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 Hiring an SEO Consultant," is such a godsend. In the article, Shandrow lists some of the big questions you should ask when on the hunt … [Read more...] about Do You Know What to Ask When Hiring an SEO Company?
How to Respond When Your Domain Is Held Hostage
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 was so mistrusting of us. But after some prodding, he revealed where his trust issues came from... As it turns out, his last SEO provider registered his domain for him, and then held it hostage when … [Read more...] about How to Respond When Your Domain Is Held Hostage
How Do American Small Business Owners Balance Work and Life? [INFOGRAPHIC]
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 the standard 40-hour work week, over half of American small business owners report that they are in a better financial situation since beginning their own business while still … [Read more...] about How Do American Small Business Owners Balance Work and Life? [INFOGRAPHIC]
When Is the Best Time to Use Facebook Ads Versus Google AdWords?
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 Facebook Ads or Google AdWords (or both). If you've tried this alternative yourself, we don't blame you. It's a smart move! However, if you're going to start a paid ad … [Read more...] about When Is the Best Time to Use Facebook Ads Versus Google AdWords?
If You Don’t Promote Your Summertime Services Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
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 some strategy ideas to help you book better jobs this season. Let's jump in! How to Book Better Jobs Than Your Competitors This Summer The truth is, most people don’t plan ahead. … [Read more...] about If You Don’t Promote Your Summertime Services Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
Little Known Ways to Market Yourself in a New Location
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 over budget. Of course, the strategy we prescribe will depend on how far away your second address is. Thankfully, we've had lots of success solving this problem for clients and business … [Read more...] about Little Known Ways to Market Yourself in a New Location
Why You Shouldn’t Worry About This Google Chrome Warning
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 or compromised in some way, you can take a deep breath before we proceed. Now, here’s what that warning does mean. “Not Secure” Means “Not Encrypted” This “Not Secure” label is a simple warning that … [Read more...] about Why You Shouldn’t Worry About This Google Chrome Warning
Why You Can’t Trust This Warning From Google
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 that end, they've been dialing the numbers on AdWords accounts and getting their foot in the door with this scare tactic: "Your account has the wrong settings … [Read more...] about Why You Can’t Trust This Warning From Google
How to Minimize Your Damage From Google’s New Platform
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 on Google for the services you offer. Your ads will show up for customers in your area, so you can keep your calendar … [Read more...] about How to Minimize Your Damage From Google’s New Platform
Watch Out for This New Email Scam!
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 email's credibility and authenticity before you even read a word. We wanted to bring this up because there's a new batch of scam emails going around, and we want you to be aware of them. Keep reading … [Read more...] about Watch Out for This New Email Scam!