Frequent Marketing questions
Our approach makes it simple for businesses to market but there are always questions.
Do you build websites?
Yes, we build professional WordPress websites made for business marketing. However we only work with businesses who are using, at minimum, our Fundamental Marketing Program. We invest a lot of time and energy to understand your business and we have to be committed to a relationship to justify it.
What if I need a more comprehensive marketing program?
You are singing our song. Our strength is robust marketing campaigns. We created the Fundamental Marketing Program because it represents marketing that every business should be engaged in, at a minimum. There’s a lot more we can do to supercharge business. Contact us for a free marketing discovery meeting to talk about a custom plan to meet your specific needs.
Can I contribute to the marketing while I subscribe to your service?
Absolutely! However, most of our clients engage us because their time is better spent handling what they do best. If you want to stay involved, especially when it comes to social media, it’s designed for you to contribute and we encourage you to do so. We also make sure you have clear ownership of all your online accounts and have full access to them. Owner input is a great way for your clients see more of what makes yours a great business. But, our strategies don’t rely on you doing this to succeed.
Do I have to sign up for a long term contract?
There are no long term contracts. Also, everything we have done during your time with us remains your property. Should you choose to terminate our services, all accounts are turned over to you.
What is Difference Between SEO and Local SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Local SEO are both strategies to improve a website’s visibility in search engine results, but they target different aspects of search and cater to different types of businesses.
SEO refers to the process of optimizing a website’s content, structure, and performance to improve its organic visibility and ranking in search engine results. The main goal is to drive more traffic to the website by targeting relevant keywords and implementing various on-page and off-page optimization techniques. SEO is typically suited for businesses that target audiences on a national or international scale.
Local SEO, on the other hand, focuses specifically on optimizing a website’s visibility for local search queries. This is especially important for businesses with a physical presence, such as brick-and-mortar stores or service providers operating within a specific area. Local SEO aims to improve a website’s ranking in search results related to a particular location, helping the business attract customers from the surrounding area.
Some key differences between SEO and Local SEO include:
- Target audience: SEO targets a broader audience, while Local SEO focuses on attracting customers from a specific geographical area.
- Keyword targeting: In Local SEO, location-based keywords (e.g., “coffee shop in New York”) are more important, while SEO focuses on more general keywords that are not necessarily tied to a location.
- Google Business Profile: Local SEO puts a strong emphasis on optimizing a company’s Google My Business listing to ensure that the business appears prominently in local search results and Google Maps.
- Local citations: Local SEO involves building and maintaining consistent local citations (online mentions of a business’s name, address, and phone number) to improve its credibility and visibility in local search results.
- Reviews and ratings: Local SEO places more emphasis on collecting and managing online reviews and ratings, as these play a crucial role in influencing customer decisions in a local context.
While both SEO and Local SEO share the goal of improving a website’s visibility in search engine results, they focus on different aspects and are more suitable for different types of businesses. Businesses targeting a local audience should prioritize Local SEO, while those with a broader target market (like commerce sites) should focus on general SEO strategies.
Is it worth it for local businesses to advertise on Facebook?
Yes, advertising on Facebook can be worth it for local businesses, as it offers several benefits:
Targeted audience: Facebook allows advertisers to target ads based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and location. This means that local businesses can specifically target people in their area, ensuring that their ads reach potential customers nearby.
Cost-effective: Facebook advertising can be relatively affordable, particularly when compared to traditional advertising methods such as print or television. Businesses can set their own budgets, allowing for flexibility in ad spend.
Customization: Facebook ads are highly customizable, with various ad formats and creative options. This enables local businesses to design ads that resonate with their target audience and showcase their products or services effectively.
Engagement: Facebook is an interactive platform that encourages engagement, allowing businesses to connect with potential customers through likes, comments, and shares. This can help build brand awareness and foster relationships with the local community.
Performance tracking: Facebook provides detailed analytics and insights, enabling businesses to monitor the performance of their ads and optimize them to maximize their return on investment (ROI).
However, it is essential for local businesses to approach Facebook advertising strategically. Some tips for successful Facebook advertising include:
Set clear objectives: Determine the goals of your campaign, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, or generating leads.
Know your target audience: Understanding your target audience is crucial for creating relevant and engaging ads. Use Facebook’s targeting features to reach the right people in your local area.
Create compelling content: Make your ads visually appealing and informative, using images or videos that showcase your products or services effectively. Include a clear call-to-action (CTA) to encourage users to take the desired action.
Test and optimize: Experiment with different ad formats, creative elements, and targeting options. Monitor your ad performance and optimize based on the insights you gather to improve your campaign’s effectiveness.
Allocate a reasonable budget: While Facebook ads can be cost-effective, it’s essential to allocate a budget that allows for adequate reach and exposure within your target audience.
Facebook advertising can be a valuable tool for local businesses when executed strategically. By targeting a local audience and creating engaging content, businesses can increase brand awareness, drive foot traffic, and generate leads.
Should I run Google Ads for my business?
Deciding whether to run Google Ads for your business depends on several factors, including your marketing objectives, target audience, industry, and budget. Google Ads, previously known as Google AdWords, is a powerful online advertising platform that can help businesses reach potential customers, drive website traffic, and increase sales.
Here are some reasons to consider running Google Ads for your business:
High intent: Users searching on Google often have a specific intent, meaning they are actively looking for information, products, or services. Running Google Ads can help you target these high-intent users and drive more relevant traffic to your website.
Targeting options: Google Ads allows you to target your ads based on keywords, location, demographics, interests, and more. This level of targeting helps ensure your ads reach the most relevant audience, increasing the likelihood of conversions.
Cost-effective: With Google Ads, you pay only when someone clicks on your ad (pay-per-click or PPC), making it a cost-effective option for many businesses. You can also set your own budget and adjust it as needed to control your ad spend.
Fast results: Unlike SEO, which can take time to show results, Google Ads can provide quick visibility and drive traffic almost immediately once your campaign is live.
Performance tracking: Google Ads provides detailed analytics that allow you to track your campaign’s performance and make data-driven decisions to optimize your ads and improve your return on investment (ROI).
However, running Google Ads may not be suitable for every business. Here are some factors to consider before deciding:
Competition: In some industries, competition for keywords can be intense, driving up the cost per click (CPC). This may make it challenging for smaller businesses with limited budgets to compete effectively.
Complexity: Google Ads can be complex, and managing a successful campaign requires time, effort, and expertise. If you don’t have the necessary knowledge or resources, you may need to hire a professional to manage your campaigns.
Budget: While Google Ads can be cost-effective, it still requires an investment. Ensure you have a sufficient budget to run and optimize campaigns effectively.
Organic search performance: If your website is already performing well in organic search results, you might want to prioritize SEO and other marketing channels before investing heavily in Google Ads.
To determine if Google Ads is right for your business, carefully evaluate your marketing objectives, target audience, competition, and budget. If you decide to move forward, remember to monitor and optimize your campaigns continually to maximize your ROI.
Should I ask my customers to review my business?
The simple answer is yes, asking your customers to review your business can be beneficial for several reasons:
Social proof: Positive reviews provide social proof, which can help build trust among potential customers. People often look for reviews and ratings before making a purchase decision or choosing a service provider. Having a good number of positive reviews can make your business more appealing.
Local SEO: Reviews play a role in local search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines like Google consider the quantity, quality, and recency of reviews as factors when ranking businesses in local search results. More positive reviews can improve your online visibility and attract more local customers.
Feedback: Reviews can provide valuable feedback on your products or services, helping you identify areas where your business is excelling or needs improvement. This information can be crucial in refining your offerings and delivering better customer experiences.
Customer engagement: Requesting reviews can foster a sense of connection between your business and your customers. Engaging with customers by responding to their reviews, both positive and negative, can show that you value their opinions and care about their experiences.
Increased conversions: Positive reviews can influence potential customers and lead to higher conversion rates. When people see that others have had positive experiences with your business, they may be more likely to choose your products or services.
Here are some tips for asking customers to review your business:
Timing: Ask for reviews soon after a customer has had a positive experience with your business. This increases the likelihood that they will remember the details and provide a thoughtful review.
Make it easy: Provide customers with direct links to review platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or Trustpilot. The easier it is for them to leave a review, the more likely they are to do so.
Personalize the request: Personalize your request by addressing the customer by name and mentioning specific aspects of their experience. This can make your request more genuine and increase the likelihood of a response.
Incentivize (when appropriate): In some cases, offering incentives like discounts or freebies can encourage customers to leave a review. However, be cautious with this approach, as some review platforms have policies against incentivizing reviews.
Respond to reviews: Acknowledge and thank customers for their positive reviews, and address any concerns raised in negative reviews. Demonstrating that you value customer feedback can encourage more customers to share their experiences.
In summary, asking customers to review your business can provide valuable social proof, improve your local SEO, and offer insights into your customers’ experiences. Be sure to request reviews in a personalized, timely, and respectful manner to increase the likelihood of positive responses.
How can Content Marketing help my local business?
Content marketing can significantly benefit your local business by increasing brand visibility, driving organic traffic, generating leads, and establishing credibility. Here’s how content marketing can help your local business:
Attract local customers: By creating locally relevant content, you can attract local customers who are interested in your products or services. This might include blog posts, articles, videos, or infographics that address local issues, events, or trends.
Improve local SEO: High-quality, locally-focused content can improve your local search rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find your business online. By incorporating local keywords and optimizing your content for local search, you can boost your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) for location-specific queries.
Build credibility and trust: Creating informative, engaging, and valuable content can help establish your local business as an expert in your industry. This can build credibility and trust among potential customers, making them more likely to choose your business over competitors.
Increase engagement: By sharing your content on social media platforms and encouraging user-generated content (UGC), you can create conversations around your business and foster a sense of community. Engaging with your audience can help strengthen customer relationships and enhance brand loyalty.
Drive organic traffic: Quality content can attract organic traffic from search engines and social media, increasing the number of potential customers visiting your website. This can lead to higher conversion rates and more sales.
Generate leads: Content marketing can help you generate leads by encouraging potential customers to provide their contact information in exchange for valuable content, such as ebooks, whitepapers, or webinars. You can then nurture these leads through email marketing or other targeted campaigns to convert them into paying customers.
Establish partnerships: Creating and sharing valuable content can help you connect with other local businesses, influencers, or media outlets. These partnerships can lead to collaboration opportunities, co-marketing campaigns, or referrals, further expanding your business’s reach.
To make the most of content marketing for your local business, consider these tips:
Identify your target audience and their needs: Understand who your local customers are and what kind of content would interest and benefit them.
Focus on local topics: Create content that addresses local issues, events, or trends to make it more relevant and engaging for your audience.
Use local keywords: Incorporate location-specific keywords in your content to improve your local SEO and increase visibility in local search results.
Optimize content for mobile: Ensure your content is mobile-friendly, as local customers often use their smartphones to search for nearby businesses.
Leverage social media: Share your content on local social media groups and engage with your audience to increase brand awareness and foster relationships.
Monitor and analyze performance: Track your content marketing efforts using analytics tools to understand what works and what doesn’t. Adjust your strategy accordingly to maximize your ROI.
In summary, content marketing can help your local business by attracting local customers, improving local SEO, building credibility and trust, increasing engagement, driving organic traffic, generating leads, and establishing partnerships. By creating valuable, locally-focused content and implementing a strategic content marketing plan, you can grow your local business and achieve long-term success.