Optimize Your Name
Get Your Name Under Control
Positive News - SEO Your Name
Now that is on odd statement! Let me explain what I mean. As a small business owner it is essential that people trust me online – if I ever plan to actually sell online. People buy from people they trust ~ any “negative press” can kill the deal ~ even if the press is not actually about you, but about someone else with your name! It is hard to tell when researching online if you are reading something about the right person. Have you ever researched someone and read something bad about that person just to find out that it was the wrong person ~ with the same name? Something like that can absolutely kill the sell if it happens when someone is researching YOU!
Let me share what I have done to dominate the search engines for my name ~ feel free to use these tactics to help with your name as well.
- Get a BizNik account ~ BizNik is a highly optimized and trusted site. BizNik profiles get ranked in Google ~ my BizNik profile is the first listing for my name. BizNik is only for traditional businesses – if you are in network marketing do not do this strategy.
- Get a Facebook account and have your profile URL be your name ~ mine is facebook.com/dotty.scott
- Make a video and get a YouTube account in your name. These can be educational videos, video testimonials, or something entertaining. YouTube ranks well in Google (it is owned by Google)
- Be a guest blogger for someone elses blog, and sign your name that links to your blog/website.
- Create a LinkedIn profile and fill it out completely.
- Create a MySpace profile
- Post articles on BetterNetworker ~ even if you are not in Network Marketing. This site gets ranked in Search Engines.
- Fill out your Google Profile completely so that it will be displayed on Google when someone searches for your name.
- If you provide trainings, seminars, or any online event have it posted Online at several different sites.
- Set up profiles at places like Naymz.com, fastpitch.com, Ning.com sites, and any other social media site.
- Put your videos out on other video sharing sites like yahoo, vidler, howcast ect. I use TubeMogul.com to upload videos.
- Create testimonials for other people with websites, and link your name to your website.
- Make sure your name in on your website as text, not in an image.
- Post articles at article repositories like amazines.com, ezine.com, and others.
- Twitter reTweets with your name in them will get ranked in the search engines.
- Get a written interview posted online – this can be a transcript of an audio ~ my example: http://renegadeproactive.com/
- Your videos and other content can be picked up by other blogs – very common for video interviews.
- Comment at different places and be sure to include your name.
- Forum posts can get ranked by search engines.
This is a list of how strategies I am using to control my name. The last thing I want is for someone looking for a Web Designer, find my site then research my name and find anything negative. I don’t care if it is something talking about a different Dotty ~ people will think it as me and go elsewhere for their business ~ something I just can’t afford.
If you have more ideas for people feel free to add them in the comments section!
Twitter Lists: Local Marketing Potential
Twitter Lists – Local Marketing just got easier!
Twitter listened – and Twitter Lists are now in Beta. It is currently a limited release but will become open to everyone very soon. It became active in my profile tonight and I must say I am impressed. This is going to be a huge marketing tool.
Let’s look at this from a Small Business point of view. Some of the complaints that local small business owners have mentioned to me are:
- There is no easy way to follow people on Twitter
- Twitter is overwhelming
- Twitter is a waste of time
- I don’t sell to the world
- I need local customers
Twitter Lists will address all of these concerns in one fell swoop. This is how it works – Twitter allows you to create any list or way to sort your connections. You can have as many lists as you want to create. Let’s think about this for a minute. I went into my account tonight and created 3 lists -
- Vancouver Wa (Where I live)
- Portland OR (Very close to where I live)
- Renegade ( Online Marketing Teachers)
I will be going back and creating lists for potential clients, potential power partners, current clients, and new ideas or gadgets in the Internet world.
After creating these lists I went through my people I am following and sorted them into respective lists. They will get notified in their accounts that they have been put into a list. They then have the option to follow the entire list of people if it is a list that interests them. For people marketing locally this is HUGE! For a new person or business in the Vancouver area coming into Twitter they now have a way to find and follow many of the Vancouver Twitter users instantly.
This also lets me read and follow just the people locally, or just my potential clients, just my clients, just my power partners – you get the idea. It will make using Twitter way easier and way more focused. I see this as a huge advancement for businesses that market locally on the Internet.
Gravatars: Easy Branding Tool
Want to learn an easy way to spread your brand across the Internet?
Enjoy my tip for the day!
Attract More Clients
Networking Groups: Do They Work?
I attend different Networking Groups (Leads Groups) each week – roughly 80% of my business comes from Word-Of-Mouth referrals generated from Networking. Would you like to know how to “work” a Networking Group?
This Monday (June 8th 2009) from noon-1:00 pm we will be having an open meeting with a Special Guest Speaker – Ronnie Noize The Marketing Coach – everyone is welcome to attend and check out our group. We meet at Round Table Pizza near the Vancouver Mall – on the corner of Thurstan and Van Mall Blvd. There is no cost to attend – if you want lunch just order from the menu. Here is an excerpt from Ronnie’s website -
Hi, I’m Ronnie Noize, the Marketing Coach. I help small office/home office (SoHo) businesses attract more clients. And not just any clients — more GREAT clients (the kind that pay with a smile, stay as long as you have products or services they want, and refer their friends, neighbors, relatives, and colleagues until you’re so busy you raise your prices, add more staff, and start actually going on those quarterly vacations you’ve always wanted to take).
If you’re looking for help attracting more clients, and better clients, building your business, and earning more money, you’ve come to the right place.
Networking: How I Built My Business
Networking Groups
I have built my business from nothing to extremely busy by using Networking Groups. It took more than 60 days (kudos to your Ronnie!) but it is very doable for anyone with persistence. The main local group I use is i Take The Lead – I also attend many free groups and events. My group is having a guest speaker tomorrow – Abigail from Straight Edge Solutions – she has many innovative marketing ideas. I always take something helpful for my business away when I listen to Abigail.
For my local readers – I invite you to come and hear Abigail as well as check out the possibility of advancing your business through Networking Groups tomorrow morning. We meet at Sheri’s near Vancouver Mall – It is next to Azteca. The meeting is from 7:30 to 8:30 am – take an hour out of your morning and learn how to build your customers and client base. 80% of my business comes form groups like this one.
Starting a Business with No Money
Here is an interview by Pat Croce with Mike Michalowicz – author of Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. Speaking on how to get started in business the low cost way by thinking outside the box.
Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (TPE) Review
Awesome Business Devlopment Book – TPE
Some of the more thought provoking sections for me are:
- Immutable Laws
- Area of Innovation
- Top 9 List
- Applying the PFA Process to Your Business
Writing my Immutable Laws Continue reading
Referrals – To Pay or not To Pay?
I had an interesting conversation in my business last week. I would like you opinions. A person called me up with a referral and told me that she now charges for referrals. I would expect something like 1% of the transaction – and I might think that strange. She wanted a flat fee of $200.00. My average customer pays between $600.00 – $1200.00.
I thought back to the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur (a book I am reading) that states to only do business with people that fit into your moral standards for business. This referral fee is waaaay outside of my business standards – I never charge people I give referrals too – they are always pre-qualified and free to the recipient.
After thinking about it I told her no thanks. I would like your opinion – would you pay for a referal and if you would then what is a resonable fee?
Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: Immutable Laws
What to focus on in your business?
I am currently reading The Toilet Paper Entrepreneurby Mike Michalowicz. I like to read about business and tips that will help me in my business. So far this book has given me a great deal to think upon. The section about Immutable Laws is something I will be implementing right away.
The idea is to do business with people that do not jive with your core values, or to sell products that are not congruent with your core values is setting you up for failure. You must believe in your product or service and your customers need to have the belief that you are the expert in your field. People that have doubts or negative thoughts about your product or service are not only a downer for your business but they kill the momentum that you have built and will affect your business long after you are no longer working with that person. It is just not worth it! This is something that makes total sense but it is also something that I have never thought about before reading this book. I have sat down and thought about my 3 core laws that I will be abiding by and including in my business. Here they are:
- No jerks allowed! I will no longer accept work form someone that is a jerk. This includes disrespect, poor attitude, big mouthed, complainers, and whiners.
- Here’s the “Hand” to negativity – Only positive vibes will be accepted. If you are always negative then please move onto another Web Designer.
- Only serious Business Owner need apply. If you have no idea what you want your website to do – then please go to a business coach first. You must have a clear idea of who you serve and what your ideal client wants. If you need a referral I can give you some great options – then come back to see me when you are ready.
So far I am loving this book and I can’t wait to apply all that I am learning.
For an article on how to choose a great Network Marketing Company read here.
Business Book: Toilet Paper Entrepreneur
The “No Punches Pulled” book about starting and running a business. The book – Toilet Paper Entrepreneur is launching tomorrow – September 30th 2008 – and I will be buying my own copy tomorrow. If you want to read a few exerpts and part of the first chapter then go to the official website at ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com and read through one of the most open and honest interpretations of what it takes to be a true Entrepreneur.
I will be doing a true review here at this blog after I have read my copy of the book.
