seo – Page 8

Leverage Your Customer Feedback

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

Customer Reviews Are Invaluable

When a customer gives you a glowing review of the work and service you provided, you’ll want to spread the word as much as possible. In doing so, you’ll let prospective customers know that one of their peers has already vouched for the quality of your company. This kind of exposure is invaluable to any business.

Reviews Lead to Better Rankings, Too

Now, more than ever, is a good time to start utilizing social media outlets and business directories for customer reviews. Since the major search engines’ algorithms are starting to weigh social content more and more heavily, they’ve actually begun crowd-sourcing data from customer reviews in their regular search results. For instance, if one of the query’s keywords appears in a customer review from a business’s Google+ Local listing, then that listing is likely to rank higher on the results page.

Think Before You DIY

Not surprisingly, there are quite a few online platforms that make it easy to advertise businesses and showcase reviews. Some of them include:

Facebook
Google+ Local
Yahoo! Local
HomeAdvisor (formerly ServiceMagic)
Yelp
Bing Places

At this point, you might be thinking that you could do all of this work yourself. After all, how hard could it be to gather your customer reviews and dump them into an account? Well, it’s a lot more complicated than it looks.

First of all, it’s important to remember that you should never use one of these platforms exclusively. It’s not a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket, anyway, but it’s also true that these platforms each have their downsides. For example:

Yelp uses very inconsistent review-filtering software to weed out “questionable” customer reviews. This often backfires on businesses with only a handful of reviews.
HomeAdvisor pools customer reviews from every business and highlights them on their site without attribution. This means your review could show up on another business’s listing, which would give all the credit for your stellar services directly to a competitor.
Google+ is notorious for “accidentally” deleting reviews from business accounts, and they frequently flip-flop on their review policies. You could be penalized for actively collecting reviews despite the fact that this practice was actually encouraged by Google+ not long ago.
Facebook often has apps and other features that work one day and malfunction the next. With Facebook, your account and reviews simply aren’t stable.

Plus, if you store all of your reviews on only one directory or social media outlet, then you could lose them for good if something ever goes wrong with your listing. Relying on several platforms instead of just one is an effective way to avoid these pitfalls.

Some ideas:

Store your reviews in a variety of places.
Start off with Facebook, as its partnership with Bing means that customer reviews and “Likes” will push your listing closer to the top of Bing’s results.
For the same reason, encourage customers to “Like” your Facebook page.
Once you have about 10 reviews on Facebook, move on to Google+ Local and store the next 10 there.
Then, use Bing Places, Yelp, Yahoo! Local, and so on.

Add a Feedback Feature Into the Mix

Asking customers to take a chunk out of their day to write a review of your business isn’t easy. They lead busy lives, and any free time is precious. If you’re going to request reviews from satisfied customers, the least you can do is make it as easy as possible for them.
That’s where an on-page feedback feature comes in. Let’s use ours as an example. When a customer goes to one of our clients’ LeadTrax™ sites and leaves a review, they won’t have to create an account or go through any of the rigmarole that usually comes with using an online business directory. They can simply rate their experience with our client, write a brief description of the services provided, and hit “Submit.” Done. And if that customer was so happy with our client’s services that they’d like to spread the word even further, we provide convenient links to our client’s Facebook and Google+ accounts, where their customer can copy and paste their review.
Here’s how our feedback feature looks:

Our favorite part of the feedback feature is that it only prompts customers to share their review on other sites when they give a positive rating:

If they claim a negative experience, they will just see a page that thanks them for their feedback:

Positive reviews will appear automatically on our clients’ sites as soon as they’re submitted, while negative reviews remain hidden. And with only satisfied customers being encouraged to share their reviews on other sites, our clients don’t have to worry quite as much about unhappy customers going to every corner of the Internet and sullying their good name.
If our feedback feature is something you’re interested in learning more about, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Page One Guarantee? No, Thanks.

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

“We’ll put your website on the first page of Google!”
“Guaranteed page-one rankings!”
“First-page placement guaranteed!”
You’ve heard it all before.
If you search Google for SEO services, it won’t take long for you to find a slew of SEO companies making these types of guarantees. In fact, these guarantees are so pervasive, you could easily conclude that they’re the basis of most companies’ business plans. However, when it comes down to it, these companies are guaranteeing something that is 100% out of their control. Sure, there are a handful of tricks and paid programs (e.g. AdWords, pay-per-click) that will automatically boost a website’s rankings, but there are too many factors at play for anyone to predict a certain outcome with any accuracy. Yet, that doesn’t stop countless SEO companies and local online marketers from making these empty promises time and time again.

Here’s why you should always be wary of a page-one guarantee.

Magic Cures Don’t Exist in the World of SEO

Online marketers are like doctors. Does that sound like a stretch? Maybe. After all, marketers aren’t required to endure eight years of rigorous medical training and they certainly don’t save lives on a regular basis. But they’re similar to doctors in one fundamental way: They prescribe treatments but cannot guarantee a cure.
There are a couple of reasons for this. First…

The Solution Relies Heavily on Your Participation

Think about the last time you visited the doctor’s office. Did you expect a guarantee that you would be restored to full health by the time you left? No, of course not. No doctor is all powerful, and the success of the treatment relies heavily on your earnest participation in it. You must be 100% honest about your medical history and your symptoms before the doctor can make any diagnosis.

In that same vein, an online marketer must get the full picture of your web presence and history before devising any sort of SEO plan. If you were experiencing chest pains, wouldn’t you tell the doctor about your heart condition? By the same logic, if you’re having trouble ranking on Google, then you should notify your online marketer about any previous missteps, particularly any penalties or suspensions that you’ve been slapped with. These types of run-ins with Google will certainly affect your website’s rankings, and no SEO specialist is able to counteract them—whether they’ve made a guarantee or not. When it comes to SEO, Google’s word is law.

It Also Demands Time

But let’s say that you don’t have any strikes against you. If your SEO specialist checks out your website and decides that top-to-bottom revisions are necessary to increase your content’s relevance and readability—which is usually what happens—you’ll still be left with a sizable waiting period before your site will show any progress in the rankings. For most small business websites, changes aren’t detected by Google for 30 to 60 days. Some changes to your website or to directory listings can even take 120 days or more to be detected!

Once changes have been made, your specialist will have to wait until they take shape before any outcome can be determined. From there, you’ll be able to take the next steps. Medical treatments work the same way: A doctor assesses your ailment, provides you with medicine, and then waits to see if the problem clears up. If that rash or cough goes away, great. If not, then the doctor will need to adjust the diagnosis and start treatment again. Likewise, the ideal situation is that your online marketer improves your Google ranking within those first 60 days; however, if the original plan doesn’t work, then your SEO professional will need to reassess your keywords, targeted search terms, accuracy of information, and other factors before moving forward.
In other words, there are many moving parts that all contribute to your search engine rankings, and many of them are completely hidden to anyone outside of Google and Bing themselves. This means that there is always an element of trial and error in SEO.

Guarantees Are Ambiguous

When an online marketer guarantees page-one rankings for your website, several questions should come to mind:

For which search terms?
In what time frame?
Who is performing the search?
- Is this person logged in to a Google account?
- Does his/her IP address have an extensive search history?
Will this search be conducted on Google, Bing, Yahoo!, AOL, Ask.com, Best of the Web, or another minor search engine?
Does “page one” refer to maps, pay-per-click, or organic results?

Online marketers who have no qualms about making bogus guarantees also have no problem leaving the details as vague as possible. Your website might show up on page one after their IP address is associated with countless searches for the same keywords. The keywords that you rank highly for might be super specific and not very valuable. You might have to pay additional exorbitant fees for clicks or AdWords. Or they might deliver first-page rankings, but on some third-rate search engine that means nothing for your actual web presence.
Speaking of things that mean nothing…

Rankings Aren’t As Important As They’d Have You Think

When it comes down to it, what are you really spending all that money on an online marketer for? Is it so that you can see your company’s website jump to the top of a very narrow search results page? Or is it so that you can ultimately generate more leads, find more business, and increase your revenue? As business owners ourselves, we’re betting it’s the latter.
If your goal is to get more prospective customers to call your business and book services, then it won’t help you to pour all of your time and money into getting a first-page ranking while ignoring every other platform out there. You need to find an online marketer who will utilize popular business directories like Yelp and Angie’s List and promote your company all over social media, namely Facebook and Twitter.

SEO companies that understand just how much goes into effective lead generation will never guarantee a first-page ranking for your business. It would be a guarantee of something outside of their control, and it’s dishonest to pretend otherwise.

The Prospect Genius Portal App: A New Way to Track Lead Generation

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

We’re always looking for ways to make tracking our campaigns easier for clients. With that goal in mind, we’ve been developing a smartphone app that would enable all of our clients to access their campaign reports with the simple click of a button. Finally, we’re happy to announce that the Prospect Genius Portal app is now available for Androids and iPhones!

Why an App?

Well, think about it. Did you notice any particular trend the last time you strolled through the mall or sat down at a restaurant? If you did, it might have had something to do with the fact that smartphones are popping up everywhere. No matter where you turn, it seems like someone is always typing or scrolling away on their smartphone.
But it’s not an illusion. In fact, studies show that more than half of all American consumers use smartphones. It makes sense, too: their high-speed wireless connections and sleek designs make it easier than ever to be productive and social on the go. For that reason, smartphones are becoming more popular by the day, especially with business owners and service providers who travel from location to location for work. At Prospect Genius, we’ve noticed an influx of smartphone usage among our clients, which is why we decided to design our very own app.
The way we see it, our clients are already using their smartphones several times a day for e-mail, texting, web browsing, and more—so why not use it to keep track of their Prospect Genius campaigns, too?

(Source: comScore, December 2012)

What Makes the App Worthy of Downloading?

Primarily, it allows clients access to their campaign reports right at their fingertips.
While the Prospect Genius Portal app looks similar to the current mobile version of our site, it’s significantly more convenient and user-friendly as it can be accessed almost instantly. Now, whenever a client wants to check on their LeadTrax™ performance or view their MapTrax™ numbers, they can simply launch our app. That certainly beats the hassle of opening their browser and typing in the URL every time they want to check their campaign’s performance.
It’s also free for both Android and iPhone users. That never hurts, either.

What Are Some Standout Features?

Our app was designed with an emphasis on simplicity. After all, we know that our hard-working clients are always on the job and don’t have a whole lot of extra time on their hands to enlarge tiny font or scroll through a long series of menu items. The minimalist design of our app is the perfect complement to our clients’ busy work schedules.
Moreover, there are some great features that make using our app extremely easy and convenient.
1. A basic log-in screen with large, visible text.

2. A streamlined menu that allows clients to quickly select which reports or functions they’d like to access.
Menu screen
3. Every campaign report is available in crystal-clear detail.
Traffic summary
The only typing required is on the initial log-in screen. After that, clients can view the basic menu and check out all the different features of their lead generation campaigns, just as they would in the regular Client Portal of our website or mobile site. There is also a prominent “Contact Us” option that allows clients to call or e-mail us directly from the app with any questions or concerns they might have.

How to Install the App

Are you interested in checking out the Prospect Genius Portal for yourself? Here’s how you can install it on whichever smartphone you own.
Android:
If you’re an Android user, you can search for our app in the Google Play Store or simply go to this link: Prospect Genius Portal.
iPhone:
For iPhone users, just follow these 4 easy steps:
1. Open your browser (probably Safari) on your smartphone and go to http://www.prospectgenius.com/console/
Log-in screen
2. Click on the button indicated in this image.
Log-in screen 2
3. Click on “Add to Home Screen.”

4. Hit “Return” on your keyboard.
Save
We look forward to seeing how our app improves our clients’ productivity and sense of convenience when it comes to making the most of their lead generation campaign. The success of any Prospect Genius campaign depends largely on the degree of participation from each client. By creating this app, we hope to eliminate any obstacles that would prevent a client from having a fair shot.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact Prospect Genius directly for more information!

Reflecting on 2012 and Making Changes for 2013

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

As a business owner, it’s always a good idea to evaluate how things are going in order to make the necessary changes. After all, genuine improvement can only be achieved once you’ve honestly reflected on your strengths and weaknesses. If you’re serious about making 2013 your company’s best year yet, then thoroughly assessing the successes and shortcomings of your business is an essential step. We do it often here at Prospect Genius and encourage you to as well!
Since it is the year 2013, and considering that you’re already checking out our niche blog, we’re going to assume that you’re employing some sort of Internet marketing or lead generation program for your company. If, upon reflection, you’re wondering what you could do to strengthen your company’s online advertising campaign, then you’ll want to read this short checklist that can help you take your lead generation campaign to the next level.

Checklist

Have you been diligent about sending in your Google, Bing, and Yahoo! PINs as soon as your SEO company has requested them? Having your business displayed on these three major search engines is vital to your online success, so it’s important to provide your SEO company with these PINs promptly.
Have you been controlling the quality of your site’s images? Photos of you and your employees on the job work best. Pictures of your work vehicles or office are great, too! Images help convert site visitors into customers, so they can make a world of difference. And remember: grainy or low-contrast pictures do not bode well for the quality of work that you promise to deliver to prospective customers.
Have you written any blog posts? Blog posts help keep your site fresh and ranking well with Google. Having a blog attached to your site is also a great way to promote savings and deals or talk about an interesting job you are working on.
Have you leveraged your company’s newsworthy events to their best advantage? If your business has hired a new employee or moved offices, for example, let your SEO company know so they can put out a press release. Press releases are a great way to promote your company online!
Last, but certainly not least, are you answering your phone? If you aren’t answering your calls in a timely manner, no amount of promotion will help your business. It’s crucial that you answer the phone and return calls quickly! If, for some reason, you can’t get to the phone at a certain time or on a certain day of the week, ask about the advanced call routing available from Prospect Genius. It redirects missed calls to an employee or other number (like your cell phone, perhaps). There’s no cost to set it up, and there’s a great chance it will improve your bottom line!

To a Successful 2013!

After reviewing the above checklist, if it dawns on you that you haven’t been as involved in your online advertising campaign as you could be, then it’s time to make some changes. If you’ve been doing all of the above but you’re still having a tough time keeping in touch with your SEO company’s campaign coordinators, then it’s time to make some even bigger changes. Ditch your ineffective marketing team and call Prospect Genius to discuss how our comprehensive lead generation program can help you improve your company in 2013 and beyond.
Our success depends on your business’s success, so you can trust that we are always working hard to bring you our best work!

Business 101: How to Close More Sales

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

Often times, businesses get plenty of phone calls and inquiries about their services, but end up having trouble closing the sale. If you’re in this position, don’t worry; you’re not alone! Sealing the deal is a common problem for all kinds of business owners.
For some strategies on how to close more sales, we went to one of the top account managers here at Prospect Genius for some insight. Below is the advice he shared:

Sales Advice from Morgan Pellitteri, PG Account Manager

When a prospective customer calls in with a question, it’s only natural to want to answer it. But, in many cases, it ends up being the company that asks the questions that earns the business.
How does that work? Well, how many times have you gotten a service call that plays out something like this:
Prospect: “How much do you charge?”
You: “X dollars.”
Prospect: “Okay. I will call you back.”
Once he or she is off the phone with you, the prospect is most likely going to call additional companies until they find a lower price, OR one of your competitors takes the time to ask about the client’s specific needs and deliver a customized solution. In many cases, that competitor’s prices don’t end up being lower than what you had quoted, but they manage to close the deal by working to meet the client’s particular needs.
To create the best opportunity to earn a prospect’s business, here’s an alternative to how that original conversation worked out. This approach gives the prospective client the experience that you’re attentive to their needs, listening to their problem, and committed to providing an effective solution.
Prospect: “How much do you charge?”
You: “I can see that price is important to you. In order to give you an accurate quote, I would really need to know more about what you are looking to achieve.”
In the majority of instances, the prospect is contacting you because they have a problem. Rather than diving right into explaining the benefits and features of your service/product, it’s important to diagnose the issue accurately before suggesting a solution.
How, you may ask? By asking questions like:
1) “How long has this problem been going on?”
2) “What have you done to try to fix it?”
3) “When do you need it fixed by?”
4) “Do you have a budget in mind to fix this problem?”
When you have gathered all the information you need, don’t just quote a price. Assume the sale by leading them toward making an appointment.
You: “It typically takes around X amount of time to do the work and we charge between $ ____ and ____. If you want, we can set up an appointment so that I can take a look at what you want done and give you the most accurate quote so that there are no surprises. Quite often without seeing the job, I would be doing a disservice by quoting you a price or a time frame that isn’t realistic, and that won’t benefit either of us. Does tomorrow work for you?”

Communication Is the Key

It’s true with any relationship, including customer/company relationships: Communication is the key! It takes a little more time and effort on your part, and you do need to listen and ask questions. However, it pays off, because if you can discover what it is the prospect needs, and what will satisfy them, you’re more likely to win their business. Let them know you care and you want to help them out, and you may even end up securing a repeat customer or referrals.

One Final Suggestion

This may sound like a no-brainer, but if you don’t answer your phone, you have almost no chance of securing a prospect’s business! If you’re having trouble making sure the phone gets picked up every time it rings, whether it’s because you’re out of the office or you can’t pick up at the work site, Prospect Genius can help!
Did you know that we offer free advanced call routing for all of our clients? This feature enables you to have your CallTrax™ number forward to more than one number.
You can configure it to forward to several different numbers in a round robin. So if you’re busy on the job, and don’t pick up on the first couple of rings, the call will forward to an employee or alternative number.
You can configure your CallTrax number to forward to different numbers depending on the time of day. For example, if you’re generally at the work site in the morning, you can set up calls to go to your office manager, and then switch the calls to your cell phone number when you’re available in the afternoons.
You can also set up extensions as needed. This is particularly handy when you offer more than one service, such as parts and repairs/installs.
For more information on setting up the advanced call routing feature for your business, or anything else we can help you with, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

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