Published: Oct 16, 2008 - 08:05 am
Story Found By: DavidWallace 1214 Days ago
Category: SEM
14 Comments
14 Comments
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
Comments
This is a great post. In my opinion, the scourge of the small business is the yellow pages people. I dont like them, and rarely use them - mostly because Ive dealt with their salespeople and their misinformation with my husbands small business and Im not impressed.I think they fill a need your locksmith had - without giving them ALL of the options and the pros and cons of buying a yellowpages website. Mr. Locksmith should have done some homework, but small business folks are BUSY and I think they get taken advantage of a lot. If I wasnt internet savvy - my AOL-mail-loving hubby would have just sent them a check thinking it was what one was supposed to do.I did an article at SEW a few weeks ago and found just the same screen for a company I searched for - "call xxx-xxx-xxxx to reinstate this website." I bet the owner wasnt told he doesnt really own or control his website.Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.~Carrie
Same experience here with yellow pages and their sales reps but something Ive discover even uglier are "SEO experts" popping up to serve niche industries. In my dealings talking to many it appears they are selling 1998 style seo, and not the good back to basics stuff.I want a prominent link somewhere that says “Report Fake Business!” - AMEN!
Funny, I just spoke to potential small biz client who gasped at $500/mo. to manage small SEO campaign. Then I reminded him of what traditional advertising costs. The yellow pages for example - hed spend this if not more for good sized ad which would only reach one geographical area. With search, he has access to the world!
I can completely relate! I cant even remember how often Ive tried to find a local business (landscaping, repair, etc), and they rarely even have web sites! While Im amazed at how rapidly the world changes (I remember BG- Before Google), Im even more shocked at how unwilling people are to change, even if it helps their business. I think businesses are rapidly shifting to an online advertising structure, and traditional media will become a way of the past. Hopefully the local shops we all love so much can get on board!
There is SOOOO much to this issue, it deserves a dedicted forum/conference (LOL).Danny, its worse than you describe, but the reasons are even worse. SMBs are not web companies, and the local merchant cant become a web strategist. They cant afford to hire one, either. But in each vertical, someone will step in (eventually) and rule that market. Its disruption, its coming, and its necessary.
This is an excellent article that illustrates the knowledge gap between the search industry and small business advertising.
My question is that if small business finds SEO too expenisve, a) would they pay for it if they understood the value b) do they prefer to do the SEO work themselves or higher a consultant
A great evaluation of the sad state of most businesses and their online brand. Its unfortunate that it is 2008 and there are still a lot of businesses that dont know how powerful of a marketplace the internet can be for them.It just goes to show that there is a need for SEO and internet marketin businesses right now. Were the experts, what can we do to help our local businesses out?
I remember writing about this like 5 or 8 or more years ago. It doesnt look like much has changed, unfortunately. Many local companies simply dont get it and maybe never will. Although, I imagine as the next generation starts owning businesses things may finally, finally start changing in this area.
I agree with the other comments. Even larger organizations gasp at $500 or $1,000 for SEO, yet they spend more than that per month (or day) in traditional media. I think most small biz owners have no clue that people are actually looking for them online; and if they do have a clue, they dont know where to start fixing the problem nor even where to ask.
Yep, Danny, thats what its like.Every small business client you take on represents one more company that is being lead out of the darkness into the light. And if that sounds like an overly-dramatic description, let me say that last week I looked over the situation of a small architectural firm which, for some reason, is being listed across Local as an auto mechanic. They didnt realize this. Hadnt heard about it from their clients. And, of course, didnt know what to do about it. What you are describing is pretty much the state of the nation in the small business world. Its awful, but it makes work very meaningful with each effort one makes to improve it.Miriam
Thanks so much for posting this. I agree with some of the comments above that this is a huge problem. Just another case in point:I had a water leak in my house and had to get some drywall repaired. Key point is that home owners insurance covers this so I really didnt care how much it cost as long as it got done quickly (i.e., I was a ripe target). Found a guy to do the work who had his website all over his truck, but no decent ranking in the SERPs. I tried to talk to him about it a bit, to no avail. So this guy went the way of your pizza joint and locksmith. He charged me about $500 for this job (another key point).But what if you assume 10 measly visitors a day...thats about 300 per month. Lets say the guy does a decent job converting visitors on his site with good copy, email marketing, etc. and gets a 1% conversion rate. Thats only 3 new deals per month, right. But at $500 a pop, sounds like $1500 extra per month to me! And thats assuming that these buyers are asking for el-cheapo repairs like my little drywall project. More than likely, theyd need more expensive services. And theres a good chance the site could get more than the paltry 10 visitors a day. So the numbers just explode when youre not as conservative as my example.And dont even get me started on the lifetime customer value thing. As if people arent ever going to need work done around the house again...sheesh!Kenton
Danny,This is what many local SEO types run into all of the time. Small merchants often overlook things that will eventually catch up with them. As you mention, if business is coming in, they dont pay a lot of attention to the "small" things. If you offered to add 5% to their business tomorrow, they would jump at the chance, but they dont care about things that are a bit beyond their understanding. The 3rd party domain ownership thing drives me nuts. I know of a few colleagues that allowed their developer, or a yellow pages company, register their domain. In one case, the business owner received a buyout and the developer held their domain for a ransom (jealousy kicked in).Keep up the great work Danny!
yeah, you hit the nail on the head with this one. a lot of people dont use or own a computer, so we cant expect them to know what the heck google is or how a search engine works.i am interested in helping small businesses be able to afford SEO services and expand their businesses -- any ideas on that front? it seems like once I can explain the concept, they are on board, so long as it does not cost an arm and a leg.