June 2016 Small Business Marketing Update

In an effort to keep my business contacts up to date on the latest developments in the world of small business marketing, I send out a newsletter every month featuring tips, news stories, and updates about my business.  This is the online version of the newsletter for June of 2016.

Google Announces Promoted Map Pins

In mid-May, Google announced several changes to their Adwords online advertising service designed specifically for mobile devices, among them “promoted pins”.  You can read the announcement by Google here, or read my initial advice for local business owners regarding these changes.

Supercharge Your Referral Marketing Efforts with Cause Marketing

In my guest column this month on the Duct Tape Marketing blog, I provide 15 ideas about how your local business can partner with non-profit organizations for cause marketing campaigns.  In case you haven’t heard the term before, cause marketing is a partnership between a for-profit company and a non-profit organization for their mutual benefit.  If done correctly, it can be a great way to increase customer loyalty and get more referrals for your business.  Read the full article here.

A Nice Tool for User Testing to Find Out How People Interact With Your Website

I tried out a new service this month that allows you to get a screen capture video recording of a live person using your website for five minutes while providing a running audio commentary.  It was very helpful for me to understand some of the strengths and weaknesses in my website design, and I would highly recommend that all small business owners try it out.  There is a free version of the service and also a paid version if you want more in-depth analysis from a user in your target demographic, vs a random user.

Other Headlines

Unique and Effective Local SEO Tips for Local Businesses

5 Questions You Should Ask Every Customer

Google Extends Length of Titles and Descriptions

What’s New With Me This Month

• My book, The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Local Lead Generation, won a Small Business Book Award for 2016!
• I’m moving!  At the end of June, I will be moving from Farmville, VA to Christiansburg, VA.  My wife Jen has accepted a position as the director of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Radford University, which is the reason for the move.
• I published a new website for one of my clients, an outdoor power equipment dealer.  Check it out at IdaSupply.com!