Every Business Needs Their Own Website By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Every Business Needs Their Own Website
By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

These days, websites are usually taken for granted. In fact, most small businesses do not have a significant Internet presence. It is imperative that your business not fall into the same trap. The following are some of the more important reasons why your business should have a website. Rev Marketing 2U can help deliver an effective website that addresses each of these issues.

Image

To be taken seriously, you simply must have one. Without a website, you are invisible to the generation that venerates the smart phone. No amount of traditional advertising will overcome the fact that they cannot find you on their smart device at the exact time that they need you.

Information Availability

People want fast, easy access to info about your company. Personalized customer service has gone the way of the dinosaur. Simply put, the new generation wants your information available at the touch of a few keystrokes.

Hands Off Marketing

In short, you are always available. Your office may be closed and your staff asleep but you are still actively engaged in the business of business. Customers can visit your site and make requests for proposals or leave their number for a call back in the morning. New clients bring new success!

FAQs

Answer the same question a few times and you can see the absolute need for this feature. Customers are not stupid and are willing to do a little legwork. Provide them with easy solutions to their most asked questions and you will readily build customer loyalty and respect.

Increased Sales

Make money in your sleep. Provide a reliable, secure Ecommerce site and you may wake up to a few extra sales every morning. In any event, your customers will value the ability to quickly and reliably procure your product or service at any time of the day or night.

The Hub

This aspect of website development is undoubtedly the most important. A company’s website is the hub of any effective marketing campaign. Emails, blogs, viral campaigns and social marketing all feed into the same website. The same is true for tweets, YouTube, FaceBook and LinkedIn. All information leads to the central database and is organized and stored there.

The successful small business can only grow by developing, maintaining and data mining the information that is captured by their website database. This information is the lifeblood of sales growth. Not only does it fuel the expansion of your customer base, it provides the opportunity to up-sell products to your existing clientele.

Staffing

Your website can provide a window into the culture of your company. Motivated people will recognize this and approach you for employment. There is no better way to find talented applicants for any position in your company.

In the final analysis, only the business owner can decide what is best for his company. We, at Rev Marketing 2U, can only promise to listen to your needs and deliver an attractive, functional and cost effective solution to them.

Solving the Online Marketing Puzzle By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Solving the Online Marketing Puzzle

By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Online marketing evolves on a daily basis. Enhancements to old strategies, radical advancements in new ones and fundamental changes to back-end architecture all vie for the attention of the small business owner and his marketing team.
How is the small business owner to keep up in this constantly changing environment? A simple solution is available. In a highly informative seminar and workshop, the marketing gurus of Rev Marketing 2U will define the essential needs and address the practical concerns of almost every small business.

The Puzzle

At first, it may seem confusing but online marketing is really just the effective interlocking of a variety of different marketing channels. Your company website, blog posts and other venues such as Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn combine to create an online persona for your company. Managing these disparate pieces and having them function in a synergistic manner is the goal of Rev Marketing 2U.

We have the knowledge, the tools and the expertise to superbly accomplish this goal. Our entire executive team is comprised of current and ex-business owners. We truly understand the complexities involved in running a small business.

The Solution

Creating an integrated, Internet marketing campaign and business plan that is supported by a highly functional website is the goal of Rev Marketing 2U. This strategy creates real value for your customers and keeps them coming back for more.

To truly understand this process, we invite you to the seminar entitled the “RM2U Marketing Puzzle.” Offered throughout the United States, these seminars have proven to be a valuable resource in the Internet marketing education of many small business owners. Highly informational and tightly focused, it offers years of Internet marketing insight in a single day.

The Curriculum

The seminar is specifically focused on needs identification and practical applications. Here is a short list of some of topics that are explored.

Website Development

Your website needs to do more than simply impart information to your clients. It must provide real value for you and for your clients. Information capture and database development will aid your search for new clients. Content management systems and guided search technology will provide your existing clients with easy access to the exact information that they want.

Search Engine Optimization

Driving traffic to your website is not particularly difficult. Obtaining the right demographic that will ultimately decide to purchase product is substantially harder. Understanding the principles of SEO will significantly aid you in this process.

Online Branding and Reputation Management

The regular dissemination of a consistent message underpins the acquisition of a brand identity. It is imperative that the small business owner understands the consequences of failing to adequately monitor what is reported about his company.

Social Media Marketing

People will talk about everything and anything. It is the job of social marketers to insert themselves into these conversations and inject comments and information that will drive the audience to the appropriate website.

Visit our website at www.RevMarketing2U.com for further information and to schedule your class.

The Quandary By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

The Quandary

By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

April 09, 2010

Lately, the current economic climate has become extremely harsh. Revenue has diminished and the small business owner needs to economize in every way possible. Still, every business owner understands the necessity of an online presence. At the very least, his company needs to present a professional image.

Having a friend or website guy building your business website? The owner also has friends who are experiencing the same pains and angst. They need to work and he has practical needs that they can address. Specifically, they can inexpensively develop a web site for him.

Should the prudent small business owner avail himself of their services?

On a personal level, the question is difficult to answer and, obviously, depends on the personalities of those involved. Common sense dictates that the business owner declines their offer, but loyalty sometimes intrudes. There are a multitude of pitfalls that must be avoided in this situation.

A Partial Solution

The aesthetic design of a website can be left to a talented amateur. Aesthetics are purely subjective and a business owner may get lucky and find exactly what he wants with the looks of a site. However, looks aren’t everything. In any event, the business owner will review the result and make the final decision. Is there a real danger of a catastrophic failure between conception and implementation?

If your goal is to establish your initial presence on the Internet, go ahead and use your friends. Just don’t expect to reap rich rewards. There are professionals vying for the same clientele.

The Real Solution

The true value of a professional website development firm is objectivity. Rev Marketing 2U will not just nod their head in agreement with your opinions. We will challenge your basic assumptions and offer alternative ideas. Our website expertise covers all industries from boutique garment houses to large manufacturing firms.

Rev Marketing 2U has designed and created many successfully ranked websites. We intimately understand what works and what doesn’t. What’s more, we understand the mechanics of a functioning website and how it interacts with business’.

Functionality is a completely different animal from aesthetics. It is a matter of expertise. You cannot trust this aspect of your website to an amateur, talented or otherwise. Every functional aspect of a website must perform flawlessly each and every time a customer logs in. The smallest glitch can create an animosity that cannot be overcome by any amount of copy. Google and the Google bots, along with other search engines need to view your site as an online fine tuned machine for your business.

For example, your marketing efforts have succeeded and a customer has arrived at your website. Do not lose the customer prematurely because your website does not function properly. Invest the time and resources necessary to deliver a flawless customer experience.

The Final Analysis

As in any other endeavor, you get what you pay for. Perhaps you are the one business owner with the buddy who is the new Internet marketing genius. You will be successful with or without us. For the rest of the market, Rev Marketing 2U offers creative front-end design and extensive back-end development experience. We value relationships and look forward to helping your company grow and prosper.

Business Coaching & Consulting with Rev Marketing 2U By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Business Coaching & Consulting with Rev Marketing 2U

By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Business owners are busy. They are also typically experts in the products or services that their businesses specialize in, but they are seldom experts at running and marketing a business. This is by no fault of their own, however, as running a business is a complicated task. Fortunately, there are people whose business is your business. Companies like Rev Marketing 2U are knowledgeable and experienced in the art of developing, growing and marketing business. They provide a range of services specifically to help you, the owner, critically evaluate your business and take the steps necessary to grow it in the direction you want.

Business Strategy and Planning

When starting out, it's essential that businesses have a plan to follow as they go forward. Developing a comprehensive business plan is an involved process that examines various aspects of a business and formalizes how it should move forward to best benefit the company. It's often useful to have an outside perspective when developing a professional quality business plan, and this is the first area where most businesses find a Business Coach or Business Consultant particularly useful. A great business plan could mean an entirely new direction for the business, or a different way of pursuing a well-tested strategy. Either way, it can help you get the best out of your business. Does your business have an annual business plan?

Marketing Solutions

A well-run business is useless without customers. Developing marketing strategies that stand out to potential customers is one of the biggest challenges of today's digital market. Comprehensive marketing solutions take a working knowledge of this market and how to get the attention of those in it. Professional marketing and business consulting companies understand the ins-and-outs of how to get your company's name out there, expanding your customer base and your bottom line.

Re-structuring Services and Products

Maybe your product line or service needs an update. Maybe your services are no longer optimized for current market conditions. These problems are usually difficult to recognize and re-structure from the inside; those familiar with the inner workings of a specific product or service are generally unable to see its faults. Business professionals are skilled at recognizing what simple changes can be done to a product line or range of services that will push it to a competitive spot in the marketplace.

Name Branding and Image Building

When it comes to marketing, it's all about image. Your brand and corporate image is going to be the first foot you put forward to potential customers. Make it a good one, and seek the help of marketing specialists. They will evaluate and understand your business and your philosophy to develop a public image that accurately reflects your product. Potential customers will remember a strong brand name and image when it comes time for them to purchase. Make sure it's yours.

When it comes to developing and marketing your business, leave it to a company like Rev Marketing 2U that will bring the experience and knowledge necessary to bring business success.

Alternatives to utilizing billing companies for your business By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Alternatives to utilizing billing companies for your business

By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Many businesses around the country utilize billing companies to create, mail, receive and organize the bills and account statements from their customers. These firms provide a useful service, as evidenced by their long-standing existence and general usage in the business world. However, Rev Marketing 2U believes that there are several alternatives to utilizing billing companies for your business that can provide you with increased cash flow, overall cost savings and more efficient billing service.

One of the biggest advantages of using an alternative to a billing company is an increased cash flow for your business. Problematically, many billing companies hold your funds for days or weeks before they send them to you, often speaking of the benefits of providing one lump sum instead of a flurry of smaller payments. However, what you may not realize is that in holding all your money in an account, the billing company earns interest on your hard-earned dollars. By managing your billing in-house, you reap the benefits of that interest on your money, as well as having the cash on hand, rather than in the bank account of your contracted billing company. Having thousands of dollars of freed cash on hand is one of the many advantages of using an alternative to a billing company.

Many banks also provide multiple types of billing platforms that can take the place of a billing company. An advantage of utilizing a bank in this way is that their many options for billing and preexisting relationship with you as your banker gives you the security and stability knowing that the system can be trusted. Furthermore, having the bank take charge of billing grants you the same cash flow advantages stated above, as using your personal bank means the funds will be deposited directly into your account. Also, utilizing a bank for its billing platform gives you much more power and leverage to getting a business loan with a good rate, also providing you with the cash flow and, more importantly, the investment capital to expand your business.

In the new Internet-based economy, there are scores of additional options that provide an alternative to traditional billing companies. Online payment firms, including Google Pay, Square, PayPal and many more, offer customizable and unique services at a fraction of the cost of traditional brick-and-mortar billing companies. They offer even more utility when combined with your business website. Services such as PayPal offer a secure, quick and easy way for your customers to purchase products or services, and with a unified module for payment and tracking customer information, you can easily keep track of thousands of customers with a minimal staff. These new online billing services offer a fast, efficient way to complete billing without hassle. Have you thought about your clients having easy access to pay for product and recurring services on your website?

Rev Marketing 2U believes that you should consider these alternative billing methods for your business before relying on the standard billing company. Weigh the benefits and costs of alternative billing companies and standard billing firms, and you will find the best option for your business.

The Pro's & Con's of Adwords VS Organic Rankings By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

The Pro's & Con's of Adwords VS Organic Rankings

By Tracy Lee Thomas President/CEO Rev Marketing 2U, Inc.

Google Adwords and Organic SEO are two web marketing strategies for getting your website seen by potential customers. They are dramatically different approaches, but are both useful in different situations. Here are some pros and cons for these two strategies that Rev Marketing 2U can help your business use to build a strong online presence.

Adwords

When a user searches Google for a keyword string, a series of advertisements appear on the right hand side for users to click. The advertisers that appear here have bid on a position in amongst these advertisements for the specific string of keywords entered. Every time a user clicks one of the advertisements, Google charges the advertiser the amount per click that they bid for ad placement.

Pros:
1. Speed - Adwords are a great way to quickly get to the top of a google search.

2. Cost proportional to results - You pay only for the users that click through and go to your webpage.

3. Targeted results - Because you are able to choose the keywords for which your ad will appear, you can choose the sort of customers you want.

Cons:

1. Potentially expensive based on business needs - If your website does not have a good conversion rate and quality site that hosts a top notch contact form Adwords will work less effective.

2. Less attention from users - Generally only a small percentage of users click the advertisements in search results, and some demographics are more likely to click them than others.

Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The goal of Organic SEO is to get your page seen by users in the "regular" search engine results. Search engines decide which webpages will appear in what order by considering the keywords they contain. By modifying your website content, you can increase or decrease the chances of your website appearing in the top results.

Pros:

1. Permanence - Once your website makes it to the top results, it will stay there for as long as users continue to click on it.

2. Visibility - Most search traffic click on links in the organic listing of results, so you are seen by a lot more serious search traffic.

3. No other costs - This way, you don't have to pay Google anything for listing your results, as long as you can get your page in the top results.

Cons:

1. It takes a lot of work and fairly inexpensive - Getting high up on the organic search rating means you will put a lot of work into developing appropriate SEO content for your website.

2. Out of your control - It can be very difficult to get a top spot, and your website can easily be displaced depending on popular opinion.

If you're looking for a quick way to get a large number of hits to your website, Adwords may be the right strategy. Rev Marketing 2U can help with either of these strategies, but our main objective is to help your company build the high quality website necessary for an effective, long-term organic marketing strategy.