Enlarging Your Internet Footprint

In today’s digital environment, it’s not enough just to have a website.  There is way to much competition to be expected to be found, much less get business simply by having a website.  Even corporations these days have a full time staff just to handle their company’s internet presence and social media.

But let’s talk about what a small business owner can do to increase their Internet Footprint and increase their chances of being found by those searching for them, i.e. those who are wanting to purchase their products and services.   

Here is a list of 10 things to do to expand Your Internet Footprint:

1. First of all, get very specific about what you are offering in the way of products and services.
2. Then think in terms of what and how the potential client would search for those products and services.
3.  Purchase Domain Names using the search criteria from item #2.  It doesn’t matter that you have named your business ‘ABC Products and Services,’ you can have multiple Domain Names which point to your website.  I recommend that every business should have a minimum of 5 Domain Names based on how potential clients would search for their products or services.  All these Domain Names can be re-directed to their website.  It’s like putting road signs out on the internet highway.  
4. Get listed in multiple locations.  Set up accounts, i.e. Facebook Business FanPage, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Plus, *Google Places, YouTube, *FourSquare, *Yelp, *YP Pages, etc.  The more places your business is listed, the more chances you have of being found when people search for your products and service.  (*If you have a physical location, these are a must).
5. Be interactive on Social Media.  Engage your audience.  It’s not enough to just set up the accounts, there must be an ongoing presence.  Depending on your business, post about what’s going on, industry trends, photos of your work, happy customers with your products, videos, surveys, ask questions, run contests, offer specials/coupons, etc.
6.   Also, part of being interactive in social media is liking, commenting, and sharing other people’s products and services also.  Don’t just be pushing your products and services because that is a one way street.
7. Get testimonials about how great your products and services are.  Ask your best clients to write a review.  These testimonials can be written on your Facebook Business Fan Page, Yelp, FourSquare, Google Places, etc.  Again the more positive reviews you have, the better your chances of being found when people are search for your products and services.
8. Become the expert in your niche.  Add a blog to your website or set up a separate site.  Even better than blogging is video blogging.  Short 3 to 5 minute ‘Did you know?’ videos about some aspect of your business.  Post these on a regular consistent basis.  And when you post, make sure you announce that you have posted a new blog on all your social media sites.
9.  Link all your sites.  Think in terms of creating a spider web.  List your social media sites on your website.  Link your Facebook Business page to your Twitter account.  Link your Twitter account to your LinkedIn account.  Also, most other accounts ask for or allow you to list your social media sites.
10. Build your list so that you can keep in touch with your clients and prospects.  By keeping in touch with your clients, they will appreciate the follow up and will always have your contact info should they wish to purchase again or refer you.  Prospects don’t always buy the first time, but by keeping in touch and providing them with helpful information you build your credibility for future business.  I recommend Constant Contact for email marketing and it provides features to link in your social media.

Lastly, if you don’t have the time to do it yourself, hire someone to do it for you.  This list is basically many of the services I offer.  Most of these tasks are tedious and time consuming, but necessary to increase a business’s Internet Footprint.  By getting the help need, you will increase your business which in the long run will be well worth the initial investment.  Contact me today to see if I can be of help with your Internet Footprint.

In appreciation,

Annette

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com

“Helping My Clients and Their Business Look Good”

Owning Your Website

Do you own Your Website, Domain names, etc. or have you trusted all the aspects to someone else?

In working with one of my clients recently, they wanted me to make some updates to their current website.  They provided me with the log in information, however it did not work.  They tried numerous times to get in touch with the company that built their site, but to no avail.  Now my client has learned the dreadful truth, they do not own their domain name, and they cannot get access to their site to make changes or updates.  This is a delemma that many businesses have after having shelled out big bucks for a website, etc.

So what should a person/business do?

Here are my suggestions:

- Make sure you deal with someone reputable and ethical
- Check their references
- Research them on the internet
- Buy your own Domain/URL names so that you own them
- Pay for your own Hosting.  Again, so that you own it and have access
- Get all your log in/passcodes for all your accounts

If you do the above, you will protect yourself from an unethical Webmaster and/or one that goes out of business. 

I work with many clients and I know they trust me, however every account that I set up for them, I provide them with all the log in credentials.  I would hate to think if something happen to me, that they would be unable to access their accounts.  As a small business owner myself, I would be very upset if someone held me hostage.

Check out the advice from my mentor and good friend Mike Stewart at www.WebsitesYouControlYourself.com

We want to help the small business owner have a web presence for an affordable cost.  We provide website services, domain names, hosting, etc.  So whether you want to learn to do it yourself or want someone to do it for you, we are here to help and we will provide you with ALL your account credentials. 

In appreciation,
Annette
Virtual Assistant specializing in Relationship Marketing
www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com