Noozhawk Reviews Search Engine Pros & SBBE

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Craig Allen: Santa Barbara Business Expo a Resource Gold Mine for Business Owners

NOOZHAWK – The Second Annual Santa Barbara Business Expo (SBBE) will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

The 2013 expo brought in more than 175 attendees, the majority of whom were local business owners. The overall impression expressed by attendees was the high level of professionalism, the warmth and attentiveness they received from the exhibitors, and how much they learned from the speakers.

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This year’s expo is expected to draw more than 500 guests, most of whom will be local business owners, business leaders and entrepreneurs seeking to increase their visibility and profitability.

The SBBE is an interactive business convention designed to provide business owners, entrepreneurs, students and consumers the tools and resources to connect, learn and network. The expo has been designed to facilitate this dynamic activity with a careful selection of speakers and exhibitors, as well as the overall expo layout and program. The expo is a Business-to-Business (B2B) event, as well as one that enables the local business community to become aware of the resources that are available.

The SBBE was founded and is directed by Sandy and Gino Goe, local business owners and entrepreneurs who have a vision and mission to bring the business community together by encouraging collaboration, improving profitability and encouraging social responsibility by giving back to the community. The Executive Planning Team consists of local business owners and professionals who share in the vision and desire to serve.

All types of businesses are welcome. Both men and women entrepreneurs and large and small businesses will benefit from the dynamic speakers, the programs and the overall expo floor complete with tables for successful networking with like-minded business owners.

The second annual SBBE will bring together some extraordinary keynote speakers, authors and service providers, all to help business owners improve their online presence, while benefiting Hope Refuge. These keynote speakers will address a wide array of especially challenging topics all business owners face, and will include:

» Sloane Reali (The Power of Voice)

» Gary Kravetz (Executive Search)

» Patty DeDominic (Leadership, Stewardship & Impact)

» Ellen Reid (How to Be an Expert in Independent Publishing)

» Taylor Reaume (How To Rank Your Web Site by Helping Others First)

» Melissa V. Moreno (Start-Up Funding 101)

» Calla Gold (Using Online Networking to Increase Your Off-line Networking Results)

» Nick Cavarra (Effective Social Media: The Five Top Channels)

» Ernie Halter (What Is Crowd Funding and Why Is It Important in Today’s Marketplace?)

» Robin Eschler (Funding Options for Small Business)

» Devon Johnson (Loan Fund Manager — Small Business Loan Fund)

Attendees will find expert solutions for some of the most frustrating aspects of developing an effective online marketing strategy. The expo will, in addition to the featured speakers, provide extensive guidance on key marketing trends; emerging web technologies; best business practices; business services for business owners and entrepreneurs offered by exhibitors; on-site headshots by Linda Blue Photography; professional fashions and accessories; an author’s showcase; growing business relationships in Santa Barbara; local resources for financial, personal and professional needs; and strategies for connecting with prospective clients within the community. Business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs will find actionable intelligence that will directly address some of the most challenging issues we all face when building our online presence.

 learn more about how a web site marketing strategy can help your company grow

“Business owners today are struggling with their web strategy, and attending this event will help them take their businesses to the next level,” according to Taylor Reaume, one of the keynote speakers featured at the expo and founder of Search Engine Pros.

“My speech will stress the importance of adding value to others first, and being a helpful resource to others around you. There are many ways to add value to people around you. For example, business owners can create educational top 10 list articles, sharing remarkable statistics and time-saving resources, and connecting their audience with trusted partners.

“Adding value to people will naturally increase the numbers of hyperlinks, or ‘votes,’ for the business owner’s web site. If the business owner can successfully increase the number of hyperlinks pointing into their website each month, they will see a direct correlation with the increase in their Google rankings.”

Admission fees (general admission and students) are $10 per person, and include access to all exhibits, author showcases and the art show. VIP Seminar tickets are $125 per person, or $195 for two. VIP access includes all areas available to general admission ticket-holders, plus entry into the exclusive stage area, which includes keynote speakers, workshop style presentations, refreshments and a VIP gift bag.

Santa Barbara Events For Business Networking In April

Raffle tickets will be sold to benefit Hope Refuge, whose vision is to provide a refuge for American girls rescued out of the sex traffic industry in California. The Goleta-based organization is raising funds to acquire a facility to set up a home. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Hope Refuge, and additional donations can be made at the expo.

How To Make Your Website Sexier

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Does sex sell? Many marketers think it does. Just ask the editors of Sports Illustrated whether having images of bikini-clad models on their cover helped sell any magazines! Consumers want to be associated with products, services and brands that help them feel good about themselves. Your company may be able to increase its sales by having a website that plays into this need for self-appreciation.  Your web site needs to be sexy to convert visitors. Even the greatest SEO marketing strategy will do no good if it draws traffic to your site only to bore the visitor. 

Sexier Websites

At Search Engine Pros we offer personal and ethical search engine optimization that utilizes the latest, most effective online marketing strategies. We have helped clients in every type of industry improve the appearance and sexiness of their websites without sacrificing SEO strategies or content. Based on our experience as web site conversion optimization specialists, here are some suggestions you can use to make your website sexier:

  1. Smashing Design: Start with a dynamic website design that pops out, invites visitors to stay, and leads the eye on a coherent journey through the information you need to impart.
  2. Looking Good: Closely inspect the graphics you use to draw attention to your website. Photos should have attractive people that will appeal to the visitor’s eye. Graphics should be clean and classy, with a feel of elegance and sophistication.
  3. Beautiful Buttons: Most web designers fail to focus on the little things that can make a web site more attractive. Those “submit, cancel and download” buttons don’t have to be just a dull gray square. Use some color, beveled edges and gradient fill to really make them pop.
  4. Social Sharing: You want visitors to let others know about your site, so it’s important to make it appealing to share on social media. Make sure your social sharing buttons look great, load quickly, offer choices that will help your SEO, and fit with the overall feel of your page.
  5. Relevance: Nothing is sexier than finding out what visitors want and providing it. It’s the online equivalent of “I hear you.” Is your website screaming “It’s all about me, Me, ME!” or is it saying “Here is how I can help you achieve more in your life.” If your content doesn’t live up to the hype, no sexy photos can help make a sale. 

Need our help? Call upon the professional web design conversion experts at Search Engine Pros and we’ll help you design eye-catching banners and embed powerful calls to action which will lower your bounce rates, boosts conversions, increase the time people spend on your site (which will increases rankings and doubles your sales).

 learn more about how a web site marketing strategy can help your company grow

If you’d like to learn more about how a website marketing strategy can help your company grow, visit our booth at the 2014 Santa Barbara Business Expo at The Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Boulevard on Saturday, April 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Search Engine Pros Founder, Taylor Reaume, will be presenting from 9am-9:30am on “How To Rank Your Web Site by Helping Others First”.   Add yourself to the SBBE Event page,  Click LIKE on the fan page: https://www.facebook.com/BusinessExpoSB to stay up to date.   Download the event flyer here

The Hottest SEO Tips for 2014

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If your business isn’t increasing its customer base each month, you might have an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) problem. SEO is how your company gets found on the web. At Search Engine Pros we offer personal and ethical search engine optimization. Over 81% of consumers make purchasing decisions online. What that means to your business is that SEO is no longer optional.

When consumers use keywords to search for products or services similar to yours, your company will benefit by appearing at the top of their results. With that in mind, here are some of the hottest SEO tips for 2014 you can use to help your business grow:

  • Using The Three “Pillars” of SEO: According to Entrepreneur.com, effective SEO has three pillars – links, content and social media. Content attracts the attention of your target demographic, social media gets the word out to a wider audience about what you do, and links from other sites help build the credibility of your business. These elements must be incorporated into an ongoing SEO strategy that is consistently working to keep your website fresh, relevant, and dynamic.
  • Mobile Optimization is Rising: As more and more consumers turn to mobile devices to perform their search functions, businesses will need to have a responsive website as well as a mobile content strategy. 
  • Social Matters: Google is increasing its monitoring of social networks to look for mentions of your brand, product, service, or content. Having Facebook posts and “links” that circle back to your blog will help to capture Google’s attention.
  • It’s All Relevant: Businesses can’t just increase the amount of content and social media they use to promote their brand; it must be relevant to members of their target audience in order to make them take notice, click, share, or visit the website for further information. 
seo tips

Search Engine Pros offer a wide range of quality online marketing solutions, all designed to give your business the very best possible return on investment. We can provide an All-In-One Plan to cover every aspect of your SEO process or help with specific areas with our PPC Pro (pay-per-click), SEO Writer Pro, or Social Media Marketing Pro.

Curious to learn more about your business that can benefit from a cutting-edge web strategy? Search Engine Pros Founder, Taylor Reaume, will be presenting at the 2014 Santa Barbara Business Expo which will be held at The Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Boulevard on Saturday, April 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Social Media Marketing on St. Patrick’s Day

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Although marketing is a year-round endeavor opportunities sometimes come along that you shouldn’t miss. Associating your business with a holiday can increase your chances of search engine optimization. Many consumers are searching for variations of “St. Patrick’s Day” key phrases on Google, and this presents a unique opportunity to catch their eye and lead them to your web site. Social media tie-ins can be used by both B2B and B2C marketers. Here are some tips for marketing your business with social media on St. Patrick’s Day:

  • Expand Your Reach: Don’t stop at posting a nice blog about how your business ties in with the holiday. Post a Facebook update and photo with a link to your article, Tweet about it, send it to your Google+ circle, and find a great picture to link to it on Pinterest. Social media content that includes mention of a holiday helps increase engagement with your target audience, and don’t forget the hashtags!
  • Make It Relevant: Social media is a conversation that should not just be about your business. Make it relevant to your target audience. Offer a useful tip, insider info, or short piece of news that helps your audience use your product or service more effectively and you will increase engagement and improve the potential for sharing.
  • Build on What’s Happening in Your Community: If your target market is in a community that has a big St. Patrick’s Day parade or celebrates the holiday in some other way, try to find a way for your marketing to build on that. For example, a sign company could post about the best signs in the St. Patrick’s Day parade or a florist might write about the perfect flowers for a St. Joseph’s Day table.
  • Content Marketing Works: A constant stream of relevant information is required from your business to stay top of mind, generate top search engine results and drive website traffic. Be straightforward, encourage sharing, and tell audience members what action you want them to take.
  • Social Media Works for B2B and B2C: Don’t think that your business can’t use social media because of who your customers are. Although it might seem more obvious for B2C to work ideas around a holiday, that doesn’t leave out the B2B marketers entirely. Think about what the holiday represents and how it ties in with what your customers need. Sending holiday greetings with valuable information is both powerful and effective.  Most businesses are leaving out the “valuable” part – make sure you are adding value with your content.
Social Media Marketing

In order to rank well on the internet’s largest search engines, your social media sites must contain informative, original content that contains the relevant keywords from which you’d like to capture traffic. Part of the success of your business depends on your ability to generate top ranks on Google and other major search engines.

Successful businesses today are creating remarkable content for their blog, and re-purposing the content to their social media channels.  By consistently adding value to your target audience, you’ll stay top of mind, and increase loyalty levels.

Search Engine Pros can help your company utilize social media more efficiently to achieve its internet traffic and revenue goals. Marketing your business effectively with social media will increase the number of coins in your pot o’ gold!

Holiday Marketing Online

Search Engine Pros to Exhibit / Speak at Women’s Festivals

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Santa Barbara, CA – March 6th, 2014: Search Engine Pros, Santa Barbara web marketing firm, will be an exhibitor this year at Women’s Festivals 2014. Taylor Reaume, founder of the online marketing agency, will join an all-star roster of speakers at the Festival which will be held on March 7th and 8th at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara, CA. Each year the Festival celebrates women in leadership by bringing together amazing resources, inspiring speakers and wonderful entertainment.

In adhering to this year’s theme of “Tech, Talk & Trade,” Reaume will discuss common pitfalls of web site marketing strategy, SEO marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing to help attendees develop a winning corporate internet marketing strategy.  He will discuss average budgets and online marketing costs associated with growing a business on the web using Google Adwords marketing and SEO campaigns. Reaume will also present web marketing pricing models and answer questions about how to get the best price on web marketing services. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the importance of search engine optimization and Google search marketing when growing a business online.

“I’m happy to be associated with one of the premier events in Santa Barbara for empowering women,” commented Google marketing consultant Taylor Reaume. “Today’s women in leadership roles need a solid understanding of how to use the power of search marketing to enhance the visibility and viability of their Santa Barbara companies. I’m hoping to provide advice on the best WordPress strategies, email marketing tactics, and online marketing plans that attendees can implement themselves to give their business a boost. Attendees who visit our booth will receive a 30 page web site health diagnosis and Google rank report.”

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process used to affect the visibility of clients’ websites in search engine search results. The goal is to utilize tactics which result in higher or more frequent appearances of client information in the search results list. As a web marketing strategy SEO programs consider how search engines work, what the target demographic searches for, and the keywords used in the search process. SEO strategies may include social media marketing, a high quality SEO press release strategy, or Google AdWords marketing programs.

“Bring a resume by our booth if you’re a college student, or a freelancer writer / web designer. We’re looking for self starters to join our team of web marketing professionals,” said Reaume.

The Women’s Festivals celebrates the accomplishments and nurtures the dreams of women in an interactive, multi-cultural, and multi-tracked program and expo focusing on the critical areas of women’s lives: Personal, Professional, Philanthropic, and Planet. Their goal is to help facilitate premier gatherings for women’s self-empowerment worldwide. Interested parties can purchase tickets or connect online to get up-to-the-minute updates.

About Women’s Festivals: The Women’s Festivals is a sponsored project of the NAWBO-California Education Fund. Women and men from throughout the world will attend the Santa Barbara event on March 7, 8, and 9 at Earl Warren Showgrounds. The festival will include a professional business expo, awards program, and educational and enlightening discussions led by renowned speakers and authors. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 805-565-9967 for more information on attending or exhibiting at the Festival.