Category: My Marketing Advice (Page 5 of 26)

How a Blog Drives Crazy Traffic to this Small Business

March 31, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

How a Blog Drives Crazy Traffic to this Small Business If you think a blog can’t help your business, I’m about to show you an example of how it can.

I recently read a story about an ecommerce business with over $1 million in annual sales.

I was able to see their traffic stats and it turns out that they get over 95,000 organic visits a month. This is just traffic that comes strictly from Google search – not social media, advertising, publicity, email or other links.

So their overall monthly traffic will be obviously higher than this, but having this much organic search traffic for an independent online store is very good.

One of the main sources of their organic search traffic was their blog, bringing them at least 30,000 of these monthly visits (or 1/3). This is because they were able to optimize a few blog posts and these posts made the first page of Google for three very popular “gift” search phrases.

Therefore, if writing just 3 blog posts could bring you 30,000 free visits a month, doesn’t it seem worth it? By the way, I offer this service. I will write an SEO-optimized 500 word blog post relevant to what you sell. Hopefully, it will bring you free, qualified and endless traffic for years to come!

If you missed it, be sure to read my post, 365 Blog Post Ideas.

Need advice? Ask me a question at attentiongetting@gmail.com. Follow me on Instagram for additional tips and learn more about me here.

365 SEO Optimized Blog Post Title Ideas

March 30, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

365 blog post title ideas Do you need some blog post title ideas for your company blog, lifestyle blog or content marketing strategy? My new download, 365 Blog Post Ideas, is based on an entire year of research that I did tracking the top searches for every day of the year and the most in demand content.

Blog Post Title Ideas

For example, some of the top searches every April are:

When Does Allergy Season Start
Online Tax Calculators
Funny Quotes about Siblings (for National Siblings Day)
How to Boil Eggs to Dye for Easter

By turning these popular questions into blog post title ideas with answers (and optimizing for such) it is a great way to drive search traffic to your blog or website.

My blog post title calendar goes from April 2022 to March 2023, with a total of 365 blog post title ideas, one for every day of the year, but it is really perpetual as people tend to ask the same questions, year after year.

All of the blog post titles in my guide have been optimized for Google search, based on the actual search phrases people use.

This calendar will save you endless hours of research as well as frustration trying to come up with ideas to write about, and benefit help your site’s overall SEO strategy. They are lifestyle posts for the most part, and this type of content can work for any type of business blog, especially on those days when you do not feel like writing about something business-related.

If you need more blogging help, the calendar pairs nicely with my 30-Page Complete Blogging Planner.

If you need more inspiration, you might also want to read my post, Blog Ideas for Your Online Store.

📣Need advice? Feel free to ask me a question at attentiongetting@gmail.com. Be sure to also follow me on Instagram for additional tips and you can learn more about me here.

My Quick Advertising Tip About Click-Through

March 29, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Advertising Tip Click-Through Last week I gave a simple tip for more cost-effective ads and how you should only advertise products that have a conversion rate of 2% or more. But another important calculation is click-through.

For example, if your ad had 100,000 impressions and then received 1,000 clicks, that means the click-though rate was 10% (1,000 / 100,000).

Along the same lines of a conversion rate, anything from 1 to 10% is good, 10% being excellent. Therefore, a 10% click-through rate means the ad is working for you in terms of attracting attention. If the click-through is below 1%, the ad creative or message needs to change.

However, it is two-fold. Having a high clickthrough rate is only beneficial if you also have a high sales conversion rate, because you are paying for these clicks. A high click-through rate with a low sales conversion rate means you are likely losing money on your ads.

Therefore, keep running ads that have BOTH a high click-through AND a high sales conversion rate for the most success.

If you need help with your advertising strategy, set up a phone consultation with me and I can analyze your ad stats, review your ad creative and advise.

📣Need advice? Ask me a question at attentiongetting@gmail.com. Follow me on Instagram for additional tips and learn more about me here.

How to Find the Best Summer Selling Opportunities

March 23, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

How to Find the Best Summer Selling Opportunities Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted, there are numerous opportunities for you to sell in person this summer and into the fall.

To find local selling events, use Eventbrite. Type in keywords such as, “popup shop”, “festival”, “flea market”, “farmers market”, “trade show“. They do tend to book months in advance so get going!

If you can’t afford a booth or stand on your own, go in with another local but non-competitive business.

If you wish to travel, there are large national festivals you can sell at, but it would be the most beneficial if your target market is the main audience.

For example, Bonnaroo is a large music festival held every June in Tennessee, ideal for people selling bohemian inspired fashion and decor. They offer various onsite selling opportunities, such as a 10 x10 artist/crafter space in the main venue for four days for US$1,500, and they expect 80,000+ people to attend.

The Telluride Yoga Festival in June in Colorado is ideal for anyone selling yoga or wellness products, but they like artisans as well. The cost is $450 for a shared space of two vendors. It’s also a great way to write-off a summer vacation 🙂

My Awesome Idea for Your Next Local Sales Event

March 22, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

No matter what you sell, everyone wants a deal or a bargain. Therefore, at your next local selling event – whether it is at a farmer’s market, craft fair, popup store or trade show – have a “Discount” table or bin as part of your display.

This is where you can put products that are out of season, that you don’t want to make anymore or just didn’t sell. There are various names you can call it: Marked Down, Clearance, Bargain, 70% off, Under $20, Final Sale, Last Chance, Today’s Specials, but I guarantee that it will be your most popular attraction.

Alternatively, you could mark up your prices a little higher, with the intention that you are willing to barter. People love feeling like they got the price down.

This is also a great opportunity to test out various pricing strategies, and see which ones customers respond to the best.

My Simple Tip for More Cost-Effective Ads

March 21, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

My Simple Tip for More Cost-Effective Ads If you’re advertising an individual product or service, you only want to advertise listings that have the highest sales conversion rate.

For example, I have a lot of clients who just blatantly advertise every listing in their Amazon or Etsy store, which is not a smart advertising strategy. What you want to do is go through your individual ad stats and only continue running ads on listings that have the highest sales conversion rate (orders/visits), and/or a conversion rate of at least 2%.

Why pay for ads on listings that are not resulting as highly in sales, when you could instead direct traffic to listings that are giving better results? You pay for each click, so make sure it has the greatest chance of turning into a sale.

Follow my blog so you don’t miss more upcoming ad tips, or set up a call to get more personalized advice.

simple ad tips

How Your Business Could Benefit From “Group” Orders

March 17, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Every time a neighbor wants to get something done to their house, like septic cleaning or window washing, they ask if we need it done in hopes that together, we will get a better offer from the company because they will get two sales instead of one.

Therefore, if your business offers local products or services, try encouraging neighbors to do group ordering so you get more business at one time.

For example, if you’re a neighborhood restaurant, make the offer: “Get four of your neighbors to also order from us tonight and you all get free delivery” (this is from my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Restaurants).

Try it with your business and see what happens.

Check this out: Love this inspirational carousel post from Canva today.

©2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved.

Small Office Home Office Ideas

March 13, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Are you looking for some small office home office decorating ideas?

Most home offices can be a very small space, maybe no bigger than 8×8. So you need to maximize your desk space and organization to make the most of it. Here are some great small office home office decor inspiration I found.

Bookcase Your Home Office Walls

small office home office ideas

A great way to save space in a small home office is to take the wall and turn them into floor to ceiling bookcases, ideal for all types of office storage, not just books.

Put the Desk in the Corner

home office ideas with desk in corner

Putting the desk in the corner of a small home office just narrows the back side of the desk, which you do not really use anyway. This idea also really maximizes the space under the desk.

Filing Cabinet and Desk All in One

ideas for small home office

Using your filing cabinets or bookcases as a means of holding up your desk top frees up space in a small home office.

Turn Shed Into Small Home Office

small office home office

The ultimate small office home office if you live in the right climate is to simply convert an outdoor shed.

Try a Closet Office

small office home office

If your home office space is limited, a closet can always turn into a quick small office home office.

Tuck Away Your Home Office Into the Wall

wall desk small home office idea

Just like a Murphy Bed, this small home office idea features a desk that folds out of the wall, exposing needed storage as well. Great for an apartment dweller.

Attic Home Office

attic small office home office

Unused attic space is a great place to put a small home office.

Hallway Small Office Home Office

small office home office

Why not turn a long hallway into a home office?

Office in a Niche

small office in house niche

Much like the closet idea, a niche in the wall is a great place to place a small home office.

Office Under the Stairs

tiny home office under stars

Make use of that space under the stairs but putting your home office there.

Nursery Office Combo

nursery home office

When space is limited in your house, sometimes you have to take space from another room, and the nursery or playroom is a good option.

Start Your Home Business!

Are you ready to start your own business or company? Be sure to check out my Starting a New Business Planner and get tons of free business advice on my blog.

My Quick & Super Easy Marketing Idea You Must Do!

March 9, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Need a quick easy marketing tip?

One of the top searches this weekend will be “Daylight Savings Time Change”. You can use this as an opportunity to email your customers. For example:

Friendly Reminder: ⏰ Clocks “spring” forward Sunday at 2 am.

Also, it makes a good posting idea for your social media accounts.

Shop My Best Sellers!

Also read: 3 Hot Pinterest Marketing Tips

Small Business Name Ideas: My Tips on Choosing a Name

March 2, 2022 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Are you in need of some Small Business Name Ideas? I get this question all the time from clients, so below are my key points when trying to choose one for your business or brand.

Small Business Name Ideas: Does It Represent What You Sell?

While not necessary, it is impressive when a business name has a connection to what you sell. For example, the business Scentered® is a mindfulness lifestyle brand that uses the power of sense of smell as a tool to direct thoughts, emotions & actions to live happier lives. So the name is brilliant as it combines “Scent” with “Centered”.

Small Business Name Ideas: Is It Memorable?

You want a business name that is memorable the first time someone hears it. For example, the wine brand, Fat Bastard, definitely is a memorable name in a market where names are often difficult to recall. But there are drawbacks to a funny name. Does it make you think wine? Would you feel comfortable asking for it in a store? Would you gift it to your boss? So memorable but remember the goals of your brand.

Small Business Name Ideas: Is It Easy to Spell?

If you make up a name or use an acronym, you are making it challenging for your customers to find you, such as typing your name into a search engine or recommending you to a friend. For example, the brand WKND Apparel. It does represent what they sell, but by shorting the word weekend like this, people might not type it in correctly when searching for it.

Small Business Name Ideas: Is It Easy to Say?

Same issue as spelling. If the name is not easy to pronounce, you are challenging customers who speak their searches into their phones, or again, want to refer you to friends. For example, the popular appliance company Miele, is actually pronounced mee-luh, but most people pronounce it mee-lee.

Small Business Name Ideas: Is It Not Too Long?

Short names have the benefit that they can appear larger and more readable on signage, business cards, labels, etc., plus they tend to be more memorable and easier to say. For example, nail polish bottles have small labels, so short brand names like OPI and Essie make sense.

Small Business Name Ideas: Is It a Single Word?

Maybe you just want to take one word and make it your business name. For example, names like Target and Chewy are short, everyday words that are unlikely to be mis-spelt or mispronounced. The downside is that they can be very difficult to trademark as a result.

Small Business Name Ideas: Is It Your Own Name?

Maybe your name is John Smith and you want to call your business the John Smith Company. There can be issues with this. For example, you are now the brand, as opposed to what you sell. Also, if you want to sell the business one day, it will be difficult. And, if someone with the same name was to do something controversial, like become a serial killer, it wouldn’t bode well for your business.

Small Business Name Ideas: Does It Have Your Location?

Some businesses want to appeal to the lure of supporting a local or national business. For example, the Harlem Candle Company pretty much tells me where this company has its roots, and if I’m from New York, I may want to support them just for this reason.

Some Inspiring Small Business Names

Madewell – quality clothing brand
Bauble Bar – trendy jewelry
Edoughble – edible cookie dough
Butcher Box – meat delivery
Headspace – meditation apps
Lord of the Wings – chicken wing restaurant

Let’s Work Together!

I have been helping small businesses online since 2012, so check out my EXTREMELY affordable phone consultations and business downloads including my How to Start a Business planner.

Category: My Marketing Advice (Page 5 of 26)

How a Blog Drives Crazy Traffic to this Small Business