day
5/19/2018 National Learn to Swim Day / National Armed Forces Day
5/20/2018 National Be a Millionaire Day / National Pick Strawberries Day
5/21/2018 National American Red Cross Founders Day
5/22/2018 National Buy a Musical Instrument Day
5/23/2018 National Lucky Penny Day
5/24/2018 National Scavenger Hunt Day
5/25/2018 National Missing Children’s Day / National Wine Day
5/26/2018 National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
5/27/2018 National Grape Popsicle Day
5/28/2018 Memorial Day / National Hamburger Day
5/29/2018 National Paperclip Day
5/30/2018 National Senior Health and Fitness Day / National Creativity Day
5/31/2018 National Speak in Sentences Day
https://forms.aweber.com/form/45/490866645.htm
Small Business Marketing Ideas for 2018-April
Looking for ideas or themes for your emails, social media, videos, or in-store promotions? Small Business U. provides this FREE RESOURCE every month to help you prime the pump so you can create interesting, fun and engaging content to help your marketing and message stand out from your competition. Never miss an issue: SUBSCRIBE!
April 2018 Marketing Ideas Calendar
Monthly Holidays in April, 2018
National English Language Month
National Month of Hope
National Canine Fitness Month
National Internship Awareness Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Awareness Month
National Donate Life Awareness Month
National Cannabis Awareness Month
National Fair Housing Month
Month of the Military Child
International Guitar Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Autism Awareness Month
National Couple Appreciation Month
National Decorating Month
National Humor Month
National Landscape Architecture Month
National Inventor’s Month
National Jazz Appreciation Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Straw Hat Month
National Poetry Month
National Pecan Month
National Volunteer Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
National Safe Digging Month
SUBSCRIBE and get this FREE RESOURCE every month.
Famous February Birthdays
4/9/2018 Hugh Hefner
4/13/2018 Thomas Jefferson
4/23/2018 William Shakespeare
4/26/2018 Carol Burnett
4/26/2018 Melania Trump
4/27/2018 Erik Schmidt (Former CEO of Google)
Weekly Holidays in April
April 2-8
National Public Health Week
National Window Safety Week
April 8-14
National Work Zone Awareness Week
Animal Control Officer Awareness Week
Crime Victims’ Rights Week
National Library Week
April 10-14
Cancer Registrars Week
April 15-21
Boys and Girls Club Week
National Pet ID Week
National Volunteer Week
April 22-28
National Princess Week
Sky Awareness Week
Every Healthy Kid Week
SUBSCRIBE and get this FREE RESOURCE every month.
Daily Holidays in April, 2018
4/1/2018 April Fools Day / Easter
4/2/2018 National Ferret Day
4/3/2018 National Find a Rainbow Day
4/4/2018 National School Librarian Day / National Walking Day
4/5/2018 National Deep Dish Pizza Day / National Read a Road Map Day
4/6/2018 National Student Athlete Day
4/7/2018 National Handmade Day / National Love Our Children Day
4/8/2018 National Zoo Lovers Day
4/9/2018 National Name Yourself Day / National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
4/10/2018 National Siblings Day / National Equal Pay Day
4/11/2018 National Bookmobile Day / National Barber Shop Quartet Day
4/12/2018 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
4/13/2018 Natinal Scrabble Day / National Thomas Jefferson Day
4/14/2018 National Reach As High As You Can Day
4/15/2018 National Tax Day / National Take A Wild Guess Day
4/16/2018 National Bean Counter Day
4/17/2018 National Ellis Island Family History Day
4/18/2018 National Animal Cracker’s Day
4/19/2018 National Hanging Out Day
4/20/2018 National Look Alike Day
4/21/2018 National Kindegarten Day / National Aucioneers Day
4/22/2018 National Earth Day
4/23/2018 National Picnic Day
4/24/2018 National Teach Children To Save Day
4/25/2018 National DNA Day / National Administrative Assistants Day
4/26/2018 National Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day
4/27/2018 National Arbor Day / National Day of Silence
4/28/2018 National Pool Opening Day
4/29/2018 National Shrimp Scampi Day
4/30/2018 National Military Brats Day
Use Facebook “Events” to Generate Sales and New Customers
In this article, you’re going to learn how get your business in front of 1000’s of local and potential customers FREE with Facebook Events.
The 2 examples are restaurant-related but Facebook Events can be used in any type of local business. You just need a theme ans a little imagination.
You don’t have to put on a party, a parade, or hang banners or posters in order to have an “event.”
Read this post and then see how other businesses are marketing their events using Facebook Events.
If you like this post, Subscribe.
Your Event Can Be Anything You Want It To Be
An event can be a one-day affair or it can last all month long! Your event can revolve around a single item or a theme. It just takes a little imagination and a topic. The best way I can explain is with a couple of examples. Let’s pull an idea off of our March Marketing Ideas Calendar:
March 6th is National Oreo Cook Day. Take advantage of the popularity of this American favorite and create an Oreo Cookie Day Event!
If you’re in the restaurant business, you can promote Oreo Cookie milkshakes, Oreo cheesecakes, Oreo cupcakes, Oreo ice cream cake. Do you think there are some people around town who would be intrigued by the idea of an Oreo-inspired dessert selection? Of course, especially if it were a limited-time event.
But wait, National Oreo Cookie Day is just a 1-day holiday and maybe it’s not worth the trouble or risk of preparing all these Oreo-related desserts. No problem! Make your event last all week! Who’s stopping you? Here’s all you do: Announce how your restaurant is celebrating National Oreo Cookie Day by featuring Oreo Cookie-related treats all week (or all month, of you want) long!
Subscribe to The One Good Idea Newsletter to get our Monthly Marketing Ideas Calendar delivered every month.
Coffee is a “hot topic” and March is Caffeine Awareness Month. Take advantage!
Here’s another idea: The month of March is Caffeine Awareness Month. Create an event on topic of coffee.
Your coffee vendor will be happy to provide free samples and personnel to entertain your customers with taste tests. You could market this event every day of the month OR just on weekends or just on Saturdays…whatever you want! Facebook lets YOU make the rules and they’ll keep marketing your event for as long as it lasts.
Use events to capture customers’ contact information so you can add them directly to your marketing list for future promotions/invitations.
You can even sell tickets to events by linking to a site like Eventbrite or a page on your own site which can sell tickets can collect money.
Facebook Markets Your Events For You
Facebook has created a smart phone app which millions of people have already downloaded. This app informs people of events going on nearby. People who don’t have the app still have the ability to see events in their news feed.
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Fewer and fewer people actually see your Facebook fan page posts due to recent changes on Facebook’s move to sponsored (paid) posts. However, events will appear in your Facebook fans’ Notifications. When someone clicks on an event notification, here’s an example of what they might see:
When someone clicks on Interested or Going, many of their Facebook friends will see this in their Notifications. Some people will want to share this information because, let’s face it, we want to share good times with our friends. Another added bonus is the ability to sell tickets to an event and the Find Tickets button allows you to bring ticket buyers to your website or to another destination, such as Eventbrite (another place to market your event whether you’re selling tickets or not).
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So when a Facebook Friend clicks Going to an event, this is what appears in her friends’ Notifications. This acts as social proof and starts the whole cycle again of possibly reaching more and more people who may otherwise never have known your business exists, so maybe they’ll end up as customers.
Events for a Cause
Supporting a cause will popularize and endear you and your business to a section of the population who feels affinity toward the cause. This locally-owned liquor store is running an event featuring food, wine and spirits and is donating proceeds to The Ronald McDonald House. I feel fairly certain the liquor and wine vendors will be supporting the store by sponsoring some food, drink, personnel, and maybe even some money for the event, all the while, driving customers to the store who will be obliged to support the cause by making a purchase.
Never run out of ideas for your events, promotions, social media posts, or email marketing ideas, Subscribe to The One Good Idea Newsletter to get our Monthly Marketing Ideas Calendar delivered every month.
Need some help with ideas on how you can leverage Event Marketing on Facebook? All you need to do is ask, CLICK HERE.