By: Tim Haas Owner/Web Developer Haas Consulting Marketing & Web Development Services View Our Webpage

• Marketing Management
• Marketing Plans
• Graphic Design
• Web Development
• Online Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Printing Services
• & More!

We are a full service Marketing Firm. From creating a marketing plan to layout, design, and seamless execution, our goal is to help you make the most out of your marketing!

• Visit our website to view web designs by Haas Consulting.

Hutch Bowl Monitor Ads

Are you looking for a unique and effective way to advertise?

Spots are available for advertising on the monitors at the Hutchinson Bowling Alley.

If you are interested in this opportunity, call Tim with Haas Consulting today!

587-4314

Did someone forward this newsletter to you?

All you need to do to subscribe is complete this Contact form

Tell us who you are and give us your e-mail address. Please read our anti-spam policies at the bottom of this newsletter.

Welcome to our new and current subscribers! This newsletter is published monthly by Haas Consulting. It is here to be a source of information for anyone who would like to learn about webpages, marketing, and other business related topics.

Please feel free to email us with topics you would like to learn more about. You may view past issues at www.thaas.info/articles.php. Enjoy!

Click here to send this link to a friend!

I hope everyone is on board with the concept that the web is here to stay and is a major player in marketing your business! After all we are nearly a decade into the new century, if you aren't there yet . . . catch up!

If you have a website, you obviously want to be ranked high in the search engines! Right?  Of course, but don't stop there. Rankings without traffic are kind of pointless.

Building traffic to your website has multiple folds to it. You need to work on your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to rank well within the search engines, true. But don't forget to pay attention to other traffic generators such as traditional marketing and good old fashioned customer service!

Here are some pointers on developing more traffic for your website in 2009.

Effective SEO
Effective SEO strategies include:

• Keyword selection: Choose relevant keywords that accurately reflect the products and services you are selling. Be specific, the more general the keyword the less effective it will be for generating traffic to your website.
• Compelling titles and descriptions: A well written, informative title or description can often generate greater traffic than higher positions within a search engine.
• Focus your attention on search engines that matter: If you are providing an industry specific product or service and you know people involved in that industry have niche search engines they use . . . focus on them. Don't forget about Google, Yahoo and other major search engines; but if your research indicates a better alternative focus there!
• Analyze your competitors website's: If they rank well and appear to generate a lot of traffic, see what it is that they are doing and incorporate it into your own strategies.

Branding
Establish an easily recognizable image for your company. This will often drive additional traffic to your website!

• Place your business name in the title of each page for your website.
• Be consistent with your branding so when people see your brand they recognize it, weather it is online, in the paper, a magazine, or even on the radio. People tend to click on known brands first, even if it is not one of the top listings on a SERP. (Search Engine Results Page).

Traditional Marketing
Tell people about your website at every turn in the path. Make them aware it is there, and let them know why they should visit it. Try to give them reasons that matter to them.

Include your web address with:

• Print ads
• Radio Ads
• Flyers
• Business Cards
• Car Signs
• Invoices
• Statements
• EVERYTHING!

Customer Service
Allow your customers to use the website for more convenient customer service. This has the effect of making the customer feel more empowered as well as freeing up some of your time. I bet you could find things that need to be done if you had more time.

Another important point here is that the more traffic your website receives the more valuable the search engines give to it . . . resulting in better rankings within the SERP's. They also take note if customers are provided opportunities for customer service.

• Include an online contact form
• Include an online customer service survey
• Provide customers with a secure login area where they can:
  • Maintain account information (name, address, etc.)
  • View online invoices and balances (when appropriate)
  • View account history
• Include pages that address company policies:
  • Exchange policies
  • Return policies
  • Guarantees
• Include an online, interactive map with directions to your business

The idea here is to keep in mind that there is no one "magical bullet" that will drive traffic to your website. A steady flow of traffic comes from some of the things I have outlined here; but keep in mind that there are an infinite list of other traffic sources.

Think inside and outside of the box and remember to tell people your website is there at every turn in the road. People will not find it without following directions from somewhere!

Click here to send this link to a friend!

Personalize, Personalize, Personalize!

In today's economy and worldwide marketplace you must differentiate yourself from your competitors! The most effective way to do this is to personalize the shopping experience.

Lavish personal attention on customers you see as potentially good repeat customers. These are also the customers who tend to refer you to others.

• Try to know them by name
• Provide Guarantees
• Reward them for their loyalty
• Ask them for referrals
• Ask for their feedback

Take care of your customers on a personal level and you will find that you have many loyal customers that will come back to you again and again!

ShopHutchinsonMN.com  I am tooting my own horn here a bit, many of you know this is one of my websites. There have been some major changes that have occurred over the past few months! Check out the new site. We have added an online store to the mix to allow local merchants the opportunity to sell online without the expense of their own online store. For those who have an online store, it serves as a second location. We are very excited about all of the changes we have made to the website. We hope to have the new website up and running early in January, 2009. Visit often and check out the changes!

Additional Links of Interest *

Zoomstart.com  Filled with articles helpful to business owners. This featured article deals with winning strategies in getting hired.

Safe Computing Tips  Here is something that is always good to read through! This website lists some helpful tips on how to remain free of viruses and other nasty computer based germs!

* By providing these links we are not endorsing the services or products being offered. We are only offering links to other website's that may be of interest to you

Anti-Spam Policies

Plain and simple; Haas Consulting does not condone or participate in the use of spam e-mail. You have received this newsletter at your request. If you wish to remove yourself from this mailing or feel that you have been included by mistake; contact Haas Consulting and ask to be removed from the list. All requests will be honored with no questions asked. Please include the email address you wish to remove within the request.

Statement of Copyright

The contents of this newsletter are the property of Haas Consulting. You may use all or part of the content of this newsletter provided you follow these requirements:

• You provide credit for where the information came from.
• You provide a link to Haas Consulting's Home page at http://www.thaas.info
• You do not use the material in a way that will harm the image or reputation of Haas Consulting.
• You do not violate any laws in anyway shape or form.
• You agree to hold Haas Consulting free of all liabilities in relationship to the use of materials gathered from this or any other newsletter.

Please contact Haas Consulting with questions regarding reproduction of the contents of this newsletter.

2004-2009 © Haas Consulting - all rights reserved