Blog – Page 91

The Ins and Outs of Googling Yourself

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

Googling Yourself: Too Much of a Good Thing
Are you one of those people that googles themselves every day? Then you might want to reconsider. Of course, googling yourself isn’t going to make you go blind or anything like that, but it can skew the results you see. That’s because Google is designed to provide each person with individual results. Factoring in things like search history, what particular search terms you favor, where you are searching from, and other data, Google search results are tailored specifically for you. So if you search for something, you’ll get different results than your next-door neighbor or even your coworkers.
If you continually search for one term or keyword—say, your name or a service like “Hardwood Flooring in New York City”—and then don’t click on any of the results, Google will assume you did not like the listings it returned. The next time you perform the same search, Google will give you slightly different results. If you don’t click on any of the results again, it will again assume you don’t like the results and try another variation the next time. This cycle will just keep continuing and continuing…
In your own, individualized Google results, you can drive your placement down in the listings by repeatedly searching for—and not clicking on—yourself. This certainly happens for your own personal search engine results, but if you do it enough, it’s also conceivable that you could impact your rankings when other people search as well!
So while there are certainly valid reasons to occasionally search for yourself online, the key is to not get carried away! Constant searching for your name or company will ensure you don’t get a good representation of your actual placement on Google.

Everything in Moderation
So now you know why it’s important to not google yourself all the time, but there are some good reasons to search for yourself every once and a while…
1. Reputation management. For local companies, your reputation is everything. Bad PR can run off potential clients, so you need to know what’s being said about you online. Occasionally googling your company’s name or services can help you see what people are putting on the Internet about your business. At Prospect Genius, our lead generation service encompasses a lot of reputation management elements: by distributing press releases, articles, blog entries, and social networking posts about your local company online, we generate a positive buzz and make sure that prospective customers can see the great things that are being said about you on the web! If you’re interested in finding out more about reputation management online, check out this article about how to be both proactive and reactive.
2. Checking on the competition. Did you know that some unscrupulous companies use their competition’s names in their own advertising? That means that your competitors could be using YOUR company’s name as part of their PPC or AdWords advertising strategy. And according to this article, it doesn’t seem like Google is willing to do much about this nefarious practice! However, searching for your business’s name online every so often can help alert you to when your competition is using this underhanded tactic. If you do see this happening, you may wish to contact both us here at Prospect Genius for online advertising help as well as an attorney for legal assistance.
Just like with so many other things, you’ll need to find the right balance when it comes to searching for your company online: too often can have negative effects, but too little can leave your business vulnerable. Occasional Google searches can help you stay on top of your online reputation and competitors without causing any major setbacks.
For more information on how Prospect Genius can help your company navigate the treacherous waters of online advertising, give us a call at 1-800-689-1273 or visit our website today.

The Myth of Speedy Ranking

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

At Prospect Genius, we work with hundreds of local business owners, and we’re often surprised to learn about the misconceptions and misunderstandings they have about online advertising. One of the most common we come across is the idea that Internet marketing should be fast. Because we hear about this false impression all the time, we thought it might be helpful to clear up some of the confusion!
Speedy Ranking Is a Myth!
With PPC (pay per click) online advertising it is possible to buy your way to the top quickly. However, unless you’re doing a PPC campaign, it simply isn’t realistic to expect that ANY online marketing company can get your business’s website into the number one slot on Google overnight. That’s because one of major factors Google—and all the other search engines—use when determining the value/relevancy of a website is how long it’s been on the web (with relevant content). This policy helps the search engines avoid useless SPAM sites (thousands of which pop up every day and soon disappear) and focus on quality sites instead. Unfortunately, this also means that it takes time for new, quality sites to achieve high rankings.
Real World Parallels
Opening a new store and starting a new website or SEO campaign have a lot in common. When you’re opening a brick-and-mortar enterprise, you first need to get the location set up and then you need to get the word out to people about your new shop. Just like you need to make a little noise with a grand opening and/or advertising campaign to spread the word when you open a new store, you need to launch your website with a little fanfare so Google (and potential customers) know about it. You need to bring attention to yourself so the search engines will hear about your site and deem it worthy of inclusion in their results. And just like you can’t pull off the launch of a new store overnight, the online equivalent—starting a new website or SEO program—can’t work that fast either.
That’s because every day thousands of new sites burst onto the scene and millions of sites alter their content. Google then has to visit each and every one of these sites to find out what’s new and relevant. Even though Google has almost unimaginable resources dedicated to this, it still takes time for them to locate each and every site out there.

Campaign Hopping Spells Doom
If you’re one of those business owners who sets a 90-day limit for results when it comes to SEO and/or lead generation, you might actually be sabotaging your chances for a strong online presence! That’s because while arbitrary 90-day windows may work fine when testing out a new Yellow Pages or print ad, they can be a major impediment to the success of an Internet marketing program. The difference is that while media like Yellow Pages and print ads already have an established distribution channel that they simply include you in, with advertising online the distribution channel has to be developed along with the ad. The benefits of this system are myriad, but it does take some time to develop.
Ultimately, this means that by giving up on an SEO campaign before a proper test can be completed, you’re probably wasting lots of time and money. So unless a company tells you that three months is long enough to execute their lead generation campaign (in which case, you need to start asking some serious questions), you need to allow plenty of time for the company to implement their strategy (usually between three and six months). By sticking with an SEO company for a longer period of time, you enable them to make the minor adjustments required to ensure your lead generation campaign gets off the ground running.
The Naked Truth
In short, this means if you’re hopping from one SEO company to another every 90 days, your lack of results probably has more to do with your impatience than any inherent shortcomings in their lead generation programs.
That’s because when you leave after 90 days, each company only has enough time to execute its standard tactics that work for most businesses. If your company has a unique location, product, business model, or other distinctive features that don’t shoehorn neatly into their boilerplate, you’re depriving the SEO company of the time they need to make the necessary adjustments to get you the best results. By the end of the year, you’ve probably spent more money on four different lead generation companies than you would have by sticking with just one company for 6-12 months and seeing if they could get you the results you deserve.
But remember, it never pays off to stay with an advertising company that is unresponsive, waves away your concerns, or simply doesn’t produce the desired outcomes over time. If you’ve been with an SEO company for more than 90 days, and you aren’t seeing results, it’s time to start asking questions. If they aren’t offering to make changes to your site, distribution channels, or other parts of your campaign, that’s probably not a good sign. Statements like, “Just keep waiting,” that aren’t supported by information like feedback about changes, new directions, or other strategies to boost your performance are also warning signs. And if you hear, “It worked for everyone else,” that’s definitely a red flag. You need to stay with your lead generation company long enough for them to implement a productive SEO campaign, but if they’re not working to make changes or giving you feedback, that’s the time to jump ship and find a more reputable company.
Before working with any online advertising company, we strongly advise you to do a simple Google search. A little research can help you avoid getting started with a bad egg in the first place and help make sure that you aren’t wasting your hard-earned money on ineffective or fraudulent companies. Just Google the name of the business along with the word “scam” or “complaints” and see what you get. The results invariably will be somewhat skewed due to the fact that most happy customers don’t take time to comment on the Internet, but a fast search can help you get a sense of how a company performs for their customers and whether they’re worth your time. Just be sure that you give them enough of your time to really get the SEO campaign rolling before you decide whether or not they’re a company you want to keep working with into the future!

Bring Your Website into the 21st Century–It’s Easier Than You Think!

Last Updated: November 18, 2010

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s a video worth? A whole lot when it comes to your company’s website! Adding video content to your local business’s site can actually make a big difference in the effectiveness of your Internet presence, helping you convert more site visitors into paying customers.
The simple truth is that most people don’t want to do business with a website—they want to do business with a real person. And adding a short video to your site is the best way to let prospective customers know a little about yourself, your company, and why you love doing what you do. It’s essentially a way for website visitors to meet you… The video establishes a more personal relationship between you and the potential client and can actually encourage them to pick up the phone and give you call!
Isn’t Video Hard?
Making a video may have been hard back in the day, but today almost anyone with a digital camera or web cam can make a short video perfect for uploading to your website. The best place to start is by filming a brief introduction to you and your company. Keep it short—around 30 seconds—and just say a little about who you are as a business. This helps put a face on your company, adding in that personal touch that will convince more site visitors to contact you.
Keep in mind that when you’re making a video clip for your website most people don’t actually want a polished-looking commercial. The more amateur your video looks, the more authentic and personal it will feel. That said, you do need to be able to convey your message clearly, so don’t make these mistakes that can make your video virtually unwatchable:

Shaky filming. A tripod will quickly eliminate this issue.
Too many distractions. Keep the background and setting, as well as your outfit, relatively neutral. This will help viewers focus on your message not on everything going on behind you or on what you’re wearing.
Poor lighting. Excessive light will wash you out, while backlighting will make it impossible to actually see you. Opt for good light from above and from the front and you should be fine.

Video Helps Your Local Business Get Ahead
A few minutes of your time is all it takes to create a short video, and you’ll be amazed at the response you’ll get when you add the clip to your website. An easy way to convert more site visitors into callers and then customers, video can help your local business get a leg up on the competition.
Learn more about effective Internet advertising for local companies and how video can help by calling Prospect Genius today. We’re here to help small, local businesses utilize the web to the utmost advantage, and we want to help you get ahead. Contact us now for more information!

Google For Dummies

Last Updated: November 8, 2010

Do you know how Google works? Probably not. But to get the most out of Google, local businesses need to have a basic understanding of how this search engine operates—and how it can help or hurt you. There’s no need to go into the complicated algorithms, but learning about the four different parts of Google can help you understand how search results for your business can impact your company’s success.

The 4 Parts of Google

As you may or may not already be aware, there are three different ways to advertise with Google. Every search results page has a different section that corresponds with each of these three different advertising methods:

1. Sponsored Links (highlighted at the top of the page as well as included in a sidebar)

You pay for each click and bid for position

2. Organic Results (typically listed below the sponsored links)

Google decides which pages are most relevant

3. Maps Results (listed beside a map of the area)

Organic results with a geographic component

As you can see, each type of advertising puts you in a distinct place on the search results page. What is less apparent, especially to those of us who aren’t particularly tech savvy, is that each section of the search results page is controlled by a separate department at Google. Each department even uses its own rules to determine ranking, legitimacy, and more!

That means, achieving a great rank in one section of the search results doesn’t affect any other section. You can be number one in the sponsored results but that won’t impact where you rank in the organic results or maps section. Your ranking in one section will not have any bearing on your ranking in any other section.

You Said 4, But I Only See 3

That’s true! While there are only three advertising departments at Google, there is a fourth department that can have a major bearing on all the different advertising departments: The fourth arm of Google is its Webspam Department. Although each advertising department operates independently, the Webspam Department can affect multiple parts of the search results page at the same time! Anytime the Webspam Department identifies someone doing anything outside of Google’s guidelines, it can dramatically impact your ranking in all three forms of advertising (organic, maps, and sponsored).

That means even though you have to work your way to the top of each of the three sections of the search results page independently, the Webspam Department can penalize you in all three simultaneously—putting all your hard work, and even time and money, down the drain. At Prospect Genius, the most common scenario we’ve seen is with companies that engage in “map spamming.” Some of our customers have done this in the past, only to get burned across all of the search results sections: not only do they get penalized in the maps results, they can also receive a -40 penalty that pushes their rankings to page 5 and beyond in the organic search results!

I’ve Never Heard of Map Spamming. What Is It?

Google’s guidelines can be found online, but the major issues we’ve seen include:

Adding a listing for your business address and then creating additional listings using your home address and even relatives’ and friends’ addresses
Stuffing keywords into your business name (e.g. “John’s Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical Services”)

If you use either of these practices, and Google’s Webspam Department finds out, your map listing will be penalized. But they also have the power to penalize your organic listing and even charge you more per click in the sponsored results, effectively punishing you across the board. And because these penalties are assigned to YOU not your advertising company, simply switching to a new marketing company won’t do you any good. Eventually, Google will discover it’s you again and you’ll be right back where you started!

The Bottom Line

At Prospect Genius, we ourselves adhere to Google’s guidelines, and we try to ensure that all of our clients are doing the same. Why: simply because it’s the best policy for YOUR long-term success. Playing by the rules does pay off in the end!

If you have more questions about how Prospect Genius works to provide you with effective online advertising for local businesses, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an e-mail or give us a call to learn more about SEO and your company.

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees, Choose Online Advertising and Save!

Last Updated: November 1, 2010

Effective advertising is more important than ever in today’s economy. With tightened marketing budgets, small businesses simply can’t afford to throw their money away on advertising that isn’t working… That’s why you’ll love Prospect Genius’s online, local advertising program. Not only do we use an effective search engine optimization plan that moves your company up in search engine results pages and helps increase your business’s visibility on the web, we also offer a complete monitoring console that enables you to see how your advertising dollars are working for you. We’ve helped hundreds of small businesses improve their Internet advertising, and we’d love to help you, too!
Here are just a few of the newest companies that are taking advantage of PG’s online marketing program:
Your Better Homes Appliance Service of Cincinnati, Ohio. Whether your dishwasher is spewing water all over your kitchen floor or you just don’t understand why the washing machine won’t turn on, these experts can help. Your Better Homes Appliance Service specializes in appliance repair for homes and residences throughout the tri-state region, so if you’re experiencing problems with a malfunctioning appliance, they’re here to take care of the problem. From refrigerator repair to washer dryer repair and beyond, these professional appliance repairmen can get your home or business appliances back up and running in no time at all. Don’t let the inconvenience, hassle, and disruption of inoperative appliances add chaos to your life: call Your Better Homes Appliance Service today!
Idaho Radon of Meridian, Idaho. Radon gas can be a serious problem for your home. Outside, this radioactive, carcinogenic gas is at sufficiently low concentrations to be harmless, but radon can leach out of the soil and into your home—where it becomes highly concentrated and highly dangerous. The only solution is a radon mitigation system, which collects and vents the radon to the exterior of your home where it can safely dissipate. Idaho Radon specializes in accurate radon tests and effective radon abatement systems, and these experts can help make sure your home is safe from this dangerous gas. An easy way to keep your family safe from the dangers of radon, radon mitigation from Idaho Radon is your solution for lowering concentrations of this gas to EPA-recommended levels.
BC Appliance Repairs of Lake Jackson, TX. When your appliances break down, your first thought might be to purchase a replacement, but in most cases, appliance repair service is actually the better solution. That’s because the problem is usually one small part or needed adjustment, and calling in professionals like BC Appliance Repairs costs far less than the cost of a whole new washer or refrigerator! Save yourself some serious money as well as the hassle of shopping for a new appliance by opting for repair instead. BC Appliance Repairs specializes in appliance repair in Lake Jackson, TX, and their professionals offer everything from dryer repair to air conditioner repair. So instead of rushing out to the store, pick up the phone when you’re experiencing appliance malfunctions. BC Appliance Repairs is your resource for complete appliance repair at a great price.
At Prospect Genius, our team of online marketing specialists is committed to helping local businesses use the Internet for effective advertising. If you’re the owner of a small, local company, we’d love to have you join us—just like the companies listed above, you’ll be able to take advantage of our search engine optimization program to find customers online and expand your customer base. Learn more when you visit our website, or give us a call today!

Prospect Genius

Bring Your Website into the 21st Century–It’s Easier Than You Think!

Google For Dummies

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees, Choose Online Advertising and Save!

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