Did you ever contemplate or wonder what is going on online when it comes to your market? With so much info out there, do you want to know a nifty way of keeping tabs on what is going on with your competitors? Use Google Alerts!

All you have to do is set up alerts for your main keyword phrases or topics of interest and each time GoogleBot scours the Web and finds something new, you get a notification e-mail in your inbox with a brief blurb and a link to the site Google found.

Invaluable, easy and a great way to keep up with the pack!

Go set up your Google Alerts now!

At your service,
Judith

I spend quite a bit of time explaining how search engines work contrary to all the hype and noise out there. In the 13+ years I’ve been marketing online, getting ranked with search engines went from “something that just happened” to, as some have laughed at my recent description, “a science fair project.”

Back in the day, sites created with the target market in mind by considering keyword terms and phrases in code and copy produced relevant rankings. See I was waaaaay ahead of my time and determined targeted phrases before I typed a bit or byte of code. I came from corporate sales/marketing background so to consider how you wanted to be ranked, to me, was a no brainer.

Fast forward to present day and the whole process has been mucked up. Due to folks trying to play the search engine algos, combined with search engines testing and constantly tuning how they rank sites and there are no guarantees. Getting good rankings is an ongoing process that has to be monitored, tweaked and worked at — that’s simply part and parcel of having a Web site.

The majority of site owners are not open or willing to embrace the reality of what attaining top of page; above the fold rankings require. Regardless of how often I explain the facts as to what is involved or send them to links on my site so that they can read at their convenience and benefit from a solid understanding and realistic expectations — they just won’t have any of it.

“I should be #1 if that site is! You do what they are doing!”
“Why is that site #1 when I am not?”
“Do what you do, I don’t have any time to deal with this and make it happen!”
“I have to add new information all the time?”
“I don’t want to Blog — can you Blog for me?”
“Are your fees negotiable?”

Now, when folks demand the “Top Ten Rankings” they so desire but refuse to embrace the reality of what it takes to attain, there is a solution! Yes, you too can have Top Ten Rankings and one of my favorite Bloggers has written a step by step guide for you to accomplish just that!

Guaranteed Top Ten Search Engine Rankings

I look forward to seeing you on the top!

At your service,
Judith

in·ter·ac·tive [in-ter-ak-tiv]
–adjective

1. acting one upon or with the other.
2. of or pertaining to a two-way system of electronic communications, as by means of television or computer.
3. (of a computer program or system) interacting with a human user, often in a conversational way, to obtain data or commands and to give immediate results or updated information.

Every day I have to remind clients that this “online thing” is interactive. Many have a hard time understanding that they need to be involved — how much they need to be involved. That their level of involvement — of interactivity — will determine their level of success.

I really have never known where the “built it and they will come” mentality came from when it comes to online business. That may have held some weight back in the day, but now, you’re lucky if you get found. And, when you get found (because you’ve embraced all that interactive stuff I “preach” about), you had better be the epitome of credibility, professionalism and customer service.

There are still those who want static HTML sites — those folks tend to be technophobic. The thought of having to be interactive scares them to death. All the posting, article writing, social media recommendations, RSS and the like sends them running — “that’s just too much to learn!” Well folks, I can honestly say that I learn something new each and every day around here. If you don’t want to learn; you probably should question why you have a Web site.

And, if all that learning doesn’t scare them to the point of inaction — it sounds like too much work. Either way, my advice to those who don’t want to learn or spend the time interacting, is to simply not bother. They’ll be throwing their hard earned dollars away on a site that won’t get found and won’t produce.

Many of my clients have discussed with me their insecurity in regard to the perceived skills and knowledge required to proceed in today’s environment. Then, combined with an overall intimidation with technology — that’s the reason why they don’t embrace what they hear, read and see is happening around them.

The ironic thing is, with applications like WordPress, Wiki and others, being involved and interactive actually has never been easier. If you can type, you can Blog, go social, interact and discuss your experience and knowledge to the benefit of your business. And you just might be surprised on how much fun you actually end up having!

Unfortunately, I fear those who hold back instead of bolding going forward and facing the challenges that online participation demands of each of us, as of today at this point in time, will see that reflected in their bottom line — and not in a good way.

Know that with the right partners, you can be coached through any frustrations, concerns and unknowns or whatever you perceive is preventing you from joining the social revolution.

“Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It’s too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came
and she pushed
and they flew…”

-Christopher Logue

At your service,
Judith