In all the time I’ve live in the mountain area of Big Bear Lake, California, I’ve managed to do pretty well with referrals.

Until this week.

New residents often get the advice to never pay contractors up front and I normally never do–but I had a brain fart for some reason.

You see my computer needed some clean up.

Now I am pretty savvy on the Internet and about average when it comes to my operating system but not when it comes to computer optimization.

I’ve used a couple of computer guys from the area and haven’t been too impressed.

Finding quality professionals in the Big Bear Valley can be a challenge.

So when my neighbor ranted an raved about his new computer tech and gave me his number–I called.

The guy’s quote was competitive and we chatted about how he would optimize the system, keep my programs, and upgrade a couple after backing up all my data.

When he came over we all chatted. Before he left he asked for payment up front–normally I don’t pay anyone until completion of service, or perhaps I give a deposit–but this time I just handed over the entire amount.

Later, I had a bad feeling about the decision–one which has revealed itself to be my intuitive self telling me that I made a mistake.

Boy did I make a mistake.

However, at least I got the computer back which was my worst fear.

During our discussion and initial look at my laptop, the guy boasted that he would get my machine back to me within 24 hours.

In my dreams…

First, I called to check on things and he informed me that my computer was a mess and that it was taking him a lot longer than anticipated.

I thought, “Okay, that sounds reasonable for the delay.”

Then we got hit with another ice and snow storm and my thoughts went something like this, “Okay, I can understand the delay but he said he would call…I have three calls in and no computer or call backs”

The result?

I got my computer back after three days.

But that isn’t the problem…

My friend picked it up for me and when he asked the tech guy if I owed anything more, the guy said yes and so got additional money above the full payment he was paid up front–no receipt.

Now, this might not have pissed me off if he had told me he spent more time and so needed more money for his work–but he didn’t and I had just talked to the tech earlier that day.

When I got onto the computer late last night my worst fears were confirmed. This guy:

• Wiped out all my programs (which I told him I used and to keep).
• Did not upload the programs we talked about specifically.
• Downgraded my OS.
• Did not save all my documents.
• Did not include upgrades he discussed.
• Did not set up the automatic backup and other optimizations he promised.
• Charged an additional 30%.

Let me take a few deep breaths…

Ahhhhhhh!

Okay…

Now I could have wiped out everything myself and started over instead–and saved myself the money.

The bigger problem is that he only did part of what he promised and now has created a ton of work for me–and I hope I can recover.

Lucky that I have recovery disks and I am going to see if I can restore the programs which did not come with disks but were loaded on the computer when I bought it.

The big pain is that I will not be able to recover all the research in some of the files he “forgot” to save AND will not be able to retrieve all the media fax numbers programed into one of the programs or all the copies of those faxes I have sent.

Yes, I back up most things but some things were not…figures.

There are a lot of stories I could tell you about poor business practices in the valley or on the mountain but since I seldom have a problem this one was fresh on my mind to share.

I  wonder what similar type of local experiences you have gotten into.  Leave a comment below and let us know!

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When Referrals Go Bad

Especially since I find comments like this one:

I would estimate that currently at least 95% of new customers tell me that they find my business online by doing a Google or Yahoo search.

Yikes! That is huge.

So how much business are you losing because you don’t have a website–and if you do have a website just how wonderful is it?

Most people want a bargain but don’t know enough about the Internet to know what constitutes a good deal.

For instance, someone is calling Big Bear Businesses with a “deal” for setting up a website with video–which is pretty easy these days.

The cost? I believe I heard $1500 for the video and $750 for the website.

Now that might sound good to some but it probably isn’t a good deal for most business owners around here because it has to be optimized and you have to define what you want from your website…adding video might look nice but what does it do for your business?

Based on the service charges quoted it sounds like they are focused on the video instead of the website creation–I just wonder how they promise to optimize the thing.

But I digress…should you have a website or a blog for your business?

A blog is a type of website except that it is easily edited by the owner (instead of relying on a webmaster) and is optimized to be search engine friendly.

Today I believe you should use a blog to your advantage and save the webmaster’s work for things related to the site itself instead of updates and content.

Let me give you an example of a project I recently completed.

Not too long ago I was referred to a new business to help them fix their website. They had created a static site but needed one they could easily manage and that would get them some traffic.

Now on first glance you might think it looks good–and if you don’t know much about the Internet–it does! Want to poke around? Find the Holistic Wellness Center static site here.

The site was done by someone associated with the center using a very design template at Go Daddy. He did a great job considering the limitations he had.

However it was missing some key things.

First, it was not optimized for search engines to find it in order to generate traffic for the name of the center or the location.

Next, it was missing key terms for searches, page titles, and descriptions.

What is important about those things is that without them the site was not showing up for the terms they wanted it to–and more importantly it was not coming up on a search.

In addition, the class schedule was an image that didn’t allow editing and the services was only a listing of some of those offered.

Now back to one of the business owners commenting on her website:

I have all the details, policies, and prices on my website so it makes it easy for people to see what they will get with my service, and make a decision on which company they want to hire.

Wow, that can make it simple for potential customers–but more importantly people feel more secure if they can learn a little bit about you before they contact you.

Now the HWC was open to change, so we snagged a domain name that selected based on keyword search research and their location.

Next, the budget was for 15 hours of work (which included some content) so I found a look that fit in with their center instead of spending more money to have a specific look created which looks like this:

I set up the host and got the new domain and blog up within about four hours. Then my content and optimization work began.

No too bad.

Notice that the location, hours, and services are visible immediately to the right of the blog versus the static site. Plus the phone number and city are right up at the top.

This is important!

Within a week (and without a lot of content on it) the site is on the first page under, “Holistic Wellness Center” which is what they wanted.

Today the calendar is set up so that staff can edit it and is viewable online. View the Holistic Wellness Center Calendar now.

Staff can also check the email and edit the blog and customers can get the phone number and address easily. Customers can also leave comments right on the blog.

Another perk is that each practitioner at the center has a page on the website and a link to their specific website as well. This helps the center with further optimization.

PLUS I included search term phrases that would actually benefit the center.

The surprise–infant massage was a term that had not been considered highly important until I noticethe  traffic trend and researched the term.

In most cases, business owners don’t really know what people are searching for–it isn’t always what you think and you want to be sure they find you using the terms they will search for–not what you think they will search for.

Finally, another perk is that people who are searching on the names of certain practitioners are finding the HWC website in their searches.

So, my final though for you is YES, you need a website but I would recommend you get a blog going and get someone (like me) to help you get it up and running so that it will work for you.

Want my help? Just give me a call at (800) 818-7387 PST

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Does your business need a blog or a website?

Although I’ve already participated in the comprehensive Blog Mastermind Program I decided to take Yaro & Gideon on their discount offer to students and joined so I could give you a review of their new program that is targeted at beginning and novice bloggers.

One of the things I really liked about the new program interface is that it is clean and easy to navigate (unlike some of the programs I participate in where it is easy to get lost).

As you can see the navigation bar at the top helps you to navigate throughout the program pages without a problem.

Further down the page are the first seven steps to your blogging success. There are:

Step 1: Initial Setup

This section focuses on making sure everyone is up to speed and on a equal play field-which will make it easier for teaching members. Essentially they ask members to watch the BecomeABlogger.Com free tutorial videos.

If you are not familiar with the BecomeABlogger.Com series the free videos cover the following topics:

1. Why you should use WordPress
2. How to get your own domain name
3. How to get a web host
4. How to install WordPress
5. How to upload files to your webhost using FTP
6. Choosing a WordPress theme for your new blog
7. How to install and use WordPress plugins
8. How to create your first blog post and blog page
9. What is RSS and why you need it
10. How to use Feedburner for supercharging your RSS capabilities

Step 2: Review Course Outline

This is an overview of the training course with nine modules to help prepare  you for upcoming lessons. Each module include videos to help you learn quickly and easily and include such topics such as how to optimize your blog for maximum performance and interesting discussions and examples of how to use photos, audios, and videos effectively.

In addition you’ll find information about how to create powerful content, create multiple streams of traffic, and using the X-Factor strategies outlined in the Road Map to Becoming A Blogger.

Step 3: Master the Mindset Audios

The Master the Mindset Audios is a great set of information taken from the Blog Mastermind Coaching Program which includes ten different audios that deal with important topics and delve into things such as pillar content, marketing your blog, and many more.

Step 4: Weekly Video Tutorials

Each week members of the Become A Blogger Premium will be sent links to video tutorials for the week. You can move at a pace that is comfortable for you which is a big perk. It also keeps you moving because the regular emails remind you to keep working!

Step 5: Ask Questions in the Forums

Members have access to valuable membership forums where you can discuss your blog with Yaro, Gideon, mentors, and other students. I find this to be very valuable as you can find help and also discover that others may be facing the same challenges. The sharing of ideas and encouragement is awesome.

Step 6: Make Money

If you like the program you can become an affiliate for this program and receive money for each sale that you make. Clickbank is discussed.

Step 7: Come Back Regularly

Since this program is new, both Yaro & Gideon will work to add new information on a regular basis according to the need.

In this section you get new and exciting announcments.

So there is your overview of the new BecomeABlogger.Com Premium try it now!

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Become A Blogger Premium Live!

The new buzz online is about the long awaited release of the Roadmap to Become A Blogger–a free resource to help those who want to blog which also invites readers join in the premium program that will open up on December 4, 2008.

I first met Yaro during a teleseminar as part of a public relations program I participated in and I’ve written about Yaro Starak and his Blog Mastermind Program before and I was excited when I received a preview copy of the Road Map to Become A Blogger.

Just as I thought, the eBook was filled with valuable information and NEW content. In this work Yaro Starak & Gideon Gideon Shalwick reveal a step-by-step road map to blog success and thirteen “X-Factor” strategies that you can implement immediately to put your blog into superdrive and stand out from the crowd.

Now because I signed up with Yaro early on (right after the PR teleseminar) I was invited to become part of two of his Beta Programs so I can personally tell you that you’ll get a huge amount of value in this free ebook and through the videos–which I was able to preview when he first launched BecomeABlogger.com.

Whether or not you do join the premium Become A Blogger Program–you’ll learn a lot from the videos and eBook. But I hope you do take Yaro & Gideon up on this amazing offer and grab your free copy of the Road Map to Become A Blogger now.

Be sure to also check out the Blog Mastermind Program and Membership Mastermind Programs along the way and take advantage of the premium offer–I know it is going to be fabulous.

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Road Map to Become A Blogger

One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard locally is about how business is so bad.

This surprises me because many of the businesses I know are showing an increase over last year from 15% to 30%.

These are brick and mortar stores and not internet businesses which are growing and doing well.

What is the difference?

I took some time to take a look around and to chat with a few successful businesses.

For instance, one of my favorite hangouts looks like hell. The parking lot is full of potholes and weeds. Cigarette butts litter the walkway to the entrance…and the owner is seldom there. When she is, she isn’t exactly amiable or friendly to those who want to chat.

Also, the product is inconsistent and her price point is steep…and they just announced they will be closing. Not a big surprise to some of us.

Down the boulevard is another establishment. The place has some of the same eyesore problems. Poor parking lot maintenance and trash and boxes stacked up outside make it look trashy. However, the business is up and churning in profits.

Here the manager is focused on customer service and pays attention to customers needs and wants. If a customer has not been in for a while–he or she gets a call. And nothing ever seems to be a problem.

No wonder the customers keep coming back.

Another business in a great location is up 30% because they are under new ownership and let the manager do what she needs to do to make customers happy.

Personally, I quit shopping there under the previous owner because she was penny wise and pound foolish. It was great news to hear that they are doing great.

The two establishments that are doing well each track their profits and their inventory. They know when a customer is going to need something and if they don’t have the product, they usually have it within 24 hours and at least one will drop off the merchandise to the customer’s home if they desire.

I know other businesses that do well simply because they really service their regular customers. About 80% of all business seems to come from 20% of their customers.

If you want to attract and keep customers present a good front–a clean and tidy store and a smiling staff member and personal service can go a long way to establishing a regular customer base.

Don’t forget to find ways to provide extra service to your customers and find out what they might like and offer to meet their needs with new products and services…it could make all the difference on your bottom line.

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Is your business trashed in this economy?

Market Samurai is your answer.

I’ve had the pleasure of being in the 30 Day Challenge and using a Beta version of the Market Samurai software which is scheduled to be released shortly.

I’ve recently began efforts to move my business from a service based business in a specific geographical area to a wider audience on the Internet.

Over the last year I invested in a couple of courses (Blog Mastermind & Membership Mastermind with Yaro Starak).

I found both courses extremely valuable coming from a normal business background and the days (early 1990s) when my webmaster told me to stick to being an educational site instead of monetizing it. (Argh!)

Although I still have a few pending activities from those programs–when I got a tweet from Caroline Middlebrook (StumbleRush) encouraging me to take a look at a free course called the 30 Day Challenge–I did and enrolled right away.

Being enrolled in the program allowed participants to Beta test of a couple of different software services–Market Samurai was one of these.

First, let me say that I am blown away by the features of the Market Samurai software. It saves me ages of time on efforts I’ve been working on for a while–and with my limited time–this is a winner.

If you have not heard of this product by Noble Samurai you need to drop by and take notice. Watch some of the Market Samurai video tutorials and if you are so inclined, enroll in the 30 Day Challenge where you get to Beta test Market Samurai.

Above: Keyword Tutorial Guide of Market Samurai from the 30 Day Challenge

The product offers you a variety of ways to search and focuses on the following topics:

• Keyword Research
• SEO Competition
• Find Content
• Promotion
• Publish Content
• Monetization
• Ad Words

During my 40 day trial I was able to use the first four components. I was amazed at how easy this product made my tasks.

I’ve heard Beta testers say that, “Market Samurai is Keyword Research on steroids.”  I agree because it reduces your manual labor AND is a big time saver. Other services such as Word Tracker and other paid products cannot hold a candle up to this puppy.

The good news for most everyone is that Market Samurai can be used on both PCs and Macs. (Uses Adobe Air platform.)

Time prevents me from going into all features–plus I haven’t used them all yet but if you are looking at keywords, Market Samurai estimates traffic based on your keyword, evaluates competition for those words, and calculates the online commercial intent of a keyword–known as OCI.

Another nice features is that everything is contained in one panel instead of working between several sites or using other software to accomplish your goals.

There is a bit of a learning curve to Market Samurai but the videos help and once you get the hang of it–you’ll be pleased.

If you are into online sales, you can research and find what keyword is worth for unpaid listings and pay per click.

In addition you can select to see how much competition there is for each word and what the dollar value might be if you get ranked for the word…and more.

One of the features I really liked was to see the search trends. This helps determine if the search term is seasonal–which one of my terms was.

The keyword advantage is that it helps you target those niches you seek. For me, I already have an authority site elsewhere but since I want to expand my audience I think this is the tool to do it with.

I see this as a valuable tool to those people just getting going with their business or service websites outside of niche marketing. Just what people are searching on is valuable information indeed. I did the research for one of my new clients and Market Samurai revealed that what she thought were good words for her business were actually useless.

Finally, I’d suggest to snap this product quickly and will include addition links when they become available. The product will be available to the public on September 1, 2008. (A holiday in the USA.)

My Market Samurai Review:
Market Samurai takes your effort and infuses it with jet fuel so that it launches you into out of this world results while reducing your time to get there. I am happy I made the investment in the Noble Samurai software because it not only helps me but it helps me to get my clients on the right track in record time.

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Market Samurai: Noble Samurai Product Review

One of the things I spend time doing is helping people optimize their businesses. In addition to writing content, newsletters, and related materials–I troubleshoot.

Small businesses make many mistakes but one that keeps rearing its ugly head is failing to optimize.

In some cases the presenting problem is disorganization, lack of imagination when it comes to inventory, but lately I keep seeing people failing to utilize the “no brainer” tie-ins that will bring in more revenue.

Several years ago I set up a program for a coffee house that increased their profit without a whole lot of work and with minimal (or no additional) capital outlay.

Two coffee houses locally fail to sell coffee beans or ground coffee. To me this is an oversight because it is a natural tie-in and sparks impulse purchases. They already have the product in inventory!

What does your business sell? Are there other items or services you can offer that can increase your profits?

One of the coffee houses is the local haunt for artists of all types. I suggested that the owner take the time to network and to get artwork on the walls by those artists so it can be sold.

The coffee house can take a percentage while the artists get exposure and income. It is a win-win.

Holding an artist reception once a month and inviting the local groups and notable followers is a great way to attract new customers and to meet new people–plus spark sales.

Any sold items remain on display for the month after the consignment time when the new owners can come and pick up the art work.

Thinking of additional ways to increase your profits is something every small business owner should take the time to do.

If you need help–this is just one of the services I offer. If you have any tips, leave them here by clicking on the balloon to your upper right.

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Optimize Your Business Increase Profits

If you want to take full advantage of this type of learning watch the video below to learn how to set up an account and get inside information on how to navigate YouTube.com successfully.

If you have an interest in building your business or writing career I recommend the free course called the 30 Day Challenge.

While you are at it, drop by Word Press Direct to get an account.

I’ll write more on these later.

Embedded Video

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How to Use YouTube (Video Tutorial)

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Branding: A Business Slideshow

I’ve spent some time spouting about common business mistakes–and trust me, I’ll get back to that later. You cannot fix something unless you know it is broke…

However, how can you be a successful mountain business?

Here are five networking tips to get you started.

Make & Keep Lists
Most people forget to take advantage of those they know. Yes, yes–even I make that mistake. (I was just pondering some interview prospects and did a big forehead slap–”duh,” I know a lot of famous people who could share things people would be interested in hearing.)

So, figure out what type of networking you can do. List friends, business, and professional contacts. Don’t forget to start getting information from your current clients or customers.

Start a database with a record of their names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails. Then schedule time about once a week to randomly select one and contact the person by phone–or get together for coffee or a snack. Doors will open!

Don’t Procrastinate
Start now and develop a daily habit of networking and building your network. Explore how you might be able to work together for dual benefits. A little step each day does wonders in the long run…and it isn’t so overwhelming.

Maintain Contact Relationships
I just finished working with an awesome crew. When payment was received, I took the time to send the corporate office a Thank You note expressing how great the team was–and naming them. At the same time I offered to help them find future resources AND offered my services for future work–enclosing my card.

Usually I try to do something unique to anchor my brand and services in my contact’s brain. Not many people would send Thank You notes–that is why it works for me.

Today you can use the internet to help you keep this strategy from becoming too overwhelming but that is for another post.

Provide Resources
You’ll be warmly remembered if you provide resources or are helpful to prospects, customers, or competitors. This generates goodwill and buzz which results in increased visibility. You may find that people will come to you for suggestions, ideas, and will reciprocate with referrals or favors.

Mind Map or Set Goals
Set networking goals for yourself and map out just how to accomplish those goals. Take a moment to stretch at business functions or even by introducing yourself to a new business owner. Date the goals and make them concrete–maybe you want to meet one new person outside of your business a week or perhaps you want to find out more in depth information about a neighbor or customer.

Decide what will work for you and take action. If you have any other tips, just click the icon to your upper right and leave them.

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Five Business Networking Strategies