Case and point:
I received and email from a client today. Here’s what it said:

Hello All,
I was wondering if all of you could take a minute out of your busy day to google my (example-company) and put a quick GOOD review about my business. This is an easy and free way to improve my google ranking and would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance!!

Although Google approves and recognizes Google Places content in their algorithm they want to see reviews from people who genuinely mean it (natural content). Plus, if all of sudden Google detects 100 different reviews submitting on the same day, they will think something is ‘Rotten in Denmark’ and penalize you.

A much better approach would be to ask one satisfied customer if they would mind writing a review based on their experience with the company. Then do the same thing with a different customer a month later. Gradual progress is the key.

Maintain your online web presence the same way you would run your ‘bricks and mortar’ business. Take baby steps with your search engine improvements. Be the hedgehog not the fox.

Before you dive into all the digital marketing mediums be sure you are happy with your brand first. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure to learn from a true brand strategist Courageousb.Click HERE for further brand insight.

Here’s an interesting take on the subject.

For me, there are only three things I regularly check on my iphone: email, facebook, and twitter. Out of the three I use my email the most. I imagine for business people the same would be true.

Johnson Interiors – mobile case study

A potential customer (she) find’s Johnson Interiors’s website through a keyword search query “vancouver interior design” on her laptop. The customer likes the website and quality of work. Eventhough she’s not thinking of doing anything at the moment, she signs up for the enews letter.

A couple of months later this particular customer is eating lunch and hears an email ding on here smart phone. It’s the Johnson Interiors enewsletter. The potential customer opens the email and see’s the content and new imagery- interest has peaked. Curious, she clicks Johnson Interiors’s URL at the bottom of the email. She arrives at the website. It is difficult for her to navigate the site. She tries to zoom in with one hand to navigate. A couple of minutes pass and she gets discouraged and leaves the site. She finishes her lunch and completely forgets about the enewsletter and Johnson Interiors. If Johnson Interiors had a mobile version of her website, it would most likely have a made a real difference in this scenario.  If when she landed on a mobile version (built for optimal user experience) of the site, she could have browsed all of Johnson Interiors’s quality work. Further, she could easily share her findings to her community.

I think this a good example of the power of having a mobile optimized site. We should definitely be advocates of the mobile trend and suggest to clients the potential of mobile marketing.

I recently read a powerful book Six pixels of separation. The book inspired by me in many different ways. One of the most compelling points taken from the book – is the value of growing your online business community. And aligning yourself with like minded businesses and entrepreneurs. The greatest ideas develop with like minded people.

WE ARE MEDIA! denounced in the book. Meaning, with the tools available today (for a fairly economic price) we as business owners have the ability to be our own media channel. And through the breadth of the www, we can connect to billions of people.

As I explore building my tribe, as they say. I’ll update my blog with interesting findings in this connected world.

Having your website re-designed can carry many benefits. Especially, if Google Analytics was implement in the initial stages of development. From the analytics metrics comes real quantified data regarding the goings on of your website. For example; where are your visitors coming from?, what are the highest ranking pages?. All this can be deciphered through analytics.

Strategy is key when re-developing a companies website. It really is all about marketing and finding your unique voice within a particular market. A lot of companies don’t take the time to really assess their online marketing strategy. A well thought out plan goes a long way.

USE A PROFESSIONAL! The old days of having a high school kid build your website are gone. Take the time to find a good digital marketing and communications shop. Here you will get the consulting you need to make a big ripple with your online presence. I say ripple, because, making a big splash online isn’t nearly as valuable. It’s the continuous never ending ripples that really ad value.