If you’re a local SEO practitioner or a small business owner managing your own Google account, you’ve almost certainly received this Google security alert at some point: It looks like someone else might be trying to access your Google Account. For your protection, you can’t sign in right now. Try again later or sign in from a different device. That’s the exact message we receive when Google blocks us from logging into a client's old Google business account when the account has been inactive … [Read more...] about Blocked From Signing In to Old Google Business Accounts – FIXED!
How to Undercut Google’s Pay-to-Play Model and Advertise on a Budget
It's genuinely depressing to think about the totality of words we've wasted whining about Google's pay-to-play model. Not because we regret the time spent educating our readers, but because we wish this weren't the reality of digital marketing in 2020. Especially during a crippling pandemic. And we know this situation is just as depressing for all of the small, local service providers out there who feel like they don't have a fighting chance. But we're done with despair. It won't do … [Read more...] about How to Undercut Google’s Pay-to-Play Model and Advertise on a Budget
Do You Know What to Ask When Hiring an SEO Company?
To ask the right questions of a prospective SEO company, you first need a baseline understanding of online advertising. Unfortunately, if you're a small, local business owner with little knowledge of online marketing strategies, then you probably don't quite know what to ask. That's why Kim Lachance Shandrow's article, "10 Questions to Ask When You're Hiring an SEO Consultant," is such a godsend. In the article, Shandrow lists some of the big questions you should ask when on the hunt … [Read more...] about Do You Know What to Ask When Hiring an SEO Company?
When Is the Best Time to Use Facebook Ads Versus Google AdWords?
You've probably noticed that organic search results pages are getting harder and harder to rank on. (This is mostly due to Google's quest to monetize every inch of space on Page 1, but that's a rant for another day...) As a result, many business owners are trying paid ads, instead. Most people are using either Facebook Ads or Google AdWords (or both). If you've tried this alternative yourself, we don't blame you. It's a smart move! However, if you're going to start a paid ad … [Read more...] about When Is the Best Time to Use Facebook Ads Versus Google AdWords?
If You Don’t Promote Your Summertime Services Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
Now that summer is only a month away, let's talk about how you want to promote your summertime services. We need to start looking at what you can do right now to boost your bookings this summer. Especially since your competitors probably aren't planning ahead—which gives you an edge. This post will arm you with some strategy ideas to help you book better jobs this season. Let's jump in! How to Book Better Jobs Than Your Competitors This Summer The truth is, most people don’t plan ahead. … [Read more...] about If You Don’t Promote Your Summertime Services Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
Little Known Ways to Market Yourself in a New Location
So, your business is ranking pretty well in your hometown. But what if you want to get more jobs in the next town over? Or maybe you want to expand into a different state entirely? No problem. Prospect Genius has a handful of cost-effective strategies to help you target a new service area without going over budget. Of course, the strategy we prescribe will depend on how far away your second address is. Thankfully, we've had lots of success solving this problem for clients and business … [Read more...] about Little Known Ways to Market Yourself in a New Location
One Major Reason Your Paid Ads Aren’t Getting You Results
Are you DIY-ing your company's paid ads and getting frustrated by your lack of results? You probably started a campaign on Facebook or Google expecting to drive tons of visitors to your website—or, better yet, to generate a slew of new customers. However, for some reason, you're just not getting the results you were hoping for. Worst of all, the cost of your ads keeps going up! You feel like you're dumping your business's hard-earned cash down the drain. Why is this happening? To answer … [Read more...] about One Major Reason Your Paid Ads Aren’t Getting You Results
How to Solve Your Problem With Spam Calls Right Now
Are you being dogged by spam calls all day long? Telemarketers and robocalls are running rampant these days, and small business owners are getting the brunt of it. Average Americans are certainly getting their fair share of spam calls, too, but it's nothing compared to what business owners are experiencing on a daily basis. Spam Calls Are Unavoidable Since your company phone number is plastered all over the web, it's super-easy for spammers and robots to add you to their databases. Now, that's … [Read more...] about How to Solve Your Problem With Spam Calls Right Now
How to Find Blog Ideas Your Customers Will Actually Care About
You’re trying to get your website off the ground, and you’ve heard your traffic will improve if you fill your pages with lots of valuable content. But there’s the problem—you want to create interesting blog posts and page content for your audience, but you’re totally stumped on what to write about! This is an all-too-familiar problem for many small business owners. Thankfully, in our years of practice, we’ve discovered some shortcuts that can make it easier to come up with webpage and blog … [Read more...] about How to Find Blog Ideas Your Customers Will Actually Care About
SEO: Start From the Bottom, Climb Your Way to the Top
Does SEO really take as long as all the marketing specialists say? A good number of people are out there promising much faster results, so there must be a loophole the marketers aren't telling you, right? We wish we had better news for you. However, the reality is that achieving a strong presence on Google and the rest of the web requires time, effort, and patience. Anyone who promises you instant results is just trying to sell you snake oil. Keep reading to find out why SEO takes time, contrary … [Read more...] about SEO: Start From the Bottom, Climb Your Way to the Top