Posted by Brett Nordin on November 6, 2011 under Understanding Search Engines |
Study Reveals Where Users Click on Google Places & Maps
Despite what a lot of SEO companies sell, being on the first page of Google just isn’t good enough.
So how many MORE clicks will your website receive if it ranks #1?
Don’t hold your breath waiting for the answer from Google…it’s a well guarded secret. Some of the most definitive answers have come from Mediative, a Yellow Pages Group Company. Using eye tracking technology, remote click mapping and face-to-face interviews, Mediative has managed to provide real-world data which supports and justifies the efforts of businesses to continuously promote their websites. In previous research, Mediative showed the #1 web search result received more than 3 times (3X) more clicks than the #2 result!
With the introduction of Google Places, Yahoo! Local and Bing Local, consumer search options have changed and now include local business results with reviews and interactive maps.
Do users interact differently with “map” search results? And, most importantly, where do the clicks go?
Again, using Tobii eye tracking technology and online click tracking, Mediative put Google Maps business listings to the test.
Here is a summary of their results:
- Similar to a regular Google search result page, the top-listed Maps website receives the most eye balls and clicks
- More complete listings, with multiple clickable options like a thumbnail image and reviews, get more attention and clicks
- The location maps are being used, with the top listed Pin locations (A, B, C, D) getting the most attention on the map

Conclusions:
- Ensure your Google Places listing is 100% complete, including photos and videos
- Optimize your listing to display when users search for the products or services your company offers
- Build citations and consistently promote your website and business using online directories
- Solicit reviews from satisfied customers to boost your ratings and online reputation
To download a copy of the Mediative report, click here.
To receive a complete analysis of your Google Places listing and learn how you can increase calls and leads to your business, please contact Halo Effects for a free assessment of your company’s local search visibility.
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Posted by Brett Nordin on October 12, 2011 under Internet Marketing, Why Market Online? |
Mortgage Business Marketing
Mortgage Business Marketing
As a local or regional mortgage company, you have to compete against large national banks with big mortgage business marketing funds. However, it is possible to compete at a local level when neighborhood consumers are searching on online business directories like Yelp or search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. It should come to no surprise that consumers are searching for mortgage financing online more and more due to the widespread use of smart phones and the availability of internet connected devices in the home and office. Using mortgage business marketing, to get in front of home buyers and consumers looking for refinance solutions requires building a presence on the internet through websites, online directories and search engines.
One simple strategy for undercutting larger competitors is to target search terms relating to specific mortgage products your mortgage bank might specialize in. Examples are VA loans, FHA loans, non-conforming loans, first time home buyer loans or loans for credit challenged borrowers. Coupling these specialty mortgages with geo-locations, i.e., “VA Loans Phoenix” give you a better chance of ranking higher in the search engines and getting free clicks from ready-to-refinance or home buying consumers. The other advantage of drilling into these type of search terms is it naturally filters out people searching for general information and targets people ready to take action or solve an immediate financing problem.
When a consumer responds to your mortgage business marketing, converting them requires trust-based selling techniques. We call this process conversion rate optimization – saying the right things on a web page and providing trust-based selling tools such as consumer guides and special reports. Offering a free consumer guide to specialty loan programs provides another off-page medium for positioning your or your firm as experts in providing the mortgage product they are looking form. Being a local provider that is favorably rated will also boost conversion rates. Displaying reviews, ratings and satisfied customer testimonials on a webpage or third-party directories will give the consumer more confidence to call or respond to a special offer. Because mortgages are for the most part a consultative sale, getting the consumers contact information from the internet will allow you to build a relationship via email or offline on the telephone.
The backbone of an online mortgage business marketing system is to bring targeted consumers to your website. Halo Effects uses internet marketing techniques like SEO (search engine optimization), SEM (Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing), web based business directories (Google Places, Yahoo Local, Bing Local), and social media/networking channels (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter) to increase your company’s exposure on the internet. Employees of Halo Effects have executed mortgage business marketing campaigns for local mortgage banks that included tele-marketing, direct mail, traditional advertising (radio and TV) and direct mail. We create custom internet marketing campaigns tailored to your mortgage companies reach and potential client base. If you would like to learn more about how we can increase the number of refinance and home purchase transactions, you may contact Halo Effects at (602) 633-4989 or email info@haloeffects.net for a free mortgage business marketing analysis.
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Tags: business marketing small, contractor marketing, contractors marketing, Halo Effects, internet marketing agency, internet marketing small business, local business marketing, marketing for local business, marketing for local mortgage business, mortgage advertising, mortgage broker marketing, mortgage business marketing, mortgage internet marketing, small business advertising, small business marketing
Posted by Brett Nordin on September 21, 2011 under Why Market Online? |
Accountant Marketing
Accountant Marketing
Would you like to generate a constant flow of new and prospective clients all year round, instead of just during tax season? You can get these results by implementing an online accountant marketing plan. Today, 93% of consumers prefer using the internet over traditional advertising media such as the yellow pages, T.V., radio and print ads to find local businesses, making accountant marketing a very effective means of growing your accounting practice.
The key to growing your practice today isn’t just having a website, but its attracting potential clients to your website. Using accounting marketing methods like search engine optimization (Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing), online business directories (Google Places, Yahoo Local, Bing Local), and social media outlets (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter), you can increase your company’s online exposure to generate more business and revenue all year round. By executing these accounting marketing methods as part of a digital marketing plan, can make your accounting company stand out from the competition.
Halo Effects is an accounting internet marketing agency who are experts in internet marketing for local accountants looking to increase their online visibility and generate more revenue. We create a seamless online system of accountant marketing that can become a valuable asset for your company. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help your accounting company, please contact Halo Effects at (602) 633-4989 or email info@haloeffects.net for a free accountant marketing analysis.
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Tags: accountant advertising, accountant marketing, accounting firm marketing, accounting marketing, business marketing small, contractor marketing, contractors marketing, Halo Effects, internet marketing agency, internet marketing small business, local business marketing, marketing for local business, small business advertising, small business marketing
Posted by Brett Nordin on September 13, 2011 under Internet Marketing |
Roofing Marketing
Roofing Marketing
If you are a professional roofer doing roofing marketing, you know the value a new client can bring to your bottom line. In the past, consumers have relied on traditional media such as the yellow pages, T.V., radio and print ads to learn about a trustworthy roofing contractor in their local area. However, the internet and mobile devices have changed the game, making roofing marketing online a very effective means of bringing in new business. What is the value of a roofing replacement contract? $10,000, $20,000, $30,000? With a modest budget for monthly roofing marketing, your company can be found everywhere online.
The four major areas required to dominate the internet marketing landscape for roofers are:
- Websites
- Business Directories (Google Places, Yahoo Local & Bing Local)
- Social Media (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter)
- Paid Search (Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing)
Using each of these strategies can increase your company’s online exposure and bring more leads and sales. If these strategies are leveraged as part of a digital marketing plan, they can have a compounding effect and explode your roofing marketing. When a consumer types “roofer” into a search engine like Google, an effective online campaign will produce multiple listings being displayed.
Halo Effects is a roofing marketing company who are experts in internet marketing for local roofers looking to increase their online presence and sales. We create an online system of marketing that can become a valuable asset for your company. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help your roofing company, please contact Halo Effects at (602) 633-4989 or email info@haloeffects.net for a free roofing marketing analysis.
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Tags: business marketing small, contractor marketing, contractors marketing, Halo Effects, internet marketing agency, internet marketing small business, local business marketing, marketing for local business, roofer marketing, roofing contractor marketing, roofing internet marketing, roofing marketing, small business advertising, small business marketing
Posted by Brett Nordin on September 8, 2011 under Why Market Online? |
Septic Contractor Marketing
Septic Contractor Marketing
As a contractor, it’s difficult to handle emergencies in the field and find time in front of a computer to do septic contractor marketing. Most consumers have an urgent problem to solve when they begin searching online for “septic tank repair” or “septic tank maintenance”. If your websites and local search listings don’t show up in the top 3 positions on Google or other search engines like Yahoo and Bing, you won’t be getting 80% of calls consumers make. Search engines are now the #1 source people use to find local service providers when they have a problem that needs fixing and that means you need to formulate septic contractor marketing plan. Do you want your business to show up above your competition?
The first step is outsourcing your septic contractor marketing. Just like you are a specialist in your field of work, there are companies trained in working with professional contractors to win them more leads and sales. Halo Effects is a small business internet marketing company who understands the needs of local contractors and service professionals who want to boost their septic contractor marketing. If you are serious about growing your septic repair business, getting started is easy. Call Halo Effects at (602) 633-4989 for a free analysis of your current advertising and septic contractor marketing plan.
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Tags: business marketing small, contractor marketing, contractors marketing, Halo Effects, internet marketing agency, internet marketing small business, local business marketing, marketing for local business, septic contractor internet marketing, septic contractor marketing, septic tank business marketing, septic tank marketing, small business advertising, small business internet marketing, small business marketing