The new year is here, and I’m sure you’ve got lots of exciting plans for growing your business! If your list for 2011 includes a new website or revamp of your existing site, there are many questions for you to consider. One of the most important elements of your website is your content.
A few weeks ago, I participated in a blogging competition sponsored by Blog Energizer. Thank you very much for your votes – I’m excited to announce that I came in second, winning a lifetime membership to Contentrix Better Content, and especially pleased that it’s something that will help me make this blog an even better resource for you.
Many of my clients come to me for help because they lack either the technical skills or the time required to create or maintain a website or a blog. Whether you handle these tasks yourself, or you choose to outsource them, there are a few basic terms and facts you should be familiar with.
Although I tend to focus a lot on the benefits of WordPress, a traditional HTML website can promote your organizing business equally well, if it is professionally designed, properly optimized for the search engines, and represents your business effectively. Otherwise, you may be wondering why your website is not generating the results you are looking for.
Internet Marketing is one of the most important tools in your business arsenal. Not only does it cost less than advertising in print and broadcast media, its interactive nature allows you to build relationships with clients and prospects without the need for time-consuming telephone or face-to-face meetings. Internet marketing is much more than just putting up a website! Your Internet marketing plan may include search engine optimization, email marketing, blogging, social networking, and other strategies.
It seems that all the buzz these days is about Twitter, but there’s another important social network that’s been around even longer. Established in 2003, LinkedIn currently reports 45 million users, approximately three times as many as Twitter.
Starting your own organizing business is an exciting adventure, but before you can become successful, you need to let as many people as possible know that you exist. Until you have money coming in, you may be reluctant to invest in advertising, but that’s probably a good thing, as paid ads are rarely cost-effective for service businesses. You can reach a larger audience in a much more powerful way by getting your business mentioned on TV or radio, or in newspapers, magazines, or other publications. And the best part is, it won’t cost you a small fortune!
There’s no question that social media has taken the world by storm. In addition to business-oriented sites like LinkedIn, micro-blogging tools like Twitter, and one-size-fits-all sites like Facebook and Plaxo, there are lots of new sites dedicated to professional organizers and other special interest groups. If you’re in any doubt, check out some of these Social Media Statistics.
I’ve blogged previously about why it’s important for professional organizers to have a website, but to really reap the benefits of your website, you’ll want it to come up as high in the search engine results as possible. There are many strategies for enhancing your search engine positioning, some involving factors within your website, and others outside it. Today I’m going to share a tip that will, in many cases, put your site at the top of the first page of Google, and it won’t cost you a dime.
Writing articles has long been known as a powerful marketing tool. Organizers who succeed in getting an article published in a newspaper or magazine are able to reap the benefits of putting their name and their expertise in front of thousands of potential clients! Unfortunately, in most cases, the article is looked at only once before the publication is discarded, so unless you’re able to land a weekly column, your exposure is somewhat limited. Publishing your articles on the Internet, however, increases both the reach and the duration of your exposure.
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