Archive for the ‘social media’ Category

Google Alerts and SEO

Monday, January 5th, 2009

Using Google Alerts to build links and watch your online competition.

I use Google Alerts on a daily basis to to track websites that could provide links to my websites, and to watch the presence and SEO techniques of my  (and my clients’) competition.

What is Google Alerts? Straight from the Alerts homepage:

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news , etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.

Here is how Google Alerts can be useful in your online marketing efforts:

  1. Keeping an eye on the competition: if you are a plumber in San Diego, you will want to watch the keyword ‘plumber san diego’ and similar variations to watch everything Google is gathering related to San Diego plumbers. Use that information to your benefit by using and improving on some of the tactics that you will find that your competition is using.
  2. Creating links: Google Alerts reports links across the web that are pointing to your competition. If they are already linking to someone in your niche/industry, why not link to you, too? Visit the sites Google Alerts sends your way and find out what you need to do to get a link from them. I have found several online business directories and other valuable websites that can send valuable traffic to my website.
  3. Watching where/when Google is finding you: You can watch where Google is finding your name, business name, and website through Google Alerts, and you can set Google Alerts to send you this information on a “As-it-happens” basis, so you will know when Google found the keywords you are watching.

Here is a list of some Google Alerts’ uses from Google:

Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

  • monitoring a developing news story
  • keeping current on a competitor or industry
  • getting the latest on a celebrity or event
  • keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

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Posted in Internet Marketing, SEO, Small Business Resources, social media | No Comments »

Small Business Social Media Marketing

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Where to begin with social media

How to use social media to increase local traffic

Time is of the essence for every small business owner I have worked with so here is a quick list of useful ways to increase your local traffic using social media (I will likely add to this shortly):

  1. Blogs: Use Google, Google Blog Search, and Wordpress to search for local blogs and become involved as a user. You may find it appropriate to leave your number or contact information on the site, or at least be vocal about your involvement in the area and how your business is relevant. Try to establish a relationship with local power-bloggers, and they may even find it appropriate to blog about your business.
  2. Begin your own blog: You can easily set up your own blog on blogspot.com or wordpress.com for free, or if you have a website, you can install your own Wordpress blog on your website for free as well. Start blogging about your industry and the local community – you can use it as a tool to notify your community/customers of events in the area that you are sponsoring or participating in.
  3. Use Twitter: Twitter is a microblogging tool that you can use to follow other businesses and members of your community.You can use TwitterLocal.net to find the “Twitterers” in your area and find out what is buzzing in your area. I see networking opportunities, lunches, get-togethers, and news flashes in my area every day in my area.

    Twitter

  4. Own your listings on Google Local, Yahoo! Local, MSN Maps, and Map Quest: Your customers are increasingly using these online tools instead of those heavy, dusty old phone books to find your business and if they can’t find your business, they are going to use the next business that matches their search.

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Posted in Small Business Resources, social media | 2 Comments »