Build Your Local Business Reputation with the BBB and Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Pittsburgh, PA – We say it over and over again in our Pittsburgh Online Marketing Newsblog - sound marketing and advertising fundamentals for small businesses have not changed. The Internet has just increased the speed of information delivery and breadth of exposure. Add to this mix joining your local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau and your brand reputation can be greatly enhanced while reaching a wider audience.

Joining these organizations lets your customers know you are reputable and dedicated to providing services worthy of their business; that you are willing to go that extra mile. Whether you are a brick and mortar business or an Online Marketing Business like Blackball Online Marketing, joining these two organizations is, we believe, good advice.

In addition to building your brand and personal reputation in the community these resources build your online reputation by providing quality links to your site by highly valued authorities. Businesses in Pittsburgh are very fortunate to have so many assets to choose from yet many small businesses fail to utilize them. The Better Business Bureau or BBB has a host of resources and some very knowledgeable folks just waiting to assist you.

Build Trust…..Build Your Business

Given the current economic climate consumers are being more cautious on where and how they spend their money. It has created a specific feeling in today’s marketplace playing a role in producing what has been labeled a “fear economy”.

“As a result of the uncertainty and the fear, people are actively seeking to do business with companies that can offer them solutions without stress and uncertainty. Today’s consumer values authenticity, honesty, integrity, reality and trust, and they expect these same values in the companies with which they choose to do business,” states Warren King, president of the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania.

People want to do business with companies they know they can trust. To be successful – to create a marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other - we need businesses to adhere to and adopt standards for trust in the marketplace. As you think about your own businesses, there are three key things every business should do:

• Communicate and live by a set of standards or values. Your consumers should know what you stand for, and they should want to do business with you because of it.

• Honor your promises. It’s easy – do what you say you are going to do, when you say you are going to do it.

• Lastly, act with integrity. People will remember you for it, and they’ll want to do business with you because of it.

To learn more about consumer trust trends, go to the BBB/Gallup Trust in Business Index for more information.

Click the picture to learn more about our services and to view our BBB listing.

Below are some of the benefits of becoming a member of your local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau:

Local Business to Business relationships can be cultivated and experience and services can be traded. Many other professionals may have areas of expertise that will benefit your business. This also offers you a chance to show your skills and services to a number of local businesspeople.

Any local Chamber of Commerce also affords networking opportunities, advertising at affordable rates, and many other highly coveted affiliations. Education and information are key to building a solid local presence in your community.

The Better Business Bureau has an outstanding website and very good service from personal experience. Blackball Online Marketing encourages all small businesses to join each of these outstanding institutions. Costs may vary in your area for each of these products but in our opinion it’s well worth it.

Pittsburgh Online Marketing Technologists - How To Choose One

Pittsburgh businesses are fortunate in the fact that there are many talented Internet Marketing companies locally. As the Internet marketplace becomes more diverse it is important to choose an SEO consultant or SEO Search company that best fits your needs and budget.

We have been writing for some time about the need for businesses operating in the Pittsburgh Internet Marketing field to handle many aspects of Online Website Promotion. Many factors weigh into your choice for an Internet Marketing Engineer. Here are a few questions to ask of your Pittsburgh Online Marketing candidate.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Online Marketing Pro:

First things first. Ask if the Internet Marketing Company or consultant you interview has any experience with your industry. This can eliminate a lot of research and you should be able to communicate freely with industry specific terms. Do they ask about the scope of your project and budget? These are good questions to begin with as they allow for the conversation to define your needs and expectations.

You should be able to tell whether the internet promotions specialist is resourceful by the questions they ask you as well. Are they merely reading a script? Or are they asking questions which relate to the current topic in your conversation?

Do they understand the fundamentals of On Page SEO?

Is there a clearly defined procedure they follow or do they evaluate your site or blog to determine the best course of action for your business? Both methods can be correct for certain situations. The key is to know which method to use and when.

Do they ask about the importance of keywords and how they relate to your business and overall online marketing strategy? Keywords drive what you want to rank for; they are the lifeblood of your site; and your business’ success or failure in the digital world.

Do they understand the fundamentals of Off Page SEO?

We define Off Page SEO as encompassing all forms of listing your business throughout the Internet not directly related to your website.  Off Page Search Engine Optimization includes preparing relevant Press releases to promote your new venture or publicize your current online marketing efforts. If you are in an established industry this question and strategy can easily be answered by some online recon on your competition. Sites linking back to yours with relevant keyphrases are called Backlinks and they are very important as well.

Traditional Media could also be termed as Off Page SEO or Branding. A comprehensive marketing plan will allow you to reach potential customers in other areas. Why limit yourself to just one form of advertising?

Do they understand the fundamentals of Social Media and its value?

The secret of Social Media is that it is "social. Wow, shocker right? The real value of social media when it comes to your business really depends on if your target audience uses it. Secondary to this is the brand reputation management piece. Direct selling on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Etc. is not near as effective as passive selling and information dissemination. Helping people is good business! It helps define your business as an authority on your marketing niche and allows for another great source of lead generation.

Does the SEO or Online Marketing Company have a Social Media component to their business? How many Twitter followers do they have? Do they know how to use them to further your Internet Marketing goals or are they Ttweeting for the sake of Tweeting? Can they communicate this to you and your customer? In short; are they making the most of their Social Media influence?

Are they short sighted when it comes to alternative methods other than Google?

Many businesses are unaware of the existence of Bing and Yahoo when it comes to comprehensive coverage in an overall online marketing strategy. Google still dominates the Search Engine Market but why exclude the other percentage of potential customers. We believe that failure to explore all avenues of revenue generation is like leaving dollars on the doorstep.

Do they have the ability and resources to combine all theses skills into a cohesive Online Marketing Plan?

Knowing how to perform all these tasks is meaningless unless your chosen Online Marketing Technologist can deliver. All these techniques require resources and time. A combined commitment from the business and the Online Marketing Technology Company are necessary.

Whether you ultimately choose Blackball Online Marketing or another Search firm or consultant, we would like the opportunity to speak with you regarding your business and its Online Marketing needs. Contact Blackball Online Marketing for your small business website promotion and speak directly with a Pittsburgh Online Marketing Technologist to assess your needs and give you a solid evaluation. Our initial consultation is always free.

Pittsburgh Online Marketing for Your Business – Website Promotion and More

Pittsburgh, PA – We get the standard question,”How Do I Promote My Business Online?” all the time. The short answer is there are no magic bullets. As we mentioned in a previous post, consistency and innovation are the keys to marketing your Pittsburgh business online. We are amazed that some small businesses have not come to terms with the fact that a website is as important as a business card.

Pittsburgh Internet Marketing and Website Design

Present yourself to new clients in a positive light, informing them about your products, services, and talents. Our advice is to hire a professional Pittsburgh Website Design company. We also covered this topic in a previous post. Stay involved with the content generation for your new or existing site. Keep the content updated frequently for your online audience. The search engines like this and so do the people who visit your website or blog. If you are feeling adventurous, have a Blogsite developed for your business. Be prepared to write often and check on the site frequently.

Maintain Consistency and Timeliness

Consider your target customer always. When generating new content, running a website promotion or sale, and in general you want to maintain focus. Stick to your core competencies and exploit the strengths of your business. If you haven’t considered these terms and topics now is the time. Get out some paper and write your ideas down. You can revisit them later to check yourself for consistency in your Pittsburgh Online Marketing message. These ideas and observations can also serve to generate new ideas for later use.

Pittsburgh Seasonal and Marketing Trends

Stay in touch with current happenings in your business niche. Are there any new product offerings? Should your business run seasonal promotions? Is your business cyclical? Are you involved in an emerging market? The Internet is full of also ran websites that don’t perform because of various reasons. Don’t let this happen to your Pittsburgh business. This is another reason to hire a professional Pittsburgh Internet Marketing Consultant.

Pittsburgh Website Monitoring and Brand Management

It is always nice to have another set of eyes on your Online Brand to manage the reputation or your business. Replying to customer comments in a timely fashion is always good form. This allows you to recognize your customer and communicate with them directly. Others see this and it becomes another selling point for your services and strengthens your bond which keeps your customer loyalty up. Good customer service is often overlooked in the fast paced world we live in today.

Pittsburgh Website Design and Internet Marketing for your business requires a vast array of skills. Blackball Online possesses all of these and many more. Call us today at 412-377-7280 for a free consultation of your online business needs.

Pittsburgh Social Media Brand Reputation Management

As people, we care about how others perceive us. Our personal reputations are what we build our careers on. Businesses have a reputation to protect as well. Not only should it be protected; it should be cultivated. Social Media provides us the opportunity to develop a closeness with our customer that didn’t exist before. In these times of increased competition and shrinking profit margins, a business must always be mindful of its reputation.

Case in point is, “Only the Paranoid Survive”, a book by Andrew S. Grove (former CEO and current chairman of the board of Intel). We’ve included a link to the Preface of the book here: http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/bios/grove/paranoid.htm. This writing hammers home the idea of business as a defensive struggle against pitfalls all businesses face; internal and external.

A Business or Brand’s reputation starts from day one. It is born out of the vision the founders developed. This vision needs to be communicated clearly from the very start. What customers say about us online travels as fast as the data behind it. A strong Brand Reputation Management plan allows us to monitor these comments, good or bad. Swift and decisive action can then be taken. This makes all the difference in keeping or losing a customer.

Blackball Online monitors the Internet constantly for comments or articles relating to our business and our clients. This allows our customers to be notified of anything we may come across and allows for quick response. We believe that addressing problems provides golden opportunities to shine.

With a wide enough sample of comments, a business can gain valuable insight into products and services and how the public is reacting to them. Some companies spend millions to monitor these trends through focus groups and market research studies. For a smaller company, the same results can be achieved by monitoring social media. Why not take advantage of this vast data mine of feedback.

Contact Blackball Online for all your Pittsburgh Social Media Optimization needs including Brand Reputation Management at (412)377-7280.

Pittsburgh SEO and Your Web Hosting Company

The major Search Engines - Google - Yahoo - Bing

Pittsburgh, PA – If you want to rank well in the search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing), planning is the key. Your web host can make or break your rankings. Researching you hosting provider can prove to be as important as your on-page SEO. This article explains a little about how search engines see your site and some criteria to get you started to finding the right Internet hosting company. We do not promote any hosting companies over any others. The research is up to you, unless of course you hire us.

First things first; Our article on picking the right name for your business to rank well in the search engines will help you to do just that. Next on the list is buying/registering your domain name or URL (Uniform Resource Locator). This is the dot.com, dot.net, dot.org that your business will use to be found by your customers on the Internet, Blackball Online can be found at http://www.blackballonline.com.

You should already have the perfect business name after reading the previously mentioned post so try to get the exact match for a URL. The whois database website is a very valuable resource for this. Your website host can also walk you through all of this but it pays to be informed. Tip; register your site for as long as possible. 10 years is the maximum allowable domain name registration as of this writing. Our recommendation is to register for at least 3 years – the search engines look favorably on this.

Do a search on your favorite search engine for “web hosting” or “web hosting providers”. Make a list and rate them; it helps. For the actual research of these companies you can visit their websites or call them directly. We usually do both. We find that we can weed out certain companies by the products they offer and their price points for the levels of service they provide online. Then we call. Another tip; if your contact method of preference is to call and speak to a human like ours is, make sure you call them.

What are your needs? Is this site a one time thing? Is this your flagship website? Do you have 30 other websites that you need a host for? Are you running a forum, blog, or online store? All these questions should be considered as they all require different technical capabilities. Do you know what language or CMS you are going to use to build your site or blog? Once again, planning and research are very important. When you pick a web hosting company keep in mind these questions:

1.) Service: Do they offer 24/7 technical support? Do they charge extra for it? Is it by email only? Are they pleasant? (Knowing this beforehand can save you time, money, and aggravation)

2.) Can they handle your business? (i.e are they technically capable? Do their products meet your specifications mentioned above for your CMS or databases? This is why it pays to be prepared and informed.)

3.) How is their track record? Research the hosting company by checking the search engines for complaints or rants. A pattern of complaints can be a giant red flag; steer clear.

4.) Do they offer up-time reliability guarantees? Your site is no good to you if the server is down. The search engine crawlers will pass you by and penalize you if they try to crawl your site and it’s not there. This is a sign of instability.

5.) Price: We mention price last because it really should be your final concern. Service, Capabilities, Reputation, and Reliability are all priorities over price.

We have many other criteria we check at Blackball Online but these should get you started in the right direction. You get out what you put in. Search engine rankings and SEO starts before you ever code a line. Why sabotage your efforts before they begin? Our job is to make sure you get the maximum out of your site/blog. Blackball Online has the capability to host client sites as well.

Pittsburgh SEO by Blackball Online has all the necessary skills and contacts to meet all your Web Hosting and Online Consulting needs. Just call (412)377-7280 or contact us through our website.