In prior articles I discussed how clients don’t typically understand the web, and webmasters don’t typically understand your business. So both parties don’t know what they dont know (one of my favorite sayings), and the end result is a web site that disappoints the business owner and doesn’t produce sales. Most of the time its about lack of search engine optimization, in conjunction with the business issues not being a good fit with the web developer’s skills.

At my web site, www.MrMissionPossible.com, you can find free information that will help you develop a web site that makes your business money, and just how al the pieces fit together. Here are more definitions and tips.

• Registering your business with Google & Yahoo Local – Oftentimes you can’t get on the first page for a given term, but you can make it on the map there. And after you make it, ask customers and friends to give you some reviews.
• Reports to track your progress – You MUST track your exposure for your terms growth in traffic and where it comes from.
• Tracking your competitors – Before you start, go look at their sites. There are lots of free tools to tell you what their keywords are, and the “guts” of their site. Or just hit View>Source to see their code, while on the page.
• Understanding page rank – You must understand it, and watch it grow for your site. Google it, you will find more than I could write here.
• Knowing your Customer Acquisition Cost – Use this to evaluate your advertising methods. Did it cost you $400 to run that ad? Did you get 4 calls? Did you make one sale for $1,000? Your customer acquisition cost is $400. That’s humbling. I recently worked with a client that phased out an outside sales staff ($300k per year) after analyzing acquisition cost. He worked on his site, spending a fraction of the savings, his business is up, and he spends more time golfing. Yep, it’s possible.
• Creating a content plan – You must have an ongoing plan for who will produce fresh content like pictures of incoming cars and blog postings.
• Capturing Email – make sure your sales staff is gathering emails IN A SERIOUS way, and you are emailing a monthly or quarterly newsletter. Or even contacting customers that want to hear about new arrivals more regularly. There are plenty of traps with distributing emails in quantities above 100 or so, you will have to use one of the services like Constant Contact. Expect them to ask you how you got your list, and if you have too many bounces or get reported for spam, you can be dead, so pay attention.

Don’t be afraid to e-mail me for more tips or a question, I’ve helped lots of recyclers and other businesses reach success on the web. I dont build sites, or want to, so that helps me help you without any conflicts. And ask for my best practices for Search Engine Optimization checklist, before meeting with your web provider. Past articles are posted at my site, or email and I will send them to you.

Recommended resources

WWW.URLTrends.com (to study competitors)

Google adwords (just type it in) to research traffic for given terms

WebTrends or other services to track your progress for exposure for selected keywords. If you arent on page one, you didn’t make the cut!

Google Analytics – just type it in to find it. Your web provide will have to put the code on your pages but he knows how.

Other terms to type in google to find free tools – “Keyword Extractor”, “SEO”, “website evaluator”, “SEO tools”.

My new book “Getting Your Banker to Yes – Tips Traps and Secrets to Getting Your Business Funded” will be out in October, watch for it. It’s co-authored with the President of a 4 location community bank, in a Click & Clack Format, entrepreneur and banker telling it like it is.

Ron Sturgeon, founder of Mr. Mission Possible small business consulting, combines over 35 years of entrepreneurship with an extensive resume in consulting, speaking, and business writing, with 3 books published and 2 more expected in 2010.

 

A business owner since age 17, Ron sold his chain of salvage yards to Ford Motor Company in 1999, and his innovations in database-driven direct marketing have been profiled in Inc. Magazine. After the repurchase of Greenleaf Auto Recyclers from Ford and sale to Schnitzer Industries, Ron is now owner of the DFW Elite Auto suite of businesses and a successful real estate investor.

 

As a consultant and peer benchmarking leader, Ron shares his expertise in strategic planning, capitalization, compensation, growing market share, and more in his signature plain-spoken style, providing field-proven, high-profit best practices well ahead of the business news curve.

 

To inquire about peer benchmarking, consultations, or keynote speaking, contact Ron by calling 817-834-3625, by emailing rons@MrMissionPossible.com, by mailing 5940 Eden, Haltom City, TX 76117, or online at Mr. Mission Possible.