Internet Marketing for Independent
Business Owners and Professionals
The internet is the new Yellowpages. More than 25% of online searches are for a local business. People are searching for dentists, stylists, massage therapists, real estate agents even auto body shops.
Are you online yet?
If and when you do get online, how do you get your business found? It's not as easy as sticking up your 5 page template website and the clients come running. There are some simple but measured steps you must take to win with the search engines.
Furthermore, if you treat your website like more than a ebrochure, I can show you how you can take your local business national perhaps worldwide! And you don't have to take on more clients to do it.
Make your website work for you
Why not take the knowledge you possess right now, from your business or profession, and turn it into content for your website? Content that drives traffic to your website that converts to a client or to a sale of one of your own products or someone else's through affiliate programs. Or get Google to pay you for showing their ads on your website. Pretty cool, huh?!
If it all sounds too complicated, don't worry, it's really more simple than you think.
Keyword Research
A good website concept starts with keyword research. You don't want to throw up your site without first determining what your site is going to be about and with proper keyword research you'll know what direction you need to take in order to succeed.
Usually, you'll want to focus on some sort of niche within your industry. Sometimes that niche can just be putting your city with your profession. For example, Massage Therapist in Wilmington, NC or CPA in Gainsville, FL.
Proper keyword research will let you know if that will work for your business. Don't forget that even though you may be operating a local business, with proper planning, you will have the opportunity to capitalize on national traffic.
I've used many keyword research tools and I think Wordtracker is the best tool for the independent professional. The interface is easy to use and you can store your results in what are called “Projects” within Wordtracker. This way you can save your heavy research when you're ready to build your content. Projects are also good for keeping your main research separate from any ideas you'd like to play with.
