Marketing Tips & Tricks

You know, everyone should make their own Avatar. It's liberating to recreate yourself through your own imagination. Yes, my waist is a mere 18" and I do wear a blue cape! I am a superhero in my own mind.

Life is about learning, and every day we go to work our brains should be engaged to learn more. I call it Feeding the Brain. So consider Kellie's Korner your time to Feed the Brain and learn something new.

I get a lot of questions every week. In fact, I could stay on the phone 24/7 just chatting with my business friends or FOP's (Friends of Panda) about marketing, trends, etc. Of course, I would have a hard time brining home the kibble if that was my full-time job. Hey, there might be something to that.

One thing I really like to do is read. I read everything—competing viewpoints, various styles. From this Brain Feeding I am able to aggregate a bunch of details and form an opinion. For those who know me, I am never without an opinion. Whether you want to hear it or not.

Today's Topic - June 10, 2008

Q: How do I get on the first page of Google or Yahoo?

K: Good question and let me explain.

If you Google that exact question thousands of hits come up with incredible information. There are people that dedicate their lives to answering this question, so really all I have to do is seek it out. Of course you could pay someone to answer this query, but in the end it comes down to relevant information listed on your website, littered with keywords that pertains to your topic, interest or industry.

Google is all knowing. They track behaviors as if we Web users are some kind of freakish science project. Panda knows this, so we have invested a very large amount of brain cells to make sure we do what Google says. Here are some of the things built into your website.

1. Your website is Google friendly. This means we give Google thousands of opportunities to index your site (ex: unique titles for every product, categories, subsections, keywords and phrases). The more products you have, the more indexes. If you want to check out how many indexes you have go to the Google search box and enter: site:www.(your domain.com).
   
2. We are rewriting and updating our content. No longer will you see just a one-line product name. Space on a page isn't a problem on the Web like it is with a printed catalog. Our Panda Bear Team of writers is on a mission to enhance our content and fill it with keywords. You might notice that we repeat ourselves sometimes, and we are ridding ourselves of suppliers' unique way of naming their products. Like "spectacles" for instance; they're Safety Glasses for goodness sake.
   
3. Each site has been optimized with Google's Webmaster Tools, including adding Google site code to index and report problems to us about pages. Google Webmaster Tools inform Google to regularly index your site and Google reports the last time they visited your site. This is an absolute must.
   
4. We are integrating with everything Google. Including Adword conversion site code, Froogle feeds, RSS, Chat Back, you name it. We are getting Googlefied. Yes, I made that word up!
   
5. We are partnering with content providers to provide syndicated RICH or non-product content into the website. This is big. It can't always be about product. The word "syndicated" is important because it means you will have an opportunity to purchase content that is unique to Panda at a fraction of the cost.

You've seen what Panda does for your site, now here is what YOU can do.

1. Write a home page article about what you know best. You are safety professionals and you have a lot in that noggin of yours. Are you a glove distributor? Well, how about telling your customer why your product knowledge can help them choose the right glove for their application. Remember, there are many new safety people out there that know nothing about safety. They inherited the job and they need your help. Go online to your website. Under Resources, Technical there is a Hand Protection Survey. Fill-it out with them online or over the phone.
   
   Talk about the latest trend in understanding Cut-Level Protection. It's new to the US but not to Europe and it is the latest buzz in hand protection. Why is Cut-Level 5 important and what does it mean? Certainly it doesn't mean you can run a saw across your hand and not get hurt, but it is a standard that users are adopting. Find out about it and write about it.
   
   
2. Sign-up on every FREE online directory you can find.
   1. Yellow Pages.com
   2. Safetydirectory.com
   3. Google the phrase Safety Directory - see what comes up.
   4. Add your distributor name to the free directory listing of every safety magazine you can find.
   5. Add your name to supplier websites. They want something from you, ask for something in return. Get listed.
   6. The number one way to raise Google Rankings is to get referrals from other websites into your site.
   7. The second best way to get ranked is to post articles or blogs. Create your own blog and link it to your website. Google has a blog program called Blogger.com. Start one. It's free.
   8. Don't forget to make a new page in your HTML Content Editor that links to your blog.
   9. Publish a press release with www.PRweb.com. It costs money but instantly your press release will be broadcast to hundreds of industry blogs, magazines, and news outlets.
   10. Remember, linking is key. Sites linking to you. You are not linking to them.
   11. Change your home page often. Add text, not just product information. We get you started and we provide many free services to keep your page current. But at the end of the day, unique content that is text-based is a very important aspect to help Google rank your site at the top of the list.

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, that's only because it is. But it can result in increased sales at margins you have only heard about. Yes, Lab Safety gets these margins.

1. Tip - People BUY safety, they don't SHOP for safety! When customers are looking for a product, they enter that product name or topic into Google. If you are found, you have an opportunity to close the sale.
   
2. Tip - Start a lens (aka: a page) on SQUIDOO

If you have something to say, say it here and watch your rankings go up. I bet most of you have a word or two about what you have seen in safety, where we are going, and what is next. Give it a try and watch your site grow!