Small Business Center

New OrangeSoda Partner - DoodleKit

April 16th, 2008 by Admin

OrangeSoda has a new partner. DoodleKit, is a free website builder that offers small businesses quality web sites that don’t require high tech skills like programming. The free sites are great for hobbies or people who just need a web site. If you want to be found in search engines, their business packages are optimized for online marketing.

Once a web site is built, the next question a business owner usually asks is how to market their web site so they’re found in search engines. I spoke with Heath Huffman, DoodleKit’s Co-founder, about search engine optimization. This is the number one request from their customers - where can they get help with SEO.

Here are some SEO features that...

When Customers Call You

April 9th, 2008 by Admin

After Chris Finken’s post last week about call tracking, I wanted to follow up with a post by Seth Godin about not only tracking but call quality. Godin is one of my favorite marketers - entertaining as well as enlightening. He just posted on how important a phone call is to your business.
More than a call, it’s a chance to build your brand, and learn from a customer. “The most valuable marketing event is almost always an inbound phone call…The customer or prospect is taking the time to call you. She’s focused, interested, paying attention and willing to trust you.”
Normally a phone call and especially an email takes low priority, but as Godin points out, it’s an opportunity. He asks:

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Getting your Business into Google News

April 3rd, 2008 by Admin

Have you ever wondered how to get your local business news listed in Google News? I certainly have. Google News is the second most popular news site - Yahoo News is number one (by a long shot). I use one or both practically every day.
The difference between the two sites is that Google uses an algorithm to display results. Yahoo has real people look over your release. Both hold your news for 28 days. That’s why I prefer using a press release distribution service like PRWeb - it’s a permanent link in addition to the news link. Still there is value to both.

Google News blog just posted some tips for getting into or banned from Google News:
Here’s what they say about the timing of your...

Call Tracking Meets Local Internet Marketing

April 2nd, 2008 by Admin

OrangeSoda local internet marketing offers call tracking services for local businesses so you always know who is calling. We provide detailed reporting so you can see who’s calling, here are some stats we track:

• who called and when they called (including if it’s a person or a business)
• the phone number called
• number of rings before call was answered
• Call duration

Internet Marketing and Call Tracking ROI

Businesses are interested in Internet marketing for many reasons - metrics, measurement, tracking, ROI…the list goes on and on. The real reason search engine marketing works is more than just Return on Investment (ROI). It’s the fact that you can track exactly what brings the best...