Hi all-
I'd like to get my business more hits on the internet. For example, when people google bakeries or wedding cakes in Wisconsin, I'd like to come up. Is there any way to do this for free?
How do ya'll do advertising using the internet?
This is an area I haven't explored yet, and I'd like to make it a part of my advertising.
Thanks in advance to all the experts out there!
First you'd want to be sure your website is the way you want it. I'd recommend reading up on how google's advertising program works before starting to use it. When I first began I used a $100 credit I got through Vistaprint (I think they have it available most times, so if you need printed items it's a good deal) to get used to the way it works.
Keep careful track of whether it's making you money after the first couple months. Are you seeing hits convert into customers? Are those customers ordering enough to make up for the cost of the advertising? At my business, which is not cake, an order from one new customer can be $250-$2000, so I've found it to be quite successful.
You can narrow it down to only people searching in your area, which can make it really effective.
First, understand the terminology. "hits" are the number of times someone goes into your website. "pay per click" is when you are CHARGED each time someone goes into your website.
I refuse to do pay-per-click.
I belong to 21 wedding websites. I pay to be on the knot. most others are free.
If you know someone who can optimize your site as a favor (i.e. "free"), then do it. (you'd be amazed how many kids are website pro's!) Optimization makes a big difference. I got Macy's Dept store as a regular client due to the optimization. There are companies that optimize for a fee. I paid $1200 to get mine done and it paid for itself in just a few months.
I was able to optimize my site myself for free just by reading on how the search engines work. I am currently on the first page of every search engine based on the keywords I used ie wedding cake, birthday cake, bakery, cake decorators etc.
yes you can do it yourself, it takes time though to see results. The client i posted about w/ the funny/ inappropriate voicemails....They found me through a google search and booked. The only investment I made on that one was optimizing my site w/ key words. I did do that about 6 months ago though.
Are you building your own website? If so, the two most important things to remember are: TITLE of page and KEYWORDS! If you fail to include these in the header of your script, your page will likely NEVER be found by a search engine.
There is a lot more to SEO than just these though. If you're looking for a top-five spot Google search result, you'll likely pay big bucks and the process isn't instentaneous. But at least this little bit will help get the ball rolling.
I had the site put together by a fabulous designer ( who happens to be a relative). www.Cakescapesbyjen.com
I talked to her ans she's going to try to get more keywords in the copy. I wish I had access to it myself, but that's just because I'm a control freak!
Since I didn't build my site from scratch but used a template I don't think I can do this myself. Go Daddy charges $30.00/year but I have no idea what that entails. It doesn't sound like it would bring my site up on many search engines but I am going to call them and check it out.
I entered the 4th of July Parade in the town I have my business in but no phone calls yet from that. I am entering another parade on July 26th which is the largest in the Lake County, Illinois (suburb of Chicago) and hope that this brings me some business. Attached is a photo of the 7 ft. cake float for the parade.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%