| Today I went into a local guitar shop because my | | | | any malcontent. I used to own 2 small businesses, |
| brother needed some new strings. I chose to go to | | | | both cell phone stores. I remember being so caught |
| that store because the shop actually ranked # 1 for | | | | up in doing a million things I barely spent time on the |
| the phrase "guitar city". Of course the city is the | | | | really important stuff. Which brings us to point 2... |
| actual town but I don't want to give away the guys | | | | Small Businesses Need To Focus On Marketing It's no |
| exact keyword phrase. Anyway, I told the owner | | | | secret, but sadly most small businesses don't focus |
| that I chose his store because he ranked for the #1 | | | | on what is REALLY important. Marketing. Jay |
| spot. He smiled and said, "that's cool". So, being an | | | | Abraham always talks about how marketing is the |
| SEO geek I had to ask. "Did you do anything to do | | | | EASIEST and FASTEST Way to increase profits. But |
| that or what?" His answer: "No, I guess it just | | | | when you're too caught up dealing with payroll, |
| happened. But that's cool though." It was at that | | | | scheduling, customer service, ordering, and paying the |
| moment I re-realized (is that even a word) that local | | | | bills it's really easy to forgot to focus on marketing. |
| business owners really have NO CLUE how much help | | | | And that's a real tragedy because marketing, |
| they need when it comes to the internet. And I | | | | especially internet marketing can produce amazing |
| mean that with all due respect. Over the last few | | | | results. The reality of the situation is that EVERY |
| months I've been getting more involved in helping | | | | small business owner is doing marketing. It's only a |
| small business owners in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. | | | | matter of how much and what kind. From my |
| And there are 3 signs I've seen that prove they | | | | experience, the usual marketing I see being done is |
| need a lot of help in marketing their business online. | | | | approving an ad for a local shopper. If you're a small |
| Sign # 1: Small Business Owners Are Busy - Always | | | | business you need a marketing plan. I actually asked |
| Every time I try to schedule a meeting with a local | | | | the owner of the guitar shop if he had a marketing |
| business owner, they talk about how busy they are. | | | | plan and he literally laughed. "No man, we have a |
| And they are busy. They usually run the whole show | | | | YouTube account now, but we don't have a |
| and wear many hats. But it's this business they need | | | | marketing plan." Exact quote. Which brings us to the |
| help with. There is a huge difference between being | | | | final point... |
| busy and being productive. And I don't say that with | | | | |