Why the Google Screened Badge is a Must-Have for Any Business 11 Apr 2024 9:13 AM (last year)

The internet is the first stop for most consumers these days. Whether they’re looking for a plumber, a bakery, or a yoga studio, potential customers are searching online to find the best businesses around. In this digital landscape, a strong online presence is essential for attracting new clients and establishing yourself as a trustworthy brand. Here’s why earning a Google Screened Badge can be a game-changer for any business:

Boost Your Credibility and Trust:

The Google Screened Badge signifies that Google has verified your business information and, in some cases, conducted background checks. This badge acts as a digital stamp of approval, letting potential customers know they’re dealing with a legitimate and reputable business. With trust being a critical factor in any customer decision, this verification can be the deciding factor when someone chooses you over an unverified competitor.

Stand Out from the Crowd:

The business world is full of competition. The Google Screened Badge allows you to differentiate yourself from unverified businesses. This badge not only signifies professionalism but also demonstrates your commitment to transparency and meeting Google’s high standards.

Get Seen by More Potential Customers:

Earning the Google Screened Badge can significantly boost your local search ranking. When potential customers search for businesses like yours in their area, Google prioritizes Screened businesses, pushing your profile to the top of the search results. This increased visibility translates to more qualified leads and potential customers discovering your services.

Simplify Lead Generation:

Google Screened profiles allow you to display essential information like your phone number, website, and reviews directly in search results. This makes it easier for potential customers to contact you directly, streamlining the lead generation process. Imagine the convenience for someone searching for a last-minute repair service and seeing your verified profile with clear contact information!

Build Stronger Customer Relationships:

The Google Screened Badge establishes a sense of trust and reliability from the very beginning of the customer relationship. This fosters a more open and positive interaction, allowing you to focus on building strong connections with potential clients.

Earning the Google Screened Badge is Easy and Free:

The application process is straightforward and doesn’t require any financial commitment. Businesses simply need to meet Google’s verification criteria, which may include background checks, license verification (where required), and business registration confirmation.

Conclusion:

In today’s competitive online landscape, the Google Screened Badge is an invaluable tool for any business seeking to attract new clients and build a strong online presence. The increased trust, visibility, and streamlined lead generation it offers make the badge a must-have for any business owner serious about success in the digital age. Don’t wait! Take the step towards a stronger online presence and secure your Google Screened Badge today! Contact us to learn more.

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The Power of Autocomplete Optimization: Driving Business Success 11 Apr 2024 6:04 AM (last year)

In the digital age, businesses strive to provide seamless user experiences that captivate and retain customers. One powerful tool that can significantly enhance website usability and drive business success is Autocomplete Optimization (otherwise know as Search Box Optimization or SBO). In this article, we will explore the importance of Autocomplete Optimization for businesses and how it can revolutionize the way users interact with websites.

1. Enhanced User Experience: Autocomplete Optimization focuses on improving the search functionality on a website by providing users with instant suggestions as they type their search queries. This feature saves users time, effort, and frustration by predicting their intentions and offering relevant suggestions. By streamlining the search process, businesses can create a more efficient and user-friendly experience, increasing customer satisfaction and engagement.

2. Increased Efficiency: Autocomplete Optimization ensures that users can quickly find what they are looking for, even if they are unsure of the exact search terms. By offering real-time suggestions, businesses can guide users to the most relevant content, products, or services, reducing the likelihood of users abandoning their search or becoming overwhelmed by irrelevant results. This increased efficiency translates into higher conversion rates and improved overall website performance.

3. Improved Conversion Rates: The power of Autocomplete Optimization lies in its ability to guide users towards desired outcomes. By analyzing user search behavior and preferences, businesses can tailor their autocomplete suggestions to promote specific products, services, or offers. This targeted approach not only increases the visibility of relevant offerings but also entices users to explore further, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates and increased sales.

4. Data-Driven Insights: Autocomplete Optimization provides businesses with valuable insights into user behavior, preferences, and trends. By analyzing the autocomplete suggestions and search data, businesses can gain a deeper understanding of their customers’ needs and interests. This data-driven approach enables businesses to refine their marketing strategies, optimize their product offerings, and stay ahead of the competition. Understanding user intent and trends allows businesses to make informed decisions that drive growth and provide a competitive advantage.

5. Personalization and Customer Engagement: Autocomplete Optimization allows businesses to create a personalized experience for their users. By incorporating user history, preferences, and location-based data, businesses can offer tailored autocomplete suggestions that resonate with individual users. This personalization not only enhances user engagement but also fosters a sense of connection and loyalty to the brand. By anticipating and meeting users’ needs, businesses can build strong customer relationships and foster repeat business.

6. Brand Perception and Trust: A well-optimized autocomplete feature reflects a business’s attention to detail and commitment to providing a seamless user experience. When users encounter an efficient and accurate autocomplete function, it instills confidence in the brand and its offerings. This positive brand perception translates into trust, credibility, and loyalty, which are vital for long-term business success.

Autocomplete Optimization is a vital component of any successful business’s online strategy. By enhancing user experience, increasing efficiency, improving conversion rates, and providing valuable insights, businesses can unlock the full potential of their online presence. Autocomplete Optimization allows businesses to understand and anticipate user needs, deliver personalized experiences, and build strong customer relationships. Embracing Autocomplete Optimization is not only a strategic move but also an investment in driving business growth and achieving sustainable success in the digital age.

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10 Things You Shouldn’t Tolerate In Your Business 29 Mar 2024 6:45 AM (last year)

I talk to business owners all day long about the challenges they are experiencing in their business. If any of the following sounds familiar, the solution might be easier than you think…

• I have more (too much) on my plate. I need someone I can delegate to. Someone who doesn’t come back to me with more questions than solutions. 

• I am doing all the overseeing and following up with the team, and things are slipping through the cracks. My team is always waiting for me.

• We know we need to grow our team, but I have NO TIME to hire or train.

• We are not implementing metrics or tracking our marketing initiatives so that I can make better marketing decisions.

• There is no one else in the business who can think big picture and help me plan ahead.

• There is no one on my team who can translate my vision, mission, and goals into priorities and actions. That is our big gap.

• I need someone to help me ensure that everyone in the organization remains in their zone of genius, including me! I NEED to focus on sales & delivery.

• I need someone to establish policies and procedures, and then make sure they get followed.
  

• I need a brainstorming partner, and someone else on my team who can see (and fix) our blindspots.

• I know I am not good at operations. I have good team members but they are asking me about things that I know are not my strengths.

Once your business revenue is beyond 6-figures, it’s really tough to continue to operate as the lone leader on the team. At some point in the growth of every business a high-level manager (not you!) needs to become part of the equation. 

All of these pain points are easily alleviated with a Certified Online Business Manager by your side. A Certified OBM is highly trained and exceptionally skilled at all of the above. They become your Running Mate, your Problem Solver, your Partner in Progress.

Interested in hearing more? I’d love to share more about this solution.

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What does a Certified OBM actually do? 22 Mar 2024 6:33 AM (last year)

“I know I need help Doreen but what exactly do you do?” <– I’ve been asked this question a few times recently. 

Here’s a list of things I do as a Certified OBM: 

• Keep you on track and working in your zone of genius (vs getting caught up in all the day-to-day details.)
• Turn your priorities and goals into tasks for the team.
• Work with the team to ensure things are getting done on time and correctly.
• Be a sounding board for your ideas. 
• Organize and streamline the operations of your business.
• Create detailed plans for all business objectives. 
• Get you out of managing and into leading.
• Hiring folks as needed (be it contractors or employees.)
• Managing projects and launches. 
• Review metrics to see where we are on track with our goals.
• Establishing an SOP of documented processes for all essential activities in the business.
• Running weekly team meetings to check in with folks and support the team. 
• Care about your business as much as you do.

That last point might sound like a funny one – but it’s something that my clients really appreciate when we work together. I know that business can be a lonely venture and when you bring me on board as your OBM I’m with you on the ride. For the ups and downs. I’ve got your back. 

Put simply, as a Certified OBM I’m here to make sure your business runs smoothly on the backend so you can do your best work and grow your business. 

Interested in working together? Pop me a message and let’s talk. 

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Delegating your Decision Making 15 Mar 2024 6:13 AM (last year)

When we think of delegation we often think of getting the ‘doing’ off our plates. And yes, this is the first and most important thing to delegate.

But it’s not the only thing you can delegate (it shouldn’t be the only thing!)

When navigating the 6 to 7-figure journey, one of the things that can become a burden is the amount of decision making on your plate.

• Decisions around vision, goals and strategies. Where are we headed and how are we going to get there?
• Decisions around ops and projects. Who is going to do what? What do they need? What tools do we need to be using? How do I know which is the best one to pick?
• Decisions around team. Is everyone on the team in the right seat on the bus, doing what they do best? When do we need to hire someone else? Who to hire? Where to find them? What do I do if someone is under performing?
• Decisions around money. Do we invest more in X or wait? Are we getting a good ROI on Y? Do we need to cut expenses?

I could go on… but I won’t (making myself tired just thinking about it!)

As your business grows there are more and more decisions to be made daily. And if ALL those decisions land on you then chances are you will experience decision fatigue.

We only have so much ‘energy in the tank’ to make decisions each day. And when the tank runs dry we either a) make poor decisions or b) stop making decisions period. That is decision fatigue.

It’s the reason why at the end of the day we can’t decide what we want for dinner – and end up having *that* conversation with our partner (“What do you want to eat?… I dunno – what do you want?… I don’t know either – you decide…. Ummmm”) Perhaps you can relate?

It’s why Steve Jobs wore the same black turtle neck and jeans every day – because he didn’t want to waste a decision on what to wear.

It’s the reason why we find ourselves mindlessly shopping online in the evenings to give our brains a break and then wondering the next day why we bought yet another thing off Kickstarter that we don’t need. (Or is that just me?)

The truth is – YOU don’t have to be the only one making decisions in your business.

And if you are the only one making decisions in your business, it will start causing problems – especially as you navigate the 6 to 7-figure journey. You will become the decision bottleneck.

Yes, you want to keep the bigger picture decisions on your plate – Your vision for what are we creating and why? Business models and new revenue streams. How do we want to grow this thing?

But you should (yes – I said should) get yourself out of the day-to-day decision making of how things are being run. Decisions around ops, team, projects and such that pop up constantly and suck your energy dry… all of those are things that I can help you with as a Certified OBM. It’s what I’m trained to do. 

Your business needs you in your zone of genius. It needs you to spend your brain power on the future of your biz and serving clients. Not caught up in the day-to-day. Not so wiped out from all the little things that you can’t even think about the big things. Contact me to explore what it could look like to get these off your plate. 

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4 Distinct Ways to Get Content to Your Audience 25 May 2022 9:00 AM (3 years ago)

Is your content finding its way to your whole audience? Even though you have a thorough content marketing plan, you may actually be missing some people, simply because of the format you’re presenting.

Scientists and psychologists have studied the ways people learn for dozens of years and they have documented four different types of learning: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Each brain works differently and some people will identify strongly with one learning type while others will say they’re a mix. If you incorporate your message into content formats with these learning styles in mind, you will reach more people and grow your business.

Does This Mean Four Times the Work?

Creating content for four different learning styles sure sounds like a daunting task but let’s break it down because it’s really a perfect example of re-purposing your content. 

Traditional internet content started with written content, so let’s say you write a blog post first; that will appeal to those reading/writing learners. 

Now take the most important points of that blog post and have your graphic designer create an info-graphic; that will appeal to the visual learners in your audience. 

Take that blog post and use it as a script and embed that audio track onto your blog page; now auditory learners don’t have to struggle through the written post, they can listen to it instead.

Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing, so if your blog post can be broken down into numbered steps, that will appeal to them. Your message will mean more when they take the time to follow your instructions and experience the outcome first hand. These numbered steps can be included in your blog post or it can be a separate handout or opt-in freebie.

Expand Your Reach with Different Content Formats

Instead of hiding behind your keyboard writing, search out some podcasts that compliment your business and your message. Approach the hosts and offer to be a guest; then you can promote that interview and your auditory learners will happily listen.

Creating an info-graphic in addition to your written content gives you multiple ways to promote on social media. Create a different graphic for each different platform to expand your reach even further.

Video is gaining popularity everyday so take advantage and start filming! If you don’t want to be on camera, consider doing an animated video with your voice over. But get over your fear of being seen because that’s a quicker way of connecting with your whole audience, not just your visual learners.

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Ask Yourself These 3 Questions Before Hiring an Assistant 18 May 2022 9:00 AM (3 years ago)

Hiring an assistant can be a great way to expand your business and your services. While she’s taking care of the administrative portion of your business, you can focus on your clients and the money-making tasks. However, don’t jump into the interview process without first asking yourself these five questions: 

1. What kind of person do I want to hire?

Do you want someone who is just starting out so you can train them in the way you like things done or do you want someone with experience who can just run with a job until it’s complete? Do you want someone in the same time zone? Do you want someone who will work only for you or are you willing to hire someone who handles work for their own clientele?

2. Can you afford an assistant?

If you’re overburdened with your own work and business isn’t moving forward, hiring an assistant is a smart move. Look at your books and realistically determine a budget for this assistant and stick to it. Keep in mind, the more experienced and capable the assistant, the larger the hourly wage.

3. What tasks will the assistant take over?

Know ahead of time what tasks you need to delegate so you can determine in the interview if this is the right assistant for the job. Walking into an agreement with a “I’ll get you a list of tasks in a few days” attitude is bound to fail. Just as you want to find the perfect help, the interviewee wants to know you – their client – is serious about their business and will forward tasks on a consistent basis.

Tips for the Interview Process

When you interview candidates, listen for their level of professionalism and if they care for their clients’ businesses as much as their own. There’s quite a difference between an assistant who is watching the clock, waiting to go home, and one who stays until the work is complete. Even in a virtual setting, you’ll want a professional who will always complete a project within the deadline rather than one who gives you one excuse after another as to why it’s not done yet.

And definitely go through a regular interview process, even if you’re hiring a virtual assistant. Don’t hire the first person who shows an interest. Advertise the opportunity, look through the resumes, and interview those who meet your initial criteria. Virtual assistants are certainly used to being interviewed and definitely make use of today’s technology of video chatting.

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If Your WHY Doesn’t Make You Cry, It’s Not Big Enough 11 May 2022 9:00 AM (3 years ago)

I’m really not sure who coined this phrase but I’ve heard it multiple times over the years, across multiple different industries, and it holds significant truth. WHY did you start your business? WHY do you want to be a coach? WHY do you get up every single day and work?

Everyone should have a WHY and there are no right or wrong answers here. But if you find yourself unmotivated to work or if you want to procrastinate on projects, then it’s time to re-examine the main reason for your business.

Name Your Reason – or Your WHY – for Starting a Business

Focusing on your WHY can help motivate you so write down your reason for starting a business. Did you want to fill your free time? Did you want to earn some play money or contribute to the family finances? Did you want to pay the medical bills of an aging parent or a sick child? Did you want to pay for your child’s higher education or private school tuition?

Writing these reasons down – no matter what they are because every person’s WHY will be different – should help motivate you to work hard. You should feel driven to make your business a success. You should be willing to tackle things outside your comfort zone because you know the end result will help your business.

If you’re not feeling motivated, then you need to dig deeper.

Don’t be Afraid to Examine Your Inner Feelings

Life is fluid and ever-changing so it stands to reason that your WHY would change over time as well. Even if you started your business because you didn’t know what to do once your kids were in full day school, you can change that WHY to something more meaningful now. 

A mentor once shared that she started a service business because she was a single mom and needed to earn money to survive. She was responsible for lodging, food, and clothing for herself and her child. She didn’t have anyone to rely on except herself. THIS is enough to make you cry and to hustle for work, knowing that if she wasn’t working, she wasn’t eating.

What are you passionate about that will get you hustling? Are you passionate about a cause or charity that can benefit from your financial assistance? Do you need to pull yourself up out of financial despair? Don’t be afraid to own that reason and fight for your business.

Don’t be Afraid to Switch Business Gears

One of my clients told me that even though she has been in a service business for 10 years that she hasn’t been motivated to create any classes or products as a source of passive income. She blames her indecision for that but I questioned if it was because she didn’t feel attached to that particular industry. After some more discussion, she agreed and has since modified her services that align better with what she enjoys. I still suggested that she explore a deeper WHY but this is a step in the right direction. Plenty of businesses add or subtract products or services or modify their mission statement. If something about your business doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to make changes.

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Are You Jane-of-all-Trades? 4 May 2022 9:00 AM (3 years ago)

What was your reason for starting your coaching business? Financial freedom? No bosses? No office politics? You want to help people?

All of these reasons (and the others that are floating in your head) are admirable and should inspire you to reach high for your goals but the only way to reach those goals is to stay focused on your main mission (client work) and not on admin tasks.

Jane-of-all-Trades are those coaches who feel the need to do everything themselves. They schedule their own client appointments, answer emails, handle customer service issues, and do their own monthly bookkeeping. Plus all the myriad marketing tasks that are necessary to attract customers and grow their customer base.

If you’re so focused on ALL of these admin and marketing tasks, how much time are you really dedicating to your clients? The money is with your paying clients, yet all the other admin and marketing tasks are certainly necessary. How do you split your time?

Quite simply, it’s time to delegate your admin tasks to an assistant. It’s your choice to hire a Virtual Assistant, who works remotely from their home office, or a real life admin assistant, who lives nearby and comes into your office to do physical tasks. Either of these assistants can answer the office phone, schedule appointments, answer questions about your coaching programs, and keep your social media profiles updated.

For something as specialized as your financial books, hiring a CPA or a certified bookkeeper is important. Not only are they bound by confidentiality and a code of ethics but they know how to keep accurate records and how to organize everything for a smooth tax season. 

In general, hiring experts in their field is a wise business investment, even when it comes to hiring admin assistants. Those with solid job experience can finish tasks much more quickly and efficiently (and with fewer mistakes) than someone with less experience, or even you! Remember the last time you tried learning new software? There’s a learning curve to everything; why put yourself through that, wasting precious time and money, when there are experts who can implement that software in half the time?

Also, a word of caution when hiring. Be very clear on the tasks you need completed and what skills you want in an assistant. Absolutely anyone can say they are an admin assistant or a VA, even if they have limited experience. Go through an interview process, ask for references, call those references. Your business is important so you want to hire a qualified applicant.

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3 Top Notch Customer Service Tips for Solopreneurs 27 Apr 2022 9:00 AM (3 years ago)

Have you analyzed your customer service practices recently? It’s not enough these days to have an outstanding product or service; if someone is unhappy or can’t reach you with a question, they will be quick to bash you on social media or online review sites. Often these bad reviews are what people notice over the good reviews.

If you want to develop a reputation for being the “Neiman Marcus” of customer service, here are three tips that will ramp up your reputation:

1. Be Responsive

Frustration will set in quickly for customers who can’t get a quick answer to their questions. Have a process in place for answering emails or phone calls quickly and how to handle weekend inquiries. If you have specific office hours, make them public on your website, have them listed in your email signature, and certainly mention those hours on your phone voice message.

2. Be Friendly

Follow the old saying of, “Kill ‘em with kindness.” You can never go wrong being friendly and patient, even if your customer is yelling or rude. Very often when they hear that they can’t rattle you, their temperament will calm down. The same is true for rude or unhappy emails. This is where having canned responses can help because then you can just copy and paste the response without being tempted to answer in a rude tone.

3. Listen (and Read) Carefully

People want to be heard and they want quick results. If your customer explains their problem, they want you to respond with an appropriate response, not with the standard canned response that doesn’t apply to them. For instance, if they say to you they’ve already tried xyz to solve the problem, don’t suggest to them to try xyz. The same is true for emails. Canned email responses are great ONLY if they address the actual problem.

Be the Ultimate in Customer Service: Hire a Qualified Team

Solopreneurs certainly know their own products and services inside and out but handling customer service calls can be time consuming and emotionally draining. Hiring even one customer service assistant allows you to delegate that task so you can be more productive on the things you love most. Also, as a solopreneur, it can be emotionally difficult to hear people unhappy with your products or services, so allowing someone else to deal with those calls won’t bruise your confidence.

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