Archive for May 2011

Ok- so you spent a lot of money and time developing the PERFECT website that visually epitomizes everything you and your business is about. You had some help with the messaging and implemented search engine optimized techniques. You were trained how to use your WordPress or Joomla site, you added one blog post and ta-da: now the site is done. So now what? This is where many people get lazy and just stop. They think that because the SEO I implemented on their site got them on page one of Google rankings that they no longer have to worry about doing anything to their site, or marketing it, for that matter: "It will just bring new clients to me on its own, right?" MAYBE, BUT NOT GUARANTEED.

One of my favorite quotes I saw from a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company rings so true:

Launching a website without an ongoing marketing plan is like spending the money and time on a tv commercial and never buying air time to show it.

So what can you do? The beauty of content management sites (CMS) like WordPress and Joomla are not only are they easy to navigate and update (once trained) but there are thousands of tips on how to make changes and how to get a better client base by installing pre-programmed widgets (like newsletter sign up forms) all over the internet. I personally give my clients techniques on how to write search engine optimized posts and content, as well as how to drive content back to your site through the use of eNewsletters and social media. But despite how easy and how CHEAP it is to do your own marketing, the excuses still take hold: "I don't have time."

My retort: "So you have time to complain about the economy, have time to worry about money, but don't have time to put 1/2 an hour a week into free marketing ideas?" Crazy. I am all about taking the bulls by the horns and that is what it takes. Now it doesn't mean you have to dedicate your life to marketing all the time, but 1/2 an hour to 2 hours a week can really do wonders.

If you don't know where to start, just start with some goals. Make a list of how many new clients you want per month and how much time and money you have to spend to acquire those clients. The work backwards. If you want 5 new clients a month, then you need to get about 20 hot leads, which means you need to get the word out to about 75+ people (these are totally rough numbers just to give you an idea). Anyways, if you get lost or confused, you can always hire a marketing consultant. But if not, you can start with that and then make a plan of action.

If you are worried about money but have time on your hands, the first thing you can do is start researching eNewsletter options, such as Constant Contact, MailChimp, Vertical Response, as well as thousands of others. It is a great way to get people who are already interested in you to take action.

The next thing you can do is start setting up your social networks as well as your free business listings in Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Relevant links back to you always help the validity of your site as well as help people who are interested be able to connect with you.

I am working on a series of new artworks called "Healing." It is taking me to new places in not only my art technique and process, but inside of myself, especially in how I look at my thoughts. Funny how thoughts have a way of dictating our lives whether we know it or not. These mysterious, invisible things come and go into our mind sometimes with announcement and sometimes sneaking up on us, hiding in the shadows.

I decided I wasn't happy with what I was thinking in the last week so I consciously chose to change my thoughts a few days ago- I noticed I was getting glum- probably a byproduct of the returning snow and dark skies- or maybe something else all together. I spoke to a few friends and returned to a favorite book, Louse Hay's You Can Heal Your Life. I love this book. Louise herself changed her thoughts enough to heal herself from cancer. You don't have to be a believer to read it though. In her prosperity section she provides some mantras as a replacement for those other thoughts we are familiar with... you know the ones I am talking about: "There's not enough", "I want money,"... you know the song. Anyways, she replaces them with positive affirmations about abundance and goodness.

So after my daughter went to bed I took it upon myself to practice a few of these new affirmations. That was two days ago. I must have repeated it about 10 times each day. So today my day began and the abundance already started rolling in. First, I had an amazing meeting with my BNI group (Business Networking International) which is the most positive group of entrepreneurs I have ever met. I felt abundance just radiating from the room during that hour and a half. After, I received the most amazing acupuncture treatment from the incredible Michelle Turley, who is responsible for me being able to drink milk again- I cannot recommend highly enough (Michelle, thank you!).

After, I visited my client, Jessica Hall from Bluebird Designs, to see her jewelry studio and workspace. After gazing at her jewelry masterpieces, she gave me a stunning necklace made from recycled metals with the word WOW stamped on it. So incredible! With my new bling bouncing around my neck, I picked up my daughter from daycare- she yelling "Mommy Mommy! I love you!" (heartwarming!). We returned home to the nicest notes pf praise from clients and friends who had received my newsletter earlier that morning. Later, I received a wonderful testimonial from an illustration client. After that, my husband made Indian food from scratch (the house smelled like heaven).

That was just one day! I felt compelled to write this all down as a note of inspiration (to you and myself!) and as a record of where the inspiration for my new painting are coming from when you start seeing artworks titled "Abundance" and "prosperity". Thank you everyone!

So now you have a content management site through WordPress and you are able to make your own changes. A friend calls and asks "I couldn't find you on Google." Before sounding the alarms, realize you can make some changes. Before they hang up, ask them a few questions:

• What search engine were you using: Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc?
• What were the exact keywords the you typed in?
• Did you look past the first page of search results for my site and if so, what page was I on?

Once you have that info in hand, reflect on it. "Are these the type of keywords that other clients could be using to search for my site? Are these keywords more relevant than other keywords for optimal search results?" If the answers is yes, then login to your WordPress backend.

Once you have logged in, you can make changes a few places and do a few things:

• Settings>All in One SEO. If you have this pulgin, this overrides your homepage keywords. You will want to add, change those keywords or possibly the title there.
• Pages- go to your homepage into edit mode. Be sure there is some relevant text on the homepage content page itself using those exact keywords. Use them in the content of the page AND then down in the All in One SEO below (if you do not have that plugin, I highly recommend getting it and installing it).
• Blog post- make a new blog post with those keywords in the title, the body content, and the All in One SEO pack. Add a relevant picture and make sure the ALT tag has those keywords (but only if it's relevant).

Other things you can do are set up free business places on Google, Yahoo and Bing, where those keywords are on the description and the category. External links that come from valid areas will help a bunch too. You can also do this by adding a Facebook FanPage, adding yourself to Yelp, or a million other places. When you do, be sure to add those relevant keywords as part of your descriptions.

It can take some time to be seen this way so while you wait for the search robots to revisit your site, you may want to take out some online ads where those particular keywords come into play (but that's another blog post unto itself . Again, this is all part of a larger online marketing plan. Once you have the site, you can't just leave it be- you need to work on it to get it out there. If you don't have a plan or need help, consult a designer or marketing consultant to help you.

I recently launched my new art print and greeting card website so you can quickly point, click, and choose an art print or greeting card and have it sent to you. The greeting cards are of similar price to those found in RiteAid and Hallmark, but are hand assembled in Truckee, printed on 100% post consumer waste cardstock and envelopes, and the individually wrapped cards and prints are wrapped in a 100% biodegradable corn-based bag. I also offer free shipping on orders over $40. Take a moment to check it out!

An early happy Mother's Day to all the women out there who wake up early, east fast so they can help spoon food into baby's mouth, endure more than enough "no's" and "can'ts" in one day, give give give and then give some more, despite all forms of tantrums are ready to hug at any time, and are ready to break into tears at the simple words of "I love you Mom". Here is a card for you. If you want to share it with some other mommas, please click here to download this to save and send to a friend.