The demise of the mighty Yellow Pages is near! A recent client told me that he just renewed his Yellow Pages listing for the year, ironically just 15 minutes before our meeting.
Just hearing him tell me that made me feel physically ill. Imagine over $800 a month to be listed in a book that has been ineffective now for years. Every year, 6 months or whatever the frequency is, when I see it on my doorstep, it’s immediately thrown into my recycling bin.
Besides, it will just take up too much room wherever it is placed and my son doesn’t need it for a high chair anymore; he can now reach the table. I don’t think I’ve opened one in the last umm… 5 years maybe? Or maybe it has been longer.
After hearing my client complain about how he drilled the poor Yellow Pages sales person on why he has to pay so much when it brought him so little business. I asked him, why not explore other marketing methods for his business-more effective ones, more environmentally friendly ones or one that will make him feel as if his marketing money is bringing him results.
Can anyone say Search Engine Optimization for your business?
Internet usage and penetration is continuing at a rapid pace, and thanks to the advent of the iPhone, mass amounts of people are now searching for everything possible wherever they are. You have to be blind not to see what is happening. Look at the number of smartphones hitting the market; I can confidently predict that within 4 years (and that is generous) the overall majority of phones being sold will have internet capabilities.
When the 4G networks becomes the mobile standard, your smartphone will have faster webpage load speeds than your internet broadband home connection. Mobile internet usage will over take home usage, because of it’s speed and availability. You can bet on that. And just to let you know, 4G is already here and being tested in regions all over North America!
What do you think is next?
I’ll tell you. Your car will have a 4G internet connection directly integrated into your GPS and people will be speaking their search terms into “Google Car”. You don’t have to be a dreamer or visionary to see this. I think its prudent to say the time to get your SEO (search engine optimization) for your business website is approaching fast. Never has there been a better opportunity to use your website to pro-actively promote your products or services.
Seriously think about it; there are billions of websites active on the world wide web and if you’re the audience you want to capture does not know your website, the chances of your website being found is slim. A search engine such as Google or Bing is the primary tool used by billions every day to find websites related to products or services.
Be assured your website is listed on search engines, however more than likely without SEO for your, business your website will be ranked low for relevant search terms. Studies show that unless your website is ranked on page 2 or higher your website is considered “lost in the noise”. The typical user clicks on a website link on page 1 or 2 and will look no further.
The truth is SEO for your business is becoming extremely competitive, as it is now the primary tool for people and businesses to gain information on anything you can imagine. Big and medium size businesses have known this for a while now and have all claimed their spot on Google, and budget to maintain their rankings.
However, small businesses are very slow to catch on and still rely on less effective marketing techniques that produce lack luster results for your ROI (return on investment).
The time is NOW to budget for SEO for your business before it is too costly and too late. Experts predict that within 3-5 years all businesses will be fighting to claim prime Google rankings be it local listings, organic search or PPC, as the internet becomes easily available on phones, homes, and other mobile devices.
What I tell most clients is “how many spots do you think Google has on the first two pages to fit everyone’s business”? Ten or less. Well what a fight and competition for SEO agencies to get everyone there!
Does SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for your business really work?
Of course it does! It doesn’t matter if you’re a local business or a worldwide one. Everyday hundreds, thousands and millions of people are searching on the internet for products or services you provide and sell. If they don’t know you or where to find your products or services, how are they going to find you?
Unless you’re a brand that everyone knows, good luck. And remember those big brands have been spending millions for years making themselves a household name.
If you’re a small business and you can’t afford print ads or T.V. then SEO is your best bet and the internet is fair game for everyone. SEO for your business doesn’t stop, it’s on 24-7-365 or until you stop it. It doesn’t matter if you are selling Grandma’s knitting, because I bet there is a market for that and that market will be found on the internet via search engines.
Do you get me?
No one uses the Yellow Pages anymore. Why do you think even they offer SEO for your business services! Businesses who have realized this and are quick to change with the times, experience explosive growth in new sales and traffic to their website which stimulates awareness and leverages your website as your main selling tool.
Get with it! Start budgeting for SEO (search engine optimization) for your business and start now before you’re priced out of the market and it’s takes monumental amounts of work hours for your SEO agency to get you to the top.
Stay tuned for how does it all work and how much does it take to get you to the top.
Cheers!
Kevin Bourne
Founder
Interest Media
**If you like this post and thought it was helpful, please leave your thoughts on the comment link below.
Contact Form
[contact-form 1 "Contact form 1"]
