In a recent BrightLocal poll in which they asked whether local businesses need a blog, 68% think every local business should have one. OK. But they further asked, Do they need a website? The results here were interesting and not as clear cut.

Because of Google’s contribution to their own search engine results page (SERP), one might almost wonder

whether the effort is worthwhile. Google’s activity actually directs people away

from clicking on the individual website. While 97% of consumers looked online for a local business in 2017, only 80% visited a website as a result of their search.

“While visiting a business’ website remains the most common next step (37%), consumers are now more likely than before to get in touch directly. A significant 17% of consumers will now visit the business after reading positive reviews—a huge jump from 7% in 2016. And what’s more, 10% now contact the business as their next step—up again from 3%.” Read more →

Six ways to deal with negative reviews

Many business stay offline because they fear the negative review. Is there a case to be made for the benefit of a negative review? There is. Consider the following six concepts regarding negative reviews.

Freedom

Allowing consumers to give a negative review is a statement of our belief that within certain parameters freedom of speech is a healthy thing. As we know, that can be misused or legally thwarted. For example: Should a company be allowed to threaten a consumer with disparagement for a negative review? As recently as 2015, this was a common practice. Read more →

Properly Marketing your Website

Your website should be more than a business card. Business cards have the bare essentials – a statement of your name, address, & phone number. That helpful card is what you (used to) hand to someone who asked, “What do you do?” As you gave your well practiced 1-2 minute explanation, you deftly reached into your pocket, took out your business card and offered it to your questioner. Your potential customer.

More Time

But deep inside, you wish you had more time to really give a proper explanation of the services and products you offer. Your elevator pitch hardly scratches the surface. It’s that key Cornerstone Content that you’d really like to pass on. When the meeting happens at your website, you have the upper hand! There is every opportunity to be fully prepared. To answer the question fully. To give that potential customer your Cornerstone Content. Read more →

“It’s not nice to fool the Internet Searcher!”

Right up there with “fake news” as a current-event irritant, are “fake reviews.” No one appreciates being fooled with something fake, especially when decisions are hanging in the balance. So we appreciate the research of BrightLocal in publishing their annual Local Consumer Review Survey-2017.

Published since 2010, this year’s sample of consumers queried was 1,031 US-based consumers, who provided answers to 18 questions in October 2017. The report includes graphs which compare the result of 2017 with that of 2016 and 2015, offering a helpful view of how trends have changed over time.

Greatest benefit would be obtained, along the path to Five-Star reviews, by reading the original report. However, as the survey provides a helpful list of key findings, this review of the review will focus on some of those key findings, adding personal opinionated comments.

We assume three key factors for each reader: Read more →

Two Sides of the Coin

Plainly put, there’s always two sides to a story. Often seen as the “good side” and the “bad side.” You are aware that Internet Ads is one of those coins. There is a flip side. A heads and a tails. “What are they?” you ask. “I’d be happy to tell you,” I reply.

Let’s take heads first. I grew up enduring TV ads, wishing someone could do something about them. Too many, too long and always interrupting the story. Did you know that they actually sped up sitcoms like Seinfeld so they could squeeze in another commercial? Check it out. Even when TV as a major source of entertainment began to fade, the big networks continued to exploit their captive audience with more and more ads.  Read more →

Three classy things to learn

First, class, is the website address. This is the part that is visible and advertised to everyone. For example, Alliant’s address is, AlliantTechnology.com. Making the address, or domain name, more readable by using capital letters is a helpful marketing tool and has no effect on the way the Internet sees your address.

To make sure that you alone have the right to use the address for your website, you must register the name. The domain name is registered with a Domain Name Registrar for an annual fee. If you forget to renew the registration, you lose the right to the name. Read more →

What is the chief online discovery tool of the Internet Age?

In an online article for SMBs appearing June 1, 2016, the eMarketer said, “Most Small Businesses [are] Discovered Online First.” That is the new preeminent discovery tool of your potential customer.

More specifically the article stated, “More than one-third of US internet users said they first find out about small businesses when researching online…” If that doesn’t pique your interest, what about this statement? “Walking into a local store, meanwhile, was the least likely path to discovery.” That certainly grabbed mine! Online discovery is not the only tool. Those who fail to use their feet? Adventure lost. Read more →

Deciphering the IT “aaS” code

What is FWaaS?

There are many acronyms in the internet technology industry ending “aaS.” SaaS, HaaS, and FWaaS are three. The “aaS” ending means as a service. So SaaS is software as a service, while HaaS is hardware as a service. And FWaaS is firewall as a service.

FWaaS includes all the technology required to provide remote firewall management. The service which Alliant provides through Dell combines the firewall appliance with security and management software plus all related support services bundled into a monthly subscription price which avoids upfront cost or investment. Read more →

Why Do You Have a Website?

So you have a website. Maybe even a beautiful website! Who visits? Do you know? What difference does it make? If you knew the gender/age of your website visitors would you do anything differently? Different in regard to marketing? Different in regard to design? Different in regard to content? Such information might even help to answer the question, why do I have a website?

A BrightLocal article by Ross Marchant, Gender vs. Age – what different consumer groups really want from local business websites, provides some excellent insight to help you decide what purpose your website should be accomplishing. Read more →

Shortcuts to Search Like An Expert

All of us need help when it comes to Google Search. Lots of results can be unhelpful if the result is not what you were looking for.

The key to drawing closer to technological perfection in Google Search is here. These tips are very helpful and easy to use. We will provide ten this month and ten next. These are taken from an extensive Hubspot list of 31 tips. Can’t wait? Click on the link.

While the explanation is brief, the Google Search experience is rich. You’ll learn best by simply giving it a try. Read more →