How To Build SEO Competitive Advantage

Big businesses have a habit of requiring so much elbow room, they crowd smaller businesses into a corner. The small, modest show feels like a no-show against the brass and fanfare of big business. In the world of marketing, the rule apparently is, bigger is better. Bigger banners catch the eye more quickly, bigger advertising campaigns make trademarks, slogans and mottos household names, bigger budgets mean the ability to buy more spots, create more web sites and high more technicians for incorporating software applications into a smooth, seamless Internet exchange. Bigger businesses always seem to have the bigger advantages.So, how do you build a solid SEO Competitive Advantage?

Be a Different Marching Band

SEO-Competitive-Advantage

Big businesses have more products, more services and a bigger budget to work with, but maybe it’s time to think about what you have that they are lacking. As a small to medium sized business you probably take a more personable approach than your large competitors. Incorporate your personality into your site, giving it that warm, homely feel of consorting among friends than the cool voice of the experts at the top who run your issues through a data bank and return with automated answers.

Do you have a unique product or service? The business you’re competing against may have fifty different types of toy train sets, but you’re the only one who sells handcrafted aluminum trains accurately modeled off nineteenth century locomotives. Perhaps you’re the only hotel whose services include a doggy yard and kennel for its clients. Highlight your unique features, giving them a prominent position in your marketing campaign.

Create a niche for yourself. At first it might be as small as the circle of friends, employees and community members within your social sites, but use them to illustrate your unique qualities. Whenever you have a new article or blog at your website, circulate the address among your friends’ circles. Because they are your friends, chances are your interests will be at heart, and they’ll share the information within their own circles.

Using Customer and Marketing Management Software

Software engineered towards managing Internet Marketing and customer services has many useful purposes. It can keep track of customer sales, enable Internet transactions with suppliers, keep a data base of client and customer histories, analyze costs and sales, among other functions. For businesses however, incorporating marketing software has not always had a happy ending. Many companies that installed particular software years ago are still trying to mend all the glitches. Often it’s a case of not finding the right package for the size of your businesses.

If you are a small to medium sized business, a bigger package isn’t necessarily going to pump your marketing muscles. If that package begins suffering nervous break-downs within a couple of years, your asset has turned into an albatross. Check and compare the prices, services and reputation of the various software packages. Choose one that is compatible with the size of your business. As your business begins to expand, you can always upgrade to a more complex version. By choosing a package that is right for you now, you remain within your budget, with an adaptable software program that can grow as your business grows.

The Flexible Business Person

Big business is cumbersome. With its large chain of command, adapting to new policies and generating fresh ideas takes time and costly effort. Small and medium sized businesses have the advantage of being closer to trends, incorporating them with more ease into their strategies. They can adjust their business plans as new ideas are presented for more attractive offers. Instead of studying large businesses to see how they do things, the small to medium sized businesses should be the first ones on the block to try something new.

Big businesses may have more thinkers to draw upon, but it doesn’t mean the quality of their ideas are any better than your own. Proceed with confidence and energy. Do a small scale trial run to see how agreeable your idea is to others. If it takes off, you’re one step closer to establishing your own business among the big boys.

Build it and Keep it Alive

One of the biggest difficulties small and medium sized businesses face is keeping their marketing campaign within a budget. After spending so much money on a campaign manager, a web design, content writing and advertising bids, the marketing coffers are empty. The business is left with an inactive website, expired advertising slots and investment returns that look suspiciously like bankruptcy.

Start small. Keep in mind that your website is the most valuable resource you have on the Internet. The money you put into it is like investing into your office. Branch out from your website with the address as the main focus. Build on widening the circles that will drive readers to your site as you are able, but never abandon your efforts. As fresh ideas, new services, additional products are introduced into your business, announce them at your site and send the address through your social circles. Be affirmative about the things your business can do well. You may have to dwindle back on other aspects of your campaign, such as paid advertising spots or a full-time manager, but never neglect your website activity.

When Opportunities Knock, Let Them In

Sometimes ideas and innovations are so simple, we wonder to ourselves when we see their success, “why didn’t I think of that?” The irony is, ideas and innovations are floating around a million corners, just waiting to be discovered. Instead of viewing other small to medium sized businesses as competitors, look at them as your colleagues. Form communication platforms with them, offering link exchanges and guest blogs. Join forums that discuss the problems of small businesses and actively participate in solving them.

Be open to suggestions. Learn what other small businesses have done to help them climb the ladder. Form customized agreements with your business partnerships instead of standard ones. Look for the opportunities that will advance your business objectives. It’s not always the complexities of ideas that are ingenuous, but small, simple things that improve your marketing efficiency and gains broad based customer appeal.

Be as Big as You Are

You don’t have to think big to grow big. You don’t have to follow the examples of big business and bust your marketing budget with an oversized campaign. If you are keenly aware of your type of business, what your business has to offer and its unique features, you have a solid platform for initiating your marketing plan.

Keep your campaign within your budget through step by step growth processes. If you can’t afford to do everything at once, begin with a web site and social networking. Maintain your Internet visibility on a regular basis.

Be versatile. Internet marketing is not only highly competitive, it has a constantly changing face. What worked a few years ago may not work today. Share with other small to medium sized businesses your thoughts and ideas and create plans for putting them into action. Keep your ear to the listening ground to learn what prospective customers want, new trends in products or services, and those opportunities waiting around for you to discover them.

To Chapter 12: The Future Of SEO And Web Traffic

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