Drumming Up SEO Business Where There Is None
I often see search engine optimization opportunities in other towns, but never mine. So what’s a girl to do? Relocate to follow my dreams? Or give up? Well, relocating is not going to happen, nor is me giving up… Actual solution: Suck it up and somehow find some way to gain a monopoly on the search engine optimization game in London Ontario.
The first thing I notice about this sometimes low-tech and always very conservative city that I live in: SEO is not included in the regional vernacular. It was bad enough telling people I studied anthropology (what’s that?) and now when I try to explain this SEO thing, people are still puzzled (what’s that?). First roadblock: Nobody know was search engine optimization can do, or what online marketing has to offer.
I am not a pillar of the business community and I don’t have that many networking opportunities available to me, I don’t have a great online marketing mentor like (I wish!) and so there is no on to steer me in the right direction. Second roadblock: I am new to the world of business and no one knows me.
Two fairly major roadblocks to me achieving that which I aspire to. But for me, it’s nothing. My solution: Use my big mouth. I talk about search engine optimization with everyone who is willing to listen, which means I may not be fun at a party but damn will you learn something. But seriously, while I may not gab at a party about this, I generally try to mention it to most people I speak to. I give them a glimpse of how it works, and of the potential of engaging search and the internet as part of one’s marketing efforts. Does this work? Heck ya! Not only am I building a buzz about what I can do, but I am also helping people understand (locally) what SEO and internet marketing can mean for their business. Many webmasters are still waiting for traffic to arrive, not knowing that it may not happen without help. When they hear about this SEO thing from one of my now informed unknowing minions, they might think… hmm this may be my solution.
It’s a good start, and it has given me a few lucky opportunities. And as I get more, I can begin to up the ante… maybe even use internet marketing to promote my internet marketing skills. Novel idea, I know.
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Posted: October 2nd, 2007.
Comments: 6
Comments
Comment from
Time: October 2, 2007, 8:43 pm
I think you’re doing well, don’t give up :) I think you’ll have a great opportunity to demonstrate your SEO skills in your town soon. Don’t worry if you found someone that does not know a thing about SEO, I know a entire country where NO ONE knows in deep what is SEO?. I think SEO subject it’s still something new for some people. Try to promote yourself “offline” as you said in one of your previous posts. I.E: a nice flier with a short easy and nice explanation about the things you can do with SEO ;)
Comment from
Time: October 3, 2007, 12:15 am
Keep your chin up Danielle!
I really enjoy the content you provide here as well as your other blog and I have subscribed to both for a while in my Google Reader.
I understand where you’re coming from when you’re trying to explain SEO to other people. I try to explain Internet marketing and PPC to friends and coworkers and what I would usually get is that glazed look in their faces. This is in NYC too!
I’m currently taking a class in search engine marketing taught by an instructor who runs his own SEM/SEO firm. He has suggested to become a member of SEMPO. If you haven’t done so already, maybe that might be worth looking into for networking opportunities and getting more exposure. I haven’t joined yet, but I plan to once I become a qualified individual in the Google Advertising Professionals Program when my class is over.
Comment from
Time: October 3, 2007, 9:13 am
Hey Danielle, there are many more talented SEOs you could learn from besides me. :)
Even if you had a mentor, many of the best SEOs didn’t. What made them really good was their ability to test, refine, test, refine, etc in addition to following forums, conferences, private networks of like-minded individuals and blogs on topics of interest.
It does take a lot of time, but client results are the best marketing and self promotion tool you could hope to achieve.
Comment from Danielle
Time: October 3, 2007, 5:48 pm
@ Hernan - If only everybody had as much faith in me as you do!
@ Ron - What I really need to learn more about is SEO for dynamic pages (asp.net)… I am thinking of getting the Google accreditation, if only out of interest.
@ Lee - Well, I have heard you speak about SEO and I have read what you have to say, you appear to really know what you are talking about. I used you as an example because I saw a picture of you and some of your staff at a conference and you were all smiling and I thought: Gee it would be fun to have people around me who knew about this stuff and who wanted to talk about it (in “real life”). :)
Comment from
Time: October 5, 2007, 11:40 pm
“I talk about search engine optimization with everyone who is willing to listen…”
That’s a very effective approach Danielle. In marketing it’s called the three-foot rule…Anyone standing within three feet of you is a potential customer/prospect, until proven otherwise.
It works, so keep at it! And remember, a successful business owner NEVER stops talking about his/her business. :)
Shine on,
Aaron
Comment from Danielle
Time: October 6, 2007, 3:00 am
@ Aaron - Yeah, and people find me just fascinating most of the time (sarcastic). Some people are genuinely interested but most people just wish I would be quiet already. ;)
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