Google rule change helps local businesses

Google just changed that way that it prioritizes search results that is important for all small businesses to be aware of. Before April of this year, if you searched for "auto mechanic" on Google, you would get nationwide results, which pretty much limits the results to the big chains. However, now that same search will look at your IP address and give higher placement to matching businesses that are close to you.

This is important for any business with a website that wants to attract local customers. Prior to this change, you had to try to optimize your website to compete with many businesses that you don't actually compete with in the real world. Now that your site is ranked with other local businesses, you can adjust your website content to more effectively compete locally.

Read the full article at Small Business Computing.com.

If you are a FirstClick Web Solutions customer and would like more information on how to update your website keywords and content for better search result ranking at major search engines, contact your Customer Manager or Technical Support.

Small Business Confidence Improves, but 62% still don't Have Websites

According to Discover Financials Services, the number of small business owners who say the economy is improving doubled between March and April to 31 percent, the highest level in two years. However, the number of owners who thought the economy was getting worse was still in the majority at 51 percent, but this is down from 69 percent in February, so the trend is in the right direction.

Included in the survey were a number of questions about how business owners are using the internet. A few of the interesting statistics are:

• 38% are members of social networking sites such as Facebook, Linked-in, and Twitter, but only 45% of those use the sites to promote their business.
• 45% have used email to promote their business.
• 46% prefer traditional methods such as conferences, trade shows, and in-person business networking over online methods.
• 62% do not have a website.
  

So if you are interested in staying ahead of your competition and take full advantage of an improving economy, invest in your online marketing methods now.

Act Now to Get Free Holiday Promotion

If your business features products that make interesting gifts, consider submitting them to newspapers and magazines to be featured in their annual Christmas gift guide issue. However, you have to get started in May due to publication lead-times.

Public Relations Expert Margie Zable Fisher gives 10 tips on how to get your products featured in holiday gift guides. Click here to read the complete article.