If you’ve been keeping up on our blog you’ve probably heard of Universal Search by now, where on the search engine results page (SERP) you’ll find pictures, videos and other vertical search results where once only web page listings resided (if you are not familiar with Universal Search, here is a good article on what it is). This feature within the search engines is meant to enhance the searchers experience by providing the most relevant results to their search, no matter what form of ‘rich media’ it comes in (whether an article, video, photo or something else – read a previous post discussing why to keep up with Universal Search).

We think this is great for search engine users – providing a greater pool for which to pull relevant results is fantastic. The drawback? Website owners and marketers may find it difficult to keep pace with this change, having to keep finding ways to include rich media on their website in order to be at the top of the SERPs. Recently we came across another significant bump in the road for website marketers when it comes to Universal Search – its impact on PPC advertising.

Yes – we said that Universal Search has an impact in PPC. How can that be? (more…)

Have you recently had a new website go live? If so, now is not the time to sit back and relax. Just putting your site live and not promoting is a sure way for it to get lost in the crowded world on the internet. But there are many ways of advertising your site and having a quality site for them to visit.  Here are several ways to help promote your site as well as some tips on upkeep and monitoring. (These are just quick tips, if you’re looking for more in depth information on any of these, visit our website or contact us.) (more…)

You know, sometimes you can learn great business lessons while sitting in the most unlikely of places… church!

Curious? Of course you are. Read on.

Recently, my pastor was giving a sermon on how churches need to change their methods - not their message. In other words, they should convey the same morals and principles that have been around for thousands of years, but avoid using ancient approaches to reach today’s ever-changing society. And you can probably point out a number of churches that do this very well. Most now have websites where they provide information about the church, post announcements and upload audio files of their sermons for download. Many have blogs and podcasts, email newsletters, you name it.

My point? We can learn something from this!

Are you keeping up with your target market? Is it time to change your methods? Really consider this. I hear so many say “we’re entering a new technology age,” but the truth is – we’ve already entered this new age… and the door has slammed swiftly behind us!

Take me, for example. I’m not only computer literate… but actually quite computer dependent. I saw a truck on the Northway this morning, and it had a 1-800 number on the back. I thought to myself, “I will have to Google that number when I get to work.” Then I paused for a moment and had to laugh. The only use I have for a phone number is to Google it?! Are you keeping up with people like me? What happens when your business’s phone number is Googled?

In this day and age, people expect to find information about your business online. Think of your website as a sort of online brochure – an opportunity to really showcase what you have and seal the deal. What if someone asks for your “brochure” and Google tells them you don’t have one… so instead offers brochures from 2 of your top competitors?! What an opportunity you are missing out on if you don’t have Web presence.

Learn more about keeping up with your competition online.

So having a website is a given. What else is there?

Only you know your target market, and if it is a true niche, you will have to find the best ways to relate to them. But if you want my honest opinion, every business should have a website that is optimized for the search engines (even if it’s DIY SEO), advertise monthly or seasonal specials online and get listed in local guides — at minimum.

Other avenues to pursue would be maintaining an online blog, adding valuable content to your site, writing ezine articles, adding videos, sending announcements and specials through monthly email newsletter campaigns, creating a YouTube channel, participating in social media sites, adding a press or media section to your site for your press releases, grabbing attention through display advertising, getting increased visibility with Google PPC advertising, and the list goes on. Consider the way you look for and act on information, and try to use that as your guiding force to help you adapt your methods to your target audience.

“But my target market is old fashioned…”

Truth be told, not everyone is computer / Internet savvy, but a large part of the market already consists of Internet gurus — and many computer junkies (like me) — that means in a few short years everyone will be. Will you be ready? Are you ready now?

No matter if you are a religious person or not, take some great advice from my pastor, and change your methods of presenting your age-old message to keep up with your target audience!

Want some more in-depth advice on this? Feel free to give us a call here at Mannix Marketing (888) 395-9035*, and we’ll be happy to go over a personalized Internet marketing plan with you.

*Or go ahead and Google our phone number!