In our weekly “Genius Success Stories” series, we showcase clients that have used our program to positively impact their small businesses. Check back each week to see a new success story! At this point, it’s cliché to open up with, “Now, more than ever…” or to even mention “these uncertain times.” Everyone gets it. We’ve […]
It’s genuinely depressing to think about the totality of words we’ve wasted whining about Google’s pay-to-play model. Not because we regret the time spent educating our readers, but because we wish this weren’t the reality of digital marketing in 2020. Especially during a crippling pandemic. And we know this situation is just as depressing for […]
Google’s new slogan should be, “Helping Goliath pummel David.” If you’ve been following this blog for a while, then you already know how we feel about Google and their reckless behavior towards the little guy. But for newcomers, here’s a quick recap: Google’s motivation will always be to maximize profits for themselves. This runs in […]
To ask the right questions of a prospective SEO company, you first need a baseline understanding of online advertising. Unfortunately, if you’re a small, local business owner with little knowledge of online marketing strategies, then you probably don’t quite know what to ask. That’s why Kim Lachance Shandrow’s article, “10 Questions to Ask When You’re […]
From time to time, our team is reminded of a very depressing truth: Many SEO providers out there do scummy things. The latest reminder? Just the other day, we were talking to a small business owner, and he told us how skeptical he was of the SEO industry. At first, we couldn’t understand why he […]
Running your own business and setting your own hours is the American dream. While it is a lot of work, it’s not impossible–and it doesn’t have to mean sacrificing time spent with family or never getting to partake in the activities you enjoy. Although it’s very common for small business owners to work more than […]
You’ve probably noticed that organic search results pages are getting harder and harder to rank on. (This is mostly due to Google’s quest to monetize every inch of space on Page 1, but that’s a rant for another day…) As a result, many business owners are trying paid ads, instead. Most people are using either […]
Now that summer is only a month away, let’s talk about how you want to promote your summertime services. We need to start looking at what you can do right now to boost your bookings this summer. Especially since your competitors probably aren’t planning ahead—which gives you an edge. This post will arm you with […]
So, your business is ranking pretty well in your hometown. But what if you want to get more jobs in the next town over? Or maybe you want to expand into a different state entirely? No problem. Prospect Genius has a handful of cost-effective strategies to help you target a new service area without going […]
When you visit a website using Google Chrome, you might see a “Not Secure” label in the address bar at the top of the browser. But don’t panic: This doesn’t mean what it sounds like. You have not been hacked or infected with malware. So, if you see this warning and think you’ve been attacked […]
Have you gotten a call from Google about your AdWords account? Did they tell you that your ads are displaying in other countries and costing you extra money? You’re not alone. Google has been ramping up its AdWords sales efforts—and this means they’ve been aggressively targeting existing AdWords accounts and trying to upsell them. To […]
Have you noticed a new type of sponsored result on Google’s search results pages? These ads are for Google’s new platform, Local Services, which Google designed to promote local service providers like plumbers, electricians, handymen, cleaners, locksmiths, and the like. According to the official website, “Local Services ads help you connect with people who search […]
When you receive an email from an unknown sender, what’s the first thing you look at? Hopefully, it’s the email address itself. After all, why bother reading the contents of the email if you don’t even know who it’s from to begin with? The sender’s email address alone will tell you a lot about the […]
Picture this: It’s Sunday afternoon, and you’re taking some time to mentally prepare for the workweek ahead. This gets you thinking about your online marketing campaign. How many jobs are you booking as a result of your campaign? Are you getting a good return on your investment? Unfortunately, since it’s the weekend, the online marketing […]
Finding out how you rank on Google should be pretty simple, right? It feels like a quick search for your business name is all you’d need to do. Unfortunately, Google makes this way more complicated than it has to be. Although it’s perfectly logical for you to assume you can check your ranking just by […]
Are you DIY-ing your company’s paid ads and getting frustrated by your lack of results? You probably started a campaign on Facebook or Google expecting to drive tons of visitors to your website—or, better yet, to generate a slew of new customers. However, for some reason, you’re just not getting the results you were hoping […]
You feel like you have a kick-ass website with tons of great content. You’ve been promoting your business on local directories, too. You’re getting plenty of calls and leads for some of your services, yet there’s a noticeable lack of leads for one service in particular. For example, you own a landscaping company and you’re […]
Did you get an Amazon Echo or Google Home as a gift during the holidays? Statistically speaking, you or someone you know probably has one of these smart speakers. A January 2018 report from NPR and Edison Research shows 39 million Americans now own smart speaker devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home. This equates […]
Are you being dogged by spam calls all day long? Telemarketers and robocalls are running rampant these days, and small business owners are getting the brunt of it. Average Americans are certainly getting their fair share of spam calls, too, but it’s nothing compared to what business owners are experiencing on a daily basis. Spam […]
You’re trying to get your website off the ground, and you’ve heard your traffic will improve if you fill your pages with lots of valuable content. But there’s the problem—you want to create interesting blog posts and page content for your audience, but you’re totally stumped on what to write about! This is an all-too-familiar […]
Honestly, who doesn’t love a good discount? We sure do! If you, too, are a fan of saving some dough, then you’ll be happy to hear about our client referral program: When you’re a Prospect Genius client and you refer a friend to us, you can actually receive a generous credit on your bill. Talk […]
Does SEO really take as long as all the marketing specialists say? A good number of people are out there promising much faster results, so there must be a loophole the marketers aren’t telling you, right? We wish we had better news for you. However, the reality is that achieving a strong presence on Google […]
If you’re confused by the way Google bills you for AdWords, you’re not alone. Not even a little. We have countless clients who feel like the Google AdWords billing system is overly complicated. We don’t blame them. Why can’t it just be a bill for the same amount on the same date every month—you know, […]
New year, new internet? Well, the internet’s changes may not be quite that dramatic. However, as we always say at the beginning of a new year, it’s smart to look ahead and see what you need to watch out for. The surest way to succeed is to prepare, after all. From far-reaching Google updates to […]
To our beloved friends and treasured clients, Prospect Genius is sending our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season! We’d also like to take a moment and remind you that, as our team members celebrate with their families, we will be closed on the following days: Monday, December 25 Tuesday, December […]
When you’re a small business owner, everything’s on you. Between booking jobs, making a schedule, and managing a team, there’s hardly time for anything else. And if there’s any time left at the end of the day, you probably want to spend it with your family, right? However, you know deep down you should be […]
It’s no secret that paid ads are a great way to inject some power into your online marketing efforts. But whether it’s a PPC (pay-per-click) campaign from Google AdWords or a social media campaign from Facebook Ads, you need to be using the platform that best aligns with your business’s needs. This is where most […]
For new businesses, there’s a lot to do when you first set out on your venture. Unfortunately, there’s no book or step-by-step guide that tells you everything you need. Sure, there are countless articles and e-books about the fundamentals, but the nitty-gritty stuff you have to do for your web presence often remains a guessing game. […]
Have you ever offered a promotion on a daily-deal site like Groupon or LivingSocial? The experience of running a Groupon or LivingSocial promotion can be a mixed bag, to say the least. On one hand, you make a lot of new contacts and your phone rings off the hook for a short time. On the […]
It’s that time of year again! It may feel too early to start compiling your Christmas wishlist or planning a holiday party, but it’s never too early to start promoting your seasonal services. In fact, doing so will ensure you close out 2017 with a bang. Right now, most local business owners are starting to […]