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Archive for the ‘Online Brand Strategy’ Category

Small Business Guide to Social Media, Tools, & Analytics

Posted on: January 17th, 2012 by Cody Baird 11 Comments

Small Business Guide to Social Media, Tools, & Analytics

Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, Google +, tweets, likes, shares, retweets, mentions,..??@?!!%    >: (   Is it hype?  Is our business social enough?  Does it matter?  Should we twitter, tweet…?&?   Am I saying it right?  Does our business have enough friends on Facebook?  Did you notice how many of my “friends” are really sexy?  Do I look popular?  No wait, that’s my personal account…  Do I care?  Does it matter if I don’t know 70% of them?

I already wear the “HR Hat”, “Customer Service Hat”, “Accounting & Payroll Hat”, “Marketing Hat”, “Sales Hat” and now you want me to wear the “Social Media Hat”.  Is this all bull$)!t or will it really help my small business make money?  Are you ready to stick a spoon in your eye yet?

Small Business Guide to Social Media

Communication & Relationships have Evolved

The landscape for small business has changed dramatically over the past 10 years.  Most notably, our communication and relationships have evolved.  Cell phones, the internet, and technology in general have opened the lines of communication, enabled sharing, increased transparency, and increased the speed and velocity of everything we do.

How does Social Media fit into my Business

Social media and content marketing (blog) can help to increase brand awareness.  The right strategy can allow you to reach out and engage with people who are interested or searching for your products or services.  Social media can act a barometer of customer interest and act as a customer care channel.

However it can be difficult to measure exactly what social media is doing for your business.  Like all other facets of your business, social media needs to prove its usefulness to a business, but where to begin?

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OUT Think the Competition – An Example from Google

Posted on: January 6th, 2012 by Cody Baird 1 Comment

OUTthink the Competition – How Google became an 800 lb Gorilla

I am an avid reader and recently purchased the book – “Out Think the Competition” by Kaihan Krippendorff.  Kaihan uses Google as one of his examples to illustrate the point of out thinking the competition:

OUT Think the Competition

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10 Commandments of Local Search

Posted on: December 31st, 2011 by Cody Baird 16 Comments

10 Commandments of Local Search

& the LSO Prophets

Why does one business rank higher than another in Google search results & how can you improve search rankings?  This is the million dollar question for thousands of small business owners in all types of industries.  Knowing the answer to Local Ranking Factors and being able to execute a plan to improve rankings can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for a small business.

Local Search Commandments

 In this article you will learn:

  • Why Local Search is so Important
  • Understanding Google’s Local Search Algorithm
  • Organic, Local, & Blended Search Results
  • The Prophets of Local Search
  • The 10 Commandments of Local Search
  • Understanding the Local Search Commandments

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Mental Chemistry

Posted on: December 14th, 2011 by Cody Baird 8 Comments

Mental Chemistry and How it Works for Us or Against Us

The world would like us to believe in luck, chance, fate, accidents and mishaps, that we do not control our destiny.  That some men are destined for greatness while others mediocrity or poverty.  This line of thinking represents the largest, most damaging lie shared among the human race.

The same laws, order and consistency that hold the sun, moon, and stars in their respective positions with perfect harmony governs thought and mind.  The heights of achievement by one man can invariably be achieved by any and all other men that will follow the same thought process.

How Mental Chemistry works

Charles Haanel teaches us, ”Mental Chemistry is the science which treats of the changes which material conditions undergo through the operations of the mind, verified by exact observation and correct thinking.

As the transformations which are brought about in applied chemistry are the results of the orderly combination of materials, it follows that mental chemistry brings about results in a like manner. (more…)

Insiders Guide to Google Places

Posted on: December 9th, 2011 by Cody Baird 7 Comments

Listing & Claiming your Business with Google Places

Google Places Logo

 

Listing and claiming your business properly with Google Places is the most important step to improving your local search rankings.  Google is 1 of the 3 major local search engines where you will need to list/claim your business and usually drives 70% of your search traffic with Yahoo & Bing combining for the other 30%.

In this tutorial you will learn how to:

  • See if your business is listed in Google Places.
  • Add and/or claim your listing.
  • Update your NAP (name, address, phone).
  • Choose proper categories.
  • Add other business attributes.
  • Verify your listing.
  • Claim, verify, & remove duplicate listings. (more…)

How to List your Business with Infogroup

Posted on: November 30th, 2011 by Cody Baird 8 Comments

Listing & Claiming your Business with Infogroup

Infogroup Logo

 

Listing and claiming your business with Infogroup is one of first steps to improving your local search rankings.  Infogroup is 1 of the 3 data aggregators where you will need to list/claim your business.

In this tutorial you will learn how to:

  • See if your business is listed with Infogroup.
  • Add or claim your listing.
  • Update your NAP (name, address, phone).
  • Verify your listing.
  • Remove duplicate listings. (more…)

How to List Your Business with Localeze

Posted on: November 29th, 2011 by Cody Baird 10 Comments

Listing & Claiming your Business with Localeze

localeze

Listing and claiming your business with Localeze is one of first steps to improving your local search rankings.  Localeze is 1 of the 3 data aggregators where you will need to list/claim your business.

 

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2 Classes of People and Building a Brand

Posted on: November 29th, 2011 by Cody Baird 2 Comments

Leaders & Followers and the chief difference between them

Generally speaking there are two classes of people in the world.  These two classes are leaders and followers.  These two classes are very unevenly divided with 95% of the population of the world being followers and the other 5% being leaders.

Leader - Dr King

The chief difference between these two groups is that one has organized themselves and learned how to organize those around them, while the other group is unorganized individually or as a group.

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Data Aggregators – Local Search Directory Monsters

Posted on: November 26th, 2011 by Cody Baird 8 Comments

What is a data aggregator?

How can they help improve my search rankings?

data aggregators

 

A data aggregator is an organization involved in compiling business information (name, address, phone number, website, and product/service category) into a database.  These companies compile or “aggregate” information from various online and offline sources including phone records, public records, business registration, county records, tax records, bank records, chamber of commerce membership, and many other sources.

Who are the 3 local search directory aggregators?

The big 3 aggregators for local search directories are Infogroup, Localeze, and Acxiom.

How are my search rankings improved by listing my business with the big 3 aggregotors? (more…)

How to List your business with Acxiom

Posted on: November 26th, 2011 by Cody Baird 17 Comments

Steps to add a new business to the Acxiom database

Listing and claiming your business with Acxiom is one of first steps to improve your local search rankings.  Acxiom is 1 of the 3 data aggregators where you will need to list/claim your business.

Acxiom Logo

In this tutorial you will learn how to:

  • Add a business that is not currently listed with Acxiom.
  • Enter all business info & upload Federal/State licensing copies.
  • Confirm your listing with email verification.
  • Check back periodically for Acxiom staff manual approval.
  • Post approval category selection.
  • Phone verification to complete claimed business profile. (more…)

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