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I have been one of a couple of dozen SCORE volunteers that has been developing continuing education training materials for their peers on the use of newer technology tools in small businesses. Recently, I recorded videos of my presentation of that material and have made it easily accessible by posting it on this website. The content of these videos encompasses most all of the topics covered in my separate blog postings, plus more.
Notably, we've also changed the perspective of these videos to make them suitable for presentation directly to small business owners and managers. If you want to get the bigger picture, albeit in a much bigger chunk to swallow, here's the link! Enjoy!
Notably, we've also changed the perspective of these videos to make them suitable for presentation directly to small business owners and managers. If you want to get the bigger picture, albeit in a much bigger chunk to swallow, here's the link! Enjoy!
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2/3 of customers under 45 did not read a newspaper yesterday.
Thus, you've got make sure that your marketing messages are visible where these prospects are looking... and they're looking on the internet. First, make sure that your entries on the major search directories are complete and current as discussed previously. These free sites typically let you add a short description of your business, a link to your website and/or email, along with a photo or two to the public information like address and phone number that they obtained from the local tax authority. Of course, they'll try to talk you into upgrading with more photos, videos, etc., which makes sense if you can afford it because users like them. Remember also that most all of these sites now include reviews, so you'll need to check them periodically.
Then create your website if you haven't done so already. See my earlier blog for details. Then, start your email marketing program as also advocated earlier. You've got to be where you can now be seen.
Then create your website if you haven't done so already. See my earlier blog for details. Then, start your email marketing program as also advocated earlier. You've got to be where you can now be seen.
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Do you work for or volunteer with a not-for-profit, i.e., an organization that has been designated as a so-called 501(c)(3) by the IRS? If so, immediately go to www.techsoup.org and sign up for a membership. They are a clearinghouse for most all of the major software providers, offering overwhelmingly large discounts for top-of-the-line applications. Just a small sample includes Adobe, Cisco, GrantStation, Intuit, Microsoft, Symantec, etc. As examples, the $700+ 10-program Office Pro Plus package only costs $32 while a 3-license version of Quickbooks costs just $99. There are also 4G WiFi hotspots from Mobile Beacon that only cost $10 per month, and very affordable refurbished computers.
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Metatags can be found at the top of any webpage by right-clicking and selecting "view source" or something similar from the browser menu that you get. You have likely heard that the big-boy search engines (except for Bing) ignore the keyword metatags because so many websites lied. Instead, they search the webpages content for keywords using their secret rules. Folklore has it that to be detected as a keyword, the phrase must appear from 3 to 5 times in full grammatical context, i.e., a sentence with a subject and verb and preferably an object. Too many occurrences will be rejected, as that was one of the early ways that dishonest SEO (so-called Search Engine Optimization) purveyors tried to trick the engines. However, I still recommend that you complete this metatag as a reminder of what you need to assure occurs in the body content of each page.
However, title and description metatags are still heeded by the search engines. As the name implies, the title tag is what shows up at the top of the browser, if you provide it. Otherwise, it's usually just the browser branding. Likewise, the description metatag is what will show up in the search engine result to elaborate on your URL (webpage address) content, again, if you provide it. Otherwise, the engine will likely just take, say, the first 25 words or less of the page content to assist the searcher in choosing which link to click on next.
The important point is that keyword phrases are desired by search engines in these metatags (and also in text using the "heading" tag). Unlike in the body text of a page, these are expected to include short attractive phrases. Engines want to see phrases here. So, you need to make these tags very descriptive and compelling. This is the legitimate way to get your keyword phrases recognized by the search engines, and it works.
However, title and description metatags are still heeded by the search engines. As the name implies, the title tag is what shows up at the top of the browser, if you provide it. Otherwise, it's usually just the browser branding. Likewise, the description metatag is what will show up in the search engine result to elaborate on your URL (webpage address) content, again, if you provide it. Otherwise, the engine will likely just take, say, the first 25 words or less of the page content to assist the searcher in choosing which link to click on next.
The important point is that keyword phrases are desired by search engines in these metatags (and also in text using the "heading" tag). Unlike in the body text of a page, these are expected to include short attractive phrases. Engines want to see phrases here. So, you need to make these tags very descriptive and compelling. This is the legitimate way to get your keyword phrases recognized by the search engines, and it works.
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Several of my SCORE clients as well as peer volunteers have been burned recently by piggybacking "crap-ware", i.e., software that was installed when they downloaded another program. This is particularly common when you go to a so-called "download site". Thus, my first advice is to make sure that you are going to the true primary site for the software that you wish to use. However, even that won't let you totally avoid the issue. For example, any Java download tries to install the Ask search engine, and one of my favorite freebies, an image editor and screen grabber called PicPick, offers the pernicious Conduit search tool as part of its Cnet download.
So-called browser hi-jackers seem to be prevalent. These software's insert themselves into your browsers and take over as your primary search engine in order to get paid by any of your click-thru's. Some can intentionally be a real pain to remove, so carefully read the install screens. Just decline anything other than what you mainly requested.
If you still clicked and installed the crap-ware by mistake, then start with your uninstall programs feature of your operating system. In Windows, you can find it under the Control Panel labeled "Programs and Features". You may also need to run an anti-malware program like the freebie from Malwarebytes, which should likewise become a periodic routine. After you get rid of the crap-ware, it's also a good idea to run a registry cleaner like the freebie CCleaner (which originally stood for crap-cleaner) to get rid of any residual crap.
So-called browser hi-jackers seem to be prevalent. These software's insert themselves into your browsers and take over as your primary search engine in order to get paid by any of your click-thru's. Some can intentionally be a real pain to remove, so carefully read the install screens. Just decline anything other than what you mainly requested.
If you still clicked and installed the crap-ware by mistake, then start with your uninstall programs feature of your operating system. In Windows, you can find it under the Control Panel labeled "Programs and Features". You may also need to run an anti-malware program like the freebie from Malwarebytes, which should likewise become a periodic routine. After you get rid of the crap-ware, it's also a good idea to run a registry cleaner like the freebie CCleaner (which originally stood for crap-cleaner) to get rid of any residual crap.