Towne Crier - Get the Word Out

Something for nothing and your chick for free....

2012-02-13T13:40:00.001-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me! Contacted hundreds of friends on FaceBook who have businesses to let them know of a new Free Business Directory that their websites should be listed on. Specifically one of our sites.

Jersey Shore Coupons

All they has to do was click the link and add their website info. Guess how many took advantage of this FREE help? Yeap not a one! I actually had several "Friends" unfriend me for making the suggestion and trying to help them.

Am I missing something? Am I going something wrong? Or is it that nobody wants or needs help?

Please, I'm at a lost. Someone fill me in?

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn

PS Maybe I'll have better luck on LinkedIn???

SW, SW, SW, Next!

2012-02-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

Some will, Some won't, So what, Next! This true for about everything. Last night networking event was no exception. There was no one from Monmouth County that I did not already know. There were, however, a number of Non-BNIers from Middlesex County.

Why, you may ask? As I was talking to the quests they found out about the BNI International Networking Week event via LinkedIn or Meet Up. The director from Middlesex County took it upon himself to use those forms of Social Networking to promote the event as well has the organization.

It's the little things in life (and business) that makes a world of difference.

Happy Networking!
Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn

International Networking What?????

2012-02-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

This is almost a continuation of the last article on Free Publicity and the way organizations go out of the way to keep their events a secret!

This evening I will be attending an event connected with BNI's International Networking Week at the PNC Art Center. And yes I am ranting! Yesterday I attended two different local Chamber events (one organized by a BNI member and both attended heavily by BNI Chapter officers) and there was not one mention of today's event. I checked the Asbury Park Press Event Listings and did not find it. Hell there was no request to place the event in the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin which is FREE!

I checked my emails for the past month and no mention of it. No event set up on Facebook with invites! I even asked BNI members over the last week, in my normal course of networking, if I would see them there... and you guessed it! Deer in the headlights looks are all I got followed by "What networking event?"

Don't get me wrong, BNI is a most excellent organization. But with the Corporate Office trying to turn this into the Premier Networking event World-wide for the last three years the local area director is not helping...

I'll report tomorrow on the attendance of this secret networking events

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Free Publicity

2012-02-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Did you ever notice people say they want one thing and always do the opposite! Well after compiling a list of over 60 Museums in Ocean and Monmouth counties I decided it would be nice to help them get the word out. I had no idea there were this many in our area. So I decided to call them to see if they were willing to supply the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin (JSCIB) with their upcoming events.

The majority of the numbers I found for these museums were either wrong or disconnected. Of the few that I was able to get hold of on the phone it turned out to be the County or City Clerks’ office. A very frustrating undertaking overall. Of the handful I actually reached two called me back and only one sent me the information required to help them promote an event that started yesterday.

In this era of cutbacks and closings I figured they would want to get the word out to raise their numbers of visitors. But what do I know?! Keeping their Museums and Historical Societies a secret may truly be what they are trying to achieve. In which case they are doing a bang up job!

Over the years I have been trying to work with my clients to have them avoid this same mistake. Are they making progress? I would like them to share that here with you. Giving them more free publicity...

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn
Towne Crier - Get the Word Out

Google Alerts

2012-01-23T13:36:00.000-08:00

Google Alerts is a free tool used by website owners to monitor their name, brand name, key industry terms and competitors.

Why Receive Alerts?
Google Alerts enable you to easily monitor the Internet for desired keywords, sending you email messages when these terms are being used.

For example, I use Google Alerts to monitor the word “Jarosz” along with “Lone Keep Internet” and “JerseyShoreCoupon.com” It’s one way to find out where news of me, my company and websites is popping up.

Google Alerts are useful to webmasters who don’t have the time or resources to be proactive about monitoring the Web for specific mentions. Google does the searching for you!

When signing up for Google Alerts, you can select the type of content you want Google to look for (e.g., blogpost, news articles, video, etc) and how often notifications are sent.

Give it a try it's Free! All you need is a Google account and that's Free to!

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

People aren't afraid of success. They are afraid of the extra work success will bring!

2011-12-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

Yes this quote is by me. In my line of work I'm always asking prospects and clients where they want to take their businesses. The answer is always the same. "To make more money but if my business grows so will my workload." So my next question to them is "If business is slow and income is down. What exactly are you spending your time on?" That is where the conversation usually ends. They would rather spend the time complaining about how bad business and the economy are instead of doing something, anything about.

For you college grads, "A body at rest will remain at rest unless an external force is applied to it." Thank you Sir Isaac Newton! Makes sense in Physics, exercising and even business! So if anyone is inclined to so something in the New Year about themselves or their business we at Lone Keep Internet are having a Dream Board session. It will be New Year's Eve at our offices in Asbury Park. Click here to find out more about our Dream Board session.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

‘Tis the Season!

2011-12-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays my ass! Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia, defines Political correctness as a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense. I don’t know about you but I take offense from the term “Happy Holidays”. My response is always “Which one?” And why don’t we use “Happy Holidays” in February when there are even more holidays? Should we not use the term “Happy Birthday” because a lot of us don’t want to be reminded that we are getting older? Of not! So why are we afraid of use the name of the actual days we celebrate?

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends and clients. Happy Boxing Day to my English clients and friends. Happy Victory Day (Dec 16, Bangladesh) to our waiter in Venice, Happy Monkey Day (Dec. 14), St Stephen's Day (Dec. 26), Happy International Solidarity Day (Dec. 31), Happy Saint Nicholas' Day (Dec. 5), Happy Saturnalia for my pagan friends, Happy Winter Solstice Stephi and Connor, and for the rest Merry Festivus! This list can go on… But don’t they all deserve the respect to acknowledge something that may be near and dear to them.

What does this have to do with business? Glad you asked. Everything! If my friends, vendors and clients don’t know what is important to me should I feel good or bad about? Or maybe they should just say nothing like any other awkward social situation. But no… they jump in there and feel they have to say something because everyone else is.

Remember when your mother use to say “If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you?” Actually I did once… but that is another story. That saying never made any sense to me as a kid but now it makes perfect sense. I will not follow the crowd into the Political correctness abyss but be my own person and say what I feel.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

The Importance of a Mission Statement

2011-09-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

We all understand the value of a tag line – a neat one line statement that others can use to remember what you do. However, a tag line does not always completely describe what you do or how you do it.

When more description is needed what do you do or what do you say? We all ramble on saying what we think the other person wants to hear or we can offer our “elevator speech” which is often nothing more than an extended tag line.

The best way to avoid the rambling is to generate a living Mission Statement. The actual act of writing a living Mission Statement forces you to think through an explanation what you do that will resonate with the prospect.

The Mission Statement will often:
- Contain a phrase reflecting standards
- Contain a phrase reflecting a unique approach
- Is written so that it can be provided and understood by the prospect
- Serves as a daily reminder for you and your staff
- Provides focus

Several examples of Mission Statements:

“The Comfort Keepers mission is to provide our clients with the highest level of quality of life that is achievable. We shall treat each of our clients with the respect and dignity they deserve, as though we were caring for a member of our own family.”

“The Potter Pest Control mission is to provide chemically safe, personalized and scheduled services that focus on prevention of infestations and to follow through in response to all requests for help until the client’s problem is eradicated.”

"The Ives & Associates mission is to fully understand and then capture the essence of what a company does and how they do it in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing, factually accurate and useful for branding and marketing purposes.”

“The mission of the Atlantic Center for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine is to enhance that quality of life of every patient through the provision of alternative treatments and therapies and to assist the patient in identifying live style changes that may reduce the frequently or intensity of illness and discomfort.”

My thanks to Rob Robison, of Comfort Keepers, for letting me use his idea for this post. He presented this as an Educational piece at one of our BNI Shore Money weekly meetings.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Currently working on the Mission Statement for Jersey Shore Coupons

Personal Brand Statement: 5 Winning Steps to Creating One

2011-08-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

List your attributes
The goal here is to find the one or two things that separate you from your competition and make you unique. Keep in mind that the brand statement is only supposed to get people interested, and not say everything about you or your business.

Choose an audience
Creating a statement that is too broad and undirected to any particular group will most likely be wasted on any of your prospects. The purpose of a personal brand statement is to briefly list your primary skills, so it is necessary to target the industry where those skills are most useful.

Make it memorable
The statement of your brand should be something that others can remember easily since you need to be able to use it whenever a networking opportunity arises. Try telling it to a friend or current client one time and see if he or she can easily recall the entire sentence. If so, you’re off to a very good start.

Make your self-impression = other’s impression
If you have trouble brainstorming personal skills, ask close friends or current clients what they think your strengths are. Even after you have decided on a statement, it is a good idea to check with a friend to make sure that your idea of yourself matches what others think of you and your business.

Market yourself
I cannot emphasize this fact enough, when looking for clients you have to be willing to be your own advocate. A personal brand statement will not help you much if you are not telling people what it is. Make sure to keep it consistent across platforms, however, because using the same sentence every time will help others remember it and associate it with you. Having a short brand statement means that you will be able to market yourself quickly whenever a chance for networking arises.

Don’t procrastinate creating your statement. Since it is such a powerful marketing tool, you are going to want to spend enough time on it to make it fantastic and ensure that it projects exactly the image of you and your business that you want.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Personal Branding: Is It Right For You?

2011-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I get asked how an individual can brand themselves. Personal branding can single an individual out as an expert in their field. If you believe in your talent, in your skills and ability - it's easier to sell what you believe in. Your image is already created - you just have to market it.

How do you market yourself? You must become: A pro in your industry; an expert in your field. When branding yourself you must create a strong and consistent brand. You cannot skimp just because it's about you.

Strong brands are clear about who they are and what they are not. Which is why branding yourself can be an easy process. You already know who you are and what you are not. Strong brands are also consistent. It's easy to be consistent in who you are.

By branding yourself effectively you will:
- Establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field.
- Build a solid reputation within your industry.
- Increase your notoriety/visibility
- Improve your perceived value in the marketplace.

The key to successfully branding yourself and doing it effectively is to first establish a personal brand identity, message and/or look. Once you have done that focus that message on who you are and what you stand for within your chosen field or industry. Your final step is to get the word out through a variety of media channels that are viewed by the people most likely to be interested in your message.

As people begin to see your name and become aware of the benefits and knowledge that you offer, before you know it hundreds of people will not only know who you are but they will begin to seek out your services and expertise. They will identify with your brand which is YOU.

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn

Gain a Competitive Edge by Establishing a Personal Brand

2011-08-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

You can, by establishing a personal brand that allows you to differentiate and position yourself from the competition. Most businesses today are viewed as commodities, unless they provide some unique value, which competitors do not share. Your goal is to stand out.

Your Personal Brand
Defined: Your total perceived value, relative to competitors, as viewed by your audience.

Elements of your Personal Brand
Personal Appearance - Including Logo, Business Cards, Presentation Material even clothing.
Personality - Your values, goals, identity and confident behavior.
Competencies - These are cognitive, business, communication and technical skills.
The Differentiator - Offering a unique value proposition or benefit to your target audience.
Media Channels - Ways to introduce your target audience to your Personal Brand.

Constructing a brand with a mixture of these elements will have a positive effect on the people around you and your business. After producing a personal brand, with these elements, you must weave them into a message that can be consumed by your audience.

Growing Your Brand
Personal Branding is an ongoing development that exists throughout an entire life cycle. As your experience and competencies grow, your brand will become enhanced, much like in a product-lifecycle. Creating, maintaining and evolving your brand will help you command your prospective audience and positively communicate your perceived and unique message.

Corporate branding and personal branding are very well connected and for most consultants they are the same. The only apparent difference is that instead of marketing a product or service, a person is being promoted and sold to your target audience.

Treat yourself as the product and sell it!

How to keep a #1 ranking in the Search Engines?

2011-08-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hard Work! If anyone tells you different ask them if they are #1 for the keywords that you choose to find them!

Think about that... Some companies pay a lot both in paid placement and SEO to get to the top of the search results. But is this what potential clients are searching for?

Case in Point. I just got back from a meeting with a potential client and he wanted to be #1 in all the search engines on a very limited budget. He had all these technical terms for his business: Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kick boxing, Dojang etc. But what has been in the news lately that parents maybe searching on?

"Bullying", "self defense" are what's hot now!

So sometimes being #1 in the wrong place is not that great. Being #1 where prospects are looking is what you want...

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Personal Branding

2011-08-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

As members and visitors to my BNI meetings (Shore Money) have noticed the last couple of weeks my 60 sec commercials have been out of the ordinary. This has been by design. Next week I will be one of the featured speakers. The small intros have all been leading up to that speech.

Several members and one guest have asked about the 60sec commercials also know as your elevator sales pitch. It you speak with people or in front of an audience and no one asks any follow up questions... One of two things my be happening.

One, your message was not clear. Second, your brand my not be established.

What I mean about that is... What are you selling? Your company/product or yourself. Real simple example: Old Navy or even Polo. Why pay the price for these shirts with their logo on them instead of buying a generic shirt for less and no name on it?

Not to get into a brand vs generic debate, but just think about it next time you tell people your and Insurance Agent or Mortgage Broker. What are you selling?

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

PS Sign up for my presentation on Branding and selling Worldwide

The bo staff in Business?

2011-03-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

The bo staff is usually made of hard wood, such as red or white oak, although bamboo has been used. The bō may be tapered in that it can be thicker in the center then at the ends. The average size of a bō is around 6ft but they can be a long as 9ft. The earliest form of the bow staff, has been used throughout Asia since the beginning of recorded history. No kidding since it started out as a walking stick carried by travelers and monks!

We all read the newspapers, watch TV or listen to the radio. But like the simple walking stick we never give it much thought. How did that news item wind up in the paper on or the radio? Simply it may have started as a news release. A simple release put out about a topic or interesting item. Something of note!

When was the last time you put out a news release? To tell the world about yourself, your business or even your website? The Internet now makes it very easy to do just that. Over the years we have used Constant Contact to build up our media database and help distribute our news releases via email. Simple but how many do the simple things to help our businesses.

Remember that 78 year old selling Singing Bears on the Internet I've spoken about before. When her website was relaunched we put out a news release. That got some coverage. Same with the Seminars we do. They have even been on the local radio stations. Clients have called and said they heard about my seminar on the radio! Now that's some nice news coverage.

So like the monks of old traveling down that road of life. Keep mindful of any thing that can be used....

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Referral Confidence Curve

2011-03-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

BNI has this curve based on time in the group. It basically shows that the longer you are in a group the higher your confidence with members hence higher the number of referrals. I have been in my chapter Shore Money here at the Jersey Shore for over 9 years and I can say this is most definitely true. However most people go out of their way to sabotage their own creditability.

BNI also makes reference to treating your fellow chapter members as the Most Important Client. Yet today I have had everyone cancel meetings with me for today and tomorrow. Yes, the first thing I checked was my breath and BO! Some did not even bother to call they just sent an email. I guess my time is not worth as much as theirs. The time I set aside for these meetings is time that I can be doing billable work. So instead I did paperwork today and got on the phone to set up some more appointments for tomorrow.

The best part is that two of these that cancelled have been after me to get them into my clients. Now I ask you, can I honestly refer them in good faith to my clients? I mean honestly! Each time they cancel or reschedule a meeting don't they know they are losing creditability with me! Or don't they care?

Keep your appointments!
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Can the Three Section Staff help your business?

2011-03-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

The Three-Sectional Staff, Triple Staff, Three-part Staff, Sansetsukon in Japanese, or originally Sanjiegun, is a Chinese flail weapon that consists of three wooden or metal staffs connected by metal rings or rope. Also known in Japanese as sansetsukon, the weapon is also known as a "coiling dragon staff." A more complicated version of the two section staff, the staves can be spun to gather momentum resulting in a powerful strike, or their articulation can be used to strike over or around a shield or other defensive block.

Google Alerts can be wielded like a Three Section Staff. Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include: monitoring your own publicity campaign or keeping current on a competitor or industry.

So like the Three Section Staff you can get around the shield of your competitor and find out what they are up to. That would be call Market Intelligence. Are you using Google Alerts?

Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Eskrima in Business?

2011-03-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

Eskrima refer to a class of Filipino martial arts that emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, blades and improvised weapons. The teaching of the basic skills in Eskrima are traditionally simplified. With limited time to teach intricate moves, only techniques that were proven effective in battle and could easily be taught en masse were used. This allowed villagers, generally not professional soldiers, a measure of protection against other villages, as well as foreign invaders. This philosophy of simplicity is still used today and is the underlying base of eskrima.

Thank you Wikipedia but what does this have to do with business????? E-mail that's what!!! It's the one technique proven to be effective and is available to the masses not only to Internet Professionals.

The actually technique I am referring to is the use of signature files or tag lines at the end of each and every email you sent out. Yet like most of the tools (weapons) available to small business owners today, very few use it. Just today I checked my email inbox and out of 73 new messages only 21 had a signature that make sense. That's less than one third!

The great thing about setting up a signature file on your email is that once it's setup your done! It attaches itself to each out going email. If you tell it too. Some email systems allow you can also set up multiple signatures if you want to but that is complicating the issue...

Most can be as long or as short as you like. My includes a number of our websites as well as a link to my LinkedIn profile if the reader want more information about me or my business. I only use one! The one listed below:

Richard M.J. Jarosz
http://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmjjarosz

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lone Keep Internet, Inc. 732.988.4044
P.O. Box 333 richard@lonekeep.com
Bradley Beach, NJ 07720 http://www.lonekeep.com
"Profitability thru visibility!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Divisions include:
Towne Crier Promotions
http://www.towne-crier.com
http://towne-crier.blogspot.com

Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin
http://www.jscib.org

Jersey Shore Guide
http://www.shoreguide.info

Jersey Shore Coupons
http://www.jerseyshorecoupons.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Links the misunderstanding

2011-02-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

A client today told me that a vendor would not place a link on their site to my client's because they were told that would hurt their ranking! The vendor said that they were at the top of Google and did not want to jeopardize that.

So a big believer in the pudding as it were, off to Google we went. We searched on the vendor's main field of business and they were nowhere to be found. So we narrowed the search and included the county and then the city they were located in, still nothing. Finally we typed in the exact company name and they were third on the listing in Google. Not exactly the top in their field. I then explained possibly he should not take what the vendor tells him about the web as gospel.

Here's the real scoop. The links to your website are one of the most important factors for high search engine rankings. If you want to get high search engine rankings on Google, Yahoo and other major search engines, then your website must have many good inbound links. In addition to the sheer number of the links, the quality of the links is also important. Plain and simple!

We will talk about what makes a good inbound link at a later date.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Using a Sai in Bussiness?

2011-02-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

Another agricultural tool used as a weapon. Folklore has the Sai used to measure stalks, plant rice and even as a pitchfork to lift bales!? A strange farm tool and even a stranger weapon.

But how does this help me in businesses? Another strange tool is Twitter. A lot of people don't see the need or even how to use it. It a quirky little tool just like the Sai but in the right hands it can be deadly. True no one wants to know that you dad is on the patio (that bad commercial for some phone system or another). But if you have important things to share and build up a decent following it can be a very useful tool for your business.

Check out Lone Keep Internet on Twitter to see some examples of some useful Tweets. Also see if you competitors are using Twitter. If they are should you?

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Kamas in Business?

2011-02-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

First off, what the hell is a Kama? Before being improvised as a weapon, the Kama was widely used throughout Asia to cut crops, mostly rice. It is found in many shapes and forms in Asia and is particularly common in martial arts. We use them in Tae Kwon Do and I have trained with them.

Like one of my earlier posts about Nunchucks the Kama was a tool that the farmers had handy and used to help defend themselves. Business owners have a tool at their disposal that a lot have refused to use for a number of reasons. This tool is LinkedIn. My profile can we viewed at Richard M.J. Jarosz on LinkedIn. This is a lot like a resume online. Not only are my current but all my past positions as well.

The two best parts are the Recommendations and Connections sections. I can ask for recommendations from my previous managers and associates. I even have a recommendation from my first boss! The Connections sections not only tells you how many constants you have directly connected to you but you can also search others contacts. If you are looking for someone specific in your network (up to three levels away) you can find out how you are connected and use that info to contact that person! A great tool for target marketing!

But alas just like the farmer implement unless you use it properly it just remains a farm implement and nothing more... So is your LinkedIn a tool sitting on the shelf or a weapon of mass money making potential?

Use it well grasshopper.
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Getting the Wrong Word Out!

2011-02-15T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yes! Business owners do this all the time. When someone just happens to find them on the net it's the wrong information! I'm talking about business directories. You know those free listing that you did a couple of years ago and never updated. How many contain the wrong information? The wrong hours, telephone number or even the wrong address?? If you think this is not hurting you, guess again!

When was the last time you checked your free listings? Take the Jersey Shore Coupons Store Directory for example. Over a year ago it went to the new software and a lot of businesses jumped on it to take advantage of it's free business listings. Now for a number of them the information is incorrect. I know... I pointed it out to them and they have not corrected it! So the information is out there.. still wrong!

Some suggestions to help you in the future. When you do take advantage of these free directory listings copy down the URL into a text file, excel file, or whatever. Check them now and again. Update then with new info not only corrections. It will help your business in the long run.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Nunchucks in Business?

2011-02-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

The popular belief is that nunchucks were originally a short Southeast Asian flail used to thresh rice or soybeans (that is, separate the grain from the husk). It is possible that it was developed in response to the moratorium on edged weaponry. In other words it was a tool that was developed to overcome a bad situation using the only resources available.

In today's business there are a lot of nunchucks out there for business owners to use. But just like the nunchucks used in martial arts you need training and practice to use them effectively.

Let's take one tool for example, Linked In. A business associate of mine, who is about to retire, has been trying for the last several months to place a recommendation on my profile. He has managed to send me nothing but emails each time. He says he can't be bothered by this new stuff. I'm just glad his life does not depend on it like those poor rice farmers of old!

A potential client heard me speak about this same exact subject yesterday at my BNI meeting in Belmar, NJ. After the meeting he asked me if I could spare some time to show him how to get started with Linked In. Ahhh! Grasshopper..... Someone got it!

Remember: The right tool for the right job!
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Making Every Word Count

2011-01-31T14:58:00.000-08:00

The dozen or so people gathering at the Neptune Public Library appear as diverse as the Pitt-Jolie family. Yet despite being of both genders and of every age they're confident, friendly and wearing plastic name badges. They gather twice a month for the Shore Speakers Toastmasters meeting.

Toastmasters has been teaching people how to improve their public speaking since 1924. 60 percent of its clubs are now in corporations. There are toastmaster clubs at Bank of America, Caterpillar, Intel, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Aspiring rhetoricians join because they're looking to enhance their career prospects.

It's also a great way to work on one's networking. Not only at the club's meeting but also being better prepared when speaking with others at daily events like Chamber meetings, After-hour functions and even at a play or the lobby of the movies. Anywhere you may have to speak to people!

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.
Charter Member of the Shore Speakers Toastmasters Club

Weird Sites (Businesses)

2011-01-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, weird websites (Businesses) are interesting. Being such, more people will point to them. There is even a Top 100 Weird Sites list on the web.

But is being weird so bad? For businesses maybe yes, maybe no. I recently met an owner of a business that had a weird business at least to me. A very nice guy he does Canine & Equine Massage Therapy. After talking to him I was actually able to point him to a client. This former employee owns a horse and she has already introduced him to the owner of the farm where she keeps it. You never know!

Mentioned this equine therapist at my BNI meeting yesterday and a member sent me the contact information, via email, of a reporter looking for people who had strange jobs. I believed this fits the bill. Massaging a horse... So I passed this info on to the business owner.

Just goes to show... You never know what will help "get the word out!"

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Local Newsletters

2011-01-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

Do you contribute to your local online newsletters? Most are indexed in Google and if you are looking for content for your website... Well? Take the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin Archives for example. The JSCIB (for short) is a local newsletter about events at the Jersey Shore. Published online since 1996 with over 10,000 subscribers this email newsletter has all of its past issues indexed on line.

Local newsletters like this are always looking for additional content and as a busines or organization it would make sense to be mentioned in it. Enough said!

So do you know of any other Local email or online newsletters?

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Face to Face with Facebook

2011-01-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

Did you or your clients get those nifty new devices for Christmas? You know, the smart phones and the like. They all have web access on them. That means FaceBook and Twitter!

Can you use them? Should you use them? Read several articles this past week addressing the use of Facebook by Colleges, Fraternities and yes even businesses to keep in touch. Not saying you must but it is a good idea to get connected to old college buddies. What Firms are they with now? Are they managers at Corporations you've been trying to get into?

Facebook and other social media are changing society in dramatic ways. However, many people are still afraid to use social networks for different reasons. Usually citing lack of time as the main reason they don't use Facebook. It can be a time waster but so can watching mindless TV. Common Sense is the key here. Limiting your time on Facebook (like limiting your kid's TV time... You do limit their time watching TV? Right?) can make it very productive.

Spending only a few minutes a day can open up a whole new world to you and your business...

How much time do you spend on Facebook daily?

Richard M.J. Jarosz

Why you should submit your website

2011-01-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

You don't get very high search engine rankings just by submitting your website to search engines. That is very important to know.

1. You invite search engines to visit your website
When you submit your website to a search engine, you basically ask the search engine spiders to visit your website and to evaluate it. If the search engine spiders cannot find anything useful on your site, they won't list your website. It doesn't make any sense to submit your website to search engines if you haven't
optimized it before.

2. You get links from related websites
By submitting your website to Internet directories, you can get inbound links from related web pages. Usually, the category pages on Internet directories are considered related web pages if your website fits in the selected category. Inbound links can greatly increase the search engine rankings of a website if the links contain the right keywords and if the links come from related web pages. For that reason, links from Internet directories can have a very positive effect on the search engine rankings of your website.

Web page optimization and link building are more important than search engine submission. However, search engine submission still helps to inform search engines and Internet directories about your website. It's a start!

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Getting the word out about Causes!!! Families living in tents?! In New Jersey????

2010-12-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, right here in New Jersey, at the Jersey Shore. Not some third world country, half way around the world, but right here at home where we can do something about it. I recently received this message from one of my Brother Knights of Columbus.

"I know the economy is tough on all. I'm just trying to help someone, help someone else. I am trying to help families that are currently living in tents in the woods in Lakewood NJ. Some are single adults and some are full families. Kids in need! They need help. They have no where else to go! They are living in the woods for Christmas. We will be collecting canned goods and clothing Saturday morning at the Council Hall in Neptune City."

I used Face Book, Linked In and even Twitter to try and get the word out. But I received no responses. Instead as I watched my Face Book feed I read the messages go by about how "Today just sucks all around" from a teenage girl in a warn house in Ocean Grove or my brother complaining about his Hawaii trip and his Cabo Trip. Both in the last month! No offer to help these people... I guess he forgot where we can from!

It's amazing that there were No replies or comments. Not even from the Bleeding Hearts I know and have debated with over the years. Yes, I'm talking to you Jess. I bet if I put up a stupid video of a cat dancing I'd get lots of comments.

Well for one... Karen and I are going shopping in a little while to pick up somethings so we can drop them off tomorrow morning at the Knights Hall....

Anyone else care to help?

Are you taking advantage of your Organization's free Promotion?

2010-12-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

We all belong to Organizations; Chambers, Professional, Social, Business and list goes on. But do we really take part in some of the finer points of membership?

I'll cover two cases, one involving BNI and another a DMO.

BNI-ShoreMoney.com - a Business Networking group based here at the Jersey Shore is my first example. I am a member and while looking up some information about a fellow member before I called them I noticed that their website address was missing from their member listing. I also did not find the links to there Blog and their FaceBook Fan page! I know they have both. Looking at the other members of the group I noticed that most of them did not have their Social Media links listed.

Why was the question I ask? And I received a lot of excuses back. No reasons just a lot of excuses. "No one told me." "I don't know how." "Can't be bothered." The list goes on.

Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau - a DMO (Destination Marketing Organization) dedicated to promoting the Jersey Shore. Their website promotes their Twitter, FaceBook and Blog accounts. But when you check out each version of Social Media you find it under utilized. Again I heard the same litany of excuses.

Free Promotion - Both these organizations charge for membership and part of that membership goes to maintain the websites and Social Media platforms. Yet members do not take advantage of this portion of their membership. It's FREE promotion for them and their websites. When businesses are paying for links to their sites and when they pay for advertising, why do they ignore the FREE stuff? It's part of the paid membership... Use it!

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

The power of Press Releases

2010-12-10T06:15:00.000-08:00

If you are putting out newsletters you have the capability of adding Press Releases to your Tool Kit of way to promote your website and your business. Take for example the following Press Release 78 year old Woman relaunches SingingBearsOnline.com Website.

This was a simple news release that Rosalyn Thermelius, owner of Singing Bears Online, put out not only to the media but potential customers. It resulted in at least for new customers directly for the emails. Does it work? Yes! Is it a numbers game? Yes!

But it takes time and effort. A database of media/news outlets had to be created (not bought) of local and state wide sources. Next a list of potential customers had to be gathered. Now she has it for next Press Release. She is using the database to help her "Get the Word Out" about her, her website and her business.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Why Use Printable Online Coupons?

2010-12-02T13:37:00.000-08:00

- Save Money!
- Be a Smart Shopper
- Save Time
- Find Rare or Discontinued Items
- Savings Add Up

These are all great reasons. So why are you not letting your customers use these advantages? Does your business use coupons? If not why not?

If you are always looking for a bargain don't you think your customers are too? Why not help them and help your business grow at the same time!

Jersey Shore Coupons is just one of the ways you can help your customers. Make it easy for them to find you and the bargains they are looking for.

Online coupons are cheaper. You're not killing any trees (not adding to global warming). You can change them as often as you want or need to without going through the print expenses again! This is great if you products or services are seasonal.

Another point... Have you ever had an error with a coupon after you printed and distributed it? With and printable online coupon you can correct it as soon as you find out! You are in control of your offers not your graphic artist, PR company or your printer. You!!

Just my two sense...
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Why keywords are the most important part of SEO?

2010-11-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

A number 1 listing on Google can be totally pointless if it is for the wrong keywords.

If the wrong people search for that keyword then your SEO efforts will be in vain. The keywords that you choose are the most important factor that decides whether you will succeed or not.

Many "wanna be" webmasters think that they already know the best keyword for their clients. If they haven't done some research, they are usually wrong. There are several reasons for that:
-- You know your business better than anybody else. You know the special terms that are used in your industry and you know what you should search for when you're looking for products like yours.
-- Your customers don't know as much as you. They don't know your terminology and they might use totally different keywords. Remember you are not your best client.
-- Did you consider the intention of the searcher? Just because a keyword is used very often on search engines it doesn't mean that you'll get many customers. People who find your website through a special keyword might not be interested in purchasing.

It's very important that you take the time to find the best keywords for your website. The time and effort that you invest in finding the right keywords will pay you back in no time.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Why does a high search engine ranking increase your sales?

2010-11-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

High search engine rankings are the perfect way to get more visitors, more
customers and more sales. Recent statistics show that having high search engine rankings is the key to the success of your online business:

1. Your customers are on the Internet and they have money
More than 1 billion people use the Internet (Source: Nielsen/NetRatings). Web users spend twice as much time online as watching TV (Source: Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society). Consumers spend more than $143.2 billion online per year. These people have money, they want to buy and they could be your customers.

2. Your customers use search engines
More than 80% of all Internet users find new websites through search engines(Source: Georgia Tech/GVU Users Survey). That means that millions use search engines every day to find websites.

3. These people are interested in your goods and services
Search engine users are some of the most qualified and motivated visitors to your website you will ever have. After all, they have taken the initiative to hunt for online resources on a certain topic. And then they clicked your link to learn more.

What's your ranking? If you need help finding out, give me a call.
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.
732-988-4044

Localize Your Website's Content

2010-11-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

Don’t be afraid to mention your location on your Web site. Don’t make it a secret to the search engines or your customers. Let them know where your business is located. It’s natural information that both the search engines and your users are going to want to know. Who do you target? What area(s) are you relevant to? When are you open? How can people can find you? Tell them.

Where do you slip in these trust and location cues within your content?

Home page: While you’re out there telling people what you’re about, mention where you’re located. It shows customers you really exist, while also giving the search engines’ local algorithms something to work with.
About page: Your About page should not only tell people who you are, it should tell them where you’re located. It’s one of the many trust signals users will be looking for and it acts as a great citation for the search engines.
Press page: Do you have a page on your site that encourages people to get in touch with you for media purposes? Don’t forget to include your address, phone number and email.
Contact page: This should be a no brainer but you’d be surprised how many people lose their brains writing Web copy. Include your location, a map, your cities served, hours, email address, fax number, phone number, directions and other any information you have that establishes your location.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

PROJECT: "What on your Shelf?" is Over!

2010-11-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

And what a depressing project it was! Over half of the businesses gone in less that two years. Of the other half most are on their way... bad business people! And almost all don't know how to use their business cards or the phone!!!!

The raw stats:
Business Cards in the Box: 0 (Started at 1000)
Out of Business: 548
Businesses actually looking to grow: 102
Businesses that called back: 79

10% only were actually looking to grow. How did I arrive at that number? These were the ones that answered their phone like a business and starting a conversation with me. I did not sell them and they did not sell me... just a pleasant conversation between two local business people whom I have met before. We talked about BNI, Toastmasters, local chambers, the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau and my FREE monthly seminars and how each could help their business. Some actually showed up to these meeting/events and we continued our discussions. Nice folks.

The other 400 (not out of business) were just rude! If I was not buying from them, right then and there, they they wanted nothing to do with me... Not exactly nice in this business environment! They will soon follow the path of the 500 currently out of business. I wish them the best but...

So I ask again, "What's on your shelf?"

Why send out Press Releases?

2010-10-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

EXPOSURE!!! Plain and simple. With services like Constant Contact it is easy to create and maintain a database of media outlets.

Recently we sent out a press release for a client who was holding a special event at her Inn in Spring Lake. She promoted the event (her client) and got some promotion in return. Two for one!

Constant Contact allows you to see who opened the emails sent to them. Several Local Chambers, the Two River Times, Breeze Radio, NJ Family and NJ Monthly are but a few that opened the Press Release. Not that it will be in each of those publications or be on the Radio but it has happened! We at Lone Keep Internet, Inc. have had our FREE Seminars announced on the Radio before as a news item and cost us nothing. Did I mention FREE advertising?

So if you have never sent a Press Release out dust off your writer's pen and start! Or if you need help ask for it here and we will assist you where we can...

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Head Marketing Consultant for Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Blogging! What's it all about?

2010-10-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Ads and commercials it is not!!!! Have you ever been to a blog and all you find are ads for the organization that posts to it? There is no discussion or exchange of ideas. Not even the inner working of the mind of the author! Or scattered semi-workings of minds like mine!!!

Actually I could list the poorly done blogs here. But to what end? You would just get mad at me for wasting your time. But if you have any good or even bad blogs and would like to share them. Please post them here...

In the meantime if you would like to learn how to put blogging to use or meet some other bloggers join me at my Free Blogging Seminar in Asbury Park, NJ. Learn what other bloggers are doing or just stop by for some tea and crackers!

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

What does your Business Card really say about you?

2010-10-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Working on the "What's on your shelf" project I have noticed many things. The most striking observation has probably been that the actually business card says little to nothing about the company or the wielder of the card. No really, it usually says zilch! Some may look pretty, glossy and be double sided but what does that have you do with you?

Some of the most expensive cards are from companies that did not last their first year. While other plain Black and White ones represent companies that have been around for over 22 years (yes like Lone Keep Internet, Inc.) There are even some that try to list everything that a company provides in tiny, tiny print on both sides. Who is going to read all that?

I believe that the cards should be a pointer, an arrow if you will. Once you make a personal contact the business card should serve as a reminder of why the holder should be interested in your company. (Hence, one sided and easy to add notes on the back.) As a pointer they should guide the holder to your website where you can dazzle them with graphics, video and long lists of services (content). But how many really do this?

How many do not have a website listed? Or maybe even the wrong one? Yes, I have found several of these on my shelf. Some don't put their website on their cards because they are not finished or don't work. Both of these are easily fixable. If you want to help your local web designer or graphic artist grow their business just ask why there is no website on the card you just got! If you want you can send me the referral!!!

In the mean time take a look at your business card. What does it say about you?

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Assistant Director for BNI Monmouth County
Charter member of the BNI Shore Money Chapter in Ocean Grove

Using your 60 Second Commercial as Blog Content

2010-10-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

Most of the people I speak with tell me they have nothing to blog about. However most belong to networking groups. These groups let you do a 60 second commercial at the beginning of each meeting as a form of introduction.

These 60 Second introductions usually include who you are looking to meet in the upcoming week or some interesting tidbit to catch the listeners ear. One such example was at my BNI meeting this past Thursday. The Pest Control expert mentioned Bed Bugs as they have been getting a lot of press here in Monmouth County. He mentioned that he was an expert in their removal and used a greener (safer) method to do the job. A method not used by other local pest control companies. When I asked him if he put this info into a blog post or even an email to his current clients his response was typical. "No one wants to hear about it!" Well actually yes they do. It's been all over the papers and even the nightly news! Bed bugs are becoming a problem at the Jersey Shore. Even the local Multiplex theater make the nightly news with their bed bug issue.

So if you have invested the time and effort into a great 60 Second commercial why not use that as a basis for your blog entry. Most networking groups recommend that you have a different one each week. So you have a different blog entry each week. Now that is Working Smarter not Harder!

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Charter member of the Shore Money Chapter of BNI
We meet in Ocean Grove, NJ each Thursday morning.

Work Smarter, Not Harder!!!

2010-10-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

We all have heard this saying... But how many of us actually put it in practice?
I see a couple of hands up but not a lot. It has been my experience that clients go out of their way to work harder because working smarter requires work! Does that even make sense?

Case in point: Let's call client one of my clients Mr. B. He owns a typical store front establishment in a Jersey Shore town. We publish a monthly newsletter for him on the last day of the preceding month. We start each month with a production sheet of necessary information; like Target publication date, this month's coupon information, title and author of each article, even where the pictures are coming from. As the month progresses I work on my articles and the pictures for the rest of the newsletter. I also remind him of his input that is needed for the monthly edition.

However, each month a couple days before the publication date after all month of "being busy" there is a flurry of activity and the newsletter usually gets out a day or two later. He's glad that the work is done and puts it off for another month. My recommendation to him this month which was the same as the previous months: Work on the monthly repeating articles now so we don't have to rush at the end of the month. His response? You guessed it... "He's too busy"

Our own newsletter the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin has been published twice a month for over 14 years. It's work but we have developed a process that works. This is the same process that we are trying to get Mr. B to follow...

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know?

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

We want information...

2010-10-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

How many of you remember the British TV series "The Prisoner"? They wanted Number 6 to give then information but never told him what information they wanted? Very frustrating for our hero Number 6.

How many of my readers get reports on how their website are doing? Not a lot but some. And how many can wade through the reams of pages to get to the "correct" information?

Being able to discern the correct information from these reports in a timely fashion sometimes looks like magic! But that is when experience really comes into play. Zeroing in on the actual problem or keeping track of the important numbers over a period of time does take a lot of finesse.

It starts with getting the right reports. Followed by the ability to find the information necessary to spot either trends or issues that may have been overlooked by others. Sometimes there is just no easy way around it other than taking the time to review the entire report.

Recently I made an offer to some business associates to run a FREE 50+ page report on comparing the optimization of their website to their top 10 competitors along with a lunch meeting were I would go over the report and explain it. Several took me up on the offer and were pleasantly surprised. I did not they to sell them anything. I just explained the results and pointed out a few of the suggestions that they could do themselves to help their websites visibility and ranking in the Search Engines. I guess the others were making too much money with their website already!

If you would like to request a FREE 50+ page Top 10 Optimization Report to help you achieve your goals in 2011 just visit Lone Keep Internet, Inc. and click on the link.

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Why the hell do you have a newsletter?

2010-09-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Good question! How many of you have a company or organization newsletter? How many send it out regularly? Does it contain useful information or is it a sales letter?

Lets start with the basics. Why do you have a newsletter? To inform your clients right! Inform them about what? The newsletter should keep them up to date on latest trends in your industry or new services or products you may have. Inform them as to how your product can save them time/money or simply make their lives easier. Don't have it sound like a TV commercial.

How often do you send it out? Do you send it our regularly? I work with a lot of clients on "trying" to get their newsletters published periodically each month. Sometimes it like pulling teeth! The most common answer is "Don't have time to work on it!" Think about it for a second. Whom is the newsletter for? You or your readers (clients and prospects). Stop making the process about you and make it about your clients! After all aren't you suppose to make their lives easier? So put the focus back on the client/prospect and get going.

The last point I would like to make is... Is your newsletter mailing list growing? If not why? If it works and you spend the time and effort putting it together why not work towards a wider distribution? The mailing list should be constantly growing or it becomes stagnant. We will cover how to keep it growing at a later date....

Richard M.J. Jarosz
Publisher of the
Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin

Keyword Tools provides keyword ideas

2010-09-24T08:08:00.001-07:00

Keyword Tools generate keyword and landing page ideas highly relevant and specific to your website. The tools help you identify additional opportunities that aren't currently being used in your SEO campaigns. The tools go one step further by tailoring the keywords and other data (such as the amount of competition for the keyword, the suggested bid, and more). Once such tool is Google's Keyword Tool.

Keeping an eye on the competition is always a good thing and in these uncertain economic times it's even more so. This tool is not only for keeping track of what the competition is doing, it can also be used to expand your own list of keywords. The results give you suggestions on variations of the Keywords (key phrases) as well as insight to the number of global and local searches for each Keyword.

Here at Lone Keep Internet we run these as well as a battery of other reports to support our clients in their search for the ultimate keywords for their business. Email or call our company, ask for Richard M.J. Jarosz, and he will answer any of your questions personally.

Promoting Content with Social Media - Twitter

2010-09-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

People are still asking what the "h e double hockey sticks" is twitter!! Well Twitter is a social network in which users short, 140 characters, messages with each other. Users follow or subscribe to each other and receive message from each other. This may be via desktop computers, laptops, smart phones or text messaging.

If you don't believe Twitter can help you get the word out just take this one example. Justin Halpern’s 73-year-old father didn’t know that he was a Twitter sensation. His dad’s quips have resulted in more than 231,000 followers under the account name @shitmydadsays. Now it's a comedy series on network TV with William Shatner (yes... Captain Kirk) playing the dad!!!!

Do you have anything interesting to share????

Maybe some stories about me, Richard M.J. Jarosz.
Ones that can be published that is......

Promoting Content with Social Media - LinkedIn

2010-09-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

The social network many businesses are familiar with is LinkedIn. This network has over 75 million business users and more than 1 million business profile pages that can become an important resource. It is very important to take the time to make the descriptions of you and your business interesting to read and accurate.

Linkedin has two major features that are of use to businesses. The My Connections section of LinkedIn is where you place your contacts and start to find out who they are connected to. LinkedIn keeps track up to three degrees away from you. You can find out how large your network is under Network Statistics along with additional information about your network.

The second major features is the Groups feature. This allows LinkedIn users to create and participate in discussions about a topic in LinkedIn. Groups are a great way to make business connections and can be a great place to share relevant blog content.

How many people in your network?

Promoting Content with Social Media - Facebook

2010-09-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

Social Media is generating a lot of buzz right now among marketers and business owners. Business that can leverage social media to help distribute content and generally get the word out. Social media allows your customers and prospects to communicate directly with you online allowing interesting content to be spread quickly.

With more than 500 million users, Facebook has become the major player n the social media industry. It is the number 2 most visited site in the world, right behind Google which is number 1! While many people still think of it as a place for high school and college kids, it is actually a diverse network consisting of all demographics.

The first step in leveraging Facebook for business is to set up a business fan page like the one for Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

The second step is to suggest your business page to all your friends.

How many already have business fan pages?

Free Content for your Website

2010-09-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Content is King!
How many websites suffer from not enough or up to date content? Most! But we hold the key to Free Content for our websites and even our blogs... Our news releases! New releases about ourselves and our companies. You already have something interesting to say so why not update your website with the information.

Just one example
I belong to Toastmasters International's Shore Speakers Chapter in Neptune, NJ. Recently I earned the status of Advanced Communicator Bronze. To achieve Advanced Communicator Bronze recognition, I had to complete a series of challenging projects designed to enhance my speaking skills. This required several years of study and active participation in my Toastmasters Club. Kind of a big deal for me.

After sending out that news release thru my usual media channels I decided to place it on my website. Since I do a lot of seminars and workshops some recognition about my speaking ability seemed appropriate. The news release can be found on my News page of Lone Keep Internet's site. http://lonekeep.com/news.html

Anyone else care to share a news release they have?

Richard M.J Jarosz
Toastmaster, ACB, CL

Do you have a Newsletter?

2010-09-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

And is it productive? Are you using your newsletter as content for your website? Do you know your numbers?

What numbers?
There are many things you can monitor to keep track of your newsletter. How many subscribers do you have and how many are being added each week or each month? How many are actually opening and reading your newsletter? Is there an action item in the newsletter?

Just like the numbers for your website you should have access to these. If you use Constant Contact you have access to all these numbers. Now you just need to analyze and use them. If you do not have these numbers you may be doing your business and yourself a disservice. Remember it's always about the numbers.

Action Items
What action items can be in your newsletter? That depends on the type of newsletter you have. If it is a Cafe you might have a coupon that the reader can use next time they walk into you Cafe. If you are an informational newsletter, like the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin you can track each link when a reader clicks on one then to find out additional information about a particular event. Again this is feedback from your readers.

If you do not have these numbers I suggest you looking getting them...

Presented by
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

5 things every business can learn by studying Perez Hilton

2010-09-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Mario Lavandeira has made millions as the blogger behind PerezHilton.com. Perez Hilton celebrity gossip blog is read by millions every day and he is one of the most visible and popular bloggers online.

The blog reports to average over 260 million page views a month, hit a record day with 13.9 million page views this week and has a very loyal readership.

Here are the 5 things every business can learn from PerezHilton.com:

1. Find a topic you have passion for. A topic that you can and would love to write about daily or at least weekly. Perez focused on celebrities “because it was something I was inherently curious about, fascinated with.”
2. Be consistent. Post on a regular blogging schedule. Perez Hilton posts new articles to his blog an average of 40 times a day. Most business can't keep that pace but find one you can keep up with.
3. Be unique. Celebrity-focused websites are nothing new, but Perez Hilton created his own oversize persona to stand out from the crowd. You the business owner can do the same. Just takes a little imagination.
4. Be provocative. Perez often makes harsh and derogatory comments about celebrities. This results in a ton of publicity as celebrities respond back, media reports it and readers share it with their friends. You may not want to go this route but voicing your own opinion never hurt.
5. Expand your blog. Perez has used his blog success to expand into other media and has built an entire empire around his persona. TV shows, radio shows, clothing line, book deal…

Incorporating these 5 steps into your daily/weekly blogging will make sure that your blog gets more attention, gets an increased readership, gets forwarded and shared virally and will ensure that you build your profile, your brand and increase blog traffic.

Presented by
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Getting the Word Out - Social Media

2010-08-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

What is social media? Social Media is content that is published with a social component.

Social Media is Inbound/Outbound Marketing
- Social Media helps with SEO
- Social Media can help your blog and website
- Social Media is very permission centric
- Social Media is conversational in nature. Are you conversing?

Step 1: Engage!
Start conversations and add value to the conversation (just don't advertise your product). Ask and answer questions. Pick one media and just start! Could be any of the more popular ones like Face Book, Linked In or Twitter. There are many others.

Step 2: Share
Find out what your audience is interested in. Create, promote and share valuable content. Make friends!

Step 3: Measure and Analyze
Track the number of friends or connections you have. Measure real business results such as the effect of Social Media on the number of visits to your blog or website.

Presented by
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Getting the Word Out - Blogs

2010-08-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

What is a blog? A blog is a website that allows for posted content or articles.

Blogging is a form of Inbound Marketing
- Blogging helps with SEO
- Blogging is permission centric
- Blogging can be fun
- Bogging is a form of conversation are you taking part?

Step 1: Read
Search for blogs in you industry or you hobby using blogsearch.google.com

Step 2: Comment
Contribute to the conversation by commenting on what you read. Increase the value of your comment by adding a point, add a useful link, ask a question, even disagree.

Step 3: Write
Add your own content and articles usually at least once a week. Write about something you know well. List ideas about your industry, publish a list of useful links, take a recent experience and share it. Answer questions you received recently from you clients and friends. Turn a press release into an article. A neat idea is to trade guest articles with a similar blogger. Promote on social media sites like Facebook and LinkeIn.

Step 4: Measure and Analyze
Track number of blog visitors, SEO rankings and blog rank. Measure real business results such as number of visitors to your website and leads generated.

presented by
Richard M.J. Jarosz
Lone Keep Internet, Inc.

Why 98% of Websites fail to make money!

2010-08-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

That's an easy question! They fail to "Get the Word Out"!!! I, Richard M.J. Jarosz, President of Lone Keep Internet, Inc. do everything to help our clients to get the word out. Whether it is SEO work for them, assisting with a newsletter or getting them started with FaceBook, Linked In and Twitter. All of these simple techniques are geared for one thing and one thing only... Get the Word Out. And not necessarily consuming a large cash budget.

To this end we have monthly FREE seminars on a wide range of topics. This month, August 26th, we are holding one on the practical uses of Facebook and Linked In.

Another low cost or even FREE technique is placing a news item in the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin. But how may of my clients don't invest the time?

If you know of any other techniques to "Get the Word Out let me know....

How Technology has changed the times!

2010-07-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I went to a Meat Loaf concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center. Playing before Meat Loaf was a singer by the name of Lisa Bouchelle (a Jersey Girl).

During the '70s I use to get great shots at concerts with my professional camera setup. Yes they did allow it! I got Yes in the round, at the Garden, and ELO with the UFO stage, the one that opened up.

The the '80s came and bands were more concerned about rights to their images (they did not want a dollar escaping them). I guess the '80s really was the "Me" decade and everyone was out to make a buck.

But the concert the other day.... Everyone had their digital cameras and cell phones out. Lisa Bouchelle even posted for pictures while she was singing, so did Meat Loaf. I guess they feel with youtube and facebook these pictures will get out anyway why not make it fun for everyone! The publicity that they get from posting of these pictures is worth more than the few extra dollars they would get by suppressing them.

It was refreshing watching the artist enjoy their craft and their fans instead of chasing the extra dollar. Thanks God for technology.

We at Lone Keep Internet would like to help any bands out there use this technology to help promote them.

Build it and they will come?

2010-06-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

Only in the movies! One of the attendees at my last "Tea" mentioned her blog and she was proud of it... So today I went looking for it and guess what? I could not find it.

Googled it... Nothing! Binged it.. Nothing! I even went to their webpage and it had no mention that they had a blog! Last try... I went to Facebook and looked at her profile as she is a friend... Nothing! I looked to see if her business had a FaceBook Fan Page again nothing!

Is she trying to keep a secret. No! She mentioned that someone left here a very nice testimonial on it... So I know you can get to it... But I don't know how!!!

Some recommendations:
1. Have you website mention and point to your blog.
2. Have all you social networking profiles point to your blog.
3. Create a Fan Page for your business or even your blog.
4. Make it easy for readers to find you!!!!

Enjoy the hot weather at the Jersey Shore. Remember I am always willing to talk on our porch only a block from the beach.... I have the best office in town!

I thought the web was suppose to make life easier or whatever happened to Customer Service

2010-06-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I called a company that I have been dealing with for over a month. I called nice and early (as per their recommendation) and asked for Mr. XX (I can't mention his name or the company's name because I get in trouble for pointing out the truth. See previous postings). So after giving him all my information the customer service rep said "sure, I transfer you now" and hung up on me! Mistakes happen... So I called back.

This time the person answering said Mr. XX had just walked in and was not "on the system" and could I call back in a few minutes. No problem I can wait a few. So I called back around fifteen minutes later. This time another rep said he just walked away from his desk and could I call back later. I was starting to get annoyed.

I waited a few more minutes and call back yet again! This time a different customer service rep said he was not due in until 11am. Now I was pissed. Who was lying to me? All of them. So I called back about 5 more times in a row and speaking to a different person each time I asked if Mr. XX could return my call. Mind you each call I had to give all my information including name, address, account number, reference number, etc.

Finally after lunch I got my return call which I missed so I called back and gave them all the info yet again. This time Mr. XX was there! The conversation was short and not necessary sweet. "Good morning Mr. Jarosz, there is no change in the status of your issue. So can you call back Friday?" AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

To check up on the status of an issue companies can set up their website to keep track of such things. We all have used websites to check delivery status of packages we have sent. You can check on the status of deposits into you checking account and status of charges on your credit cards. These companies have used the internet for what it was intended for. The company I was dealing with could have made it easy to find out the status of my issue. They could have tagged it with my complaint reference number.

Currently I am working with a client on the possibility of using Google Docs to keep them up to date on the status of their projects. This is but one of the FREE Google Tools available. Lone Keep Internet will be hosting a "FREE Seminar on the use of FREE Google Tools" tomorrow in Bradley Beach, New Jersey. For more information on our FREE seminars check out our website www.lonekeep.com

What ever happened to Identity Protection?

2010-06-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

I just got home from my bank and I feel violated! I needed additional checks for my personal account and submitted the form that comes with the last bunch of checks to order some new ones. She asked me for my driver's licence! When I asked why she needed it since this had nothing to do with my driving. She stated that the bank's computer needed my licence number?!!?!? Talk about getting the wrong information out! I could not see the connection. Banking --- Driving... They know who I am, I've been with them for over 10 years. I will tell you, I never saw this teller before now she have my Personal Information... Not exactly making me feel warm and fuzzy!

You see all the stuff about people finding out about you on the Internet... Well I never gave anyone my Driver's License number on the Internet. What protection do I have that this teller will not use or pass on that information to someone else.... NONE! I believe we give away more information to trusted(?) sources than we think. In the bigger scheme of things why does your bank need that info. To prove you are you? What about the fact that I've been banking with them for 10 years? Or does that not count! I could have given her a false license and how would she know? Instead I was honest and now a stranger has my personal information.

So getting the wrong information out seems some much easier these days. What are business owners doing to get the right information out? Are we sticking out our hand and introducing yourself to the person you are standing next to? Are you wearing your own logo? Are you reaching out to others that you can help? Probably not... but we are giving away our personal information....

Who out there is paying for Identity Protection? I would like to hear your point of view.

I have to lose weigth before I can start exercising!?

2010-06-08T05:39:00.000-07:00

We all have heard that excuse from friends and family. I get this all the time when I invite them to A. Kastner's Family Tae Kwon Do to just try it out. Yesterday I heard "I'll join BNI once I grow my network????!" Do people listen to themselves? Or are they just making excuses?

Either way it adds nothing to their creditability. Maybe they think they are being polite? But in today's world this smacks of Political Correctness. Which is evil from the start. People need to say what they mean and mean what they say! Sorry for sounding like a political commerical on this Primary Day but it's the truth.

If you can not trust people when they speak about simple things, how do they expect to be trusted with larger things like my money, my clients or the schedules they give me?

Get out and vote today and remember to mean what you say!

Next installment of "What on your Shelf?"

2010-06-04T05:46:00.000-07:00

This was to be a fun project... But alas, it has turned into work! Depressing, time consuming and basically a downer. Forget the businesses that are no longer around that is a given and a numbers game. But the ones that are still around I have to wonder how?

All the still existing businesses should take a look at my Recommended Reading List for a little inspiration. Maybe they can find some words of wisdom in these books. Most business owners have a copy or two, on their shelves, but have never cracked one open...

The latest round of calls from the business card box actually resulted in some call backs. After leaving a "detailed" message as requested I get a call asking "Who am I speaking with?" First off I believe it is "whom" Any English majors wish to comment? Secondly I left a detailed message explaining who I was and why I was calling! But they never checked their messages, they just hit dial last call. Why have voicemail in the first place and why don't they use it? Again this does nothing to add to their credibility as a business owner. Yes, people do make judgments bases on things like this. I do! I ask myself, is this the way they'll treat me or my clients in the future? Do I want to share clients with this person? Some interesting questions.

Good thing we have on our "Tea" and Seminar schedule "How to use the phone to promote your Website (business)." This will be Thursday July 22nd at the offices of Lone Keep Internet in Bradley Beach, NJ.

Have you read any good business books lately? If so, which ones?

Getting the Right Word Out!

2010-05-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

I was at a client’s shop this morning when I got a bad feeling of déjà vu!

The story starts, about a year ago, at what used to be my favorite Hobby Store. It was great going there, getting away from the day’s issues to play a few games and talk to my buddies including the owner. Then things changed! Ever time you walked into the store the owner would start to complain. Little things at first. Orders were being shipped to him late. Vendors started to raise their prices. In all still a great place to get away….

Somehow the bitching started. Taxes were too high! No one could afford to live in New Jersey. It started to get depressing listen to him but “the guys” were still great to talk to. So it was still a good place to go….

Then the real bitching began! Customers started bitching that all the owner did was bitch, so some of them stopped coming. This caused the owner to bitch about losing customers and blaming everything and everybody but himself. This caused more of his customer to go elsewhere which caused him to bitch even more and louder!

It got so bad that one time I stopped in on my way to the bank to grab a quick snack (one of the cool things about the Hobby Store) and the owner was speaking with good buddy of his. He was bitching about the states of affairs in New Jersey politics when another customer can up with an arm full of models and paints and placed them on the counter with a credit card on top. Instead of helping the customer who was trying to pay, he keep up the bitching with his buddy…. And the paying customer? Well he got tired of waiting to spend his money so he picked up his credit card and walked out the store. You guessed it! This caused the owner to get even louder in his complaining that he hates it when people to that to him… Go figure?! Well I have seen that happen to him twice. After the second time of listening to him bitch about it I stopped going to his store and now go to a Game Store 20 minutes further south to spend my money!!!!

Now the déjà vu part.

I was sitting in a little coffee shop this morning when that owner mentioned that he was under staffed and there was a large party outside. I suggested that he could serve me after everyone else as I was not in a hurry. As more customers came in his casual mentioning turned into complaining….

When those customers left he was in the back preparing an order when another lady walked in. She had her money out, for her cup of coffee, but no one was helping her. She waited a minute and even before I could mention to her that the owner was in the back she picked up her money and went down the street to the next coffee shop! Déjà vu all over.

Now what do you thing this lady mentioned to her friends later in the day? What great service she got? It was a pleasure doing business with that coffee shop?

Remember people talk!!! Make sure you get the right word out!

Why are business owners afraid of letting others know they are in business?

2010-05-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping track of some of the excuses I get why people don't share! I mean share with others about their businesses or organizations. What are they afraid of? One client told me she does not mention, in conversation, anything about her business because she's afraid they might take her clients!? How does she expect to get new clients. Others hold an event and when the attendance is low they complain. Another excuse is that advertising is expensive. So don't advertise, promote your event.

Just got a message from a long lost friend on Facebook saying she does not what to go crazy letting people know she's out there.... Barb you only have one friend so far and that is me. Go crazy add another!

The Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin (JSCIB) is still one of the best FREE means of getting the word out about you business and or event out there. It reaches over 10,000 subscribes on the Jersey Shore. Few businesses and groups take advantage of letting the readers know what events they are running, or what is new on their website, or what events they are attending or speaking at!!! What are they afraid of???

A BNI group's meeting, I attended last week, acted like their visitor's day was a secret! They had lofty goals but they basically sabotaged the event until I started asking questions. Since then one of the members has started to place the event on several Social Media sites. Hope it works out for them.

Promotion of you business/event does not have to be an ordeal. Just a little common sense and some time well spent.

Post you excuse why you don't promote your business. I'd like to hear some more great excuses....

Tourism to help get the word out

2010-05-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a seminar on Jersey Shore Tourism and heard Bob Hilton, Executive Director for the Jersey Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau, speak about how it affects all businesses.

He asked the question “Are you part of the Jersey Shore Tourism industry?” Most like myself answered “No” but we soon found out how wrong we were. He went on to explain that tourism is a unique industry that permeates many industries not typically associated with travel. The internationally accepted model for analyzing tourism’s economic impact splits the industry into two sectors:

- Core Tourism: Industries that “touch” the visitor and benefit directly from their spending (e.g. hotels, restaurants, museums etc.)

- Non-Core Tourism: Industries that supply those that touch the visitors (Website developers, PR and Ad companies, linen/food suppliers, janitorial services, construction, lawyers to name a few)

He enlightened us with these facts:

What do Visitors mean to the Jersey Shore?

- Each visitor brings in about $548 in expenditures

- $0.72 of each dollar spent by visitors in kept within New Jersey

- Every 160 visitors create a new NJ job

- Each visitor creates about $109 in tax receipts, $64 of which goes to the state and local authorities

- Every 204 visitors pay for one New Jersey public school student for one year

What an eye opener! Never thought about Lone Keep Internet as being in the Tourism business but I guess it is. Needless to say we became a Marketing Partner. For more information visit their website www.visitthejerseyshore.com

Do people listen to themselves when they speak?

2010-04-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

I mean really! Just got back from a monthly business breakfast. Sitting next to me was a photographer. A nice guy, so I asked how he got new clients? He replied he only does work by referral. Nice! So I invited him to my referral group and he replies "Referrals don't work for me." Shaking my head I just walked away at that point.

Am I nuts???? Or....

Let me know what you think and have found when speaking with people in general.

Love it when a plan comes together!

2010-04-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

Let’s review some of the topics I have been spouting on about:

It’s Spring! Time to leave the Cave
What on your Shelf?
Social Networking is about being Socialable
What’s new with the New Year?

Well as most of you know today was a beautiful day. The sun was shinning and all was good with the world! How right that was…. Let me walk you thru it. First thing this morning I got up and did my exercises (Thank you Dr. Wells). Got the blood pumping and ready for my 1 mile walk to visit a client in Ocean Grove (Just the best Coffee Shop in Ocean Grove, The Barbaric Bean). I also scheduled a meeting there with a business associate so we can plan some additional upcoming seminars. While there one of the other Bean patrons overheard our conversation and started asking questions and now I have a new prospect. (I left the cave and got out to meet some new people.) After the meeting I walked back to my office and passed several business owners who were also out enjoying the sun.

Back in my office I continued my calls (a scheduled item on my calendar everyday) I started to empty my box of 1000 business cards (see sidebar for latest results). Today’s topic was “what’s new?” Once I got the standard answer of “nothing” I told them about my new “Tea” later this month. Bob Hilton, the new Executive Director of Jersey Shore Convention &Visitors Bureau, will be the guest speaker. Being socialable I inquired if they were on FaceBook or Linked In and got several new connections for both. I even gave out a several invites to my BNI group that meets Thursday mornings in Ocean Grove.

Having done all that, now I getting ready to go and really workout at A. Kastner’s Family Tae Kwon Do…

Overall, a very busy and profitable day. Working on having more of then. Anyone want to join me?

Project: What's on your shelf – Phone Courtesy

2010-03-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

I’ve been making these calls from a number of Business Cards I’ve collected and again the one thing that stands out, besides 50% being out of business, is that most business owners don’t know how to answer the phone.

Looking up it up in the ‘net… I found “QUICK TIPS FOR PHONE COURTESY” and one of the first tips is “Identify yourself as soon as possible in the call.” Besides just good manners it’s part of Networking. Don’t make the caller guess if they reached the right person or company. If you put your company phone number on your business card don’t hide!!! Get out of the Cave!!!

To help your business, remember the acronym VCP. Visibility, Credibility, Profitability. This is networking! Working on getting the Word Out Not hiding it so people don’t feel comfortable calling you.

The Business Card should be a tool for your Networking. A very valuable tool if used properly! But I find most business owners don’t know how to network. They think showing up to an event and handing out a few cards is networking. They hope for the quick sale not realizing that it takes time to build up relationships.

To that end, this month’s Tea (FREE seminar Thursday, March 25th) will be on Networking. The title is “It’s Spring! Time to leave the Cave” and will be at the offices of Lone Keep Internet in Bradley Beach. We will cover all aspects of Networking including what organizations should be looked at and how to schedule the time needed!

If you are in the Jersey Shore area and would like to attend this Seminar, training session, give me a call at 732-988-4044. Upcoming Seminars will include: using Meetup, using the tools available from Google and even a “How to” on using the phone to promote your website.

It’s Spring! Time to leave the Cave

2010-03-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

To quote Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI:

"I find that many home-based business owners suffer from the Cave Syndrome. They get up each morning in a large cave with a big-screen TV called their home. They go out to their garage and get into a little cave with four wheels called their car. They go to another really big cave with plenty of computers called their office. At the end of the day, they get back into their little cave with four wheels and drive back to the large cave with the big-screen TV, and they can't figure out why no one is referring them. If you want to build your business through word of mouth, you have to be visible and active in the community by participating in various networking groups and/or professional associations. It’s even harder for those working from home to get out of the cave. You don’t even get into that little cave on wheels to drive to the large cave with the computers!"

How many of us live and work this way? I attended a networking group this past Wednesday and after listening to all the complaints about the way the group could not grow... etc. I asked one simple question!

"Who here belongs to another networking group? A chamber? A Toastmasters Club? Any group?" The amount of silence was staggering! Not a single person belonged to another group not even a social, sports, religious or fraternal one! Talk about cave dwellers.

When I suggested that they join me at one of the many events I was attending for the week I got the universal answer... "I'm busy." DOING WHAT??????????????? Needless to say my association with this group will be short lived. I even invited them to attend my FREE Networking Seminar next week but again I got the universal answer (I think I'll start referring to it as the universal excuse!)

So if any of you readers out there want to get out of your caves and attend a FREE Seminar about networking... a real "How to" training seminar call the offices of Lone Keep Internet at 732-988-4044 to reserve a seat.... Get out of your Cave.......

Social Networking is about being Socialable

2010-02-26T06:45:00.000-08:00

Social Media Use Up 82% Worldwide
Social Networking Now More Popular On Mobile than Desktop
Women Flock to Social Networks
Adult Social Media Use Hits New Highs

The above headlines have appeared in different Internet news sources over the past few weeks. Does this mean that Social Networking is a train you must catch? Not necessarily… But if you do, you must be Socialable!

The latest stats on Social Networking are:
- A third of adults post at least once a week to social sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
- A quarter of adults publish a blog and upload video/audio they created.
- 60% maintain a profile on a social networking site.
- 70% Read blogs, tweets and watch videos.

But as you know Stats lie (or is it only the people who use them). Lets dissect a couple of these claims and really look at what the numbers mean.

Let’s look at Jack (name changed to protect the guilty), he has a blog about graphic arts. I just noticed his blog address at the bottom of his latest email. About time he told his business partners about it. So to see what Jack had to say on the subject I visited his blog.

The last entry was May 2, 2009! Must be a mistake… So I reloaded the page and searched around… Nope, May 2, 2009 was the last entry! When I ran into him next I inquired about his blog… “Oh yeah, guess I should add something to it…” So the stat says a quarter of adults publish a blog not completely correct. Jack does publish one, but not well! That is where the stat falls apart. In order for a blog to be successful it must be used, added to, commented on, commented on the comments given, etc. In other words you must be socialable!

Now let’s take a glance at Hank’s and K’s profiles on Linked In. Hank many months ago added his profile to Linked In and he also added one for his business partner and wife. Help keeping that 60% number up who have a profile on a social networking site. The next time he visited the profiles was when I insisted he expand the profiles and add some pertinent business info on them. I know his wife has never been to her account and seen her profile. And the two have never participated in any of the discussions on Linked In or even updated their status with what is going on in their company. So has anyone even seen their profiles other than me? I would wager not many! Again to make the profiles productive you must be socialable!

Just having something on a social networking site is not the end all. It is only the being. You must participate on the site or you will not be seen or hear of again!

To expand on this next month Lone Keep Internet will be holding a FREE seminar entitled “It’s Spring! Time to leave the Cave” at its offices at the Jersey Shore. Richard M.J. Jarosz, BNI Assistant Director for Monmouth County, will be discussing the need for and time tested techniques of how to Network so you can “Get the Word Out!”

Save a Tree!

2010-02-18T07:35:00.000-08:00

Don’t take business card if you have no intention of calling the person!!! Two weeks ago I attended a major networking event in the Monmouth County area at the Jersey Shore. There were almost 200 people in attendance. Normally I would follow up on everyone I met (i.e. got their business card). But this time I decided to do a little experiment, in line with the ongoing project “What's on your shelf”, and not call but wait to be called….

I have received exactly ZERO calls for the mass of business card I handed out. Why did these “Business” people attend this meeting? I won’t even waste mine or your time trying to come up with excuses. Just let it be know that it is rude and not exactly the best thing for the environment. Admittedly it’s small but multiply this by the number of attendees and multiply it again by the number of events they go to in any given period and it adds up. “Think globally, act locally” comes to mind… Oh yeah… What about follow-up to grow ones business????

Is it me? Am I crazy? Or am I missing something about conducting business?

On a more pleasant note: Those interested in GROWING THEIR ONLINE BUSINESS should attend the next free seminar at the Manchester Inn in Ocean Grove, Friday February 26^th from 1 to 4pm. Clark Cate, the owner of the Manchester Inn, will be one of the speakers and sharing some of his online Guerrilla Marketing tips he’s used for the Inn.

So Project: What's on your shelf begins...

2010-02-09T04:18:00.000-08:00

Last week I made the first 20 calls. The results were what I expected. 10 were out of business or have switched jobs. 8 answered the phone like they were keeping their business a secret!! Several of these were Marketing Firms. None of the Internet based companies were around anymore - save one. This is why Lone Keep Internet has been around for over 22 years now...

Only two businesses called back. These were the ones who wanted to actually grow their businesses... So they are on my shelf! Next time I'll give you snippets of some of the actually conversations so you do not make the same mistakes on trying to "Get the Word Out" about your business.

Your Thoughts?

What on your Shelf?

2010-02-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

In trying to come up with a theme for my blog entry today I put it to my friends on Face Book. The responses ranged from Helping Haiti to the use of Technology like Exchange mail, sync between pda and desktop in real time, voice mail to email and so on. The responses made my head spin! So I decided to clean up the office a bit to try and get rid my headache. In doing so I came across about 1,000 business cards that I have accumulated from BNI, Chamber and general networking meetings over the last several years.

Then it dawned on me! Today’s entry would be on Technology, not the latest but one of the oldest that people still can’t use correctly!! Business Cards! Why do business owners, sales people and just about everyone hand then out and never use then for what they are intended for.

Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia, defines Business cards as “cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid.”

Well let’s put that to the test. When I get a business card I always follow up in a day or two. Most people don’t remember me even then. I guess I should be insulted! I would say about a good 50% don’t answer with their name or that of their business. They try to keep that a secret when you call… WHY? Why bother handing someone your card? Do they hope you don’t call?

So this is the Project. I am going to call all 1000 people whose cards were on my shelf. To the right on this page I will keep a running tab on the number I have left to call, the ones out of business already or switch jobs, the ones that want to actually grow in this “bad economic” climate and those that even bother to call back!

This should be interesting… Not sure what I will accomplish but I’ll start off the conversation with “What’s New?”

What’s new with the New Year?

2010-01-26T15:12:00.000-08:00

Well if you ask most people, NOTHING! You get a bunch of different answers but none of them positive. They all are waiting for something to change, someone to change it for them or ….. You get the idea.

I find this most annoying. Something should always be new. Whether in you live or business something should be new.

That is why most businesses nowadays are at a standstill. Nothing is new… No new products, services or even approaches to existing clients. What is everyone waiting for?

We at Lone Keep Internet are always up to something. So what’s new with us you ask?

We just revamped our Jersey Shore Coupon site. Now we are beginning to promote the heck out of it.
Just found some new Open Source software to help up revamp ShoreGuide.Info. We plan to get that live by the Spring just in time for the Summer at the Shore. One new Feature envisioned will include Reviews of Jersey Shore Restaurants and B&Bs. Others will be a surprise...
Already have the First Quarter of our, now World Famous, monthly “Tea get togethers” scheduled with Featured Speakers and Host Locations. Still looking to fill the rest of the year. If interested let me know.
Just started a Value-added campaign for Graphic Artists, Printers, Web Designers, Photographers and PR Firms. This has been well received since it enhances the relationships these businesses have with their existing clients and an added feature for new prospects.

So what’s new with the New Year? PLENTY!!!!

Turn up the heat

2009-11-23T14:25:00.000-08:00

One extra degree can make all the difference
At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils.And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam they created an Age!
The Industrial Age.

For those missed this month’s “Tea” Wayne May spoke at the offices of the Jersey Shore Small Business Incubator on the topic of “212.” For those that are not familiar with what an Incubator is…
Business incubators are programs that nurture start-up businesses by providing hands-on management assistance, access to financing, and exposure to critical business or technical support services. They typically offer shared office services, access to equipment, flexible leases, and space all under one roof.
What other way to turn up the heat than sharing resources and information. This also helps get the work out about there own businesses.
Readers may have already heard me go on about the Urban Myth that states “People are afraid of Success” I have found that to be completely untrue. But as in all cases of Urban Myths there is a small kernel of truth way down deep. The actually phrase should be “People aren’t afraid of Success. They’re afraid of the extra work Success brings!"
Which leads us right back to the topic of the last “Tea”, going that extra step. We may be hot but we are not passing that threshold and entering that phase change that allows us to obtain “Exponential Results”.
How many businesses stop just short of that phase change, that one extra degree? For the businesses that are 212 and want to take that leap into the phase change I will be orgainizing a new BNI Chapter in the Belmar Area. The first meeting which is just an informational meeting and will be on January 6th, 2010. If you are interested either email me or call me at 732-988-4044.
Be seeing you.

What's the best way to grow my email database?

2009-10-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

"I need to add more names to my in-house mailing list, the more the better right?" I hear this a lot!

Buying Email Addresses Can Buy Trouble
A purchased list is not composed of people who want to receive your emails. Many addresses belong to people who didn't read the fine print in the privacy policy when they registered for an account, participated in a survey or entered a contest.

Nurture Your In-House List
These are the people who want to hear from you and are interested in what you're sharing or selling. Building up your email marketing in-house list takes time but will generate the greatest benefits with the fewest risks (bounces and black listing).

Here are two simple steps you can take today to attract more email subscribers:
1. Add an invitation to subscribe on every page of your Web site, not just the home page, and in all your email, including messages such as order confirmations, shipping notices, payment reminders and even invoices.
2. Create a FaceBook Fan Page with a standing subscription invitation. Promote it in your email messages and on your Web site. Update it frequently with fresh content such as FaceBook only news and offers.

I will be speaking on this and other topics at my next FREE Guerrilla Marketing “Tea” October 23, 1 – 4 PM. It will be hosted at the Sixth Avenue House B&B in Asbury Park. Call 732-988-4044 to reserve a seat.

Missed Opportunities

2009-10-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Ocean Grove had its Fall Festival. It was a great day! Lots of food and interesting “Autumn” things on display and for sale. My wife and I walked over to Main Street (Got to get my steps in. That’s over 2000 steps one way. Thank you Dr. Wells!). We also decided to check out the special Pumpkin flavored treats at one of our clients (Barbaric Bean).

Walking around checking out the vendors I ran into a member of one of my Networking Groups and another former member. I was surprised to see both as they never mentioned that they would be attending, never mind have a booth each. I believe this was a mistake as that Networking Group has over 40 members. Since both of them have family orientated businesses it would make sense to have over 40 additional people (families) stop over at their booths.

An announcement at the weekly meeting, an email or a blurb in the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin would have resulted in more people knowing of their involvement. All of these methods cost nothing except a little forethought and effort. Getting the Booths most likely cost some money so a little extra effort would have increased their rate of return. This is right out of Guerrilla Marketing “Maximizing your Effort.”

I will be speaking on this and other topics at my next FREE Guerrilla Marketing “Tea” October 23, 1 – 4 PM. It will be hosted at the Sixth Avenue House B&B in Asbury Park. Call 732-988-4044 to reserve a seat.

Low Expectations the curse of Businesses & Organizations

2009-10-07T06:29:00.000-07:00

The other day I was speaking with a client of mine who belongs to a business networking group with me. He has mentioned at the last several meeting that he was desperately looking for work. Since we have a new leadership team taking over I asked him what he thought of the past administration. He admitted that they had done a “great job.”

When I questioned him on his meaning of a “great job” the answered I got was very vague. I pointed out that the past leadership team did not meet a single goal of theirs and that the membership fell from 50 to 41 during their tenure. The number of guests fell. The only guest in August was mine and of the two in September, one was mine.

The only Special event that was planned was a Visitor’s Day and that never happened. This was to introduce our group to a large number of potential members. Oh, did I mention that every meeting the President actually attended she was late. So after pointing out these facts I asked my client again if he thought they, to use his words, did a “great job?” He responded well if you’re going to bring that up they did an “OK job.” Shaking my head I ended the telephone call pleasantly and went for a stroll with my wife, Karen, along the beach.

On this stroll I recounted this conversation to her. She summed it all up by stating “Don’t you get it! Of course they did a great job; they did not rock the boat!!!”

Lightning struck, bell starting ringing… well not actually, but it dawned on me that was the answer. For most people, my fellow networking members included, that was the most important goal of the group. “Don’t rock the Boat! Even if we are losing members and not making any money (business) that’s OK as long as no one expects anything of me.”

How low have our expectations come? Long around, we see it everywhere; Politics, friends, family, business partners and even ourselves. Low expectations are driving this economy. We need to raise the bar a little, just a little to start. Have our members and ourselves do just what was promised to when they/we joined the organization. Goals are a large part of this.

I will be speaking on goals at my next FREE Guerrilla Marketing “Tea” October 23, 1 – 4 PM. It will be hosted at the Sixth Avenue House B&B in Asbury Park. Call 732-988-4044 to reserve a seat.

Rookie Mistakes!!

2009-09-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

The "Twitter II" Tea and Talk last week went very well. Tim Cusack is a great speaker and the topics varied from Twitter and Face Book to Guerrilla Marketing!

The Mistake
This morning when I pulled out all the business cards I received at the Tea I noticed a big problem. I found one of the attendees had a card with an incomplete email address and a phone number that was not working. So I figured hey typos happen, let me check out his website to get the correct number. And.. you guessed it... No website listed. I think he handed out that same card to everyone at the tea. Thank God he was the guest of a regular attendee so I will have to get hold of her to let him know he is hurting his business with these new cards.

The Cure
In the software world from which I sprang... Test, Test and Test again. What this means for the small business or self employed person is proof read it and then let a few others do the same. Tell them to find an error! Your friends will love pointing out that you made a mistake. Trust me they will find them. Better them and you your prospects.

In times past, I have known business people to pay for a newspaper or yellow book ad and accidentally place their competitors website address in it. They were similar addresses and the sales-person did not know (or cared). I have all my clients fax or email me the proof to check it over for Technical details, if nothing else it's just another see of eyes looking at it before it goes to press.

To help business owners from making these rookie mistakes Lone Keep Internet will be hosting the next Tea, October 23th, at the Sixth Avenue House in Asbury Park. The topic of this tea is Guerrilla Marketing the easy way. For further information please email me at richard@lonekeep.com or call 732-988-4044. Remember these "Talks and Teas" are FREE just call to reserve a seat.

How to Increase Website Traffic - 2 Methods of Advertising Online

2009-09-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Why do websites fail? One of the main reasons why many online businesses/causes fail is due to the lack of traffic! Traffic is the lifeblood of the Internet. If your site does not generate enough quality traffic you eventually will be out of business. Here are a few methods on how to get more traffic to your website.

Social Networking
The first method is social networking. There are many different social networking sites; some of my favorites are linkedin.com and facebook.com. I get a fair portion of my free organic traffic to my website from these social networking sites. Join these sites and add your site url to your profile and begin generating more traffic.

Free Advertising
Local eNewsletters are a great way of free Advertising and is a chapter right out of Guerrilla Marketing. Submit interesting information about your business, your cause or even yourself to email newsletters. One such Community Newsletter is the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin (JSCIB) that my wife Karen Jarosz sends out twice month. Local events are listed as well as local websites of interest. She also has a section called "From Local Readers." This is a great way to let people know about your website. The JSCIB has over 10,000 subscribers so the likelihood of increased traffic is good.

You can subscribe to the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin by adding your email address to the subscription box on this page or by visiting http://www.lonekeep.com/jscib/

Will the Internet Save my Business?

2009-09-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Will the Internet Save my Business?
The short answer is NO! But it will help you grow your business.

What I mean by that is if you are looking to jump onto the 'Net as a last resort to try to get sales to save you business it won't work! Heresy you say! I just got off the phone with a prospect. Months ago he wanted to promote his website, use Adsense and basically turn his internet presence into a source of revenue. He complained about the cost and work necessary to do that and never pursued it. Well as I always do, I keep track of prospects (some finally come to their senses) and followed up with him after a few months. He is out of business and moved to Michigan.

I have a number of stories like this. Now if you apply the lessons learned and you have a plan and means then yes, it can help your business grow.

Lone Keep Internet hosts FREE seminars on this subject and more... The last few have been on Social Networking. The next one will be concerning Twitter on September 24th in Asbury Park, NJ. If anyone wants to join us email me
richj

Is customer service still needed in this age of the Internet?

2009-06-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

After reading "Inside the Magic Kingdom" by Tom Connellan I realized that Customer Service is what distinguishes Companies from each other. So I started thinking which of the Internet companies have I used and continued to use based on their Customer Service.

Before I begin let’s examination how an Internet based company can lend itself to Customer Service. The first and only way is by Communication. Now that Communication can take several forms; a phone number with a live person or without, surveys and just regular emails keeping you informed. What it should not be are line items on your monthly credit card statement, or an avalanche of trial offers via the post or emails!

I will cover two good examples and several bad examples. By the way I warned the bad examples that I would be using them as "Bad Examples" and still no response… Go figure!

Good Examples:
Netflix.com – They tell you when a movie is received and when it shipped with an estimated arrival date. Great, but real Customer Service is what they do when something goes wrong! I did receive a damaged DVD once and on their website is a place to report it. Once it was reported they shipped a replacement even before I sent the damaged one back. No questions, No Problems. Another time the shipping center that we normally deal with did not have a requested DVD in stock so they sent the next one in my Queue, while they searched and found the requested one. They shipped both and informed me of the issue via email.

SingingBearsOnline.com – A small firm that sells Toy Bears. Roz likes to list her telephone number on the site so she can speak with her customers whether they have something good to say, a question or a problem.

Bad Examples:
A certain "Professor" – First they charged my credit card the wrong amount after 4 months I am still waiting for my $75 check. Needless to say I cancelled the account once I found out that they would be billing me monthly. I guess I missed that in the fine print. Still they charged me for shipping on the second month. When I called about that the representative blamed it on the previous person I spoke to and I believe the account got cancelled but I am still waiting for that refund too! Now when I call, it’s becomes a game when I’m bored, they place me on hold until I hang up or take my number (Due to large a large volume of calls) and will call me back. Guess what. Still no call back. So will I ever recommend this company to my friends or my clients?

Spoke.com – This company is the most frustrating. They have not taken any money from me but have hurt my company’s reputation, which I guess is about the same thing. One day I got a Google Alert that a new page was indexed that mentioned Lone Keep Internet on it. I took a look and found a person listed who has never worked for my company as being the Vice-President! I emailed him and Spoke.com about this error and did not receive word from either. So I placed my profile Spoke.com hoping to make myself legit in their eyes and still nothing! Turns out there are 19 Co-workers listed on their site of which only one is real and she did not create her profile there. Someone else created it for her! They have no phone number listed so no human contact and they have not responded to my filling out their support requests except to find out if I wanted to upgrade my account to a paid account?!?!?!!?

State of New Jersey – Don’t even get me started! This website is supposed to make it easier to deal with the State. If anyone has found it easier concerning any kind of problem let me know and I will do an entry on that!

So in conclusion "Is customer service still needed in this age of the Internet?" The answer is yes but as in Brick & Mortar Businesses most do not have a clue on how to do it…

Internet Marketing - What is PPC ?

2009-05-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

Pay Per Click, or PPC, is an Internet advertising model that uses search engines, advertising networks, and content sites to display your text ads - matching the type of business that you have or the type of products you are promoting.

With search engines, advertisers typically bid on keywords or keyword phrases relevant to their target market. Content sites commonly charge a fixed price per click rather than use a bidding system. Basically, you the advertiser pay a rate you specify for every visitor who clicks through from that site to your web site. Such advertisements are called sponsored links or sponsored ads, and appear adjacent to or above organic results on search engine results pages, or anywhere a web developer chooses on a content site. Each unique keyword phrase has its own bid price. You set the budget.

Although many PPC providers exist, Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, and Microsoft adCenter are the three largest network operators, and all three operate under a bid-based model. Cost per click (CPC) varies depending on the search engine and the level of competition for a particular keyword or phrase. Successful PPC advertising, managed by a certified expert, ensures that your text ads reach the right audience while your business only pays for the clicks your ads receive.

What is the key to an effective PPC campaign?
The key to effective PPC campaigns is in your keyword strategy and the quality of your visitor analytics. Many companies set up their PPC advertising campaigns without much planning or monitoring of daily results. Campaigns need to be structured so that unproductive keywords can be filtered out and high performers improved upon.

Popular keywords are associated with particular solutions in visitor’s minds. Your ad’s appearance is not a certainty when you’re trying to sell a specialized niche product under a general common search term. A sophisticated keyword or key phrase and ad copy strategy will be needed.

To maximize your PPC advertising performance, you must bid on the right key words or keyword phrases, write persuasive ad copy, and have a well-written page to have them click through to. If you know how to attract the prospect and deliver them seamlessly to a solution they need, you’ll be achieving a valuable sales rate. The number of words you can use in your ads is restricted so writing attractive, persuasive text ads is much harder than you’d expect.

To find out more about PPC and related Internet topics join us at my FREE “Branding” and Tea seminar on May 29th, 1 – 4 PM. It will be hosted at the Sixth Avenue House B&B in Asbury Park and the Keynote speaker will be Craig Gunter of INCA Graphic Production.

Internet Marketing - What is SEO?

2009-05-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

Search Engine Optimization is basically a fancy way to say “Doing things to improve your website rank with the search engines”. Technically it is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to your web site from search engines via "organic" search results. Typically, the earlier a site appears on the search engine results page (SERP), the more visitors it will receive from the search engine.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work and what people search for. The high-level way to describe what SEO includes is On-page vs. Off-page.
On-Page optimization are things that you do to the pages on your website (such as Title, Description and other Meta Tags and Visible Copy)
Off-Page optimization are things that you do externally to your website pages (in-bound links from other websites, Social Networks, etc)

What will make your SEO campaign a success?

To have a successful traffic-generation plan you must completely investigate what your website already has with an internet marketing expert. You must first make sure you have all the appropriate tags, keywords, and coding done correctly on your site before adding anything else. You must optimize this invisible area (the code) of your site so that search engines will find you. Links are also an important aspect of traffic generation. Make sure you are linking to and from other relevant sites and that your internal links have keyword-rich text. Remember, building traffic takes patience and consistent action.

To find out more about SEO and related internet topics join us at my FREE “Branding” and Tea seminar on May 29th, 1 – 4 PM. It will be hosted at the Sixth Avenue House B&B in Asbury Park and the Keynote speaker will be Craig Gunter of INCA Graphic Production.

SEO ‘lingo’ - what do all these terms and abbreviations mean?

Inbound links: Also know as external links, which occurs when other sites link to your site. It’s generally accepted that a big factor in search engine algorithms (see below) is the number and quality of inbound links pointing to your site.
Keyword: A word or phrase that is typed into a search engine. Site owners typically want their sites to be visible in the search engines for specific keywords that relate to their product or service.
Link building: Since inbound (external) links influence a site’s organic rankings (see below); many site owners will undertake the process of link building. This can consist of explicitly asking other sites to link to them, or encouraging inbound links by creating valuable content or tools, posting product reviews or forum comments on other Web sites, or partnering with relevant sites.
Organic ranking: The position that your Web site appears in the unpaid listings of the search engine results, which typically take up the majority of the page.
Search engine algorithm: A complex formula that search engines use to compute how to rank site A over sites B to Z. Apparently they are made up of thousands of unique factors, but we will likely never truly know since Search Engines make a habit of not disclosing details.
SEO: Search engine optimization involves undertaking activities to make your site rank higher in the search engine results. Often it involves attempting to intuit how search engines rank sites and applying industry best practices.
SERP: Search engine results page, which is the page that comes up after you perform a query in a search engine.
Sponsored listings/ads: The text ads that typically appear along the periphery of the SERP, such as along the top and the right hand side. Advertisers determine which terms they want their ads to appear for and compete with other advertisers to achieve top positioning

Promotion and Tea Seminar

2009-04-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!
We had a great "Promotion and Tea" seminar last week at the White Lilac Inn in Spring Lake, NJ. The weather was great, the Inn was beautiful and Mari was a great host.

We covered a lot of material ranging from Social Networking to Branding. As a matter of fact Craig Gunter, INCA Graphic Productions, gave a great spot on Branding in Print and how that related to your website. Good Job Craig!

I presented an ebook I found on "Personal Branding for the Business Professional" by Chris Brogan. If anyone wants to see what they missed you can download it at
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/img/broganbranding.pdf

Jersey Shore Coupons

2008-12-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

With the economic climate today Internet Coupons maybe a way to increase visitors to your website.

The website http://www.shoreguide.info/coupon.htm is just one of many available out there today.

A lot of sites have out of day coupons and even coupons for companies and stores out of business. Try to look for one that is well maintained and is very visible. It makes no sense to place a coupon on a website that no one goes to.

Good Morning!

2008-09-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is the first attempt at Blogging!
We will use this to experiment on to see if and how this can be used to build one's business at the Jersey Shore.