|
If you're a local business owner, you don't have to spend a lot of money to win big with web
marketing. You just need to know how to use local online public relations (PR) to boost business,
that is, to generate free messaging or promotion. When local organizations produce their own
educational, informative, valuable online news content, it increases search engine rankings,
traffic, and business. Here are three easy ways to get started.
1. Add a News Section to your Website
Every local business needs a news section on its website. News pages are a web-savvy way to
manage content about events, sponsorships, new products or services, and company news. When news
content is written with keyword-rich titles that link to webpages with more great content, it
boosts credibility, communication and -- best of all -- search engine rankings.
2. Write Your Own Press Releases
You may think you can't have a news section because you don't have any news articles written
about your business. Wrong. Write your own news to generate buzz! For example, I recently spoke at
a local women's conference in Southern California. I wrote my own press release and added it to my
website to share with current clients and potential clients, and to boost my search engine exposure
with keyword-rich content. I also wrote a short description of the event to clearly communicate
what the event was for, how to attend, and why. The press release was informative and increased my
website's local search visibility. I used a title with strong local key phrases to
boost local search engine visibility:
female entrepreneurs + business owners + Ventura, CA (location)
The final title was: "Female Entrepreneurs and Business Owners get a Healthy Dose of Web
Marketing Therapy at Women's Expo in Ventura, CA, March 14th, 2009".
3. Send Press Releases to Local Online News Sites and Event Calendars
If content is king with web marketing, then outreach is queen. You must submit your press
releases to local newspapers and stations receive this free visibility. Remember, these local news
sites need content. They want to hear from you! For example, my team sent the press release
described above to a local newspaper. As a result we received free exposure on the Ventura
County Star site, the largest newspaper in the area. They were happy for the content. We were
happy for the free exposure.
Local online event calendars are another rich resource for you -- usually free. Look for
calendars in local newspaper, radio, TV, chamber of commerce, and community college websites. If
you have local business events, get them on these sites and help local websites help you.
Communicating your own news, events, awards, and content online will win you free exposure and
wider visibility.
Lorrie Thomas, MA is a Marketing Therapist that helps
small businesses get BIG with web marketing. Her team of "wild web women" at Web Marketing Therapy empower professionals with
healthy doses of marketing advice to gain maximum wealth from the web. Lorrie speaks nationally and
teaches Web Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Search Engine Marketing courses at UCSB and
Berkeley Extension.
|
