Hello, Sarasota. This blog brings me mostly national clients, but I wanted to talk to my local area because there are many in this area that truly do not understand how important a web site, a blog and search engine optimization (SEO) is for their business. I am going to tell you and I hope you will keep an open mind.
A Web Site
I am hoping that if you read this you understand how important it is to have a web site. The Internet is currently, in my opinion, the best way for potential clients/customers to find you. I do not care who you are or how much, or how little, money you have…you need a web site if you want to do well.
Your Web Site Should:
- Feature your business name and the local cities you serve
- It should feature your services and/or products
- It should discuss why you are great at what you do
- It should be written in a professional manner with optimized content- preferably by an SEO Copywriter
- Your web site should be optimized
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Well, I am going to put this in simple terms. The goal of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is to increase traffic, and the quality of your traffic, to your web site. More traffic is great, but if that traffic doesn’t need your services or products you won’t make more money. However, we want people to be aware of who you are. They may not use your services now, but they may later…all traffic is good.
A Sarasota Business Example
Let’s look at the Suncoast Defensive Driving School in Sarasota. {Bill Rowell is a fabulous driving instructor; I used him for my son :-)}. Ok, back to the point, Bill’s web site shows up on the first page of Google for several important keyword phrases:
- Sarasota Drivers Ed
- Sarasota Drivers Education
- Sarasota Driver School
- Sarasota Driving School
- Sarasota Driving Instructor
- Sarasota Teensmart
- Sarasota Defensive Driving School
- Sarasota Online Driving School
- Venice Driver School
- Venice Driving School
- Venice Driving Instructor
- Venice Florida Drivers Ed
- Venice Online Driving School
- Bradenton Driver School
- Bradenton Driving School
- Bradenton Driving Instructor
- Bradenton Drivers Education
- Bradenton Drivers Ed
- Bradenton Online Driving School
I could keep going, but you get the point. Right now, people in the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice area are going to see The Suncoast Defensive Driving School when they need any of the above services for their kids. SEO used his services as keywords and his location as keywords and the result was a boatload of Google page one results. This is what optimization is about and I hope you can see why you need it.
I will say that some keyword phrase are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get page one rankings for. For example, “Sarasota real estate”, “Siesta Key real estate” and anything related to it would be nearly impossible, unless you were really willing to dedicate a lot of time and effort.
However, if you are a local seamstress you have a shot. If you are a local handyman that wants to have a web site, you have a pretty good shot. If you are not in real estate in Sarasota you have a great shot 🙂 In Sarasota optimization and web sites have not been heavily focused on, so if you are a small business I say now is the time to jump in there and grab your place on the net!
An Affordable Web Site
I know many people that have asked local web designers for a quote and tried not to faint when they got an answer. Well, I am here to tell you that you can have an online store for as low as $40 a month, you can have a 10 page web site for less than $10 a month, you can have an outstanding web site for a lot less (you just have to know where to find it!). Web sites are affordable. You may have a large business, but you don’t want to put out thousands of dollars for a web site. I don’t blame you at all! I have two Sarasota business web sites and they cost me less than $240 a year, but the money they make me is fantastic…I didn’t need to drop $10,000 to make money.
You can also consider using a blog as a web site. Since I started this blog I have increased my income dramatically. Why? I discuss my services, what I do, what the results are and how it can be done affordably. People trust me because they read my articles/posts. They get to know me and learn about SEO and small business marketing. Why not go to someone you trust? You have the same opportunity.
Check out Blog or Web Site? Which is More Beneficial For You? Part 1 and Part 2.
At the end of this article I am going to have some links to articles that will tell you how you can save money on a business web site.
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An Online Web Presence
All Sarasota businesses need to truly consider how important a web site could, and will be, for you. You can increase your web presence in several ways:
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- A web site
- A blog
- Online articles about your business
- Social Media
- Web 2.0
- Press Releases
- Forums and message boards…
Again, I could go on and on. My point is you can afford it and the services are available if you need them! Sit down and consider your budget; what can you afford? What do you need? You can make it happen.
If you have any questions feel free to email me. I am a small business and I love to help other small business owners.
Melissa Fach- SEOAware.com – PanacaWriting.com – SRQWebDesign.com
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Informational Articles
- Affordable, Optimized Web Design Services Available Nationwide? YES!
- Need a Great, Affordable, Interactive Web Site? I Found a Way to Have it ALL!
- Obtaining An Extremely Professional Web Site and Save
- Some Basic Web Site Psychology to Consider When Designing a Web Site
- How to Cross-Market Your Blog and Your Business, Promoting Each to Each Other’s Audience
- Money Saving Tips for Small Businesses, Freelancers & Consultants
- Does Your Business Have a Marketing Plan? Elements to Consider Part 2
- When You Have a Business the Internet Can Make You or Break You
- Simple Web 2.0- How Web 2.0 Can Help Your Business Grow.
- Are There Negative Reviews About Your Business Online?
- 3 Areas You Cannot Ignore When Optimizing for Local Search
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