I am presenting a seminar on March 22nd entitled “What Every Business Owner Need to Know about Search Engine Rankings: Even if they don’t have a website.”  It is a FREE seminar that is going to include information for business owners on how, when, why, etc. people are using search engines to find their businesses and what they can do to reach these people.  I am going to be giving everyone a free list of DIY resources that should help people find them.  You can learn more about the seminar on our Search Seminar page.

Seth Godin just posted a entry on his blog, If No One Reads Your Blog Does it Exist? I think most blogs can be promoted so people read them, but he points out that there are benefits to blogging even if no one reads it. Read his post to learn more.

We recently updated two pages of our website that I think are worth noting…First our portfolio page. Most of the clients featured on this page are our clients from Michigan (our state needs any economic help it can get), but I hope it gives you a good idea of our capabilities. The second page has to do with how creating an Internet strategy (not just designing a website) can help your business grow.

I have bought various e-books from different people in the marketing/SEO/small business industries because even if most of what is in the book, I already know, I always learn at least something new or read something that sparks a new idea in my head. The most recent ebook that I bought, I printed out at the UPS Store.

Usually I just read the books on my computer, but I am very glad that I printed this book out and I think I will continue to do this because I think my brain just works better when I am looking at a normal piece of paper. I can’t wait until they invent digital paper.

Here is an update to a post I wrote last November when I wrote a post on the Lucky 7, the 7 cities in Oakland County that were going to get free wireless internet. Well, it is STARTING to happen — a little late — but at least they are getting started. Troy seems to be Lucky Number 1 because it is up and running in at least part of the city. There are mixed reports on speed, but I think it is at least a start.

I have another blog http://michiganmother.blogspot.com/ about being a mom. I haven’t posted here in awhile because I have been posting there. Some weeks I think of things I need to write about on this blog and other weeks I think of things for the Mother Blog.

I switched from the “old AT&T” to the “new AT&T” yesterday and because of this switch I had no internet access for about 24 hours. Here is how my life changed…

* I got a lot done when I was working on creating the content for our new website. I had no distractions. Usually if I have brain freeze I think to myself “Google something for a break and then you can focus again.” Well I can definitely assure you that I had much more concentration to finish the task at hand.

* I had to look words up in a paper thesaurus. Hmmm…another word for analysis….www.thesaurus.com….Ohh wait, no internet….I better get up out of my seat and actually get that paper book off the shelf.

* I was alone in our office. My business partner and husband couldn’t function without the internet so he had to go to Panera Bread where there is free wi-fi (I have a desktop).
* Lost touch with friends, no pictures of my friend’s baby, no advice from my friend about my dog. Ahh…

* I wanted to call CompUSA to see if they sell Macs. I open IE to type in www.Compusa.com and then I realize…no internet connection. I better go to the yellow pages to look up the number….never mind….I don’t even know where the yellow pages is in my office anymore.

Ok, this post isn’t exactly about small business marketing, but as I was driving down I-696 today I noticed that there was hardly a bit of garbage to be found down the entire stretch between I-275 and Telegraph. While I was on I-275 I saw groups of people cleaning up the garbage on the side of that road. Looks like even our suburban streets & highways are getting a good cleaning for the Superbowl.

Ok, it is Christmas time, and as you can see from my recent blog postings (ohh wait, there are not any recent postings) I am very busy. Will update soon!

Merry Christmas,
Julie

Here are some interesting statistics I came across in the last few days:

From Burst! media survey posted in www.emarketer.com

• 3 out of 5 internet users say that the internet is their main source of information when researching products.
• As an internet user’s income increased so did the probability that they shopped online.
• 4 out of 5 internet users say they plan to use the internet to research the gifts they will buy this Christmas.

From Yahoo!

• 43% of Internet users already search to find local products and services.