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07
Jul 2011
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Get Support for Your Local Business from ASBA (and a Great Deal!)

It has been a while since we have posted to the blog. It is not due to laziness but rather a new focus. Being a small business owner myself, I have quickly come to see the importance of buying from other local businesses. What really excites me is that I have found a way to use my business to promote other local businesses. We have been working in a lot of directions and there will definitely be more to come about it. For now, I want to tell you about a awesome business organization that I recently joined, Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA).

ASBA is all about supporting local and small businesses in Arizona so the group is a natural fit for us. I have also agreed to be a part of their effort to help the small businesses of our area become more successful.  During the month of July, I have committed to share the benefits of ASBA membership with you and to personally invite you to join me as an ASBA Member.

Joining is easy!  Click here to join, and when you get to the last page, use my special promo code jasmine711 to join for only $100! That’s an $85 savings.

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Posted in: Blog, Resources

13
Oct 2010
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Weekly Roundup: Following the Crowd, Marketing Trends

5 Trends that Will Shape Small Business in 2011

I don’t like to follow trends just for the sake of being trendy; however I do like to know what other people see as trends—it helps me determine which direction the marketing/business wind will blow. It is also fun to see how your own thoughts match up to those of the experts.

Overall, this article is fairly vanilla in its predictions. The last one about trusted networks as being a source of filtering information did catch my eye. It is an idea I have been exploring myself—I am working to position 910 West in just that position. It is a strategy that many businesses can use to help build their own street cred without having to create mountains of content.

Is Twitter for Business Even Worth the Trouble?

One trend that I have been watching and talking about a lot lately is the usefulness/longevity of Twitter. It seems that we are on the down side of the Twitter trend though there are still many prominent people who are Tweeting. This provides statistics about actual reach of Twitter (it is a lot smaller than you think) and asks whether it is a viable alternative to something like Facebook.

Why Social Supports Email in the Interactive Marketing Hub

Email is another marketing tool that has had its future questioned. I have been watching the debate closely because it success really is a mixed bag. In certain specific circumstances, I think it is a brilliant way to connect with clients and prospects. This article says much the same but he provides a lot more supporting evidence than I do.

Posted in: Blog, Marketing, Trends

23
Sep 2010
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Optimize Your Business with Local Search Slideshow

Optimize Your Business for Local Search on Prezi

Posted in: Blog, Marketing

11
Aug 2010
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

Weekly Roundup: Social Media Takes a Time Out

This week we take a break from social media and online marketing articles and look at a couple of more generic business and marketing related topics.

Tips for Taking Better Photos

Laura Segall is a Phoenix, AZ wedding photographer who also happens to be a client and good friend of mine. She recently enlisted my help to choose a presentation topic for the local Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) chapter. She had the brilliant idea of talking about how to take better photos—something any good bridal consultant (and self-marketing business owner for that matter) should know. This post is the written version of that presentation. It is a quick read full of helpful, practical, and most of all easy to follow tips. I often have clients who want to use their own photos in their marketing materials and most of them are just awful. If you are going to take your own photos, then you should absolutely read this article and follow Laura’s tips for improving them.

These Jobs Ain’t Coming Back

As the owner of small but growing business, I am seeing first hand how much small business contributes to our economy. A good friend of mine was recently laid off from her state job, which could have been devastating to her family except that I happened to be in need of a talented graphic designer. We started out working on a per-project contract basis, but if all goes according to plan she will be working full-time for me within a year. This article captures that concept and proposes that supporting small businesses is the way to get more jobs into the economy. I agree!

How To Talk To Small Business

Selling to the small business owner is very different than selling to a larger company. As this article discusses, small business owners are not spending someone elses money (they way a purchaser for a larger company is) but instead taking money from their own pocket and needs. When selling to a small business, you need to keep this difference in mind and tailor your approach.

Posted in: Blog, Marketing, Resources

01
Jul 2010
Posted by Jasmine
1 comment

Small Business Photo: A Smart Website

I met Laird Brown over a year ago and have enjoyed getting to know him and his Phoenix, AZ photography business. As a savvy and cost conscious small business owner, Laird has created a lot of his marketing collateral himself. I will tell the truth here—I normally turn my nose up at self-made marketing materials especially websites. Most of the time they look very templated and have very poor content.

Laird’s website is absolutely the exception. It is not a super sophisticated design but it looks nice (and not at all templated) and more importantly the content is completely optimized to the needs of his consumer. You can tell from his website that he totally gets his client, knows what they want, and has made it easy to find.  Check out Laird’s website below or at smallbusinessphoto.com along with a few of my points on what makes this website so strong.

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Posted in: Blog, Business profiles

30
Apr 2010
Posted by Jasmine
3 comments

Optimize You Business for Local Search Step 4: Tips for Success

Congratulations! You’re well on your way to an awesome local search listing. Below are a few tips to make sure you are the first listing in the search results: (Read the post Optimize Your Business for Local Search for a basic introduction to local search.)

  1. Claim your listings! Do not orphan your business listing or let your competitor hijack it. They are really hard to get back.
  2. Choose your keywords wisely. They should be relevant, appropriate, and specific to your service and service area.
  3. Ask for reviews. Get a lot of and split them between your Google and Yahoo accounts for the best results. Don’t worry about negative press. Simply respond and address the concerns. Prospects love to see that you are participating on the conversation and responding to comments.
  4. Add a street address and local phone to every page on your website. The address and phone must match your local listings but help reinforce your localness.

Posted in: Blog, Marketing, Marketing tips

29
Apr 2010
Posted by Jasmine
1 comment

Optimize You Business for Local Search Step 3: Yellow Pages Listings

There are a few yellow page directories online. Many of them have free listings that you can upgrade for a small fee. For local search purposes, the basic, free listings are sufficient. We recommend creating listing on the two main directories: SuperPages.com and YellowPages.com. (Read the post Optimize Your Business for Local Search for a basic introduction to local search.)

If you have some extra time or just want to go that extra mile, check out the other directories and create listings on a few. I’ve included an excerpt from Planet Ocean’s “The Professional SEO’s Blueprint to Local Search Optimization” for more information.

Deciding which internet yellows pages to list your business with is a 3-step process:

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Posted in: Blog, Marketing, Marketing tips

27
Apr 2010
Posted by Jasmine
1 comment

Optimize You Business for Local Search Step 1: Create Listings

Don’t worry about getting listed on every search engine. There are four top players in the local search game. Focus on them and you’ll be set. (Read the post Optimize Your Business for Local Search for a basic introduction to local search.)

  1. Google Maps http://maps.google.com/
    Search results are shown in the local one-box also known as the local 7-pack or 3-pack depending on the number of business listings available. Google pulls data from online yellow pages and business listings so there is a good chance that you already have a listing. If you don’t claim your listing then a competitor could and steal your business. Use the Local Business Center to claim or create your listing and add goodies about your business.
  2. Google Mobile Search http://www.google.com/mobile/
    Uses your cell phone to triangulate your location so search results are relevant to your immediate area. Since it’s a Google product, some of the data from your Local Business listing will be included but you should still make sure it is complete and accurate.
  3. Yahoo Local http://local.yahoo.com/
    Search results are shown in a 3-pack. While Google listings are totally free, Yahoo offers a free basic listing but charges a small fee of $9.95 per year to add extras like photos and videos to your profile. It is worth the 10 bucks to have your business stand out in the crowd. Yahoo also places a lot of weight on the number of reviews for where a listing ranks.
  4. Bing Maps http://bing.com/maps
    Use the Bing Local Listing Center to fill-out your profile. The algorithm is murky so don’t focus too much on Bing. A complete profile should be sufficient.

Check back tomorrow for Step 2: Beef Up Your Listings which includes suggestions on how-to make your listings stand out in the crowd.

Posted in: Blog, Marketing, Marketing tips

26
Jan 2010
Posted by Jasmine
0 comments

5 Days Left in the Intuit's Love a Local Business New Year's Resolution

Only 5 days left to promote your favorite business and possibly put $250 in your own pocket. Nominating your local business puts them in a drawing for a grant worth $35,000. I know EXACTLY how I’d spend in on 910 West if I won. Here’s how you can join in:

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Posted in: Blog, News

14
Jan 2010
Posted by Jasmine
1 comment

Don’t Jump Without a Chute

Another New Year’s Day is past and by now you have probably completely forgotten about your resolutions. The end of the year and beginning of the next always puts me in the mood to plan ahead. I reflect on what I did the previous year—what worked and what went up in flames. And most importantly, I start planning for the upcoming year. I have never really been one to choose New Year’s resolutions, they are too frail and easily put aside, but I believe in the importance of setting goals.

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Posted in: Blog, Marketing