There are hundreds of online directories available on the Internet. These directories are designed to help online users locate the websites and information they are looking for. They are also a great way to help businesses increase their Internet traffic and improve customer recognition. 

There are many reasons why a small business should register with the top directories on the web. Directories serve many purposes, such as:

• Categorizing websites so that they are easily found using search engines.
• Linking websites to one another for easier access.
• Increasing traffic to individual websites.
• Providing an easy way for consumers to find out about specific companies.
• Boosting Search Engine Optimization (SEO) keywords and tactics for businesses so that they receive higher SERPs (search engine result pages) rankings.  
• Helping business websites stand out to potential consumers. 

Getting your small business registered on the top online directories can result in these benefits:

• Increased website traffic
• Increased sales/revenue
• Increased SERP rankings
• Greater brand recognition 
• More interactions with customers
• The ability to share deals, promotions, press releases and other special events with customers.
• A better and more comprehensive online appearance 

Until next time…

Have a great day,
Susanne

​Check out my upcoming workshops here!

There are several ways you can attract new clients to your business and one of the most effective is through networking. Networking can happen both on and offline. There are networks that exist only online, networks that exist only offline and many that have a strong presence in both places.

You can involve yourself in a network of your peers, a network of partners or a niche network of your customers. 

Peer and Partner Groups
There are peers with whom you are in direct competition and partners who offer complementary services to yours. Both can help you get clients but the complementary group will be more beneficial to you because they are not direct competition. Consider that when you get involved in any particular group. 

Business focused groups, mastermind groups, industry focused groups and so forth all exist to help you educate yourself further and provide connections. You can get clients through word of mouth when a peer or partner group member feels you would be right for a position because they have come to know you. Peer and partner groups also offer opportunities for joint venture (JV) partnerships which can widen and expand your audience. 

Niche Groups
Audience or niche groups are the best place for you to spend your time because you can find groups full of your ideal clients. You can locate these groups by looking at local meet-ups in the area, searching for groups on LinkedIn or Facebook, and searching for and joining message boards devoted to a particular niche.

The key making niche groups work is to join the group, freely answer questions for them and let them come to see you as part of the group. Let your signature line speak for itself, and do not try to sell your services unless expected. They will come to you when they see that you offer what they want via your normal sharing mechanisms. 

Be a free and open source of information regarding your niche. This is how people will get to know you and trust you and start seeing you as someone to refer to others or hire. There can be problems with choosing to spend more time in networks of your peers than in networks consisting of your niche audience. Doing so can result in a problem finding your ideal clients and being stuck in a bubble of competitors. 

You want to focus on spending more time in networks that are made up of your ideal audience than with your peers but you want to also participate in peer networks so that you can become known as a community expert.

Finally, when you join either type of group you want to realize that when you first join, you are the new person and you are unknown. No one is going to trust you immediately - whether they are meeting you in person or online. Take the time to get to know others before offering your services unless requested, and get to know the culture of the group. Let your business card or your signature line do the selling for you. Make participation your goal and more clients will be the result.

Until next time...

Have a great day,
Susanne

Check out my upcoming workshops here!