Some Common Blunders Small Businesses Make with Local SEO

Having a really focused Local SEO plan is mandatory for the success of any small business. For most small business owners SEO seemed to be non-existent on their radar until recent times. 

But today’s digital era is completely dominated by search engines and mobile phones, so seeking help from a Local SEO professional to wade through online marketing rough waters could be lifesaving.

Small businesses must realize that Local SEO has become a really booming SEM tactic in recent times. Statistics reveal that Near Me search enquiry seems to have increased 34 times since the year 2011 and it seems to have doubled last year alone. 

As per statistics presented by Google, local searches have drawn 50 percent of mobile visitors within a day, to the stores.

As a small company owner, you may be relying on local clients for sales, as well as profits. If you are not concentrating on and directing your SEO endeavors toward your local market, you are missing out on the opportunity of reaching your target audience, boosting local knowledge relating to your company or bringing in new business or clients from your online promotional efforts. 

If you complete SEO training, you could take wise decisions online. 

Get Set Go

• Start by creating a listing on Google My Business.
• Make sure that your website is really mobile-friendly.
• Pages should be optimized for local keywords.
• Focus on creating local blog content.
• Your NAP (Name, Address & Phone Number) should be consistent across all online platforms.
• Link top quality backlinks to your site.
• Use social media for interacting with customers.

There are still a few things where small businesses may go wrong. Stay away from the following mistakes.

Overlooking Competitive Analysis

Local SEO affords a great opportunity to small businesses for competing with corporations, which boast of huge marketing budgets since the local pack of Google comes as the top-most result in almost 93 percent of searches involving local intent. 

Remember you would be having stiff competition despite taking a leap over big businesses contending for ranking in general organic results.

A common mistake made by numerous small businesses is targeting keywords, which are highly relevant and applicable to their business. You must never fail to examine how many other small local businesses have also optimized themselves for identical strategy. 

Devote some time to competitive analysis for assessing what is working for others and also, to examine the opportunities for targeting less competitive keywords. It is similar to regular SEO and considers traffic, intent and competition.

Opting for the Wrong Categories

You should categorize your specific business on My Business Page for Google to easily track valuable information such as what type of brand you actually are. This is required to assist you in appearing pertinent in search results. 

So if you do not remember categorizing your business or if you end up choosing the wrong categories, it could have an immense impact on your ranking in terms of local SEO. Many small businesses think of choosing every possible category they could. However, Google advises using least number of categories if possible, for describing your business.

Ignoring Your Reviews

Remember you must give importance to online reviews as they really matter whether or not you are contending for any local SEO position. People would be actively looking at your business reviews on third-party platforms. 

Statistics reveal that around 88 percent of people have faith in those reviews just like personal recommendations. So you must take steps for getting positive reviews and if you fail to make any effort, it would be detrimental to your business. If your site has bad reviews, people would hesitate to click. If they do not click, it would be hurting your ROI.

Author Bio: Allan Randal is an experienced and fully certified SEO consultant. He emphasizes the need to gain SEO training for best results. He is an avid blogger.

Enjoy Eco-Friendly Wildlife Travel in Tadoba Tiger Resort

When you are enjoying your safari trip, make sure you are responsibly protecting your environment. Here are some eco friendly tips that can help in eco friendly travel.

Learn and Respect Locals: Local people generally have much knowledge about the wildlife. You must try to respect and learn from them for your own benefit. They may play the key role in saving the wildlife and their habitat which you also care about.

Take Your Own Bottle: Try to carry your own water bottle during your wildlife trip. This can help in avoiding the pollution created from plastic bottles and can make the environment cleaner.

Clean Your Boots: Whenever you are walking through muddy swamps, you are naturally carrying insect eggs, seeds and other living animals. Now, when you are travelling in newer locations, you are carrying those with you. To prevent places from fouling, you should clean your boots regularly.

Eat Locals: You should try eating local foods from nearby farmer’s market or some roadside stalls. By eating local, you will be accustomed with the culture of that very particular place. You are also encouraging the local produce by supporting the local communities. You are actually paying the vendors directly by not paying a whole chain of sellers.

Reduce Carbon Footprints: You can reduce your carbon footprints by selecting a fuel efficient travel by Boeing 777 or Airbus 345. Boeing 777 can be considered as the best option in this case as 27 percent less fuel is being consumed by it than the similarly sized aircrafts.

Use Power to Travel: Yes, you have the power to travel by your own through non polluting sources like wind. If you are enjoying your holidays in resorts, never forget to check http://tigersheavenresort.co.in/. You can enjoy biking, hiking, kayaking and sailing throughout the world. If you just want to stay away from the hustle bustle of the city life, just stay peaceful in one of the resorts and use natural resources for travelling.

Stay Close to Home: You may never know that staying close to home may decrease your carbon footprints. Your neighborhood countryside may have peaceful sights that you have not experienced before. So just stay close to home and enjoy the nature more peacefully.

Avoid Detergents: The chemicals present in detergents and sunscreens may affect coral reefs. So to protect the fauna, you must use biodegradable detergents as well as sunscreens which are reef friendly in nature.

Never Pet Wild Animals: The home of the wild animals is within wild forests. You cannot grab their wildlife from them. You also should not encourage taking photos with animals. This will encourage hunting endangered species or keeping them as pets just to display them.

Responsible Tourism: Just keep yourself involved with a group of responsible tourists. You should also choose lodging and other services more responsibly. Your resorts and lodges should also follow the eco friendly principles. Your patronage should help the locals and the wildlife and they can be protected from the harmful effects of pollution.

Carry a Trash Bag: When you are carrying a trash bag with you, you are actually contributing to the environment as well as wildlife by cleaning some of the beaches that you come around.

During your encounter with wildlife, never feed or irritate the wild animals. You can protest where you observe people are hunting or selling wildlife products. Try to buy and encourage buying the local produce to support local communities. You should be aware of all the souvenirs that are obtained by poaching the endangered wildlife animals. These tips can really be helpful if you want to conserve and enjoy wildlife.

Author Bio: David Wicks is a well-known wildlife researcher. In this article, he is providing some tips to protect the wildlife. If you have any doubts, please refer to http://tigersheavenresort.co.in/.

6 High Cost Purchases That Often Pay Off In The End

Being frugal is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, saving money when and where you can is an important part of anybody's budget. On the other hand, skimping in the short term can definitely hurt your wallet in the long run. 

Check out these important must-have purchases and how spending a little more on them now can lead to big savings for you later.

Designer dress shoes

A cheap pair of shoes wears out quickly and can cause sore feet and ankles. There's no need to spend $100 a year replacing your shoes when you can spend just a little more on a pair that'll last you ten. 

Not only do they feel better, they look better too. Good shoes can be worn both in the office and at formal occasions, and can dress up even the most casual of outfits.

Bespoke suit

A suit off the rack is designed to fit a wide variety of bodies. The chance of it conforming decently to your figure is vanishingly small. 

A bespoke suit is constructed just for you, and flows around your form in ways that a tailored rack suit just can't compete with. This can make a big impression with colleagues and supervisors, so it's the perfect choice for promotion-seekers. 

Plus, a suit made of good material in a timeless fashion can last you your whole life. You'll never have to shell out for ill-fitting jackets and shapeless pants from your department store again.

New car

Buying a new car is not a luxury reserved only for the rich. Even though buying used seems like a good way to reduce the cost, pre-owned cars often come with a host of hidden problems. 

The money you save on your car may very well be spent with the mechanic, and then some. A well-maintained new car can last years before repairs are needed, keeping your bank account high and your stress levels low. 

You can find good deals on new cars for sale in St. George. Just because you buy new, doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. Consider what features are important to you, and what ones you can do without.

Efficient Energy Star appliances

Home appliances like your refrigerator, furnace, and water heater eat up a lot of energy. Energy Star appliances are designed to be as efficient as possible. 

They cost a few hundred extra, but you'll more than make up for it with lower utility bills. They can have other perks as well. 

For example, Energy Star washers and dryers have larger capacities so you can wash more clothes in less loads. Saving time and money is a great deal in the long term.

Quality kitchen knife

If you cook at home, something as simple as a good knife can make a world of difference. Low-cost knives dull easily and take longer to cut through vegetables. You may have to buy a new one at least once a year. 

High quality stainless steel knives resist corrosion and can slice and dice tough roots and stalks with ease. If you pay extra for professional sharpening, your knife can last decades.

High-end mattress

Poor sleeping conditions can cause insomnia, depression and lethargy. A quality mattress can go a long way towards improving your nights and your mood. 

Dropping the extra dollars on a comfortable mattress will give you more energy during the day, boosting your productivity so you can get out and maximize your earnings. It's about the closest thing you can get to literally buying more time.

Saving money is all well and good, but there are times when a big expenditure is worth it in the long run. Don't be a scrooge when it comes to these high dollar items. Lay out the money now so you can thank yourself in the years to come.

Magical Financial Formula - Eliminate Overspending Forever

For many people, spending a few dollars more than anticipated rarely seems like a big deal. However, for those where overspending is a problem that happens over and over, the results can be disastrous. 

Bank accounts can be wiped out, credit cards maxed out, and credit ratings can plummet. Rather than be left scrambling for money each month, it's best to focus on ways to eliminate this habit. While this may sound impossible, the fact is overspending is a learned behavior that most people are very capable of overcoming.

Create a Budget

If you want to take a big step toward eliminating overspending, create a budget and be prepared to stick to it every month. To get the best results, gather all your bills to see how much you owe each month. 

Afterwards, add up your pay stubs and figure out how much you're making, then see if there's any way you can put some money into savings.

Pay with Cash

For many people who overspend on a consistent basis, paying with cash can make a tremendous difference. 

Rather than paying with a credit card, paying with cash makes it much more obvious just how much is being spent at the moment, and also gives you a feeling of loss by watching your money disappear. By making you think about where your money is going, spending can often be curtailed.

Cut Up the Credit Cards

In extreme cases of overspending, many people take the drastic step of cutting up their credit cards. In doing so, they are unable to use them for any reason, forcing them to use cash for purchases or to avoid some purchases altogether. 

While this may sound extreme, the fact is it's often a great first step toward getting your credit repaired. Sometimes, a Lexington Law review can be helpful to learn more about what to do in such a situation. By eliminating the chance to make one impulse purchase after another, bills can begin to be paid on time, which over time goes a long way in repairing your credit.

Choose Cheaper Entertainment Options

If you've gotten used to spending plenty of money on entertainment, you might need to start changing your plans in order to save a few bucks. For example, if you've been eating out several nights per week, it's a good idea to go out only once or twice instead. 

And if you've been having a weekly movie night at the local theater, try staying home and catching a movie on television. By implementing these changes, you'll be surprised as to how much money you'll save.

Reward Yourself Now and Then

Even though your goal is to eliminate overspending, that doesn't mean you should never have any fun. Once in awhile, it's fine to have a meal at a favorite restaurant, play a round of golf at your favorite course, or even taking a short vacation. 

By learning how to balance your spending in an appropriate manner, you may find you can reward yourself more than you thought possible.

Set Short-Term Financial Goals

One of the best ways to make progress when it comes to eliminating overspending is to set several short-term financial goals. For example, if you're trying to put aside money for a savings account, try putting aside 10 percent of each paycheck. 

Or, if you think you've been spending too much money eating out, try brown-bagging it to work for a week. When you challenge yourself with these goals and then succeed in meeting them, you'll be better able to set and meet long-range financial goals.

While none of these tips individually may seem like a magic formula, putting them all together as part of your overall financial plan can bring you success that does indeed seem magical.

Management Tips for Succeeding in Your Small Business Venture

Efficient management of a small business includes proper time management and effective management of employees and resources. It is always a good idea to learn novel techniques of business management to manage the diverse aspects of your small business better and to make it far more productive. Your life could be a lot easier.

Adopt Aggressive Management Tactics

It could really be fruitful if you are aggressive while managing your business particularly if you are constantly behind your competitors. 

If you wish to stay ahead of the competition, you must be willing to work even outside your so-called comfort zone and take the necessary risks. It is mandatory to take some risks if you wish to forge ahead in your business.

If you could anticipate all the consequences to follow as a result of a certain risk, you could then take a wise decision. 

You may avoid taking risks which may lead to your organization’s closure. Have faith in yourself and confidence in your decisions. Once you have made a decision, simply move ahead and wait to reap the ultimate benefits of your decision.

Open a Commercial Account in a Bank

Expert financial management is necessary for the ultimate success of a small business. Money matters cannot be taken lightly and are very critical to the survival and stability of your business as the key function of any business is primarily to generate income. 

Numerous business owners do not realize the importance of investments in the initial stages and as a result, they make losses and often are forced to shut down.

Your business should be recognized as an independent entity. So you must begin by opening a commercial account in a bank. The account should be in the registered name of the business you own. 

One most important tip is never to mix personal money with business money. You may opt for a friendly and small commercial bank. All the cash from your business should be diverted or transferred to this account. This is helpful in creating a line of credit and you could easily use this particular bank account for getting finances or loans if and when required.

Do Proper Bookkeeping

Proper bookkeeping is crucial to the success of your business. You may do the bookkeeping yourself if you are competent enough or it is better to hire professional accountants. 

Professional accountants would come in handy handling tax forms and year-end financial statements.

However, if you do not wish to hire an accountant right away, you could carry on proper bookkeeping by using effective computer software which makes it an easy and convenient affair. You could simply fill in the figures. 

The software would do the rest. This software is effective in generating invoices, keeping track of receivable and payable accounts and also, the total spending.

Explore & Keep Track of Diverse Payment Options

Today customers could pay for products and services via numerous payment options. They could be utilizing credit cards, debit cards, electronic cash transfer or even the good old checks. 

For a successful business, you must keep track of payment modes. Cash payments do not need any processing time and so they are easy payments whereas, an electronic transfer method or card needs ample processing time. You should consider developing an effective system which would ensure a consistent flow of business.

Follow Payment Terms

You should consider having a clear-cut payment terms policy. All your customers are required to adhere to this.

Make Debt Collection Compulsory

Debt collection is regarded as a necessary evil related to every business whether big or small. As your business grows and you consider extending lines of credit to your customers, you are often confronted with the risk of late payment or even non-payment. 

It is compulsory to keep chasing customers for these payments as they are an integral part of your business cash flow. Debt collection is undoubtedly, a legal procedure and you are free to hire an expert debt collection professional for collecting all the pending payments from delinquent customers.

Conclusion

Management of a business does not simply mean financial management strategies only. It implies effective management of employees as well. Effective management of employees does not only entail delegation of responsibility and performance appraisal and evaluation. 

Employees would certainly be much more efficient and productive if they develop a feeling of loyalty towards the organization. Needless to say, this sense of loyalty could be triggered by the actions of the company toward the employees and vice versa.

Monetary matters are a cause of concern for all employees and often major expenses like medical expenses, vehicle lease, and car repairs could be pretty worrisome and distracting. 

You could consider helping them in setting up an employees’ fund where both you and the employees would be donating. Employees could use this when they need personal financing. Make loans that are available to all your employees even though, these loans would require being paid back eventually. 

This could be a good way of winning employees’ loyalty.

Author Bio: Tara Faraday is a financial advisor and blogger. After graduating three years ago, she has been working actively for a top private finance firm and also runs a financial advice and wealth management blog which talks about bankruptcy, budgeting, leasing, loaning and sites like http://www.leasequit.com/.

Using Online Calculators to Strategise Your Financial Goals

If you are beginner when it comes to savings, strategising your money early is always a good idea, especially if you have a steady income source. Online calculators estimate your monthly or weekly distribution of money according to the plan you’ve chosen, and help you strategise accordingly.

Read on to find out how you can use these to regulate your finances.

How do I Calculate my Finances Online?

As a first step, take stock of your expenses and savings by listing down how much money you spend, and where it goes. Let’s say your monthly income is Rs.50,000, out of which you pay some amount towards your monthly house rent, some towards the EMI of your vehicle, and some towards loan repayments.

You are eventually left with the amount that you can use for personal purposes. 

Online calculators help you to determine the funds you will be allocating to these categories, and plan accordingly. You can estimate how much money you will need to have on hand before taking that Personal Loan, and how much time you would need to clear your loans.

Your bank website or third party websites provide these online calculators, where you input amounts for categories like retirement plans or home loans. You can then determine the interests applicable, and the returns you will receive on the amount you are investing.

This is one of the best ways to start planning your finances.

Why use Online Calculator?

You have to be realistic about your money when you strategise your finances. First, list all broad expenses that are already fixed—including rent, bills, EMIs and other necessary expenses. This will give you an idea as to how much money you spend every month. Then, you can start the allocation of money to long term plans like home loans, educational loans, and retirement and medical plans. 

An online calculator helps you understand how your finances will look after you invest in each of these plans. Suppose you are planning a loan of Rs.2 lakh for your vehicle, for a tenure of 1 year, according to your current financial state. You have to pay an interest of 8% on this loan, if you decide to take it up.

This handy tool will give you an estimate of the monthly payment you would need to divert to clear the loan amount in the given amount of time, i.e. one year. You can also make use of specialized personal loan EMI calculators that estimate an average EMI you would be paying on your vehicle in advance so you can plan your savings and investments accordingly.

Where do I Start?

First, find the best plan for your money. If you are looking to purchase a vehicle or a home for yourself, prioritise accordingly. Once you’ve listed down your options, select an online finance calculator that suits your needs.

For example, you may find different calculators at one your lender’s website - for mortgages, Home Loans, educational loans, retirement plans, and so on. 

How it works

Pick a suitable calculator, input the amount, the time you think it would require to clear off the loan, and the interest rate. Then you hit ‘calculate’; the calculator shows you how much you will be paying. It also tells you how many payments you’ll need to make until the loan is cleared.

Online calculators do an efficient job of sorting out your finances; you can focus on planning your finances better. 

Remember to manually take stock of your expenses, prioritise your needs, and set aside a certain amount as savings before you finally plan investments and loans. Then, use the online calculator to estimate your monthly expenditure. Using this information, choose the loan plan that provides better interest rates and returns that best serve you.

Used right, online calculators for finances are some of the best tools to strategise your finances in the long run. So go ahead and start using one today.

Author Bio: Arwind Sharma is a financial advisor with an experience of more than 7 years. He has worked for topmost financial firms in India and has been a visiting faculty at many reputed institutes in India. Currently based in Pune, Arwind Sharma is a name to reckon with when it comes to financial management for big brands. A post-graduate in business economics, he is an alumni of Princeton University, USA. During his free time, Arwind teaches children from marginalised sections of society and also work on his blog.