3 Public Relations Tips for Your Small Business to Boost Sales and Awareness Now!

1. Post an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Press Release.

To boost online attention right away, take a look at the press releases at PRNewswire, www.prnewswire.com. Then, write your release by following their specific format (The Associated Press Style Guide format). Provide valuable information to your customers and include your top keywords for the search engines in your header, subhead and a few times in the body of your release.

Once you have proofread the release for errors, simply post the release on free sites online related to news and your industry. You can find these sites by doing a search for “free press release distribution” or looking for sites relative to your products, service and audience. If you want to spend a little money on distribution, check out the many services available and see what fits your budget and goals best.

2. Give a Presentation.

Where does your target market go to get information? Check out various organizations and associations in your local area and offer to give a presentation to their members. Just be sure to provide valuable information and wait to give your sales pitch at the very end of your presentation.

This way, you’ll meet new customers and appear to be an expert in your field. You can even invite local media-members to attend. Who knows? The local television news station may show up to cover your public relations event!

3. Offer a Tip Sheet, Newsletter, Case Study, or Something Cool!

What do potential customers get when they come to your site? Are you providing valuable information and answering their questions, or are you just selling your products and services?

Copywriting is an important part of public relations. If you can create some kind of interesting tip sheet, newsletter, case study, or other, electronic “gift,” you’ll win over new customers and start spreading positive, word-of-mouth.

Just think about what your customers want and give it to them in a way only your business can (examples: Top 10 Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store, How to Reduce Your Energy Bill by 80% in 30 Days or Less, What Never to Eat at Airports – You get the idea.) And once you are ready to give away your “gift,” send out an SEO press release to announce it!

Small Business Public Relations Just Takes Time and Creativity

If you want to boost sales and awareness for your small business, take advantage of cost-effective public relations activities. Be creative and think of ways to provide valuable information to potential customers. Then, contact the press and let them know what you are doing. This may sound simple, but you can generate a lot of buzz with these three tips. Give them a try and let me know what happens!
If you’d like help with your small business public relations, please provide your comments below or contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

Does your business need content marketing?

There is a lot of buzz out there about “content marketing” and how it can make your business successful.

But what is content marketing, anyway?

It’s just a fancy name for using content to market to customers. And as I’ve said many times before, by providing value to your customers with good copy, or content, you create a more credible reputation. Plus, if you offer good content, people will want to tell their friends about your products and services.

Why use content marketing?

Ragan Communications offered a great article on why content marketing is important here. In the article, they list “24 stats about the importance of content marketing.”

For example:

“According to Roper Public Affairs, 80% of business decision makers prefer to get company information in a series of articles versus an advertisement.”

And per an article on “Engage the Blog,” research conducted by the Custom Content Council indicates that, “90% of consumers find custom content useful and 78% of people believe that organizations providing custom content are interested in building good relationships with them.”

These are just a few of the many statistics out there about the importance of marketing with content and why copy is still king.

How do you use content marketing?

If you want to increase online sales and awareness fast, start writing some valuable content. Here is a good process to help you get started:

1. Figure out what your audience wants and what you want to accomplish with your content.
2. Write an article or blog about that information providing valuable tips and information. (If you are not a copywriter, hire one to do the work for you. They will help save you time and money and provide better results.)
3. Include your search engine optimization, or SEO, keywords in the headline and throughout the copy a few times.
4. Add a link at the end of your blog or article to a landing page on your site or a page where site visitors can get more information.
5. Track the results with Google Analytics or another program.
6. Repeat!

Content Marketing Works!

If you see this process is working (and it does when done correctly), create an editorial calendar for the year which spells out what topics you’ll be discussing and the kind of content you’ll be distributing (blogs, articles, tip sheets, videos, social media events, etc.).

By creating valuable content (especially with SEO) specifically for your target market, you will bring in new customers and stand out from the competition. For the best results, plan your content in advance and test different topics and methods for sharing your content.

It’s a lot of work to provide good copy on a regular basis. But if you hire experienced, SEO copywriters to help you with the entire process, you will see sales and customer loyalty increase.

What are you waiting for? Start providing great, SEO content marketing and see what happens!

For more information on SEO content marketing, please contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

Does this sound familiar when it comes to your SEO, or search engine optimization, efforts?

• You added a bunch of keywords to your site but haven’t seen an increase in site rankings.
• You paid a big, SEO company to help you, but you are still waiting for results.
• You have no idea what SEO is and are just ignoring it!

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to review your SEO activities and concentrate on what is most important. After all, SEO can significantly increase sales if done correctly.

Important SEO activities include the following:

• Conduct extensive research to find the appropriate keywords for your business.
• Add different title tags and descriptions to each page of your site.
• Use your keywords in titles, subheads, links and appropriate places throughout your site.
• Create a process for obtaining back-links to your site.
• Measure the results and make appropriate changes for the best results.

And while these are all essential to SEO, you may be focusing on the “technology” rather than this one, key factor that can make or break your search-ranking results:

Provide Valuable Copy!

Today, the search engines look for sites that provide valuable information to their customers. They don’t want to see repetitive keywords and sales language. They want to see Websites that offer information customers want to tell their friends about.

With this in mind, your SEO activities should start with an editorial calendar. Write down exactly what kind of information you want to share with your customers and when. Then, write the copy, insert the appropriate keywords and add the back-end tagging. You’ll also want to create appropriate Web pages for each product or service and guide site-visitors through the purchasing process.

But that at this point, know that your SEO processes have just begun.

Now, you need to monitor clicks and interest in the new content. If your customers are clicking on the internal links, purchasing products and services and sharing the information via social media, you know your copy is working.

However, if you don’t see an interest in your new copy, change it or add content focusing on a different topic right away. If you have no idea what to write about, check your social-media venues to see what your customers are talking about and look at what your competition is doing. You can also add a quick survey to your site and actually ask customers what they want to see on your site!

SEO Should Increase Site Rankings and Save You Money

The great thing about SEO copywriting is that you can monitor your site analytics and clicks, and see exactly what your customers and site visitors are most interested in reading. And if some copy is not working, you can change it immediately. This way, you are always giving your customers what they want and providing value. (Note: If you are working with an SEO company that does not provide this information, you are missing out on some important opportunities to exceed customer needs!)

SEO Is Not About Technology.

It can be so easy to hire an SEO service to automatically optimize your copy as you write it. But that won’t help you increase sales and site rankings as much as possible. Instead, focus on the value you are providing your customers via your copy and monitor the results.

This way, you’ll get to know your customers and be able to give them what they want. And this will not only help you beat the competition, but the search engines will also notice the value, and your site rankings will skyrocket!

To find out more about SEO copywriting and how it can significantly increase sales, please write to us belo or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com for more information.

It’s Time For Website Spring Cleaning!

Now is the perfect time to give your Website a fresh, new look and do some spring-cleaning. But don’t worry! It doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money, Here are…

3 Tips to Freshen Up Your Site Fast!

1. Fix errors.

Yes, this may seem blatant, but you really need to review your Website for bad links, grammatical errors, misspellings, and old content.

Believe me, new site visitors will find even the smallest errors, and that could mean the difference between a new sale and a lost customer to the competition!

2. Add new copy.

If you haven’t updated your Website with a new blog entry, article, white paper, or other content for over a week, it’s time to add fresh and valuable information your customers will want to read.

And if you can optimize it for the search engines, even better!

3. Be newsworthy.

When was the last time you posted a press release or were mentioned in a local newspaper? If it has been more than a month, get to work!

Create a newsworthy event, write an SEO press release and let the media know you have news!

Freshen Up Your Site and See Results!

By taking a few, simple actions today, you can significantly increase online awareness, build credibility with new site visitors and get the media talking about you. And with these potential results, this is some Spring cleaning you’ll want to start right away!

For more information to increase site traffic and sales, write to Melanie below or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com.

By Melanie Rembrandt

Are people saying bad things about your small business online? Do negative comments appear at the top of the search engines when you do a search for your business name?

Well, instead of sitting back and watching your sales and credibility decline, take action!

Small Business Public Relations and SEO to the Rescue!

If you want to increase the number of positive mentions that appear at the top of the search engines when potential customers search for information about your business, it’s time to implement a PR and SEO strategy. Here are three things you can do right now to help your online reputation:

1. Post an SEO Press Release.

Write a press release about something newsworthy at your business. Ensure that it provides valuable information, is written in the appropriate AP Style, and potential customers will want to read it. Then, make sure it is optimized for the search engines with the appropriate keywords and links. If you don’t know how to do this, it is well worth it to hire an SEO copywriter to do it for you. Then, post the press release on free sites and use a low-cost distribution service, if possible.

2. Write an SEO Blog.

Post some new and valuable information on your site for your customers. Share some industry insights or expert tips. Write a blog that’s at least 350 words and then optimize it for the search engines. Then, post it on an industry site or your site.

3. Write an Optimized Article or Tip Sheet.

Create a Tip Sheet, eBook or ePamphlet that provides valuable information and is user-friendly. Again, ensure that it is optimized for the search engines, and post it online. Perhaps, you can give it away as a free gift when people register for your newsletter?

Repeat the Process.

Once you start posting and promoting valuable information online that has the correct SEO, you will start to see negative comments about your business move down on search-engine listings. If done correctly, they will be replaced with more positive information that you have some control over.

And for the best ROI, I highly recommend you work with an experienced SEO strategist/publicist. This way, you’ll see better results faster, and you can concentrate on your core, business activities.

Are you ready to improve your online reputation with SEO and PR? Get more information at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

If you look on the Internet, you will see some horrible press releases. And the businesses that distributed them probably thought they would be inundated with media and sales inquiries as soon as the press releases went live. Has this happened to you? If so,

Are You Guilty of These 7 Press Release Sins?

1. Is it newsworthy?

While you may think that increasing sales by 40% or having an internal birthday party is news, the media and your target market may not. Before taking the time and effort to issue a press release, ask yourself if it really is newsworthy.

2. Why are you posting the press release?

Before writing your press release, figure out if you are trying to build online buzz with search engine optimization (SEO), spread the word about a newsworthy event to a specific audience, get media coverage, or something else. After all, if you are a small business looking for a big, cover-story, you will not get it from a simple press release. You will be better off pitching specific media-members via phone.

3. Is your press release optimized for the search engines?

If you don’t add specific keywords to your press release in the right location, you are missing out on a huge and inexpensive opportunity to be at the top of the search engines. Period.

4. Did you add a specific link to a Web page?

How are you tracking the results of your release? If you don’t add a hyperlink to a specific Web page in your press release, how are you going to know how many people were really interested in your news and took action because of it?

5. Is your press release free of errors?

Is your press release well-written in the standard, AP style? If you distribute a boring release that has errors, you will make a bad impression. Instead, hire a professional, SEO copywriter to help you write and proofread your release.

6. Did you spend too much on press-release distribution?

If you are a small business announcing an award, promotion or other, internal news, don’t spend thousands on sending the release out via a wire service. Instead, pitch specific media-members who will be interested in the news, and post your release on less expensive or free, industry-related sites.

7. What time did you distribute you press release?

If you distribute your press release after office hours, you will not get as many media members seeing your news. Send out your release when you know your targeted, media-members are in the office (and not on deadline). You also want to make sure you are available to respond to calls when your press-release posts.

Stop Wasting Time and Money!

So many people think that “PR” equals “press release.” It does not. Before you send out a release, know why you are sending it, what you want to accomplish and how you are going to track results. Then, have a professional SEO copywriter write and proof it for you and figure out the best distribution plan to accomplish your goals.

Well-written, newsworthy press releases with SEO can significantly increase online awareness and sales cost-effectively. But if you don’t put some thought and effort into your press-release process, you will waste time and money and see little results.

For more help avoiding these press release sins, please write to me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

Find out!

When new people visit your Website, what’s the first thing they see and click on? If you don’t know, it’s time to find out.

Check your Google Analytics and see what is going on. This is important. Why? While you may think you have a great Website packed with information for your customers and just the right search engine optimization (SEO) keywords, new site visitors may think otherwise. Take a look your Website pages to see where visitors spend the most time. If your top pages are not pulling in traffic, you have some work to do.

Here are a few suggestions…

· What do your customers want?

Which pages do your site visitors click on most? Why do you think that is? This information can tell you a lot about what your customers are looking for and whether or not you provide it.

If you have no idea why your customers are looking at some pages more than others, ask them. Run a quick survey on your site to see what kind of information they are most interested in viewing. If you don’t want to run a survey, start adding SEO content based on the topics posted on your most popular pages. Then, review the results.

· Is your site just about you?

You may think your Website is fantastic – because it talks about how great your products and services are, your background and expertise and your media clips. But what’s in it for your customers? If you are focusing on features rather than the benefits you offer, you are going to lose business to the competition.

Review each page of your site and change the SEO copy so you are focusing on how your products and services help customers solve their problems.

· What SEO keywords are you using?

While it’s important to conduct extensive research to discover what keywords your targeted audience is actually looking for, don’t forget common-sense terms. If you were a customer, what terms would you type into the search engines to find your products and services?

While SEO keyword research is essential, don’t forget to think about the key terms that are simple and come to mind first.

Stop and Look at Your SEO Copy.

As I tell my clients, SEO copywriting is an ongoing process. If you want to build online awareness and bring in sales, take the time to review your site analytics and conduct SEO keyword research. Then, it’s essential to write copy that provides valuable information to potential customers while including the right SEO keywords, placement and coding. And once your Website is up and running, your SEO processes need to be monitored regularly. This way, you can make changes to bring in better results.

SEO is a powerful tool to increase sales cost-effectively. But if you don’t use it the right way, you’ll waste valuable resources while the competition steals your customers!

What is happening with your SEO right now? If you don’t know, please contact me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution for your search engine optimization (SEO) activities? If so, why? We all know that the chances of keeping a resolution are slim. Instead, why not make SEO goals for the year?

By setting goals, you can plan specific activities and timelines to actually make things happen. For example:

•    Research your keywords and finalize your list by 12/31/13.

Do you know what keywords your target audience-members are actually typing into the search engines to find your types of products and services?

Do you know what keywords your competition is using?

If you don’t know, it’s time to find out. Conduct research, or hire an experienced SEO professional, and make a list of your top keywords. This way, you’ll target the words that will actually bring in new customers.

•    Update your Website with your new SEO keywords by 2/28/13.

Once you have a set of good, SEO keywords to use, it’s time to revise your site. Make a list of the key pages on your site. (These may be the pages that have the most site visits or list the benefits that your business offers.) Now, rewrite the copy on these pages with your new SEO keywords using the appropriate headlines, subheads and links.

You’ll also need to update the back-end tags of each of these pages with the appropriate SEO copy. This is time-consuming, but it’s important to write copy that provides value to your site visitors. Otherwise, the search engines will pass you by… and so will new customers.

•    Make the New SEO changes on your site live by 3/15/13.

When your pages are updated and ready to go live, post the new content. Then, monitor the results.

How many people are clicking on your pages and when?

Are the search engines finding your new content?

What kind of feedback are you receiving from customers?

Once SEO changes are made, it’s essential to review the results and change the copy that is not working. SEO is an ongoing process.

You Get The Idea.

Now, wouldn’t you be more inclined to see results from this list of specific activities rather than just giving a blanket statement like, “My resolution is to increase site visitors”? By writing down what you want to accomplish and the timelines and steps it will take to make those goals a reality, you’ll see much better results.

You can significantly increase site visitors and sales with SEO by this time next year. But your odds of achieving this with a simple resolution are slim. Instead, make solid goals and be responsible for taking the actions necessary to make them a reality.

Do you need help with your SEO activities? Please write to me below or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.

Basically, your customers want valuable content. They want to know what you have to offer them. At the same time, the search engines realize this and look for valuable content on your site. The days of writing up quick pages packed with search engine optimization (SEO) keywords are over.

Today, your Website needs to provide valuable information to your customers that is unique and makes sense. If not, you will lose sales to the competition.

With this in mind, how do you use SEO content to your advantage?

•    Make SEO copywriting a priority.

If you don’t have a Website with the appropriate, SEO copy and coding, it’s time to make it a priority, especially if your business does online sales. When your target audience-members type in words related to your products and services in the search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo!, you want your site to pop up.

You may not think it’s a big deal to optimize your Website, but if your competition has an optimized site, and you don’t, they may just be stealing thousands of dollars in sales and new customers from you… without your knowledge!

•    Hire a professional, SEO copywriter.

SEO copywriting is a skill, and it’s not something you want to do on your own if you don’t’ have the appropriate expertise. Instead, spend the money and hire a good, SEO copywriter to help you. They can conduct the appropriate research, write your copy, add the right coding, and monitor results accordingly.

It may be expensive, but you get what you pay for. With a good, SEO Website, you will increase sales and online awareness dramatically. Plus, you’ll spend less than buying paid advertising and you’ll be able to concentrate on your business instead of writing.

•    Maintain your SEO.

SEO is an ongoing process. All of your marketing copy should be optimized for your keywords and provide valuable, new information to your customers. Once your site is optimized, it needs to be monitored on a regular basis. Then, you can remove copy that is not working and replace it with copy that does.

SEO is fantastic in that you can test it and see what actually brings in the best results. Plus, the results indicate what your customers find most interesting on your site so you can change your marketing, products and services accordingly.

SEO is Important.

Today’s business is all about providing value to customers with the best service possible. By knowing what your customers want, and being able to provide current information each week, you’ll be able to increase sales and word-of-mouth. However, if you fail to see the importance of SEO copywriting for your business, you risk losing a lot of money and new customers to the competition.

Are you ready to move forward with SEO and see your sales skyrocket? Start with a test project and see what happens. More than likely, you’ll be happy with the results and make SEO an important part of your business plans now and in the future.

For more SEO tips and information, please write to me below and visit www.rembrandtwrites.com.

What are your site analytics telling you?

Review your most popular content, and make a note to add more of this to your site. If you are not getting a lot of clicks, or if people are not staying on your site for very long, you need to add more valuable information.

Are you capturing visitor data?

When you get site visitors, are you capturing their name and email addresses adequately? If not, you are missing out on a great opportunity to build relationships with new customers.

Create a short sign-up process on your Home page using an simple service like AWeber, Constant Contact, etc. Then, offer a free gift to those who respond. This could be an eBook, article, white paper, video, and more. Be creative and give your site visitors something they would like to have.

What does the future look like?

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to prepare for all of the holiday activities in the weeks ahead. Think of new and interesting ways to reach out to your customers. Your team will have fun being creative, and you’ll stand out from the competition.

Don’t forget to have some fun too!

Instead of dreading the busy weeks ahead, look forward to developing new projects and accomplishing year-end goals. Look at your site analytics and then use this data to create new and valuable information your customers will want to tell their friends about. You’ll energize your team members, have fun and increase customer a loyalty and sales in the process.

For more information on getting your site ready for 2013, please write to me here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.