Getting the Wrong Word Out!

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.

The power of Press Releases

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.

Localize Your Website's Content

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.

Why send out Press Releases?

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?

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.

Free Content for your Website

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?

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.