First Effect Digital Marketing Solutions

Inside Edge                                                 August 2009
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Janet Smith
07785 255 042 
Andrew Davis
07789 550 360
topppcseoWord of Mouth Business.

Floral Chic

Creating a website is like printing a brochure and leaving the whole lot in a box under your desk.
 
Social Media Marketing is like taking your brochure to business networking meetings and handing them out.
  • Some of them will end up in a bin.
  • Some will end up being filed.
  • Some will be passed on to others.
  • And just a few might end up generating an enquiry for you.
This week I met a lady who has started a business doing silk flower arrangements. She set up a Business Facebook page and asked all her friends to become fans. Within two weeks she had got her first big order - the friend of a friend of a friend.
 
This person had seen some designs online, but more importantly had seen positive comments and testimonials from people she knew and trusted: The power of word of mouth referrals online.
 
My Top Tip: Build yourself a Business Facebook page and ask all your contacts to become fans.

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Greetings!

Pink Rabbit with Green EarsTop of Google.
The question I am asked most often is "How do I get to the top of Google?"
 
The question I ask in return is "What particular phrase do you what to get to the top of Google for?"
 
A few weeks ago, by way of example, I suggested to someone that to get to the top of Google for the phrase "Car Insurance" would be a challenge, because so many big companies are all trying to get to the top. However to get to the top for a phrase like "pink rabbit with green ears" is very easy because no one else is trying to.
 
Go on then, they said!
So I did, have a look for yourself; what comes out top of Google when you enter "pink rabbit with green ears"?
 
My Top Tip: Identify keywords for your business that are specific, popular and practical and then use them in the content of your website, here's how.
Janet Smith
Making Websites Work

Convert to Customer.

Generally visitors to a website will also look at three or four competitors; the website that gets the customer is likely to be the one that:
  • Looks good.
  • Is easy to navigate around.
  • Has all the information needed.
  • Engenders trust.
  • Offers an incentive to enter into communication.
Do you need help... 

Convert to enquiries

My Top Tip: If your website isn't generating enquiries take a look at it and ask yourself; is it clear who you are, what you do and what you want visitors to do on EVERY page?

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£99 to get to the top of Google.

I've seen quite a few offers around lately:
  • £99 a month to be at the top of Google.
  • £30 money off vouchers for Google.
  • Offers promoting Google Pay per Click advertising.
Google will tell you that pay per click advertising is a very easy three step process that can reduce wasted marketing spend by up to 80%.

The Google three step

 
However, I believe these offers are actually a fantastic way to increase not decrease your wasted marketing spend. Pay per Click advertising is a great way of B: Building traffic to a website. But it cannot C: Convert that traffic into a customer. It is the website that has to create the enquiry.

My Top Tip: If you are being tempted by these sorts of offers and are serious about getting a return your marketing budget. Follow my seven stage process for success.

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What's the difference between Alex Ferguson and Michael Jackson?
Alex Ferguson will be playing Giggs next year?

Thriller Album CoverIn the week following his death:
  • The top 5 album downloads on iTunes were all by Michael Jackson.
  • The top 10 search terms on Twitter were all Jackson related.
  • 40% of Google searches were Jackson related.
  • 900,000 fans signed up to a Jackson Facebook tribute page.
  • Yahoo news had 4 million visitors in an hour, setting an all time record.
  • Google news thought it was under hacker attack and many other news sites crashed will the volume of Jackson traffic.
Dying is obviously a fantastic way to get yourself noticed all over the Internet, but not surprisingly it isn't my top tip!
 
My Top Tip: News, reviews, opinions, photos, videos and podcasts are now among the best ways to market your business on the Internet - not just on your website. Add something to the Internet, not your website, at least once a month.
 
ps. It took me an absolute age to find a Michael Jackson joke that didn't involve a reference to children!
To help you prioritise what you should do to improve the business generating performance of your presence on the World Wide Web, do give me a call - 01422 823 075 or 07785 255042.

Janet Smith
WSI Internet Marketing Consultant,
First Effect, Digital Marketing Solutions

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First Effect Ltd (6515948) is an authorised WSI Consultant.
Registered Office: Blackwood, West Yorkshire, HX6 4QR.
Place of Registration: England.

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We work with a local supplier of all the stuff you need for the office from post-it notes to filing cabinets and everything in between. They are offering all my contacts a free, no obligation office supplies audit that will result in a price comparison with your current supplier offering you an expected saving of at least 10% with prices fixed for 12 months, free next day delivery and telephone or online ordering. Request a office supplies audit from John Fitton now.
 
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