search engine optimization, website design, seo, internet marketing services and more. As a small business owner these are all very relevant to your internet marketing success. The truth is search engine optimization is essential to your online success but a client recently asked me: “What does SEO mean?” She asked this as we were discussing her website strategy. Website strategies must address website architecture issues, good coding, unique and relevant content on the website-all the components of great SEO.

The more I speak and consult on SEO strategies-the more customers come to believe that this is under their website strategy.Being a believer in the customer is always right-this is fine with me.

If you need a website strategy speaker that will address good SEO practices without all the techno talk-I am happy to take on the challenge. More associations are helping their members bring their marketing efforts online and an airtight website strategy will help increase their internet marketing success!

Steve Mertz
What is Your Website Strategy

Eric is one of my favorite reads and I always enjoy his point of view. He mentions the usual suspects that SEO firms might report to clinets including:
Technical SEO changes made
New links obtained
Rankings reports etc…

All things clients like to hear but at the end of the day he argues that:

What matters most to clients is increasing their conversions (e.g. sign-ups, leads, contact me requests, or e-commerce transactions). It should also be what matters most to you.

Eric, you are right on the money! An SEO firm can work it’s tail off for a client-including getting them on the first page of a Google search-but they will always say “show me the money”. As I mentioned yesterday when talking about the firm selling automatic watch winders; they show up well in searches but their site is not very user friendly! Other firms are just not offering quality or unique goods and services but guess who is going to get blamed if they don’t get conversions?

I think Eric is right about focusing on conversions but I’d add one more thing: pick your clients very carefully. Will they listen to all of your advice-SEO and Marketing?
Are you passionate about their product or service? For me personally, I have to believe in the product or service in order to produce maximum results for a clients online success!

If you need an SEO speaker on short notice-don’t hesitate to call and I’ll do my best to accommodate your needs and deliver a memorable and repeatable program to your association or organization. My SEO keynotes and workshops are customized to your specific needs and you can expect the highest quality presentation and a 50% discount:

Our owners and members rated your presentation as EXCELLENT and included comments that you were very easy to understand and follow. Overall, the presentation exceeded our expectations as well as our members’ expectations. Our Board of Directors met briefly afterwards and stated that you were one of the best speakers they have ever had and complimented me on finding you to speak.

Steve Mertz
U.S. Dollars Still Accepted

The main reasons for having your blog as part of your actual domain is that a blog on your domain can attract links to other areas of your site, increase visibility, improve publicity efforts, build trust, and raise your search rankings. Do you think this is the best SEO advice you’ve read this year? (more…)

]]> http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/17/how-to-implement-a-blogseo-myths-are-alive-and-well/feed/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/08/seo-and-startups/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/08/seo-and-startups/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:33:31 +0000 Steve Mertz http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/08/seo-and-startups/ I found a great article by Randfish on Startups and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). It’s called I’m Getting Pretty Tired of Startup Advice that Doesn’t Include Any Mention of SEO-amen!! Randfish is commenting on several articles talking about SEO and makes this cogent observation:

Let me be clear on this point-not one of those posts has the word “SEO” in it, nor makes any clear reference to getting traffic from search engines. I’m forced to ask myself-are these people idiots? Well, are you? (more…)

]]> http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/08/seo-and-startups/feed/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/07/the-three-best-seos-in-the-land/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/07/the-three-best-seos-in-the-land/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:50:39 +0000 Steve Mertz http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/07/the-three-best-seos-in-the-land/ I ‘m sure we all have an opinion on who is the Best SEO in the land. The SEO Guy recently shared his vote. He named Rand Fishkin, Jim Boykin and Denver, Colorado’s own, The Knox! Congratulations to all three of you! I don’t personally know Rand or Jim but their work speaks for itself. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Knox and working with him for going on two years and he is one brilliant guy when it comes to understanding the complete SEO picture-putting money in the clients pocket!!

I know what you’re thinking…there are no great Women of SEO? Well, you’ll have to get a definitive answer from the SEO guy but I have mentioned several of them before. If you feel that you too should be on this prestigious list please do add a comment. Congratualtions again to you three top dogs and keep adding to the clients bottom line!

]]> http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/04/07/the-three-best-seos-in-the-land/feed/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/03/03/pennsylvania-self-storage-association/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/03/03/pennsylvania-self-storage-association/#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:36:12 +0000 Steve Mertz http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/03/03/pennsylvania-self-storage-association/ Self storage units are top of mind for me today. A friend of mine was looking on the internet for the website of her storage unit. When she found it she was shocked to see how little information it really offered-lessons that I promise to share when I speak to the Pennsylvania Self Storage Association!

The website was old, it’s latest copyright was 2003. Those were the good old days when you just put your corporate brochure on a website and hoped that someone would find your site. If it’s been a while since you looked at your website for self storage please take a peek and be sure you include information that potential clients need. Some of that would include hours, after hours call numbers, location-don’t just give an address but include cross streets and well known landmarks. Especially for women-mention about security features and the lighting at your self storage. You can be sure that when I speak later this month at the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Self Storage Association, we will definitely cover these critical area for online marketing success!

PS I had a great time speaking and meeting members of the Pennsylvania Self storage Association. Thanks for all your hospitality!!  Steve

]]> http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/03/03/pennsylvania-self-storage-association/feed/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/02/26/internetmarketingsuccess/ http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/02/26/internetmarketingsuccess/#comments Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:04:45 +0000 Steve Mertz http://www.seo4startups.com/2008/02/26/internet-marketing-success/ Many small business owners have depended heavily on the Yellow Pages to get their marketing message out. This type of marketing has made some business owners very successful-but times are changing. Consider this:

• A recent study by the Kelsey Group, an independent research organization, found that 43 percent of consumers search the web to find a local merchant.
  They also found that 54 percent of users have substituted the Internet for their phone book.
  51% of consumers conduct research online before making an off line purchase.

Having al your eggs in the Yellow Page basket may hurt (more…)

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