Posts Tagged ‘marketing’
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
 Hey, Josh here from the Internet Beacon.
Running a business is a time consuming process, especially if you are a small business owner. Your focus is on getting your product or service delivered to the masses. You’re talented in a specific area or areas. However, you need to figure out a way for people to hear about your business. Well, an SEO Expert specializes in getting your name out there. Here are some reasons why you should hire one to promote your business.
Specialization
Just like you know how to do what you do best, an SEO expert knows how this process works. They’ve specialized in how to market your website efficiently. Trust them to take care of this process. This way you can focus on what you do best, running your business.
Affordability
Lots of things seem cheaper to do on your own at the start. Sure, you can fix that noise in your car. Sure, you can take care of that pesky plumbing issue. Only once more problems have arisen does it turn out to cost a lot more than hiring a professional. The same goes with SEO. Letting a professional manage your Internet Marketing will not only save you money long term, but also time.
Getting Results
This is a combination of the first two reasons, as well as many other factors. In the end, a professional will get better results. They know the ins and outs of an industry that might be entirely foreign to you. Lots of people aren’t as Internet savvy as they’d like. So let the professionals deliver a quality service to you.
-Josh
Internet Beacon
More info on SEO, check out our SEO Answers page, our SEO Glossary, and our blog posts on SEO.
SEM – Search Engine Marketing in Maryland
Tags: business, Internet Marketing, marketing, seo, Small Business, Suggestions
Posted in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | No Comments »
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
 As seen at http://adwords.google.com August 12, 2010 Hey, Josh here from the InternetBeacon.
Google, as we all know, is powered by advertising. It hardly makes sense to be in the search engine biz unless you can make a little money. Well, Google makes a lot of money. A large part of how they do that is a program called AdWords. AdWords is a marketing tool that allows you to design custom ads that will appear alongside search results from the Google engine. Let’s take a look at how it works.
First, you tell Google what kind of ad you want to post. For our purposes, let’s say simple text. Rather than making you go through an elaborate process, they have a simple, fill-in field system that lets you describe what you are advertising. Formatting and the like are all taken care of by Google. Part of this is determining the keywords you want to use for this ad. This will tell Google when to display your ads. If you aren’t keen on using text only, you can also opt for image ads using their web-based software.
As far as paying for these ads goes, it’s pretty simple. These ads are what we call Pay-Per-Click. This means that you only pay when someone using Google actually clicks on your website’s ad. You can set how much you are willing to pay as well as how much your budget is for that day. This keeps you from racking up a huge bill without noticing.
AdWords is a successful part of the Google brand. For those looking to get started marketing their business or for those who want to expand their reach, AdWords is worth a look.
More info on SEO, check out our SEO Answers page, our SEO Glossary, and our blog posts on SEO.
-Josh
Internet Beacon
Tags: ads, AdWords, Google, marketing, search engines, seo
Posted in Internet Marketing, Marketing Plan, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
 Hey, Josh here from the Internet Beacon. We are a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) firm located in Reisterstown, Maryland. What we do, SEO, is a subcategory of Internet Marketing. Similar to traditional advertising, SEO is all about getting your Brand out there. In this case, we´re working to get your website in front of customers through search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. For more quick, useful information, check out our SEO Answers page, our SEO Glossary, and our blog posts on SEO.
Congratulations on building a website/having someone build it for you! You’re starting out online and your website design is fantastic. You have awesome content, animated menus, and links to social media. Now, that’s all well and good, but who is going to see it? Ah, the age-old problem of promotion. Well, there are several search engines out there that will pick up your site if linked properly. Today, let’s talk about Alexa.
Alexa is a powerful search engine that works based on how many pages they archive, as well as how many people visit the site. So yes, traffic is important. The way Alexa tracks traffic is interesting. Aside from looking at how a site is linked to others, the Alexa Toolbar is something Alexa uses to track the popularity of a website.
This leads to an interesting idea that Alexa uses a form of social media to determine your website’s popularity. The cool part is that people can help to promote your website without having to do anything but visit it. The downside is that they need the Alexa Toolbar to do this.
Now, they do get their data from this tool as well as searches, but it is also a combination of what they call “reach”. Reach means that they see how many visits your website gets. They give the example of Yahoo on their FAQ section. Essentially, since 28% of users on the Internet go to Yahoo, its reach is 28%.
Alexa is not to be overlooked when promoting your website. As with other promotion means, a link on your homepage will definitely help. Also, make sure to use the Alexa toolbar while browsing the web, since it will help Alexa get a better look at your favorite sites.
-Josh
Internet Beacon
SEO Maryland
Tags: Alexa - Alexa.com, internet, marketing, page rank, ranking, seo, seo tools, website
Posted in Alexa - Alexa.com | No Comments »
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
 Hey, Josh here from the Internet Beacon. We are a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) firm located in Reisterstown, Maryland. What we do, SEO, is a subcategory of Internet Marketing. Similar to traditional advertising, SEO is all about getting your Brand out there. In this case, we´re working to get your website in front of customers through search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. For more quick, useful information, check out our SEO Answers page, our SEO Glossary, and our blog posts on SEO.
You´ve got a website. Congratulations! Now it´s time to put some content on there. You know that the more you have, the better your site will do online. This is a mixture of Google´s PageRank system, pages indexed by sites like Yahoo! and Alexa, as well as the actual content on your page. This is where a lot of people are tempted to build giant sites that are really just the same page or two duplicated over and over again. This is a terrible idea.
There are many reasons why you should not simply bombard a web server with the same pages. First, no one is going to like your website. I know that search engines are important, but they are not the be-all/end-all of the Internet. The fact of the matter is, PEOPLE are going to look at your website. If they hate it because it´s 1,000 page of the same thing, no one will ever come back. In fact, they´ll likely tell their friends to steer clear of your site.
Second, search engines are not stupid. Think about it. You´re relying on software to make your website more popular; do you think they don´t know what´s going on? I can answer that: they do. Google, like all search engines, searches the text on your page. Therefore, they have checks in place to make sure that your content is not duplicated. Avoid duplication when building your site. The big guys know what you´re up to.
That´s all for this week. Check back again next week for more tips on web development and SEO.
-Josh
Internet Beacon
SEO Maryland
Tags: content, engines, Google, internet, marketing, page, search, search engines, seo, site, website
Posted in Internet Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | No Comments »
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Knowing Your Target Audience In Your Store and Online
Hey, Josh here from the Internet Beacon. We are a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) firm located in Maryland. What we do, SEO, is a subcategory of Internet Marketing. Similar to traditional advertising, SEO is all about getting your Brand out there. In this case, we’re working to get your website in front of customers through search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. For more quick, useful information, check out our SEO Answers page, our SEO Glossary, and our blog posts on SEO.
While we here at Internet Beacon specialize in Internet Marketing, what we don’t specialize in is each individual client’s target market. That it not to say we can’t help you with this area. It does mean that if you already know your target market, working together goes faster and smoother. To this end, here are some tips on how to get to know your target market.
First, see who buys your products. This sounds easier than it is, but it is important. If you have a storefront, keep track of who comes in. Then, note who buys things and who browses. If you have a large amount of teenagers coming in to buy things, then you need to make sure you are reaching that market. If your store specifically caters to a particular crowd, like stay-at-home moms, take steps to ensure they are being targeted by your marketing. This will extend to your presence online as well.
Second, tailor your website to reflect not only your business’ offerings, but also the type of clientele you are trying to reach. If your store sells extreme sports merchandise, your website needs to show this. Don’t use boring colors or plain advertisements. This is an area in which we can assist you. We will meet with you and get your feedback on how you want your website to look. From there, we go to work using your specifications. Remember, getting your target demographic to notice you means getting to know them, even if it isn’t something that interests you.
At the end of the day, you are responsible for getting people in the door. This doesn’t mean you have to do it on your own, though. Feel free to give us a call at the Internet Beacon to help you start marketing your business online.
-Josh
Internet Beacon
SEO Maryland
Tags: internet, Internet Marketing, market, marketing, online, seo, store, target, target audience, target market, website
Posted in Internet Marketing, Marketing Plan, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | No Comments »
Thursday, April 15th, 2010
 Hey everyone, Josh here from the Internet Beacon. The Internet Beacon is a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) firm located in Maryland. What we do, SEO, is a form of Internet Marketing. Much like traditional advertising, SEO is all about getting your name out there. In this case, we’re working to get your website in front of customers through search engines like Google and Yahoo. For more information, check out our SEO Answers page, SEO Glossary, and our blog posts on SEO. This week I’d like to give you five tips for growing your business using the Internet.
Perception is Everything
This is true in all walks of life, but especially on the Internet. People don’t get to see the person running the website. All they see is the site itself. If it looks like it was made using a basic text editor by someone’s cousin, that is the impression they get. They don’t notice the actual business as much. For this reason, it is important to have your website designed by a professional. My advice is to start small, and then branch out as necessary. Not every site needs a flashy intro, but they all need to look professional.
Preserve and Optimize your Advertising Budget
Getting your name out there can be challenging on the World Wide Web. It may seem like you are up against anyone and everyone. In some sense, you are. You are up against them for people’s time. So make sure you are taking the right steps to ensure that potential customers see your website before others. To this end, make sure a portion of your advertising budget goes towards Internet Marketing. This is a more and more important part of today’s economy, and you don’t want to miss it.
Build Relationships
While it’s true that your goal is to succeed as a business, few, if any, people can do it alone. This is why it is important to get to know the competition. They may not be as bad as you think. Many might be just like you, trying to get a leg up in an increasingly more competitive market. You may find allies here instead of enemies. Try joining an online association related to your field. This may help more than you might expect.
Assemble a Toolkit
In the same way that you need to gather your tools together when building a house, you need to have tools set aside for your business. On the Internet, this means tools that will get you plugged into what’s happening online. Three great, free, tools are Facebook, Twitter, and Digg. Facebook, as most of you know, is a social networking site allowing people of all ages to connect with each other. Make a page for your business here to spread awareness of it. Twitter is a micro-blogging service. It’s great for short posts and linking to others’ posts. Make an account and join the online discussion. Digg is a link sharing website. Share articles that interest you and others and comment on pertinent works. Intelligent contribution goes a long way.
Deliver Content
Make sure your website is more than just an online business card. That may have worked in the past, but now people expect more. Try serving up interesting content to keep them coming back. This could be a blog, quick tips, or any one of a million other options. This will be specific to your business.
Well, that’s all for this week. Come back next week for the second half of our series on building your business using the Internet.
-Josh
Internet Beacon
Tags: business, internet, Internet Marketing, marketing, seo, website
Posted in Internet Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | No Comments »
Monday, December 7th, 2009
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| Develop a what? A marketing plan. |
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| But we only have 3 employees. |
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| Whether we have annual gross revenue of 100 thousand or 100 million dollars a marketing plan can help us reach the customers that we want to reach. |
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| Here are 3 simple reasons why: |
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| 1. A Marketing Plan Summarizes The Various Marketing Ideas We Have Thought Of |
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| Compiling our ideas together in a document will make our ideas real. |
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| Additionally, we are not taking any action yet, just compiling the marketing ideas, assigning a dollar cost for budget purposes, and a due date. |
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| For an over simplified example: |
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| Goal |
Task |
Gain 2 additional
local customers |
Mail 100 postcards locally |
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| Budget |
Due Date |
| $25 |
February 1, 2010 |
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| 2. Hang a Marketing Plan Summary over Our Desk |
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| Reminders are great, especially a reminder to get moving on the tasks we outlined in our marketing plan. |
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| So upon completion of our marketing plan, we can summarize our tasks, assign due dates and hang it over our desk (or just the tasks section or media plan section). If you are like me, move it once in a while so it does not blend in with the scenery. |
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| Additionally, when a new idea occurs we can add it to the marketing plan. |
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| 3. A Marketing Plan Can Break Down Large Tasks into Smaller Less Scary Tasks |
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| I remember a boss many years ago explaining that you eat an elephant one bite at a time. Our marketing plans can work similarly. Our marketing plan among other things hopefully breaks down those large tasks into smaller more manageable tasks. |
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| For example, the post card idea mentioned earlier. The large task can be broken into at least 9 smaller tasks and can be completed in one day or over several days. |
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| Mailing 100 Post cards to potential customers |
- Develop a catchy idea for our post card
- Sketch out the idea on paper and locate some image metaphors
- Develop the post card personally or by a designer
- Gather 100 leads in a spreadsheet (or export 100 leads from CRM software)
- Merge the leads into mailing labels
- Print the mailing labels
- Add the mailing labels to our postcards
- Add postage (online postage at USPS.com)
- Deliver to the local Post Office (http://www.usps.com/locator)
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| More information at the Small Business Administration – www.SBA.gov: |
| http://web.sba.gov/busplantemplate/MarketStrat.cfm |
| http://www.sbajumpstart.com/index.cfm?page=marketingplans.cfm |
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| Please do not forget Internet Marketing in your Marketing plan and please think of us at the InternetBeacon.com for your Internet marketing needs. |
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Sean
InternetBeacon.com
Internet Marketing and SEO in Baltimore |
Tags: Internet Marketing, marketing, Marketing Plan
Posted in Marketing Plan | No Comments »
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Three Ways to curb Spam on Your Blog
Friday, March 12th, 2010A blog is a great way to get your particular message out to people around the world. Whether you are sharing recipes, business strategies, or trading baseball cards, a blog can become a hub of activity. Naturally, there are people drawn to these places to take advantage of the amount of activity. These people are called spammers. You can tell who they are because they don’t usually add to the conversation, but rather promote their own site. Keeping these people off of your blog will go a long way towards building its legitimacy. Here are three ways to do that.
1) CAPTCHA Them.
First, please forgive the play on words. Okay, a CAPTCHA is a tool for many
blogs and other sites which requires the user to enter the text they see in an image that looks slightly garbled of distorted. We’ve all seen them. CAPTCHA is used to prevent automated software from just scanning a website and filling in their information. This is a classic method for spammers. The best part of this is that implementation is free and has very little impact on the end user. It is readily available for WordPress as an add-on called “SI CAPTCHA Anti-Spam 2.2.9”. It’s free so go out and grab it if WordPress is powering your blog.
2) Papers Please
Another way to ensure that the comments left on your blog are legitimate is to require users to register themselves. This is an almost surefire way to make sure that comments left are legitimate. The biggest downside here is that many users may not wish to set up an account just to comment on a blog. Because of this, registration may be a better idea once your blog is established.
3) Everything in Moderation
The best way to make sure that no one posts something you don’t like is to require moderator approval of all comments. There are two sides to this. On one hand, you will absolute control over anything posted on your site. Nothing will get past you/whomever you place in charge of this duty. On the other hands, you are looking at an inordinate amount of time required to sift through a multitude of entries. Also, users may be less inclined to post if they feel they may be censored for no reason.
Well, that’s all for this week. We covered some basic steps for protecting your blog from spammers and unwanted ads. Check back next week for more!
-Josh
Internet Beacon
Baltimore SEO
Maryland SEO
Tags: Blog Hints, captcha, comments, internet, marketing, seo, spammers
Posted in Blog Hints, Internet Marketing, Web Development | No Comments »