How would you market this.

[Lionel Turner]

I got the OK from my boss to start marketing our company on the internet, a lot more then we are now. Which is good because, as a newbie, its an opportunity to learn, and get paid in the process.

I run a pressure washing and power sweeping company in the San Diego area. At this time, if you do a Google search for "Pressure Washing in San Diego", we do not come up any where in the first 10 pages. I tried all different ways of combining San Diego with pressure washing and power sweeping...nothing.

I have no clue how our website is key worded, or anything of the sort.

I am sure I can get a couple hundred bucks a month budget to put into marketing, but other then getting Adwords, I'm really not sure what direction I should go. Was kinda thinking of setting up a blog and pointing that to our website. Building back links from articles.

It seems like it would take little effort to get it first page, but at the same time what else should I be doing? Or am I off with my ideas?

I truly feel that having IM become part of my job (a small aspect), Is going to be that extra push to get off my butt and tack action.

I look forward to some great replies. Thank you.

Lionel

[Jill Carpenter]

If you can, buy the domain sandiegopressurewashing or something similar that is kw optimized for location and the service.

Realize your target market, and research a bit on how they would find you.

For instance, why would I look for your pressure washing? what do I need it for?

A lot of articles can be developed from this that can help with SEO and bring in some traffic.

A solid SEO plan can get you there - but as for how long it takes/how much work it involves - that depends on competition and how well they have optimized themselves.

[Loren Woirhaye]

Getting on page 1 of Google for that term is likely to be
easy. Whether such a position will mean a lot of traffic
or not I don't know.

You should revise the meta tags, particularly the title tags,
of your website to include the keywords and phrases you
want to rank well for. Include those words and phrases
in the copy on the pages as well. There's a lot of intricacy
and theories about the best way to include keywords in
a website, but try to use them in a natural way and
see if that gets you the results you want.

You need to start creating backlinks to your site. Blog
commenting, your own blogs, press releases, and so forth.

Chances are your competition is clueless about internet
marketing and it will be relatively simple to seize a top
SEO position on Google for the term.

[Rob Maggs]

Build a "linkwheel" based on keyword phrases relevant to your niche, Maybe "power washing san diego" only 672 competitors and 8 searches a day (not many searches, but these could very well convert into buyers and I bet you'll find some better ones!)

Write good unique content for each free blog and ping each one.

Write an article for Ezinearticles, maybe try to sell some of your products on Ebay (use Ebay as a traffic funnel) and create an information based product which you sell in CD format at a loss, but gain a load of Feedback for. Set up an account on Twitter and contribute to your niche. Do everything you can to increase your main sites PR and backlinks. You'll get position no 1 on Google easily for even more competitive keyword phrases and hopefully a "pat on the back" from your boss.

[Lionel Turner]

Originally Posted by moonfish

Build a "linkwheel"

What does that mean?

Thanks for all the replies.

Lionel

[ezimedia]

HI

sandiegopowerwashing.com is already taken

but the .net is not..

if you own the .com cool... make a site and put some related articles on them and then submit those articles to as many article directories as you can and in your bio box put your link to your main site.

Also try building links to your site with links from directories... do some press releases..

Make a tweeter account and put a follow us on tweeter link on your sites.. you can then tweet to your follows about weekly discount offers your company offers.

Tell your tweeters you re-tweet your tweets for an extra discount..

Thx
Tom

[JeffLam]

Lionel,

Not trying to be very 'marketing' here, but perhaps you can check out my Free Report and Video on SEO Techniques.

You can find the link in my signature.

You have to opt in my list first though. If you hate it, you can simply opt out immediately after.

But anyways, in the report I show you some things besides the typical backlink building aspect for SEO.

In the video, I also talk a little about linkwheels (pardon the voice though). It should be enough to let you understand.

If you still do not know what is linkwheels (it's powerful stuff), drop me a PM and I'll send you my Personal Drawn Linkwheel.

[Fred_Acker]

Hi Lionel,

Just out of curiosity, what is your end goal? Do you want more clients? Or do you simply want more clients from the web?

[sbucciarel]

Originally Posted by Lionel Turner

I got the OK from my boss to start marketing our company on the internet, a lot more then we are now. Which is good because, as a newbie, its an opportunity to learn, and get paid in the process.

I run a pressure washing and power sweeping company in the San Diego area. At this time, if you do a Google search for "Pressure Washing in San Diego", we do not come up any where in the first 10 pages. I tried all different ways of combining San Diego with pressure washing and power sweeping...nothing.

I have no clue how our website is key worded, or anything of the sort.

I am sure I can get a couple hundred bucks a month budget to put into marketing, but other then getting Adwords, I'm really not sure what direction I should go. Was kinda thinking of setting up a blog and pointing that to our website. Building back links from articles.

It seems like it would take little effort to get it first page, but at the same time what else should I be doing? Or am I off with my ideas?

I truly feel that having IM become part of my job (a small aspect), Is going to be that extra push to get off my butt and tack action.

I look forward to some great replies. Thank you.

Lionel

Add your business to Google Maps
You'll then be in the first listing for sandiego pressure washing

Buy sandiegopressurewashing.net, org and info. .com is already taken but does not appear on the front page which indicates to me that it is probably parked and for sale. If the price is not too bad you could offer to buy it, but you can accomplish the same with the .net.

Build a similar site on the .net that is optimized for your keywords and heavily bookmark it using James bookmarking service.
http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...y-16-77-a.html

[Kurt]

Hi Lionel,

The first thing I'd do is run an AdWords campaign using $20 just to check to see if you can even get traffic for that keyword phrase. My hunch is, you won't get enough traffic to make basic SEO worth your time or money.

Right now, don't worry about a sales page or anything else, just check to see if you can even drive enough traffic to make SE marketing, including adwords and SEO, even worth your effort.

I'd learn about Google Maps, but that's about it. So do a google for something like "how to optimize for google maps" and get that done.

I'm sorry, but not all businesses are a good match for SEO...$20 now in AdWords will quickly let you see just how much traffic you may possibly get before investing more.

Instead, build a site that enhances your other marketing techniques.

Try Craig's List. Figure out how to automate that, if possible.

Learn how to use the post office and post cards to cheaply reach everyone that has a parking lot, etc, like businesses and apartments buildings. There's been a few Warrior posts about this topic over the years and seems to be a very inexpensive way to advertise.

JV with other maintenance type companies such as gardeners, lawn care, window washers, etc. Have them pass out brochures to you company, you do the same for them. You can get a couple of companies like this to share printer costs, with each getting a "page" in the brochure...Point this to your site (and phone) for more info.

But again, please test your SE market before spending a lot of time and effort...Make sure the traffic is really there.

[Matt Maiden]

After you do get your site up and running make sure you do a Press Release to all of your local and surrounding areas media.

Your release should be centered around the fact that your company has gone online.

If you find something to offer the online visitors, like a discount coupon, then that would be the focus of the PR.

Matt

p.s. Make sure to include plenty of testimonials from current customers.

[uncle randy 71]

Originally Posted by Fred_Acker

Hi Lionel,

Just out of curiosity, what is your end goal? Do you want more clients? Or do you simply want more clients from the web?

I think the answer to this question will be of more value than anything else. So far, most of the advice has been good solid advice for getting the websiter better exposure.

But, what if the main goal is simply a few more paying clients? We would then need to know the type of site currently in use, do they have video available, auto responders in place, a opt in message etc., etc.

Hopefully the OP will check back and give us this information

[Lionel Turner]

Originally Posted by Fred_Acker

Hi Lionel,

Just out of curiosity, what is your end goal? Do you want more clients? Or do you simply want more clients from the web?

Both. I just feel we are getting 0 from the net so that is a good starting point.

Lionel

[JohnMcCabe]

Lionel, I have a really radical idea for you...

Dip into your customer file, pull a random sample, and call them.

Do the same for your best customers.

You want to get into their heads and find out how and why they chose you, how they found out you exist in the first place, what they think you do best, what they think you could do better.

Synthesizing this data should give you a pretty good starting picture of the clients you want to attract.

Massage the content on your website to emphasize your strong points and strengths. Make it really easy for potential customers to take the next step (call you, request a quote, etc.).

Now you can start worrying about driving traffic.

You've had some good suggestions already, and there's a lot more good advice if you hunt around a little bit.

Whether you rely on SEO, Adwords or late-night infomercials on local cable, the bottom line is the same.

You have to meet your potential customers where they are and lead them to where you want them to be. That means getting their attention, gaining their confidence and making them a powerful offer that promises to get them what they want.

One or more blogs could do a good job of communicating that, especially if you have more than one target market (i.e., semitrailer operators vs. painters prepping buildings for paint, etc.)

Hope this gives you some things to think about...

[Louise Green]

Hi Lionel

It sounds like you don't have much experience with the website code.. no problem though, it's real easy to learn. As this isn't the SEO board I'll try to keep this as basic and straight forward as possible for you.

Log into the server where the site is hosted and download the front page (usually index.html or default.html). Open it in notepad and look for:

<TITLE>

In between this tag and the closing title tag, </TITLE>, write in the search term you want to be found under.

Now find:
<META NAME="Description" CONTENT="A description here.">

In between the last set of quotes, write in a short description of the company and include the same phrase as you used in the title tag.

Save and upload to your host.

That's about as basic as you can get, and I'm really sorry if you've already done this.. just not sure of what steps you've taken so far, or how experienced you are.. better safe than sorry though!

If you get stuck with anything, and there's much more SEO you can do yourself easily and quickly, I'll check the SEO boards over the next couple of days to see if you need help.

[Lance K]

Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye

Getting on page 1 of Google for that term is likely to be
easy. Whether such a position will mean a lot of traffic
or not I don't know.

That's what I was thinking. Is the effort worth the return? Have you tried setting up a referral network offline? The internet isn't always the best marketing option.

Anyway, I'd think you would have better luck placing ads on other San Diego focused sites that reach your target market than you would by going whole hog with SEO.

[Lionel Turner]

Originally Posted by Lance K

That's what I was thinking. Is the effort worth the return? Have you tried setting up a referral network offline? The internet isn't always the best marketing option.

Anyway, I'd think you would have better luck placing ads on other San Diego focused sites that reach your target market than you would by going whole hog with SEO.

I feel a good SEO site would help with getting our company info in front of people who of never heard of us. In my area of work, if I do 5 bids I get 3 jobs. Also, when it comes to residential customers they tend to look you up the same way that they would look you up in the Yellow Pages.

[Mr Money Maker]

My brother runs this kind of business and makes a lot of money.....my feeling is be creative and make your own website...forget adwords....just study the best keywords and keyword phrases....and you should get ranked locally.....after all there's not all that much competition in each city.