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Google starts mobile-first website indexing

Google has started rolling out its mobile-first indexing of websites, so it is more important now than ever to ensure your website is up to scratch. What does this mean for the average business owner? What is mobile-first indexing and what does it mean for you?Traditionally Google used the desktop version of a page's content to index and rank a site, primarily users are now on mobile devices, which is where mobile-first indexing comes in. Mobile-first indexing means your mobile version of your w...

The difference between Facebook business and personal pages

I am often asked by clients what is the difference between a Business and Personal Page on Facebook. Understanding the difference between the two and how they work is important.  Clients can be terrified that what they are sharing on their personal pages is shared with the world, and this is not the case (disclaimer - make sure your personal settings are NOT on share to public)....

7 Steps to success in business

Actions you can take to create success: Recently I took a look at the steps to success I use that really make a difference, both in my work and personal life. 1. Set your standards high Very little is impossible, be a forward thinker problem solver. Success is a state of mind. 2. Take ownership of your mistakesOwnership shows character and the ability to learn and grow. 3. Don’t overpromise and under deliverBe clear about the what and when. If you are promising something within a timeframe, ...

What every business should know about the reality of search engine optimisation (SEO) and ranking in Google

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) isn't a quick fix to having your site rank no.1 on Google, or even on the first page. It is a complex, long-term process that involves many variables. Don't be fooled by the so called experts that say they can achieve the impossible of getting you to page one and keeping you there. With over 200 factors in Google's complex algorithms I have yet to find the magic answer. Steer away from companies that promise the earth, they may get you to page one super quick, an...

5 Common mistakes businesses make on Facebook - and how to avoid them

Social media often brings with it connotations of wariness and "what should I do". Because Facebook changes so quickly it can leave even the Facebook savvy business owner in a muddle. Here are 5 common mistakes businesses make on Facebook and how to avoid them: 1. Not using Facebook insights to gather data on your audience - Use InsightsA multitude of information can be gleaned from using the Facebook Insights. They help with understanding your audience and break down who, what, when and where t...

Why use digital marketing for your business

Digital marketing is a great tool to share your business, your brand, your products and services with both clients, potential clients, and the wider public.   What can be off putting for some businesses is that they do not know which digital tools they need to be using for their business, and immediately it goes in the too hard basket. For some businesses a mix of both digital and traditional marketing may be the way to go, below I share some of the more common digital tools that peopl...

Google warns against non-mobile friendly sites

A couple of clients recently with older websites are being hit with Google's latest algorithm changes around the use of non-mobile friendly sites. When the Google-bots do their thing, if they detect an issue with your site in how it is displayed or how it appears or functions on mobile you will get a warning, either by email or if you check into Google webmaster tools. The impact of this is your site may not rank as well in search results. It was last year when Google introduced its mobile-frien...

The importance of budgets when planning your marketing and how to calculate your ROI

Two of the most important areas to consider when planning your digital marketing are budget and objectives.  With these two areas defined what becomes clear, is the path needed to achieve success.It is important not to get hung up on the how at the initial stage, and please do not even begin to consider your budget yet.  This can lead to over analysing concerns and objections, which for the most part will come from personal fears rather than an objective overview of your business. The ...

The power of growing your digital footprint

The digital world continues to evolve; my 14 year old asked me what a fax was, I have to confess my explanation was basic: "it's when you put a piece of paper in a machine and it goes through the telephone lines to reach its destination". Sounds impressive right? Yet here we are with the hot topic of AI (artificial intelligence) at our doorstep...How can Artificial Intelligence impact your business and your digital footprint?Experimental technology and the growth of AI means computers are able t...

How to stop procrastinating - it's really quite simple

Success comes in many shapes and sizes.  As a business owner one success measure I have is a 'profitable business'.  And the one thing that can get in the way of this is my habit of procrastination.  From experience I know that if I stop procrastinating I will get more done.  I stop being busy and start being productive, which in turn results in more income and a more profitable business. Change your habits and you will go from being busy to productive... what's not to l...

What's your problem?

Dear friend, Seriously, what is your problem?  Not in that way of course... I want to help. I know business owners have questions about being online, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, email, websites, and more. I do myself!  I also know it can be confronting asking for help, and confusing when you don't know how to find the right answer, or even the right question to ask. What problems / issues / questions are you facing in your business right now? I am offering you the opportunity to g...

When is it time to upgrade or build a new website?

You don't  use the same marketing plan year after year, and the same goes for your website.  With the new year upon us, now is the perfect opportunity to look at how your website is serving your business, or if you are not online if it is the right time to build a new website. There are a number of questions you can ask yourself when considering if the time is right to upgrade your website.  One of the most important is 'Is your website mobile responsive'.  With so many peopl...

What is the process when we build a new website?

Building a new website is not to be taken lightly, as the online storefront to your business it needs to be treated with the same care as all your branding and marketing.  There are several key elements to consider, such as search engine optimisation, the linking of your other online platforms eg. Facebook, Google, and email, the design and the conversion pathway your visitors will take.  Not to mention the important contact information.   We know what makes a website effective an...

The benefits of hosting a webinar

Hosting a webinar is an opportunity to share your expertise, build trust and authority with your target audience/s. You can also reach people easily that are not necessarily in the same town or city as you. A webinar is a useful to for a number of reasons, it can be used to: Share your skills and knowledgeInform in more detail of your servicesTeach about a product or serviceAnswer questions Click here for full article and tips on starting your first webinar....

5 Things to consider before starting a social media campaign

With the majority of society using one platform or other on the internet, be it social media, email marketing lists, or searching on Google, taking your marketing to the internet is a good way to build brand awareness, create leads or boost traffic to your website.  To enter and maintain awareness with this growing audience, you need to be online, and social media is a way to achieve this.  Here are five things to starting thinking about before you begin a social media marketing c...

The benefits of choosing your target audience (ideal client or customer)

If you have no idea who your target audience is, you could be wasting a lot of valuable marketing resources, both time and money. The basis of all your marketing efforts whether they be online or offline stems from your target audience, the clients that you want to work and the customers you wish to serve in your business. Marketing to the masses Marketing to the masses does not work long term.  I have in fact been guilty of this myself.  When clients say: "I offer every...

7 Steps to mastering LinkedIn

There is a world to be conquered when you master LinkedIn. You need to get in the heads of your audience - your current connections and your potential connections. People say it can't be done, that LinkedIn is only useful for those looking for jobs. But that isn't the case. LinkedIn is a perfect tool to build connections and business relationships, share advice, options and seek answers, research businesses, gain knowledge through the insights shared on LinkedIn Pulse, manage your professi...

Everything you do on Facebook starts with your page

How your business Facebook page appears to others is important to your brand.  Half finished pages, incorrectly sized imagery (too small and pixelated), fuzzy logos, all of these can have a negative impact. Complete as much information as possible, not just to complete it, but to take it to a high level.Create engaging posts and content that people will find interesting and useful.  Your industry will determine the type of content you post.  Remember you can also th...

Insiders guide to #Hashtag and @Mention

Hashtags are important to the way we communicate online because social media platforms turn any word or group of words (without a space) that directly follow it into a searchable link.   The magic then happens when searching, as simply a #hashtag helps to populate groups of content; if you click on a hashtag you can see all the content associated with that group of words #hashtag in real time.  Hashtags originated on Twitter in 2007, and today are used by both brands and people alike, ...

Social media is alive and thriving for NZ businesses - Social Media Survey Report 2016

The results are in.  How are New Zealand businesses using social media?  Find out in this detailed report....

Creating connections with depth on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is no longer just an online CV or resume, it is a value place for business professionals to connect, grow their thought leadership status, gather leads, explore opportunities, and potentially create wealth. When you are looking at connecting with people on LinkedIn there are a couple of steps to follow:1. Personalise your connection requestsHow often you just click accept when you receive the generic LinkedIn request? I am much more likely to accept if someone has included one of these ...

6 Steps to creating compelling content online

Unique and frequently updated content makes search engines happy. There are many varied opinions about how much content is the right amount of content and how often you should post.What I urge you to consider is that quantity comes second to quality. If you write content that is useful, relevant, imaginative, and thought provoking you are building your reputation and that of your company.It takes time to write great content, which will naturally impact on how often you are putting it up. You wan...

Why older people love Facebook and what this means for your business

A couple of years ago I taught a Facebook training session for a SeniorNet class here in Hawke's Bay.  For the most part the participants got something out of the class, for others it was all a bit too much with concerns around cybersafety and data sharing.  For the most part we managed to sort the majority of these out, increase comfort levels, and learn new skills.  As with learning anything new there can be a hump, but once this is got over the world of Facebook can become an o...

Keyword selection for SEO can be easy and worthwhile

Business owners with a website are looking to get ahead of their competitors, and one way to do this is to search engine optimise your online presence with keywords. Now I am not talking about keyword stuffing here, quite the opposite (you don’t want to be penalised), what I am talking about is the strategic use of keywords to gain more traffic to your website, this is also great for LinkedIn, your blog, and any other online presence you have that is searchable.One tool that is great to u...