Welcome, so glad you could join us.
Search engines, social media, internet ads: all of these tend to create headaches, and most people lack a general understanding of how to use them. This is a good thing! If others are not taking the time to learn, it puts you at an advantage!
Everyone should have a website. There are some really good options for creating one at a decent price, and you can have one designed fairly cheap as well. I'm not going to go into what to include on your website, as there are many different variables that pop up when deciding this, and each business is different.
What I am concerned with is how to promote your website, and how to drive traffic not only to your site, but your doorstep.
Search Engines
The ideal situation is to be at the top of the search list when someone is looking for what you offer, and where you offer it. Most people don't scroll through multiple pages of search listings, I certainly don't. Come up with a very concise descriptor of who you are and what you do, then place that in the meta tags of your website (your web designer should know how to do this, and if you need help, let me know), as well as in the body of your website.
Google Analytics is another great tool for measuring what keywords people are searching for, and applying it to your website. I will expand on using this in a future blog post.
Try out your descriptor phrase in the three main search engines: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. See where you come up at, and then try variations of your descriptor. If you find a better descriptor that places you higher in the rankings, then go back and modify it in your meta tags and on your website to get better results.
Another thing that most people don't understand is how to use links. It's much better to link to my website with "wholesale seeds" than "click here". Using descriptors as links will place you higher in the search listings with the keywords you want, and will go much further in driving traffic to your site. So if you are linking to other areas of your website, be very conscious of what the clickable text says.
I hope this has been helpful. If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see here, or how I can better serve your needs, please let me know.
Stay tuned for Living in the Matrix - Part Two...
-JK
Hi
ReplyDeleteI agree with you very much, however there are some additional things you really need to do when using SEM (search engine marketing). You must really be precise about where your business is located. This is very important, since you are a brick and mortar business people will most likely be searching for xxxnursery in Phoenix AZ not just the name. You also have to realize that Google will target pages in their search engine for your area and people from your area will see your web page faster if you be sure and be specific about where you are. There is a lot more you should know but that is a main one. I also have an MU site that is presently being built with templates designed for nursery people. It is really important to put the prices on your web info, or to have a contact for prices...public will go to the place they know the price for what they are looking for.
Thanks
I would like to see some profiles on unusual plants or plants that people don't tend to grow because they think they are hard to grow. For example someone brought an orchid to me to help them figure out what was wrong with it. I knew nothing about orchids and only found one web-site with information. I'm not suggesting orchids as a subject (although it would be nice if you do sell them.) just using a plant that apparently is to grow if you keep the parameters in line, but is thought to be very hard to grow.
ReplyDeleteThis blog site is a great idea. Keep up the good work. A hobby green house plug grower.
Absolutely, there are many more pieces to the SEM puzzle, and I will expand more on that in the future. SMM (Social Media Marketing) is another cost effective (and fun) tool to use that is growing more and more every day.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be doing some profiles of unusual plants, as well as others that people tend to have a difficult time with. Some of the most unique plants are also the most challenging to grow.
Thanks for the feedback.