“Rob has done a fantastic job updating our website. As new owners of our marina we needed updates to our site quickly, and professionally. We sent our vision to Rob and he was spot on to what we had in mind. He’s been prompt with requests, and has done exceptional work! Wouldn’t do business with anyone else!!”
After a job has been successfully completed, don’t forget to ask for a #GoogleReview on your #GoogleMyBusiness#GoogleMaps listing. And if you can get a review on LinkedIn, BBB and FB as well, all the better. This not only helps with #LocalSEO (#trust with the search engines, but trust with potential clients as well.
“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.” – Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas broadcast, 2019
“Rob was able to modify and create a professional look to our Home Improvement Shop website. All aspects of our expectations were accomplished and we couldn’t be happier with the look of our page. Thanks Rob!
Tip # 913: This is a public service announcement – I don’t mind playing well in the sandbox with other SEO agencies – if they let me. If they see SEO improvements to be made to your website (#onpageseo), I don’t mind making them (so long as it does not interfere with the design of the website – if possible).
However, don’t fall for empty promises, control, scare-mongering or being strong-armed into a new website when the site you have is good. Be sure to research their reviews and give me a call before signing anything.
I’ll be honest, ethical and won’t steer you wrong. We can work together on the best, most efficient, and affordable ways to promote your website to the right audience.
“You are a genius. That wording is perfect. It would have taken me days to write something like that. You need to know that people really like the look of the website. They are surprised that it is more than just a bunch of words on a page – designed and classy looking. Thanks for making us look good while I try to make it taste good.” – Ruth Bolstad, Ruth’s On Stafford
Ruth is my perfect client. She knows what her value is and she knows how to sell it. In her case, she’s built an awesome email marketing following where she sends the weekly specials. All she needed was a website to drive traffic to and solidify her online as well as offline reputation. Needless to say, thanks to this combo, she is very very busy.
Someone is always willing to do it for cheaper, but you get what you pay for. And BTW, WordPress “Developers” (who use pre-built themes) are not excluded from this phrase. #SEOMatters
If you are going to build a #website, why not build one that is more than just pretty? Why not build one that is worthy of being #found via solid #onpageseo techniques?
Matt offers interior/exterior painting and drywall repair services. He did both our old house and our new one in 2017. Painting like web design may sound simple. But it is not – if you want to do it right. There is an art to making sure it looks good when done and Matt really knows what he is doing.
It doesn’t matter what website tool was used, or what third party manages the website contact form, filtering out of #SPAM is not a perfect science. So in short – Check the #SpamFolder!
There are ways to manage #EmailSettings on the server side. They include #SPF records. Contact your host for more info. You can also use a third party like #JotForm who also has #HIPPA compliant forms if needed. However, check the SPAM folder.
#EmailDelivery is paramount. Did I mention check your spam folder?
Stockholm, Sweden – January 11, 2021: An envelope with spam in it, not digital spam but the canned ham type of spam symbolizing unwanted junk in your e-mail.
“His work ethic and concern to provide great service and a professional product was impressive…The result has been more hits on the website and highly favorable comments from those that have visited the site.”
– Steve Lindgren, Richfield Spartan Foundation
The #RichfieldSpartanFoundation provides #grants to #Richfield youth in the form of a variety of honors and awards recognizing outstanding achievement in our #community. These funds are primarily raised via a #GolfEvent in June every year.
Why do anything yourself when you can hire a pro to do it for you – thereby freeing yourself to do what you do best – run your business. I believe this applies to web design as well as marketing – like social media. However, if you must do social media on your own (like I do) here are a few tips to run it on a shoe string budget…
“Since he started our event website, The Website Guy is indeed the one to build your websites. … We are very highly satisfied with his work.” – #MichaelUdofot, #BusinessTradeFair
I first built the site for Michael in 2014. The event, while small and local, was a huge success. Now, he’s going big. Check out this epic event scheduled for the #MinneapolisConventionCenter Oct 1 of 2022! If you are a local business, you don’t want to miss this chance to be see, network and hobnob with local businesses like you! Register today!
When life’s events get you frustrated, or if you are frustrated with your #website or #smallbusines #marketing #HoneyDo list, very simply, #KeepCalm and #HireAWebDesigner
Phone not ringing? The issue may be larger than simply not effectively promoting your website in the right places.
Have a looked at your Google Webmaster Tools account and see what terms are being used to search for you? You can compare this to your Google Analytics account to see where the traffic is coming from. Do you have a Google / Bing Maps listing for local visibility?
If you need help setting up any one of the three, let me know.
“Do not focus on numbers. Focus on doing what you do best. It’s about building a community who want to visit your site every day because you create value and offer expertise.” -Cassey Ho, Founder of Blogilates.com
@JimLeslie with #Leadership3P has been with me for many years. He’s an excellent business coach specializing in maximizing the return on leadership & employees, thus maximizing the return on profits.
“We appreciate the consistent timeliness, attentiveness, follow-up, and professionalism.” – Jim Leslie, Leadership 3P
When it comes to #KeywordResearch – yes, there are tools. However, recent PPC experience tells me that not all high traffic “related” #keywords that are “relevant” to your website are actually relevant to the user to used it. If the click doesn’t result in a #conversion, because the user is not a potential client (rather than the competition) what good does it do? Robots cannot replace common sense when it comes to keywords.
Today I am looking for that small business owner who is currently struggling with building a website for their business and they are using a DIY self-hosted web-based website builder like #WIX, #Weebly, #SquareSpace or others.
Recent experience with one of these (I won’t say which) tells me that UX is STILL not as intuitive as one would think. And that’s just building the site to be visually appealing, this doesn’t even include the back-end SEO required to make efforts worth it. This is where I can help.
If you are going to venture into the world of #PPC (#PayPerClick), be sure to hire a certified partner who knows what they are doing in terms of getting conversions, not just views.
Calling Google directly, and getting someone overseas that is evidently a (quote) “certified partner” (instead of someone who works for Google directly as expected) may not be in your best interest,
Who exactly do I suggest? I don’t know yet as I am still looking. Perhaps your web host if they have a team? Or someone local? (I might have a name). BUT – perhaps instead of PPC on Google search results, perhaps try advertising on specific websites first instead such as FB, #Alignable, #NextDoor, or other local or industry specific partners where your target market is looking for you. #LocalVisibility
When it comes to PPC, one cannot just think about traffic, actual conversions & calls / emails (not just ad clicks) must be part of the plan – or the budget is wasted. That’s my personal experience anyway.
@FrankMelton with @FMRoofingServices has been with me since the beginning (2013 – my first referral and 2nd site in my current website builder software). He’s allowed me to redesign his site 2 times over the last many years. He’s a great friend and very talented at what he does #Roofing in #StLouisMO. If you’re in the area, and you need a roof, he’s the man!
“Don’t get distracted. Never tell yourself that you need to be the biggest brand in the whole world. Start by working on what you need at the present moment and then what you need to do tomorrow. So, set yourself manageable targets.”
Today, as always, I am looking for that person you may or may not have done business with, and they are lamenting to you how horrible their #WebsiteBuilder is and the lack of visibility online. Whether it be #WIX, #Weebly, #SquareSpace, #WordPress, or a host specific website builder, it may be easier to build something pretty, but the back end #SEO is not always user intuitive. This is where I can help. I’d love an introduction.
“…I’ve received so many compliments on my new web page and I’ve received double the amount of work… ” – Heide Westerman, http://www.ProTintMN.com
Heide has been a valued client since before I was even a website builder full time and let me update the design of her website twice over since the initial design way back before 2010. She has also tinted the windows for a couple of cars we used to own. She is truly gifted at what she does.
Promoting a business without a website is like sitting at an outdoor event without a tent. Expecting just a FB page to be enough is silly, likewise – expecting the shade of a tree to be enough is just plain silly.
Tip # 0726: If you are going to sit outside all day at an outdoor business trade fair / community event without a pop-up tent, and your legs haven’t seen the light of day in ages, #PutOnMoreSunscreen! Evidently the tree shade was not enough and resulted in a patchy sun-burn – which is hilariously worse than a fun sunburn. Oh the visual!
Tip # 0719 – Don’t forget a website as part of your online presence.
If you’re on social media actively promoting your passion & expertise – that is awesome! But if you are simply driving folks to call / email / text and not using it to drive traffic to a website – oh you deserve so much more. Here’s why… #BeVisibleOutsideSocialMedia
Have you recently done business with someone due to a referral you received, but when you went to find them online, only minimal information was available? Perhaps only a FB page or a Google Maps listing but no website?
Granted the referral was enough to “sell you” BUT it would have been nice to know a bit more BEFORE the meeting so you didn’t have to ask so many questions or make them “sell” you in the consultation. That is who I am looking for.
A website is an excellent way to showcase what a business owner can do and answer questions before the initial meeting. This can save time and energy on both sides in the initial meeting. Let a website sell you rather than you selling the website.
Nancy owns #PutnamProperties – an apartment management company in the twin cities. Part of what I do for her is post her rental availabilities to a trio of sites (1 syndicates to another trio of sites). She is always good about letting me know that what I do is valuable to her rental success:
“I got some good response this afternoon already so your action does make a big difference! 😊 wanted you to know that!!” – Nancy
She is also one of my oldest clients. 10+ years now.
Tip # 0712 – Don’t forget to promote your new website.
Gone are the days of #BuildItAndTheyWillCome when it comes to #websitedesign. It must be tirelessly (yet in a non-spammy way) promoted where your target market is looking for you. Such places include #localdirectories, #industryspecificdirectories, and of course #socialmedia – 1 post at a time. It takes time, but it will be organic. There is a nifty resource for the first one – #MozLocal. Check it out. For the others, it is simply a matter of sliding that into your morning or evening routine. And don’t forget to #network in groups like the #ChamberOfCommerce, #LinkedIn & #BNI / #AGC / #HNP etc.
Have you recently done business with someone who is doing really well business wise because of a solid reputation (word of mouth referrals), but does NOT have the time to think about marketing or an online presence by way of a website that reflects who they are and what they can do? That is who I am looking for today. Why? Because they deserve to look as good online as they do offline.
This is #CommonCentsBookkeeping (of MN). It is my wife’s business. She is my inspiration and my good friend. She let me redo her website a could years ago.
This is what she said: “The process went very smoothly and my preferences were always given priority… Thank you so much for my wonderful new website. I love it!”.
Website tip # 0705: If you have more than one #domainname that has a website attached to it, invest in a separate #hosting account for each website. That way, if one gets moved or removed by the hosting company, the other sites are not affected.
Long story short: A hosting company moved a #WordPress site from non-managed to managed hosting (their decision?). However, they did not see the 2 #addondomains under that root folder and 2 websites were lost. Thankfully, yours truly managed one of them and was able to restore it easily. Hint – it was NOT built with a web-based CMS.
Robert E. Shurtleff 