Small and mid-sized business owners are faced with a dilemma in considering using digital marketing. Should we use Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social media marketing, paid adds, etc.? Each cost in their own way; money, time and opportunity costs. With the economy in poor shape, picking wrong and not capturing revenue through effective marketing can cause financial distress.
For over a decade, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) was the buzz. Get links – any links – even spammy links – and your web site will get to the front page of the search engines. Thousands will find and visit your site. Sales will soar. Or will they…
Social media marketing is done through sites focused upon engagement between people, such as Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube amongst others. It is about building relationships and engaging with people. Information is given freely and the traditional marketing flow of know – like – trust rules the day.
Social media takes engagement, but it bypasses search engines. People find you by the content you post and the comments you make. They see the questions you answer and the people you help and they make a decision to visit your site.
Social media marketing requires a strategy, great content, a commitment to deliver incredible free value, and an intense customer focus. SEO requires a budget high enough to get the site to the top.
But, as you can see from the chart above, social media can also have a positive impact on search engine results. The links from social media and the comments and sharing are picked up by search engines and help sites rank higer. The site in question saw its visitors fall after the search engine algorithm updates, but then saw a rebound through social media marketing.
Social media is also “evergreen.” It continues to work over time and the results build upon themselves. Keep doing it, your results keep getting better. SEO gets hammered frequently by search engine changes designed to provide better results.
Don’t know how to use social media? It is one of the key elements that I use in my marketing and implement in my clients’ marketing programs. I’ve also set a mission to help 1,000 small businesses market dramatically better by 2015. To help me reach my goal I’ve set aside a number of slots each week to help small/mid-sized business owners with their marketing. If you’d like a free hour of time with the 8th ranked small business marketing resource on the Internet, sign up here. We’ll come up with at least three ideas you can put to use immediately to propel your business forward. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Michael
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The Cogent Coach Blog – #8 Small Biz Marketing Resource on the Internet
877-242-4812
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P.S. If you’d like to learn more about how to use the Internet in your small business marketing, check out the free handbooks on the top right of the page. They will help you structure your online presence and take advantage of internet marketing the right way!
P.P.S. If you would like to spend an hour working on your marketing (free!) with the #8 ranked small business marketing resource on the internet, click here to sign up. I can only work with a handful of clients at a time, but to support my mission to help as many small businesses as possible grow their businesses and thrive, I hold a number of spots open each week to lend a hand to anybody who might benefit from improved marketing. I’m looking forward to our time together and helping you with your small business marketing!
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