Rick Rochon's MarketingBlog

13 Ways to Promote your Local Business for Free

Rick Rochon — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:37:21 +0000

Your small business needs to get found online, period, end of report. What are you doing to make sure that happens? Are you thinking about how folks looking for your product or service would be searching online or are you thinking like you? Are you making sure your site is sexy to Google? This is essential in getting found online. Once you have your site all gussied up for Google are you submitting your business to offsite locations and directories that maybe SEO better than you do? Have you taken time to create content that leverages you as an expert? Check out this great article with resources that I found online today. 13 Ways to Promote your Local Business for Free.

Take some time and get your site found.

What’s wrong with newspaper advertising for small business anyway?

Rick Rochon — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:21:02 +0000

I was just reading an interesting article online making the case for newspaper advertising for small/local businesses. The article provided some very useful data about readership, responsiveness and just how darn great it is to advertise in the newspaper. As I see it, the issue with newspapers is NOT a lack of audience or a lack of content. The issue with newspaper advertising and the newspaper model in general, is a disparity between their target customer and the cost of their advertising. I understand how the newspaper industry arrived at it’s current state with atrocious amounts of overhead and a sales model that is based upon real live humans selling to real live humans, rather than an automated system for ad creation with some sort of human support system. So, if you are you could really benefit from the eyeballs your local newspaper could provide your business, but frankly I don’t know many small businesses that can afford the exhorbitant costs associated with newspaper advertising. In addition to the high cost of newspaper advertising there are no mechanisms provided by the publishers for providing concrete evidence that the advertising is producing leads or revenue. At least when I work with a client on Adwords I can provide pretty clear ROI. How do I know so much about this topic? I worked in advertising sales for both the online and offline versions of the newspapers for years in sales development and believe me, the model is broken. I don’t want to see the newspapers go away or reduce staff, but honestly they need to get with the program.

Here’s my simple plan for the newspapers to get it together:

Sell your ad products at a price your customer can easily afford.
Provide tracking mechanisms like custom urls and call tracking.
Automate the process of ad sales. Auctions anyone?
Reduce overhead so you can provide your product at a more reasonable cost.
Become the lynchpin in every small businesses marketing program with education, coaching and fantastic products.

Believe me when I tell you I want the newspapers to succeed, but the industry is a slow moving ship that takes 5 miles to make a turn. I just hope they can make that turn before they hit the waterfall.

Learn to harness the power of Facebook for your small business.

Rick Rochon — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:21:22 +0000

It is time to get your business up and running on Facebook with a Facebook Page. Get access to 400 million eyeballs (assuming everyone has 2) to grow your business and find your perfect customer. You just need your computer and an internet connection to attend this webinar. Attendees will also receive a recorded version of the presentation for use later.

Small business help is on the way from Rick Rochon.

Leveraging the Power of the Internet for the Small Business Owner: Strategies that increase Credibility, Exposure and Business Success!

Rick Rochon — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:31:25 +0000

Event Details- CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!!!

Bringing the best of the bay to teach you all you need to know to be a powerhouse on the internet!

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and WordPress! Social Networking is not a fad it’s the next level of internet marketing. BUT is it getting you results? Do you have the right online presence to attract opportunity for your business? Or do you feel like you’re wasting time? Have you learned to implement strategies that WILL achieve results? And are you driving traffic in the smartest ways possible?

These sites can REALLY work to get more business! And if you are overwhelmed by every invite you receive, and all you can participate in online then join us! Learn how to take your business online get results with a clear plan that moves and measures your success!

This is a multi speaker, multi session event! You will not have to pick, you will attend each session! And Lunch will be provided!

10:00-10:45 Opening Session: Understanding a Strategy for Success: Not ALL Social Networking is Right for EVERY Business! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!!!

11:00-Noon Session One : Make Your WordPress Site A Search Engine Supermagnet

Lee Rodrigues has been working with computers since DOS was cool. He ran his own IT consulting business for three years, and joined the Web 2.0 revolution when he began “co-working” at Citizen Space in San Francisco. Lee recently combined his technical skills, love of martial arts, and training in communications to found the Technology Dojo, where as a Technology Coach he helps successful entrepreneurs use computers and the Internet to increase productivity and profits. Lee has a BA in Communications and a MA in Education, and is a graduate of the San Francisco Comedy College.

Your perfect customers are looking for you on the Internet – can they find you? Join us to learn how a WordPress web site and blog – together with essential formatting and commenting habits — will make your web site fly to the top of a Google search page.

In this presentation you will discover how to:

- pack your pages with your customers’ favorite words

- make your titles and subheads work for you

- practice “link love” to improve your search engine ranking

12-1:00: Luncheon Session (lunch will be provided)- networking strategies – learning how to connect to grow your buisness, opportunities to network

1:15-2:15 Session Two :Now that I have a blog, weblog or website, Now What? Easy Ways to Attract Targeted Website Visitors for Free

Patrick Schwerdtfeger is the author of “Webify Your Business: Internet Marketing Secrets for the Self-Employed” and “Make Yourself Useful, Marketing in the 21^stCentury”. His podcasts have been downloaded over 50,000 times and his articles have been published on thousands of websites and blogs. With a diverse background in marketing and finance, Patrick has a gift for explaining complicated subjects in simple language, making his presentations insightful and empowering. Patrick is the founder of Tactical Execution; where he leverages cutting-edge internet marketing strategies to build credibility and exposure for his clients. He is also the organizer of the Entrepreneur & Small Business Academy, one of the nation’s 50 largest entrepreneur clubs. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!!!

Over 98% of websites get fewer than 5 visitors each day. Attracting high-quality website visitors doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a little direction, you can accumulate strategic one-way inbound links and watch the targeted traffic pour in! In this workshop, you’ll learn 3 simple strategies you can use immediately … and they won’t cost you a penny.

2:30- 3:30 Session Three: Facebook: There IS a Business Plan that Works!

Rick Rochon is dedicated to educating and training small business owners to market smarter. Rick was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and intimately understands the challenges small business owners face. Planning, placing and perfecting marketing plans and strategies are essential to all small businesses and Rick’s hands-on approach empowers the small business to make immediate and measurable changes to their marketing plan. While Rick is submerged in new media, he also brings to the table an in-depth knowledge of traditional marketing and understands how to leverage both avenues to grow your business, save money and improve the bottom line. Visit www.adsymetrix.com

Learn to leverage the power of Facebook for your small business, 175 million people can’t be wrong. Take your first steps to growing your business with social marketing and engagement.

Create your social marketing plan or add to your existing plan
Get an intro to Facebook that will get you connecting with fans and doing more business

3:45-4:45 Session Four: Twitter: Creating an opt-in list faster than before!

Ann Evanston, MA is a social psychologist who has taken her networking strategies and tactics and applied them in person and online with great success. Over the last year she has received a book deal (released April 2009), 6 speaking engagements, and over $30,000 in closed business through social networking. She is ranked #2 of top influencers in the SF bay area on Twitter and has over one million Google-able hits. Ann is a faculty for the American Management Association, and certified Development Dimensions International. She has traveled the globe teaching her strategies. As a true “twitter-ologist” she will teach you how to get more people opted-in to your lists than ever before using twitter! Visit www.Warrior-Preneur.com

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!!!

The importance of brand for small business marketing

Rick Rochon — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:07:03 +0000

Whenever I begin working with a new client, I need to get them clear on what their brand really means. What do I mean by that? In a World of infinite competition for new customers, what is the differentiating factor that will let your perfect customer know you are a great fit when they find your business? Lets assume that your prospective new client is doing a search on Google or Yahoo for a service or product like yours. Then lets assume that you have done the right things in SEO so your site actually gets found. This new prospect hits your site and you less than 8 seconds to pique their interest and differentiate your business from every other business they have searched and reviewed. This is where your brand comes in. All small businesses and small business people have a brand. What does it mean to do business with you or your small business? Since you want to do business with your perfect customer, how will they know you are a great fit when they hit your website? Here are a few tips to help you get some clarity on your brand so you can get more of those perfect customers.

Make your site design and layout convey your business brand. Colors, logo and design all convey what your business is about, before anyone has a read one word of copy on your page.
Use clear language to convey your brand. Take some time to identify keywords and descriptions that succinctly convey the concept of your brand to those that find you in search.
Identify your perfect customer. Stop trying to be everything to everyone and move from being a generalist to a specialist. Use your brand to convey what your specialty is and how you can help prospective customers.
Don’t “cheap out” on your logo design. There are many great resources for inexpensive, professionally designed logos so you have no excuse not to have one.

Take some time to grow your brand, convey it to your prospects and grow your business in the process. Remember that “confused prospects can’t convert”.

Take Our Poll

Small business social marketing. A few tips for using Facebook and Twitter in your small business.

Rick Rochon — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:40:53 +0000

I have been really swamped with new clients and social marketing training events, so I apologize for not blogging like I should, please forgive. But I have been having a great time and learning a great deal about how small businesses should and should not utilize applications like Facebook and Twitter. Now for the basic tips:

You SHOULD contribute your knowledge to your community

You SHOULD NOT think social marketing is a silver bullet for your failing business

You SHOULD post content that your community will find useful, helpful or entertaining

You SHOULD NOT get involved in social marketing if you are not going to “care for and feed” your presence

You SHOULD not overpost

You SHOULD NOT provide excessive sales pitches for your self or your products

You SHOULD provide clear “calls to action”

You SHOULD NOT get hung up on numbers of followers, rather focus on great content

You SHOULD use offline tools to market your online presence

You SHOULD NOT promote your Facebook Page with that lame, long url. Use bit.ly or tinyurl.com

You SHOULD know your rules for social marketing and stick to them

You SHOULD NOT make social media your only strategy for your business, make it a part of a plan.

You SHOULD get a PLAN. Today. Now!

In NYC baby.

Rick Rochon — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:07:23 +0000

Heading to to the Greenpearl event. I will be presenting a workshop on “Socially Marketing Your Listings and Yourself” for real estate agents. Then we are having a panel with some other folks in this space. More to come.

Understand the Social Marketing Puzzle By Rick Rochon

Rick Rochon — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:35:02 +0000

A few months back I got to participate in BizTechDay. I really loved being a part of such an exciting event. BTD was an event for small business owners and entrepreneurs to get together for a one-day event that can really empower their business in the future. The day was filled with amazing speakers like Tim Ferriss and Christine Comaford, sharing their insight into moving the needle in your business on a daily baiss. I was lucky enough to share the stage with Nicole Nicolay presenting about Web 2.0 and your small business. I am already looking forward to next year’s event. Click the link above to go to the video on the BizTechDay site and sign up for next month’s event in advance.

Rick Rochon — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:45:06 +0000

How do you get free publicity? Rick Rochon & Whitney Keyes – The Main Street Mavericks

Just in case you aren’t familiar with how to get some publicity and to keep it simple you can check out Whitney and Rick chatting about how to get publicity as a small business. It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult, but just do it. If you don’t do it, you won’t EVER know if it works.

Socially marketing your small business. The conversation has started.

Rick Rochon — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:22:38 +0000

Today Rick and Whitney, The Main Street Mavericks, break down the value or lack of value for a small business to spend time marketing on Facebook, Twitter and other sites with weird names. Is it all a fad or a revolution? How can it help you make more money in your business and what are some clear and easy steps to getting an actionable plan together? Check us out and see what all this noise is about. Opinionated marketing gurus Rick Rochon and Whitney Keyes save you time and money so you can be more successful in business and get more out of life. From online social networking tips to advice about how to get free publicity, they help you avoid mistakes and share tips on free resources. As the Main Street Mavericks, they travel around the country helping small businesses stay in business and host a weekly radio talk show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rickandwhitney. For more information about Rick or Whitney, visit their websites: www.RickRochon.com and www.WhitneyKeyes.com.

Go directly to the the broadcast by clicking here.