Does Google Hate Facebook?

My User Name on Facebook is "Kenneth.M.Stewart". Google doesn't list me (on the first page) if I search using "Facebook Kenneth.M.Stewart". Using the same search on Bing and Yahoo, I come up as the first Entry.

Does Google hate Facebook?

Don't be A One-Legged Centipede

The Marketing Plan of most big businesses is like a hundred leg centipede. They have infinite money and can use it in a hundred ways to get your attention.

You can think of each marketing strategy as a "leg". Some examples of legs are:

(1) Run Newspaper Ads.

(2) Get High on Search Engines.

(3) Advertise in Magazines.

(4) Use Email Marketing.

(5) Use Social Networking for target marketing.

(6) Develop a website.

(7) Advertise on TV.

(8) Develop an "air of expertise".

(9) Use Twitter.

(10) Use Text Marketing.

(11) Integrate multiple websites.

(12) Promote Facebook Business Pages.

(13) Use outdoor (billboard) advertising.

(14) Stress Referrals (paid, unpaid, online, offline).

(15) Use the latest "new thing".

(16) Collect and display references.

(17) Use Guerrilla Marketing techniques.

(18) Advertise in one of the "Yellows" - Yellow Book, Yellow Pages (In my opinion, a bad idea).

Legs need to work together. Big business often has trouble coordinating their legs. Big business takes a long time to implement the latest "new thing" - creating opportunities for the more nimble small business.

Different businesses need different legs. Selecting the right legs for your business can give you a leg up (pun intended) on your competition. A business with these legs can run to success.

Our business is to help a few local small firms choose and use the right legs.

Websites and Twitter

Been figuring out how to tweet from a website. I'm sure one of my subcontractor is up on all of this, but I love to program (or whatever the modern term is). Twitter should be one part of any comprehensive marketing plan.

Who is Golden?

Most businesses treat Prospects as if they were Golden and Customers as if they were "a Dime a Dozen". If I have to chose, I would reverse this.

Power of Tweets

Saw a website selling a book. It had a link letting you download a chapter free if you first tweeted your friends that you were reading the book. If you can give something away free, consider adding a link like this to your website.

Jack of All Trades, Master of All Trades

In today's world, your clients expect you to know everything. If you work hard, you don't have to disappoint them. Know what you are best at. Work hard to cover other areas. Consider subcontracting for areas you don't have time to master. Google can give you the advice of the best experts in the world.

Should you have a Referral Program?

Directv $100 Referral Program may be the most famous "Finder's Fee" program. I guess it works or they wouldn't promote it so much.

A good rule is, if you are a small business, consider doing what the big companies are doing. If your expected profit from a new sale can support a reasonable referral fee, consider offering it. Commonsense rules can protect you and may lead to a significant increase in sales.

If you are interested in Esearchfor.com's Referral Program, please contact me (I wouldn't bother to mention it if the return wasn't much greater than Directv's).

Your Business, Your Problems, Are they valuable?

If you have been in business long, you have overcome problems.

Have you ever wanted advice from someone who has faced the same business problems as you? Maybe your clients could benefit from your experience.

We design and host web sites, get people high on search engines, and provide general computer services. But perhaps our most valuable services is sharing what we have done right and wrong over decades of being a Memphis business.

What irritates you

Have you ever had a computer problem – and your call to technical support was answered by a machine – or – a person who may or may not be speaking English? - think about what makes you mad - if it makes your prospects mad, offer a solution.

Our clients have my cell number.

Do People trust you?

Is trust an issue? People won't buy from you if they don't trust you. Have you thought about how to gain their trust in an honest, ethical way? If you can convince someone that they need your services and can afford them, then lack of trust is the only thing in the way of a sale.

If you are honest, there are simple techniques to overcome this last obstacle.

Think Selfish, Then Unselfish

Think about what you want (for example, more customers) and then ask yourself if your customers and prospects want the same thing. If so, then ask yourself how you can help them get what they want (and why you are the one to help them).

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (23)

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (31)

Esearchfor.com, Inc. (31)

Snap Judgments

I think Snap Judgments are valuable if we recognize we may be completely wrong. For example, I don't like Quickmark, a QR code reader app. I can't make it work and don't have time to study their Help section. Good apps need to be unbelievably intuitive. We are all drowning in a sea of information. We need to make snap judgments, but be willing change our minds.

Outbrain - Related Link Widgets

Experimenting with the blogthis tool

Outbrain - Related Link Widgets

QR Code and Outbrain

Downloaded Quickmark QR Reader to iphone - jury out on usefulness, outbrain shows promise.

Experimenting with Outbrain

Went to a meeting today, Outbrain was recommended, there is too much information in the world.

Search Experiment, Travel Agent, Memphis

If you are looking for a "Memphis Travel Agent", see godestinationwedding.com

Using LinkedIn for promotion

No one reads my blog but me, but I can copy pieces for a LinkedIn promotion.