Allyn Cutts

Author Archives: Allyn Cutts

7 Ways Google+ Makes Since For SEO

7 Ways Google+ Makes sense for SEO

Google+ has so far not been taken very seriously by businesses aiming to market their products and services. This is quickly changing! Google+ has now positioned itself nicely to challenge Facebook as a major social network for business. Websites using the +1 Button increase page traffic by 350%, and over 925,000 people join Google+ each day! Put together all the functionality of your Google account, and big search engine benefits, SEO Services Sydney you have something we can get excited about.

How to utilize your Google+ Local listing

Here are seven ways to get your Google+ page to help your business.

  1. Your Google+ profile – Complete it. Do this with some thought. Make sure you use engaging photos and images, and link to your other social media profiles.
  2. List your key information – In particular hours of operation, contact details, as well as maps and directions.
  3. Link to your blog or site – Make sure you link to your main business blog or site. This will provide added traffic and a great link.
  4. Create your business page –You can create content of any length, including video. This has strong benefits for search results as well as for folks that find you on Google+.
  5. Link to your other content – Link out to your blog posts. In addition to having them indexed nearly instantly, this also has a number of SEO advantages. You can also use your Google+ page to create posts, complete with multimedia that can link to your pages elsewhere. The possibilities are staggering.
  6. Utilize Direct Connect – Utilize this feature in Google+ to let people to add you to circles whenever they find you in search. Think of this as a Facebook “Like”.
  7. Use video chat in Google+ Hangouts – Whenever you hold a video chat, Google+ streams it, records it, and sends you the recording via email. You can then upload to YouTube if you want, or use it on your site or in private. One fantastic way to use it is to create impromptu product demos.

This barely scratches the surface of what’s possible with Google+ on starting your own blog. To discover even more strategies as well as a cool infographic on the subject see this post on CopyBlogger.

5 Key Steps to Put Your Business Ahead of the Competition

5 Key Steps to Put Your Small Business Ahead of the Competition

Small business marketing is not for the faint of heart, but if you have been in marketing for longer than two seconds, you know that. Marketing your business is dependent on doing some key factors well and these things can make or break a small business in this dog eat dog world we live in. Competition is intense and learning how to get the most out of your web pages is tricky.

Here are five necessary steps to get ahead of the game!

  1. Create a Marketing Plan – Don’t leave anything to chance. Create a well-thought out, to the point plan that maps out each of your marketing elements and what you need to do to make it happen. Make it as detailed as you possibly can. At the very least fill in the broad strokes.
  2. Social Media Marketing – 91 percent of experiences social marketers generate improved website traffic and 79 percent generate more quality leads according to MediaBistro.com. How do they do this? They do not waste time with their social media marketing. Map out a plan for social media an stick to it.
  3. Build a Mailing List – MarketingProfs.com reported emails averages a ROI (return on investment) of $40 for every $1 spent. This far exceeds keyword ads ($17) and banner ads ($2). Don't be misled into thinking collecting and building an email list is dead. If you fail to build a list, you're failing to build your business! You simply cannot afford to leave such a large source of potential profits for your competition.
  4. Video Marketing – Research shows a video is 50 times more likely to appear on the first page of Google than any other text page! That is too good to pass up. Small businesses can engage in this by video marketing. The video market is still comparatively untapped and having a simple video advertising your wares can gain you loads of Google traffic along with authority.
  5. Have a Mobile Presence – Ensure that your website is optimized for mobile, as more than half of all searches now are originating from some type of mobile device. Microsoft reports that mobile browsing is projected to overtake desktop browsing by 2014. Having your pages mobile optimized can help improve your reach, and also corral impulse buyers.

Don’t Make the Mistake of Going It Alone!

None of us can do it all, particularly when it comes to the constantly changing world of online marketing. Learn what’s working now, learn from the best you can afford, and hire the very best outsourcing you can find. It'll pay off handsomely in the long run!

February 16, 2013

Is Your Website Mobile Friendly?

Pssst! If Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Friendly, You’re Hemorrhaging Customers (And Money)

Our economy is recovering…slowly. Very slowly. And though Wall Street seems to have recovered nicely, many folks on Main Street are still worrying about losing their jobs to cutbacks and their residences to foreclosure. Plus, many Americans remain burdened by consumer credit card debt. In other words, these are still trying times for consumers. Here’s what that means for you as a business owner: You simply can’t make it more difficult for customers to buy your products or services. The fact is that, many local businesses aren’t making things easy when it comes to their websites. As more customers are looking for nearby businesses on their mobile devices (according to Google, 1 in 3 searches are for local information) companies are still running antiquated sites that look like crap (let’s be honest) on smartphones and tablets.

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Are you chasing away customers?

At first blush, this might look like a small problem. It’s not, unfortunately. As the folks at MarketingVOX recently outlined, there are very real financial penalties for having a mobile-unfriendly website. As a growing number of consumers use mobile devices to access the internet, the penalties are becoming stronger. In a recent post, MarketingVOX outlined research from Google showing that:

  • A majority—61 percent—of consumers say that they'll leave a website if it’s not optimized for small touch screens.
  • A whopping 96 percent of consumers say they’ve had bad experiences on websites that were not designed for non-desktop screens.
  • 50 percent of respondents said that even if they liked a business, they’d be less inclined to buy in the future if the business’s website isn’t mobile friendly.

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Those are sobering statistics. Here’s the silver lining: Nearly 75 percent say that they're more likely to return to a mobile-friendly website. So your mission is clear…

Your challenge

What does this really mean for the business owner? Just that maintaining a mobile-friendly website is critical—and getting more so. Look around you: You will notice a steady stream of consumers using the internet on phones, iPads, Nooks, and Kindles. And this is a movement that's hardly slowing. Tablets remain hot sellers, and an increasing number of people do much of their web surfing and social media tasks through mobile devices. According to a joint Google/Ipsos study, after consumers look up a business via mobile, 61% say they make a phone call and 59% say they actually visit the business! The message is clear: If you make a bad impression, if your business's website looks cramped, cluttered, or illegible when viewed on a tablet or smartphone, you have the real risk of driving potential customers towards your competitors!

5 Rules For Creating a Great Company & Creating the World’s Ultimate Workplace

I love these cute business names… I'm working toward this in our company.

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1. When you are faced with a seemly large problem or challenge, don't focus on the problem, instead…

Create a vision that renders the problem obsolete!

2. Five Ways To Build World's Ultimate Workspace

    • Happiness
    • A Noble Mission
    • Quests
    • Personal Growth
    • Tribal Dynamics

Now listen to how he does it.

The Top Seven Marketing Tips You Don’t Want To Overlook

1. Combine Emotion and Logic
Consumers buy because the want to experience the benefits of the product or service you have to offer. Evoke those feeling that your clients will experience once they have the product in their hands… and you’ve made a sale. It isn’t until after the sale that they want to justify the purchase. Prepare them with the logical aspects of the purchase before they get the after-the-sale-blues.

2. Apply The 80/20 Advertising Principal
You never want to put yourself out on a limb when you are experimenting with the market. That could spell disaster! Keep 80 percent of your advertising budget working tried and true methods, while you mine for gold with the remaining 20 percent.

3. Go For Dynamic Small Ads
Do you need to cut advertising expenses? You’ll be happy to know that cutting down on the size of an ad doesn’t mean you’ll be trimming your profits as well! Bigger isn’t always better. Think about this… small ads have less potential for distracting your readers from the main point. That could be the blessing in disguise you’ve been looking for.

4. Market With Postcards
Postcards are personal, quick to read, and make an impact. Compare them to other advertisements you receive in the mail… If you’re like me, you probably don’t even know what they look like. When I identify them as advertisements, I automatically pitch them… without opening the envelope. Postcards carry high-impact messages, and guarantee a 100 percent level of consumer exposure.

5. Call To Action
The call to action is one of the most important parts of your advertising copy. Don’t wimp out on it! Spend time combining words and phrases to get the one with just the right impact. Remember, you’re trying to get the reader out of his chair ready to buy. It’ll take a stimulating sales copy to do the trick.

6. Surprise, Surprise!
We all like surprises. Keep one on the back burner, ready to present near the end of a sale. You'll be sweetening the deal, and your prospective buyer will be pleased!

7. Send a Thank You.
Have you ever received a personal thank you from a place of business after you purchased a product? Hey, it makes you feel appreciated. The impact of a hand-written or personalize thank you lasts long after the newness of the product wears off. The next time you head out to buy… yeah, you’ll be going back!


The Cutts Group, is a marketing company located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. We have been serving local, regional, and national companies for more than 12 years, we have a vast knowledge of *What's Working & What's Not*. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses today… Since only 26% of businesses have invested any time or effort in online marketing, the market is wide open for those businesses that take the time to discover what the Cutts Group can do for them. These days, since 97% of consumer's research local companies online before making a buying decision, it is critical that businesses have an outstanding online presence and reputation, and are prepared when their prospects reach the zero moment of truth.

Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com

(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

TED – Ernesto Sirolli – September 2012

There are so many takeaways from this 17 minute presentations. Listen to it several times, and take notes.

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Here are just a few…

  1. Become a servant of people.
  2. As a consultant, your #1 sales skill… Shut Up and Listen!
  3. 3 Things every company must be capable of doing beautifully, and no one person has all three skills. You cannot build a fantastic company alone.
    • The product must be fantastic
    • Must have fantastic marketing
    • Must have tremendous financial management

Hit The Jackpot With Customer Complaints

Our most powerful instinct is to avoid customer complaints, but they may be the best thing that happens to your business. Here’s why…

Marketing research shows that only 1 out 50 unhappy customers take the time to complain… to you. They are likely to let 11 of their friends in on the fact that they are unhappy, but don’t feel comfortable letting you know. What happens to the 49 unhappy customers who don’t complain? Besides griping to 11 friends and family members, they’ll just change products or places of business.

Complaining Customers Are A Bonus
Let’s forget about the fact that complaining customers aren’t always polite or fun to deal with. What’s really happening when they let you know that you didn’t meet their expectations?

1. They are giving you the opportunity to fix the problem and keep them as customers.
2. Let you in on problems that may have turned 49 other customers away.

Encourage Complaints
Yeah, I know… I dread them too, but they are tools for growing your business. How easy is it for your customers to let you know they are dissatisfied with your product or service? Make it easy by…

1. Offering a toll-free complaint hotline.
2. Make customer satisfaction surveys available.
3. Send follow up postcards after the purchase.
4. Make a place on your Website for customer complaints.

The Unhappy Customer's Options
An unhappy customer can do one of four things:

1. Keep silent
2. File a lawsuit or report you to an government agency
3. Give you bad word-of-mouth advertising
4. Complain to you

Remember that your customers and clients know your businesses strengths and weaknesses much better than you do! They have first-hand experience to make their judgment from. When a customer takes the time to let you know what you need to improve you truly owe them a thank you! And don’t forget… an unhappy customer that you turn into a happy customer becomes a loyal, life-long customer. Yeah, customer complaints pay off in the long run.


The Cutts Group, is a marketing company located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. We have been serving local, regional, and national companies for more than 12 years, we have a vast knowledge of *What's Working & What's Not*. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses today… Since only 26% of businesses have invested any time or effort in online marketing, the market is wide open for those businesses that take the time to discover what the Cutts Group can do for them. These days, since 97% of consumer's research local companies online before making a buying decision, it is critical that businesses have an outstanding online presence and reputation, and are prepared when their prospects reach the zero moment of truth.

Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com

(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

November 5, 2012

3 Lifesaving Tactics to Stay Afloat In a Constantly Changing Marketplace

Let’s face the facts… old-fashioned marketing tools aren’t going to keep your business a growing and prosperous entity in today’s marketplace. Hey, this month’s hottest techniques and information will be obsolete in six months. Now, I’m not saying that old marketing principals can’t be upgraded and incorporated successfully, but as a rule marketers have to stay on top of the latest marketing trends.

If you’re wanting to stay ahead of your business savvy competitors you’ll need to implement 3 tactics to stay one step ahead.

1. Watch For New Advertising Methods
You never know what will work for you unless you take the time to experiment! Who knows? The next marketing experiment you test may be a million dollar idea. Keep your eyes peeled for the latest marketing news.

It never pays to put all of your eggs in one basket. Don’t neglect the tried and true marketing tools that have been successful in the past. Invest about 20 percent of your advertising budget and time into testing for new marketing strategies that will increase your profits.

2. Spruce Things Up
Don’t get stuck in a rut. Yeah, you have products that have been successful for years, but what would happen if you gave them a “face lift?’ Would you attract new customers? Would your old customers enjoy the change? You’ll be surprised at what a new packaging will do for old product sales.

Sprucing up doesn’t have to stop with your products. A few minor changes in the store appearance can bring new life to your place of business as well.

3. Diversify
The more products you have to offer, the more spray foam insulation contractors you have against the decline in popularity of one particular item. Don’t go out on a limb, when you’ve got a good thing going. Look for products and services that compliment your current products and services.

Don’t let the speed-of-light changes in the market take your business under. Stay afloat with these proven tactics.


The Cutts Group, is a marketing company located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. We have been serving local, regional, and national companies for more than 12 years, we have a vast knowledge of *What's Working & What's Not*. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses today… Since only 26% of businesses have invested any time or effort in online marketing, the market is wide open for those businesses that take the time to discover what the Cutts Group can do for them. These days, since 97% of consumer's research local companies online before making a buying decision, it is critical that businesses have an outstanding online presence and reputation, and are prepared when their prospects reach the zero moment of truth.

Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com

(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

The Explosive Benefits of a Natural Market

Last year a local gentleman opened a Mexican restaurant in our area. The unique aspect of the restaurant is that not only is the Mexican food authentic, but the employees are Hispanic as well. When you walk through the doors, you feel as though you’ve stepped into another culture.

Six months later, this same gentleman opened up another restaurant on the other side of town. What was the secret to his immediate and amazing success? …he found a natural market. No one can simulate a natural market. Outsiders go to get the cultural flavor as well as the good food, insiders go to enjoy the “homey” experience.

What Defines a Natural Market?
The most obvious natural markets are cultural, but include a host of other characteristics that you may be familiar with as well. What about homeschooling parents? Who could communicate more clearly, or provide more relevant products than another homeschool parent?

A natural market is simply the part of a market that you have something in common with. It will automatically make you connect with your customers on a personal level, making your marketing strategies more effective.

Why Explore Natural Markets?
You can make immediate and lasting connections with your potential natural market. Let’s face it, we’re more comfortable and more confident doing business with someone we have a lot in common with. It can’t be helped… it’s just in our nature. Take advantage of natural markets on the Web where a more personal business is rare and will hold strong appeal to consumers.

How Do You Get In On The Action?
First think about your interests, hobbies, and life experiences. List your occupations, hobbies, club memberships, nationality, language, and background. Wow, there’s a lot of potential for natural markets at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a nice list, start critiqueing it for the potential market that will make the most impact. The rule of thumb for deciding on the depth of impact is: the more unique the characteristic… the more impact it will have.

Natural markets add a brand new layer to your existing business, or you can create a new niche business from the natural market idea. Whichever you decide…pull out the stops… blitz the market with advertisments… and get ready to add up the profits!


The Cutts Group, is a marketing company located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. We have been serving local, regional, and national companies for more than 12 years, we have a vast knowledge of *What's Working & What's Not*. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses today… Since only 26% of businesses have invested any time or effort in online marketing, the market is wide open for those businesses that take the time to discover what the Cutts Group can do for them. These days, since 97% of consumer's research local companies online before making a buying decision, it is critical that businesses have an outstanding online presence and reputation, and are prepared when their prospects reach the zero moment of truth.

Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com

(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

3 Crucial Elements For Jumping Sales Numbers

Marketers from every niche have common ground when it comes to bills. Yeah, every month there’s a new stack of bills demanding to be paid. Will there be enough profit to slide right through bill paying time without a flinch? Or do you find yourself fretting about whether you’ll even break even? You don’t have to be victimized by envelopes and 8×10 sheets of paper. Implement these 3 techniques to boost your sales.

1. Find More Customers
The first thing that comes to mind when we think of making more money is getting more customers through our doors. In fact, the majority of advertising focuses on doing just that. There are several things you can do to entice more customers to buy from you.

Implement Follow-Ups
Marketing gurus have discovered that follow ups can increase your customer conversion rates by as much as 50%. Now, that’s a whopping improvement! Don’t let potential customers fade away. Keep the doors for future communication open, and watch the drastic growth in your profits.

Encourage Referrals
Every satisfied customer will tell 3 friends or family members about your business – without encouragement. Imagine what would happen if you start rewarding their efforts.

Get Free Publicity
Nearly everyone keeps a sharp eye on the local news. Hey, it’s funner to know what’s going on when you personally recognize the names and faces in print! Find ways to make your business newsworthy and catch the attention of potential customers without even paying advertising fees.

2. Sell More Per Customer
Think about it… how can you get every customer that walks through your doors to spend more money before walking back out the doors? Here are 3 sure-fire, profit increasing tips:

Increase your prices.
Hey, that might not be as bad as you think. Along with the price increase, focus on increasing the perceived value of your product. Yeah, we all expect to pay a little more for high quality stuff. Not everyone is bent on finding the absolute cheapest price in town… they may be more interested in lasting quality.

Add some higher end products or services to your business.
It’s never wise to put all of your eggs in one basket. That’s why wise marketers diversify their products and services. Think of it this way… higher priced products may not make as many sales, but each sale will bring in a much greater profit. You don’t need to make as many sales to come out on the best end of the deal.

Upsell
Offer every customer an additional product that accents his current purchase at the register. Hey, maybe they forgot they’d need batteries to go with the toy they're getting for their niece's birthday gift! You can be a hero… a richer hero.

3. Sell More Often
The fact that it’s easier to sell to the people who know and trust you is obvious. Sometimes we get so focused on new customers that we miss the gold mine in our own back yard. Take advantage of the hard work you’ve invested in winning the loyal customers you already have with these ideas:

Create a Special Deal
Show your customers you appreciate them and understand their needs with a special offer catered just for them. You’ll be thanking them, and selling more in the process.

Add New Products
Increase the number of products you already have available – especially products that your customers have asked for. They’ll know that you’re looking out for them, and you’ll take their thanks to the bank.

Communicate
Resell yourself on a regular basis. Don’t forget to let them know about upcoming specials that they’ll appreciate. Most of all… keep selling them on the benefits of the products or services you offer.


The Cutts Group, is a marketing company located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. We have been serving local, regional, and national companies for more than 12 years, we have a vast knowledge of *What's Working & What's Not*. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses today… Since only 26% of businesses have invested any time or effort in online marketing, the market is wide open for those businesses that take the time to discover what the Cutts Group can do for them. These days, since 97% of consumer's research local companies online before making a buying decision, it is critical that businesses have an outstanding online presence and reputation, and are prepared when their prospects reach the zero moment of truth.

Contact Information:
Cutts Group, llc
www.CuttsGroup.com

(800) 250-9510 | phone
(610) 441-7390 | fax

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!