You can now create a Customer database in NowPromote and use it to send bulk emails and Newsletters. This was offered as a extra service but is now included in the standard monthly fee. Login into NowPromote now and start creating customers.

If you are using Gmail based email, your customer database is updated in Gmail. So when someone contacts you through your website they are automatically added to your customer database and into your email contacts list.

Google and other Search engines use very complex calculations to work out when to display your website to someone searching. Google does not tell anyone what rules it uses, but the following are generally accepted to be used by Google and other search engines.

1. Words Words Words - Google pays close attention to the words used in your website. it uses these to determine if your website is relevant to the search term. In particular the name of the page is important.
2. Location - Google presents different search results to depending where you are located in the world. If you search for a 'florist' in one city you will get different search results to another city.
3. Links to your website - Google takes notice of links to your website. These links act like a reputation. Now this does not mean you want any old links, they must be quality. Also, link exchanging does not help as google is looking for links to your website where you do not link back again.

As your business changes it is easy for your website to get out of date.

You should aim to review your website every 3 months to check that the following information on your website is correct:

1. Phone Number
2. Email Address
3. Street Address, and check that the address displays correctly in the map
4. Test the contact us form and ensure you receive an email for the contact
5. List of Products, has your offering changed?
6. Look for any pages without at least a paragraph of descriptive text.
7. Consider what you can add to any of your pages to improve it.
8. Any pages that are now out of date such as old news or products.

An important part of promoting your website is getting it listed on Google Maps. As part of the NowPromote service your website is managed on Google Maps. There are three steps to getting you business to appear near the top of Google Maps:

Initial Registration

To get your website registered on Google Maps a letter will be sent from google to you. This letter contains a 'pin' that is used to verify your address to ensure it is not fraudulantly listed. Please email the 'pin' to nowPromote if you receive it. When you business appears in Google Maps you should be aware that

1. Address - Google Maps allows you to hide your address, and still appear in the maps as a 'general area' business. Your address will only be shown in google maps if it is shown on your website.
2. Phone Number - A phone number must be shown in google maps for your business to be listed. The phone number will be shown even if your website does not show the number. The alternative is to hide your business from google maps.

Getting Reviewed

You need to get reviews, the more positive reviews, the higher you will appear! It is strongly recommended that you actively ask your customers to review your business on Google Maps. You should direct them to search google maps for your business (using the name of your business) and provide a review.

Get Cited or Refrenced

The last thing you can do is get your business name (and address if possible) mentioned on any websites that deal with your locality. For example if your business name appears on  a local directory for your suburb / city then this is very beneficial.  

As part of the standard nowPromote service a small amount of SEO is performed regularly. But if this is not enough because your website is operating in a competitive area, then you need to consider purchasing a Search Engine Optmisation (SEO) package.

The SEO Package involves the creation of links to your website as well as a more detailed review of your current key words used on your website.

Cost $200

Things you should know:

Time to see results

This process has been proven on websites that were not ranking well. It takes approximately 3 - 5 weeks for google to take the SEO work into account. Please do not expect overnight results.

Key words

The SEO is aimed at a set of key words, and although it may also help your website with other key words and general ranking, the most benefit will be seen on these primary key words. You can only select 5 key phrases in each SEO package. It is not recommended that you purchase a SEO package twice for the same keywords.

Not a Guarantee of Top Ranking

Imagine that the top position of Google is like the winners podium for a race. The fastest and best competitor will be placed at number 1. Just because you purchase a SEO Package does not mean that your competitors have not already done similar work, or will not do it next week or next year. The SEO Package will significantly improve your position, but will not overtake a competitor who is already well ahead of you. Often you will need to purchase an SEO Package to 'be in the game' as such.

Not a Guarantee of increased sales

The fact is that even if you get a higher ranking in google that does not automaticaly translate to higher contacts or sales.

Refer a new customer who signs up to NowPromote and you get 1 month free when they sign up. Make sure they tell me you referred them. Or alternately, send me their contact details.