Get in Google Local!

What is Google Local?

Google Local is also known and Google Maps. Google provides users directions based on address or location, interactive maps with several viewing options (map/satellite/terrain) . Additionally, users can a search for businesses based on the keywords entered.

You want an example?

I searched for a injury attorney in Baltimore in the Google Maps section. Our client came up:

(CLICK TO ENLARGE:)

In the Web section of Google, they come up again in the Google Local Listings AHEAD of all the natural listings (Though our client is #1 in the natural listings) as the Letter E:

(CLICK TO ENLARGE:)

Google Local is an handy tool. It can be customized to add photos, hours of operation, testimonials, reviews and can be a great selling tool as part of your website marketing efforts. It can also be an opportunity to show up more than once on the first page and increase your chance of getting business.

Ask your Account Manager how to get into Google Local.

#15!!!!

Just a quick update – yesterday we took over our 15^th truck load of donations to the Jeffco Action Center! We have been collecting donation for this local charity for over a year now and have made a real impact on their organization.

The Jeffco Action Center has been providing essential stabilizing services to the people in Jefferson County who are in danger of becoming homeless, or attempting to move out of homelessness.

Page 1 Employees are encouraged to continue to bring household items, clothing, food, toys and school supplies for those less fortunate. Also, Friday March 28 and Saturday March 29, the JAC will be holding a ‘Spring Beautiful Junk Sale” at the Jefferson county Fairground. This is the largest rummage sale in Jeffco and all the proceeds go to the JAC. For more info, visit http://www.jeffcoac.org/index.php

A public Thank You to everyone who has donated to this great cause!

My inability to read minds - A lesson in partnership

I must spill my guts about this. I have had two telephone calls today asking for changes to websites because the practice area is "something that the practice does not do."

Both of these sites have been custom developed by Page 1 Solutions from the ground up meaning:
1. pages for the site were established by Page 1 and approved by the clients
2. custom content was written by Page 1 and reviewed and approved by the clients
3. the site was programmed out by Page 1 and reviewed and approved by the clients
4. the site was optimized by Page 1 and reviewed and approved by the clients

Those are just four of the many times we reviewed the website with them. Here is the deal - the practices did not stop participating in those types of actions, they never did them...ever...and they do not plan on doing them...ever.

So why are they on the site to begin with?

It is a simple equation of partnership. It is my responsibility to be really clear and explain EXACTLY what the client needs to look for/take action on. It is the client's responsibility to read what I send them and give appropriate feedback.

I wish I knew all the regulations and laws that affected each website in each state, but I don't. I need to be informed so I can make you the best Gosh-Darn website possible and have it appropriately reflect your practice.

I know that we both are very busy, but when we rush rush rush through things, you end up with something that is not what you need. Here is an example: (CLICK TO ENLARGE)


Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining - I really just want quality. When we work closely and communicate, we get quality.

Testimonials and Blogs

It’s no secret that the majority of business we see is from word-of-mouth referrals. If you shop at a particular chain store with blue letters on their sign, you were probably told by someone that they had good deals there. Your health care provider was probably referred to you by someone you trust. And if you’re “thinking smart” about your internet marketing, you should also be considering ways word of mouth can happen on the web.

We spend a lot of time talking about business blogs around here, so you may be surprised when I name a great option for word-of-mouth referrals, or marketing if you think of it that way, at the beginning of the next paragraph. This isn’t to say that you should give up on your own blogging efforts. You wouldn’t stop answering the phone just because you got an email account! After all, we call it “word of mouth” and not “word of screen” for a reason. That doesn’t mean raiding the phone lines is the only way to get referrals.

Personal blogs can be a great source of business referral! One of our writers created a blog entry about her recent experience at the dentist’s office and posted it on Page 1’s blog. Her very positive raving is a good example of how people reading their friends’ blogs might follow a link back to your website, or may reply to the post and ask for more particulars about your services.

If you have a patient or client who expresses his or her appreciation for your excellent work, request a written testimonial, and if the person has a blog, ask him or her to post an entry with a link to your site. (You can go to some real depth with this and link their testimonial to their blog and so on, depending on how interested you are in networking your website.) The link will add a little more of that value to your site that we’re always looking for, but the greater reward will be when a new client or patient arrives and says, when you ask, that they got your name from Lydia’s work blog.