That might seem like a silly question to some of you, but at Richmond Web Marketing, we’ve discovered that a whole lot of people have absolutely NO idea how well it’s working. That’s because they don’t track which advertising brings in which business — if any.

So what can you do about that? Start tracking.

Don’t just advertise because that’s what you’re supposed to do. Advertise with a goal in mind. And make that goal measurable.

There are a number of ways you can do that. You can ask anyone who shows up how they found you. That’s actually not a bad way to do it. You can also include coupons or coupon codes in your assorted advertising material and use that to track what seems to bring in customers.

And, of course, you then have to tally up the results vs. what it cost you to make them happen. You may find the results too depressing. Or maybe not. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have found advertising methods that really work for your customer base. Good for you.

If the results do leave you depressed, though, consider making some changes. Chances are that you’re leaving lots of money on the table — even IF your advertising is working. At Richmond Web Marketing, we see that all the time.

Find out more about what online advertising can do for you — for a fraction of what offline advertising probably costs you right now, and with much more dramatic (and trackable!) results.

If you’d like to know more, I’d be happy to go over what you’re currently doing and give you some ideas of what you can do to get a whole lot more ROI or mileage out of your advertising dollars.

Just sign up on the form at the top right (which will give you a FREE report, and some free marketing tips) and send an email to the return address.

Or call me at 804-285-2535 at Richmond Web Marketing and leave your phone number (slowly AND clearly, preferably twice) and some good times when I can reach you, and I’ll call you back.

Let’s check out this example: Richmond Web Marketing. If you type it into Google, my website, http://www.RichmondWebMarketing.com will pop up right away. Here’s a screen shot I took a few days ago:

Up top is a rotating group of local listings. And then, there’s my website, at the top spot of Google’s page one.

That’s what you want to happen with YOUR website as well. Or at least something close to that.

How can you do that? A number of things have to happen for you to score at the top of Google:

1) Your site has to be optimized for the right keyword

2) Your keywords have to be chosen correctly

3) You need backlinks from “authority” sites

4) You need “fresh” content regularly

Is it rocket science? Not really. But it does take some know-how and some work to get to page one of Google.

Want help? Just type your name and email address into the form at the top right of the page, right underneath my smiling mug shot, and hit return to any email you get. Or call me at 804-285-2535 (and leave a message with good times to call back when you get the machine).

What happens when people type in “Richmond” and YOUR business?

How do people — your potential customers — find you?  Or do they?

Will they find you if they type in “Richmond Chiropractor” or “richmond Handyman” or “Richmond Podiatrist” or “Richmond Social Security Lawyer” or whatever the case may be?

Try it out.

And if you’re not happy with the results, give me a call: 804-285-2535.

Or sign up and get my new report on 2009-style effective internet marketing.  And then send me an email to set up a FREE consultation.

Chances, you’re leaving lots of money on the table because people just don’t find your website as easily as you wish they did.  You’re not getting all the customers you could be getting.

And that’s just the start of course.  To make the most of your precious online real estate, there are a few other things you need to do.  You want people to come back, and you want to create a connection with them right then and there, so they will call you or stop by.

How much is a new customer worth to you over the next year or five?

And how much are you losing by not getting as many as you could?

Call me at Richmond Web Marketing and let me help you get more customers:  804-285-2535

How do we do it?  I’m not about to give away all my proprietary secrets, but here’s the key:  All you have to do is think about what Google’s raison d’etre is!  (or the reason for its existence, if you prefer English).

Google is the number one search engine for one reason only: it delivers the goods.  I remember when I first learned about Google when it first appeared. It was the secret tip — a search engine that allowed you to actually find what you were looking for.

Clearly, word got around, and now there’s hardly anything BUT Google.  I mean, if you’re trying to find anything, where are you going to look?

So since the reason for Google’s success is that it delivers what the searchers are looking for, it needs to keep doing just that.  And it does.  How?  By constantly monitoring how good a job it does.

And if you help it do a good job, it rewards you — with high placement for the keywords that people are using to find you.

Sooooo. All you really have to do is deliver the goods.  Provide valuable information on the subject you promised information on.  Make people stick around a few minutes.  Make them click on a couple of links.

And Google will be assured that it did a good job and will bump you even higher next time, if there’s a higher place to go to. If you’re already at the top, it will just keep you there for a while.

Then, all you have to do is keep delivering the goods, and do so more and more effectively, and you’ll be able to keep your spot.

Does that sound too obvious?  Well, sometimes the obvious stuff is the stuff that’s most easily overlooked. The internet is primarily about information (for most of us anyway). So if your information delivers, you’re golden.

And Richmond Web Marketing wants to help YOU be golden.  We can help you make Google fall in love with you too.

How?  Call us to find out: 804-285-2535 or send an email to drkwebmarketing AT gmail DOT com.

I do have another site where I’ve written a bunch of articles about this subject, and you’re welcome to take a look around.  It’s called Linguistic Leverage Web Marketing and offers up some more information about how to use the internet to promote your business more effectively.

And the linguistic leverage bit? Well, I’m a linguist (with PhD. and years of being a professor), and so I’m big on using language in a very strategic way, especially when it comes to copywriting, whether this is for sales letters, website copy, or email copy. It’s all about making your website work for you though.

And if you want yours to earn its keep at long last, just send an email to drkwebmarketing AT gmail DOT com or call me at 804-285-2535.

Wishing you MUCH success!

Elisabeth (Dr. K)