Viral Video Marketing for Local Businesses (even if your camera shy)

“IF YOU AREN’T SIGNED UP FOR OUR SPECIAL “EXPLODING YOUR PRESENCE” LIST GO DO IT!!”

Teaching sells. Plain and simple. The whole point of making videos for the internet is to produce something people will watch. Think of what people watch on TV. They don’t watch TV for commercials, they watch for entertainment and/or how to do something. They watch funniest home videos, sports stuff, sexy stuff, etc…Don’t make a video that looks like an ad, make a video that will be valuable and that people will share around the internet. And for pete’s sake, make it easy to understand. Uploading videos is easy with Traffic Geyser.

People Don’t Like Being in Front of Cameras?!?

YouTube is #4 website on entire internet. People do crazy things for camera-time. Producing videos is the most powerful way to engage your target market. Hands down. Plus, face to face videos ‘pull’ better than non-face to face videos. (Some people may argue that, but there is proof.) So, do some research and find out for yourself, what kind of videos are going viral. If you don’t want to personally be in front of a camera then you can check out Article Video Robot

Key Features in a Video That Will Increase Your Prospects!

There are only a few types of videos that are really, really, really (okay, you got the feelings) enjoyed by the tubers (you guessed it, top of it is, all type of sex related stuff). Other than that there are a few more sober types (can be seen with family and children) of videos most enjoyed on tube. They can be, out and out funny types, something really weird or shocking, or plain childish, sweet behavior or cute stuff. All other types of videos are there but mostly rusting in backyard (kinda). I have seen a lot of videos that do not fit in my above mentioned types of highly watched stuff.

Put something hilarious/funny/comic

People are most vulnerable while laughing (no you can’t rob them without a pistol though). It’s such a harmless emotion. In this outstressed time of the planet (I can’t say a particular time you know, you may be from any part of globe) people need refreshment. We need to let out all our tensions/stresses and some other types of (mostly physical) stuff (oh well skip that). After a whole day time spent under pressure nothing is more pleasurable than a quick, a deep, a loud, an uncontrollable Laughter! Basically the world is …

So much more on the Video Marketing page (read on there) by the way, subscribers are getting behind the scenes tutorial videos…are you?

Article Marketing Strategy (for writing impaired)

Don’t Be a Wimp…Go Crush it

Local Business owners can absolutely crush the competition with this one; for so many reasons. By doing market discovery research before writing the article, you can develop a piece of article content for online marketing that answers problems, creates solutions, and elevates your “O-Rate” (online reputation as trusted expert). It givs you control over where the keywords and anchor text are placed, what’s being said about you (author resource box) and you can link it to anywhere you want!

Caveat to Aspiring Authors

There is a science to doing this correctly. In fact, some companies will literally charge you for less valuable versions and more money for better ones. “Better” means correct relevant content, keywords placed correctly, not overused; grammar and syntax flow. (unlike this book ) Personally I write like I talk. Passionately, directly, and usually above most people’s heads. That’s the way it is when you are an expert.

Keys to Writing  SEO’d  Articles

Title.Title.Title. Any marketer will tell you that the headline is the key to everything. Articles are no different. Catch their attention, have your keywords in it, and make sure the body of the article matches. Google is a very smart program. Personally, I believe that having sub-headers draw the readers eyes down the page towards the end of the author resource box. If anyone has read a newspaper article; there is a pyramid to it all. The most important stuff is at the top. So, that’s where your keyword anchor terms should be. Not in a jumbled mess, but in a way that flows and let’s the reader know what they’re getting is valuable. Also, you can also follow Toastmaster outline: “tell ‘em what you’re gonna tell ‘em (intro), tell ‘em (body), then tell ‘em what you told ‘em. (close)”

Submitting a Content Tsunami

Let’s slow down here and get your thinking cap on. Submitting article used to be the most frustrating arduous process I’ve ever dealt with. There are many software programs that do many different things. I’ve been around the block several times and find out that there are only a couple that make the process easy, more automated, and can re-write the article professionally. Here’s how submitting works: (or should) the article is written, inserted into the Article Submitter Software, optimized, cleaned up and uploaded to as many directories that you have profiles for…that’s the kicker. Let me explain right here and now; it saves so much time to have the software that does that for you AND autoresponds to the ‘confirmation emails’. (otherwise, your email bucket is gonna be killed with them.) My favorite Magic Article Submitter does this and also re-writes them very well and then re-uploads those.

Social Media and Articles

Have fun with this! Update all your statuses to let people know that you’re working on a cool article for “x why and zee”. Build some drama, then once it’s uploaded, link to it like a crazy person. Bookmark it. Tell people to share it, comment on it, everything!

Remember, 97% won’t follow through on this EASY stuff. Will you?

SEO for Local Businesses using Online Marketing

I had a long talk with a well-known leader of the largest business referral network in Virginia today about search engine optimization (SEO). “Throw away everything you think you know about ‘s.e.o.’” For most people this acronym is a misunderstood, misnomer, leading to mis-lead suckers being preyed upon by savvy online people.  I’m going to give you the e-book that is revolutionizing SEO.Click here to get it!! SEO Made Easy

Here’s wikipedia’s definition:

#1-Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site or a web page (such as a blog) from search engines via “natural” or un-paid (“organic” or “algorithmic”) search results as opposed to other forms of search engine marketing (SEM) which may deal with paid inclusion. The theory is that the earlier (or higher) a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search and industry-specific vertical search engines. This gives a web site web presence.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work and what people search for. #2-Optimizing a website primarily involves editing its content and HTML and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines.

#2 has a glass ceiling and is doable by my kids (once trained). Trust me, there are 12 year olds creating extremely valuable SEO videos on YouTube that anyone can get and learn from. People paying money to do this should only do so once they understand what #2 SEO means. Also, Google only cares about 25% of what’s going on ON your blog or website pages. (called ‘on-page’) 75% weight is placed on what’s going on ‘offpage’.  Imagine all the backlinks, articles, videos, press releases, comments, Facebook friends, Twitter followers.

What about #1?

It is rare that companies will completely fulfill SEO for a company in regards to #1 because it is t.i.m.e. consuming. Never-ending, detailed as heck, and requires more maintenance and internet knowledge. This type of work takes immersed learning, ridiculous s trial and error, ability to stay on top of latest trends and Google changes, etc…

Simple SEO

Using a wordpress blog with just a few correct plug-ins, your posts will be optimized for whatever keywords you choose to put in there. Wordpress dashboard itself can be optimized in the ‘Tools’ and ‘Writing’ place. Also, make sure your title and 1^st header are keyword oriented. Next, be sure when you post something, that you place hyperlinks to other pages on your blog using anchor text. Whoah. Back up. Ok, so remember seeing blue words in a post that when you click on it – that sends you to a new place on the internet? That’s what I mean. The blue word (anchor text) should be a keyword (not ‘click here’) that leads to a relevant destination. There is a video about setting up blogs on our local business online marketing site. (just like that)

Secrets from Brad Callen (SEO Jedi Master)

Brad makes the best software on the internet. (my opinion) He has created more software used by more successful people than anyone else I’ve run into. (that’s a lot) I’d much rather have someone else spending millions of dollars testing and researching software and internet protocol than me. His most important piece of work is SEO Elite, which is a program that analyzes your very important backlink issues and where and how to crank it up. Which in turn catapults your reputation online. At the end of April, he’ll be unveiling a link networking program that will revolutionize what we can do for our clients.

Remember, take action, because 97% won’t.

Do I Really Need a Blog?

Were you planning on bringing a knife to a gun fight? Or you could cut out your tongue and try yelling…yes, of course, absolutely. Easy and cheap as they are, blogs are the most powerful and versatile weapons to have for local business online marketing and lead generation. Not to mention, they can be used by total internet newbies. I prefer the Wordpress blog platform. Not wordpress.COM – I mean wordpress.ORG…Big difference, both free. Not Blogger, either. Most importantly, with wordpress.org, you own the site and everything that goes with it.

What is So Special?

Many people have different answers to this, but I can safely say that across the boards, most people enjoy the versatility of blogs. They are highly interactive, constantly changing, easy to optimize for SEO, can be personality driven, can make money all night long, or capture emails, or pre-sell and direct traffic somewhere else. I consider them a nerve center, so to speak, a place where everything originates from and returns on purpose. I can link my blog directly to other powerful social sites. This means that as soon as I create valuable content and publish it, then my YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles immediately re-post them. Imagine dropping a boulder into a pond.

Isn’t my website enough?

Yes, your website is enough…if it captures emails, posts fresh content, new videos, linked to 100 social sites, and stays optimized with new valuable content. Face it, Google loves blogs, for all those reasons above. Google wants new – fresh content that’s relative, valuable and matches the title above it. People have short attention spans, and we are all vying for eyeball time. When someone gets to a blog they see action, people commenting, and followers following you.

Who has Time for All That?

“There is enough time for everything, but there is time for focus.” Remember, 97% of people won’t follow through and DO anything. People love to learn ‘how-to’ do something but rarely do. So, yes, you have time to post something new each day, because it doesn’t take a lot of time. Plus, since you’re getting together 20 different pieces of content (to start with) , don’t let them sit and rot. It will only take you 15-30 minutes to correctly post, optimize, and share every post. (That’s total time from zero content to complete viral sharing.)

How Do I Do It?

My blog has a video that shows every step, but it’s very easy. Get a domain name hosted, install Wordpress , choose a theme, get the right plug-ins, personalize it, then start posting articles, videos, pictures, etc. I prefer ‘Flexibility’ theme; plug-ins: Akismet, All-in-One SEO Pack, Sexy Bookmarks, XML Sitemap, Digg Digg, Facebook adder, and Tweetmeme to name a few.

Two Ways to Make the Sale

You can do one of two things nowadays to get someone to buy from, join you, or decide to do business with you. Old methods of cold calls, buying leads, newspaper ads, yellow pages, trade shows, etc. don’t work as well as they have in the past. Shotgun advertising without regard to what’s working, what can be changed, or tested. Placing commercials, display ads, postcards, handing out business cards is You hunting down the prospects, in hopes someone that gets their hands on you advertising May need you. Or…you can create a presence both online and in the real-world that positions you as the expert, in order for people to hunt You down. You can build a local business internet marketing presence.

Sounds Easier Said Than Done?

The internet has leveled the playing field for anyone that really wants to play (compete) in the game. Does it ever occur to you that mass advertising offline to multitudes (even ‘targeted’) is like throwing mud onto the wall to see what sticks? Wouldn’t it make more sense to position your information and expertise directly in front of people who are actively looking for it? Of course it does! Then, why isn’t everyone doing it? It takes a complete mindset shift for this to occur. I can assure you that it is even easier done than said, plus all your hard work can multiply itself.

Do I Have to Scream, “Look at Me!” from the Rooftops?

On the contrary, we want them to learn from you. Most human beings like being in or near the center of attention. If people’s eyeballs are pointing towards you, then you have a greater chance of communicating with them. As long as you have the solution to their pain, problem or predicament, you are valuable. Imagine showing a prospect how to fix a faucet, or tighten their sagging cheeks, as well as, providing information on what not to do. Again and again. This prospect would receive something valuable from you; thus, beginning the law of reciprocity. Which means they would feel indebted to you.

Where Do I Start?

This is where you being you Local Internet Marketing plan. I’ve lost count of all the people I’ve provided ‘help’ to that didn’t follow through. So, odds are with you that you will be successful just by taking action. Here’s what you do. Write down the answers to the top 10 faq’s that people ask you about your product or service. Then answer the next 10 questions that you think they ‘should’ be asking . Make 20 short videos, and 20 short articles, or blog posts. Now, get off your couch and put them on the internet.

OMG, are you kidding me?

Absolutely not, there are many different reasons why this will work (if done correctly). The internet is way more interactive nowadays and people like to share good valuable content. Pace yourself, or outsource it, but git-r-done. Trust me, 97% of people won’t do this, so be different and just do it. Good luck.

Define Your Target Market

I know this seems obvious, but many business owners still don’t complete this step. The internet makes this so much easier than the past. Finding the people that want your services or products are leaving clues everywhere they go. They are asking questions in chat rooms, forums, groups, and social sites. They are leaving comments on blog posts, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. They are creating their own personal blogs, pages, and groups, as well. Not to mention, all the articles that people are writing and receiving comments on. Local Online Marketing is exploding.

What Should You Be Looking For?

Look for what people want solutions to. Meaning, be aware and discover what problems, pains, predicaments that people are asking for help, direction, or clarification. Remember that people aren’t always looking to buy something. Many people like to DIY these days. If your product or service has the solution to their P’s, then you know where to focus.

Now What Do I Do?

Here’s what you don’t do. Don’t throw-up your product on them. GET INVOLVED. Involved in the commenting, direction, clarifying. Become someone that people begin to trust and look to for answers. (Before you present the fact that, “Oh by the way, I sell the solution.”) Take the time to ‘give-away’ some simple solutions to ordinary problems. i.e leaky faucet fixing, muscle stretches, stock understanding, home remodeling, teeth cleaning, beauty enhancement, etc.

I Don’t Have Time for All That

BS. You have plenty of time to build trust with people online, leave helpful comments (that others share around), add content to solve a problem, video yourself on your phone and upload it to YouTube, type in search keywords for questions that your target market is asking…ETC!!

You Don’t Have Time For…

Waiting until your competition DOES start doing this. Traditional advertising is dying. Local online advertising is exploding. Get ahead now.

Defining Your Target Local SEO

Eric Etka

www.LocalSEOSource.com

More local businesses are closing their doors than ever before. The economy is down. Traditional advertising doesnt work, and many good-hearted – hard working people are struggling.

Internet Marketing for Local Businesses

Everyday, millions of people are going to the internet to find local products and services. but the competition is harder than last year. In the past, it was easy to just have a website up and running to do the work for you. Now, with Web 2.0 and social sites, etc…the game has changed and the only people who really know how to play it are the actual ‘internet marketers’.

Ignoring it Will Make You Bankrupt

it’s no coincidence that the online economy is going up. Many people are raking in cash like never before. Yes, and some of them include ‘offline’ businesses. Face it, or ignore it and doom yourself. There are many avenues to market through that will bring traffic to your real world business. There is a steep learning curve, and the price isnt cheap. You can do three things. One, hire a professional to do it. Two, do it yourself. Three, Do nothing.