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, the way practically every other company in existence does its billing? If we were conspiracy theorists, we'd be tempted to think Google confuses AdWords customers on purpose so they spend more … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know About Google AdWords Billing
Could You Be Targeted Next by Google's Aggressive New Filter?
Raise your hand if you wish Google would stop making secret updates already! Just when you think you've mastered local search, Google launches a change that turns everything on its head. This time, it's the Hawk update. This latest update has serious, wide-reaching consequences for small, local businesses like yours. It's crucial you understand the impact this update could have on your business. That way you can take steps to protect yourself. Keep reading to find out everything you need to … [Read more...] about Could You Be Targeted Next by Google's Aggressive New Filter?
Don't Let Pay-Per-Click Turn Into Pay-Per-Search
Curious about how your PPC ads look? Googling yourself to check on your pay-per-click campaigns is understandable. However, it’s also ill-advised. That’s because frequently googling your company can sabotage your AdWords campaign. Don't believe us? Keep reading. How Googling Yourself Tanks Your CTR Your cost per click is substantially related to your ad’s click through rate (CTR). This is the ratio of passive ad views (impressions) to active ad clicks. If your ad gets lots of views but few … [Read more...] about Don't Let Pay-Per-Click Turn Into Pay-Per-Search
Your Website's Ranking Is Not Important
We repeat: Your website's ranking is not important. That probably goes against everything you previously thought about SEO. However, as Ryan Shelley points out in a recent article on Search Engine Land, there are much more accurate measures of success: The problem with putting too much emphasis on [ranking] is that the search results aren’t always consistent. Google’s results will vary based on a number of different criteria. More specifically, ranking only tells you how your site performs when … [Read more...] about Your Website's Ranking Is Not Important
How Much Money Are You Losing From Missed Calls?
Do you even notice your phone buzzing in your pocket or ringing on your desk anymore? Many business owners find themselves tuning out their ringing phones for the sake of their own time, energy, and sanity. After all, an endless stream of phone calls comes with the territory of owning a small business—and a good chunk of the time, they're useless calls from solicitors. Usually, though, there are a lot of customer calls mixed in there. So if you're just letting your phone ring and not picking up, … [Read more...] about How Much Money Are You Losing From Missed Calls?
What You Need to Know About Changing Your Business Address
When you change your business address in real life, what do you do? You probably start by submitting an address change to the post office. Then, you update any accounts you have with banks, credit card companies, insurance agencies, and so on. You also have to go down the list and notify all of your vendors, marketers, and important contacts. In a nutshell, it's a big pain. Unfortunately, that's not all. It's crucial that you also remember to update all of your business's online listings. And … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know About Changing Your Business Address
HomeAdvisor Isn't Doing Enough for Your Web Presence
Are you one of the countless small business owners who pay a directory like HomeAdvisor, Angie's List, or Thumbtack? We don't blame you. When you're actively using them, paid directory services can be super helpful in producing leads for your company. Because you're getting leads on a somewhat regular basis, some business owners make the mistake of only using a directory. They never end up investing in any other form of web presence, like their own website. Unfortunately, not owning any type of … [Read more...] about HomeAdvisor Isn't Doing Enough for Your Web Presence
How Local Search Empowers Small Businesses to Compete
How can a small business like yours compete with big brands? Four words: Focus on local search. The fact that you operate on a local level can be your biggest strength in the battle against large corporations. Many big names rank nationally in organic search results; however, they don't necessarily have the upper hand when it comes to local search. So if you leverage local search the right way, you can stay competitive with larger brands and come out on top. Here's what you need to know. Local … [Read more...] about How Local Search Empowers Small Businesses to Compete
3 Ways HomeAdvisor Is Unfair to Small Businesses
There's one complaint about HomeAdvisor that we hear over and over from our clients: It feels like the game is rigged against small appliance repair companies in favor of larger companies with greater resources. We're here to tell you you're right. Here's why. 1. You Miss Out on Too Many Jobs We'll start off with the most obvious pain point: You can't possibly respond quickly enough to leads. The only way to be successful on HomeAdvisor is to respond immediately to every single lead that comes … [Read more...] about 3 Ways HomeAdvisor Is Unfair to Small Businesses
How to Keep the Holidays From Ruining Your Online Marketing
It's no secret that most of us stretch our budgets a little thin over the holiday season. With parties to host and gifts to buy, money disappears quickly. And for many small business owners, the slightly blurred line between personal and business finances means the holidays can impact some of your company's operations—like online marketing. If you're feeling the squeeze of the holidays on your small business's budget, it's fine to tighten your belt—but don't let it affect your online marketing. … [Read more...] about How to Keep the Holidays From Ruining Your Online Marketing