Alta Vista Business Services Blog

As an Internet professional, I wear many hats. I design sites that meet the needs of small businesses. Those needs comprise many functions and finding the right solution for each need is a daunting task. Recently, two clients required eCommerce solutions. Caviat? Affordable eCommerce solutions! That cuts down the options quite a bit. After working for large corporations for 10 years, I learned about budget constraints, but there are no budgets smaller than those of small business owners.

I did my best to fit customer needs into current open source applications—within their budgets. But, design and development time really ads up. The dilemma? Finding quality open source solutions that give options for professional looking and functioning stores without breaking their budgets and putting me in the poorhouse. Let’s just say, this is no easy task!

While struggling through an open source solution, that required seventeen (literally-- no kidding) backend code changes just to update to the latest version, I’d had enough. In my reluctant search for something better, I happened to stumble upon a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution called Goodbarry. I gave it a glance and thought it couldn’t possibly allow me the design complexity I required as seasoned Web designer. But I signed up for the 30 day trial anyway.

Shortly thereafter, through their email communications, I discovered that GoodBarry, aka Business Catalyst, was purchased by Adobe AND they were offering partnerships to Web designers who want usable, modular systems for clients' sites. This really piqued my interest. You see, I am a (‘scuse the cliché) dyed in the wool Adobe fan. There is no better way to put it. I have been using Adobe products since I was a production artist baby – and I am quite loyal. Not loyal typically, but to Adobe I am. Without Adobe products, I would be hard-pressed to do my job. For that reason, I took a closer look.

For about two months, me and my business partner—unfoolable, detail oriented, skeptic, and spouse, John—pored over the Business Catalyst offering. Yep, they had cool stuff to offer. It could be the wake-up call for my programming nightmares.

During this time, I had a wonderful client I’d been trying to provide an OS solution for eCommerce. But because of my current OS-venture faux pas, I was losing money. I couldn’t afford to hire a programmer now. Was I stuck? We decided to bite the proverbial bullet. I partnered with Business Catalyst and called my client. I explained the issue and said I believe I found a solution that would allow her to do all the things she wanted on her online shop: manage it herself, upload and manage her products, keep a customer database, integrate with Quickbooks, conduct secure online business, and expand it as needed with a blog and an integrated newsletter. To my delight, she agreed to give it a try.

Cut to now, I launched her site on BC and I found that the product has more than delivered. I went through extensive training to implement the online tools they offer and am now competently selling and delivering exceptional Web sites for small businesses. I’m a proud Business Catalyst partner! When a client requires more than they can really afford, I can now say with pride “I can do that!” And then, I do!

http://altavistabizservices.com/RSSRetrieve.aspx?ID=609&Type=RSS20

Alta Vista Business Services is pleased to announce the launching of a new eCommerce site for Beadorable.com.

 
Beadorable is a jewelry company based in Concord, NH. Molly Brandt, the owner and designer of Beadorable Custom Belts and Jewelry, required a site with enhanced eCommerce capabilities with a highly customized look and feel.

Primarily, Molly was looking for a site that she can maintain herself going forward. Molly's inventory changes a lot, since creates original pieces and therefore needs to be able to manage the products and catalogs on the fly. AVBS is able to provide that and much more! Beadorable also publishes an eNewsletter and has an extensive customer database that can now be managed entirely from a single dashboard.

Visit beadorable.com to see the beautiful jewelry Molly creates and the Website that is making her business life so much easier!

This week AV Business Services launched a brand new Web site for Central New Hampshire Employment Services, (CNHES, Inc.). CNHES, Inc. has been providing employment services for the Lakes Region and Concord since 1979. The biggest improvement to the site is the look and feel that better represents the company brand. New search technology was implemented so that the site will appear higher in local SERPs (searhc engine Results Pages). CNHES, Inc. will enjoy the benefit of regular reports on site traffic so that they can better manage their marketing efforts.
Another service AVBS provides for clients is registering or claiming listings on the four major search engines from improved findability in local markets, plus the ability to control the content on those listings. CNHES, Inc. received this service as part of their redesign package.

I wish to thank Chris St. Cyr, the company president, for the opportunity to redesign their site and provide Web marketing services.

Or maybe I should say “Wake up Internet Professionals!”

When I started my business last year with very little start-up money, my first main focus became "What can I do to get my name out there for little or no cost?"

I would search the Internet for information, just like anyone would and found lots of opportunities if I pay money, but not much for free or almost free. One day I was conducting a "local search" for a nearby restaurant and it suddenly occurred to me, that my business should probably be listed on Google. I didn't think it was, since I have a home office. But just for grins I looked. Of course it wasn't there. BUT, I noticed a small link: Can't find what you're looking for? * Add a place to the map.

So I did. I was a little nervous about it since, who am I to change things on Google? But Google actually allowed me to do it. Creating my own listing on Google was easier than setting up phone service through the phone company! Google simply required that I verify my business location and information.

One thing leads to another. So, I say to myself, if I can do it on Google, can I do it on Yahoo? I soon discovered, Yes, I can! Similar process: Search..., not found, okay  login to (or create) account, then create listing, wait for verification letter, logon and verify with pin. Voila!

It is clear that many small businesses have not taken advantage of this free marketing opportunity. Much of the info among the many business listings is incorrect. Some owners may not be aware that their listing is not even there! I'm talking established, local restaurants, here. Search engines use spiders or bots to crawl the Web to get information for their databases. So, it is likely that some of the information is incomplete. We, as business owners, have every opportunity to rectify this, but it can be time consuming. So on to my next point.

Later, on one of my favorite sites, websitemagazine.com, I discovered an article posted that was all about taking advantage of free listings on search engines. They were highlighting a resource called getlisted.org which allows you to locate or create, and claim your business listings for four major search engines, all from one dashboard. That allows you to go back later and check on the progress of those listings, add or change information as needed, and best of all, take advantage of the great tools the search engines offer that let you add value to your listing. But I don't want to get ahead of myself, there will be more on that in part 3...

So for now, go ahead and logon to getlisted.org and see if you can find any listings for your business (or your Uncle Joe's pizzeria-- ya never know!). Go ahead. Why not? it's FREE!

According to getlisted.org, there are well over 10 billion unique searches done each month, and that's just in the United States! Of those searches, 40% of queries have Local intent.

What is "local intent?" Local intent means the entered search criteria specifies a locale in some manner.

Now this is where it can get confusing. Local search doesn't necessarily mean that you are searching in your own locale! It simply means that in your search you have specified A locale, any locale by using a zip code, city, state, neighborhood, country or any other criteria to narrow your results to a place in this world. (A note for those who cater to visitors or tourists.)

Why should you know this? Why should anyone care? Well, for a business owner, if you live and work in a location and want to attract people to your locale, you want to use all the necessary tools to do that. And if you are a Search Engine user, you may not be completely aware of how useful local search can be to help you choose the right company to give your business.

Most of the big search engines have a network, or for lack of a better term, sub-feature, called LOCAL. Google has it, it's called Google Maps (maps.google.com). Yahoo!'s is called Local. Bing has a local search category too.

How do you know which results are one of these networks? When  a person performs a local search in any of the above search engines, your first indication is that a map appears in the results. The map displays circles or balloons, and alongside this map are the referring circle/balloon business names. Click on this map and you suddenly have many opportunities to drill down and get lots of information about these businesses. This helps you decide who you want to do business with.

From the other perspective, if you are a business owner, how can you capitalize on this feature? Business owners can create a free account with any of the three aforementioned search engines and "claim" a business listing. Once they claim it, and go through the verification process, they have the opportunity to change or upgrade the data the search engine keeps for that business.

Features vary from search engine to search engine. For example, some allow you to list your business hours, leave a link to your Web site, post photos, create coupons, and they also have a review feature for customers to rate and leave comments on the quality of products and services.

To see if your business data is found in a search engines local network. There are instructions in our previous blog.

In the next installment  of this three part series, we will address ways to manage your listings with various search engines in one place. 

Did you know that according to Internet World Stats 220 million Americans now use the Internet? If people aren't already in the area, chances are they are planning their vacation by using the Internet. By looking for lodging, activities, and restaurants, and specifying a particular area where they plan to visit, they are actually performing a localized search.

One very important way to promote your visitor services is to make sure your online business listing shows up in those important localized searches like Google maps or Yahoo Local. For starters, perform your own search to see if your business appears in a localized search result.

Simply go online and use a search engine such as Google or Yahoo to emulate a search that a potential tourist might perform in order to find your business. Use words that fit your product/service such as 'lodging', 'restaurants', 'entertainment', (whatever your business provides) and put in your zip code, region, or town to create a localized result.

The result should include a display map with a list of businesses that fit that criteria. If your business appears, then that is good news! But there is more. Business owners have the opportunity to enhance that listing by providing more detailed information, such as business hours, and list correct phone numbers. In order to do this, you must first, register your business with each of the local search engines. Then follow up by changing or adding more information. Once registered, you can click on 'edit this listing' and follow the prompts to change or add information. You can add a link to your Website, provide coupons, and most importantly, make sure your listing is complete and accurate.

These are simple techniques. However, you may not have the time or staff available to perform these functions. We can help! Our very affordable services can help you get better localized listings with details. We specialize in helping local, small businesses get noticed on the Internet. Let us at Alta Vista Business Services (www.altavistabizservices.com)  show you how we can make Your small business BIG on the Internet. Give us a call! 603-630-1623 or e-mail us at business@altavistabizservices.com