December ToolTALK

'Tis the season to reevaluate your company's online presence. Is your web site performing in line with your goals? If it isn't, or rather if you have no idea what those goals are, now is the time to refocus and reevaluate your company’s web site presence.

First and foremost, a web site allows customers to find you on the internet and be able to easily contact you to purchase a machine tool, schedule a service appointment, or research the lines that you sell. If your web site is not meeting these simple metrics, it's time to think about redoing your web site.

The rules of the game for internet marketing change on a daily basis. It is no longer good enough to simply have a web site on the internet. The odds that someone will randomly find your company on the sprawling beast that is the internet are extremely slim, unless you have taken the proper steps that will allow customers to find you. The old adage that business success is all about location, location, location, still applies in the online world. If customers can't find you online, they will go with who they can find. If you're web site isn't showing up in the first ten listings on the first page of a Google search, you need to put more signs up! By reevaluating your web site's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) you can realize a large increase in traffic to your site.

Okay, so your site is optimized so that anyone searching "the most awesome machine tool dealer in Michigan", for example finds your company with the click of a button. You are 80% of the way there. Now, you have to back up those claims. Does your site convey the level of professionalism you strive for everyday? Is it as well put together as your daily attire? In other words, does your web site look as good as you do in a suit and tie? If it doesn't, tell it to get a haircut. Every day, you give your best to make an impact in your business. Make sure that your web site isn't undermining those efforts.

One last thing to think about, do your sales people have the tools they need to be successful while on the road? Could they benefit from high definition video demos of your machines in action? How about the ability to video conference with the service department back at headquarters? Would they benefit from a short daily video delivered from the president to keep them motivated and on track while out in the field? Your web site can truly be a Leatherman if you enable it to be one. Just like you wouldn't give cheap knock offs for Christmas, give your sales people the tools they need to survive any sales call; a web site with a ton of tools to get the job done.

Now that you know what you need to do: Who do you talk to? Where do you go to get it done? Anticipating the desire of it's members to take their online presence to the next level, AMTDA has created an online marketing program called AMTDA Bytes to help its members excel in the online marketplace. Whether it's a web site redesign, SEO optimization, email marketing templates, or technology consulting, AMTDA Bytes has you covered. Take a look at some of the projects we have done so far by visiting AMTDABytes.org. If there are services or advise you are looking for, give me, Jake Ervin, Coordinator - Media Strategy, a call and pick my brain. I'd be excited to talk about the solutions we could offer, or just to point you in the right direction. I'm a nerd, it's what I do.



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Is Your Website a Stuffed Goose or a Burnt Turkey? 'Tis the season to reevaluate your company's online presence. Is your web site performing in line with your goals? If it isn't, or rather if you have no idea what those goals are, now is the time to refocus and reevaluate your company’s web site presence. First and foremost, a web site allows customers to find you on the internet and be able to easily contact you to purchase a machine tool, schedule a service appointment, or research the lines that you sell. If your web site is not meeting these simple metrics, it's time to think about redoing your web site. The rules of the game for internet marketing change on a daily basis. It is no longer good enough to simply have a web site on the internet. The odds that someone will randomly find your company on the sprawling beast that is the internet are extremely slim, unless you have taken the proper steps that will allow customers to find you. The old adage that business success is all about location, location, location, still applies in the online world. If customers can't find you online, they will go with who they can find. If you're web site isn't showing up in the first ten listings on the first page of a Google search, you need to put more signs up! By reevaluating your web site's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) you can realize a large increase in traffic to your site. Okay, so your site is optimized so that anyone searching "the most awesome machine tool dealer in Michigan", for example finds your company with the click of a button. You are 80% of the way there. Now, you have to back up those claims. Does your site convey the level of professionalism you strive for everyday? Is it as well put together as your daily attire? In other words, does your web site look as good as you do in a suit and tie? If it doesn't, tell it to get a haircut. Every day, you give your best to make an impact in your business. Make sure that your web site isn't undermining those efforts. One last thing to think about, do your sales people have the tools they need to be successful while on the road? Could they benefit from high definition video demos of your machines in action? How about the ability to video conference with the service department back at headquarters? Would they benefit from a short daily video delivered from the president to keep them motivated and on track while out in the field? Your web site can truly be a Leatherman if you enable it to be one. Just like you wouldn't give cheap knock offs for Christmas, give your sales people the tools they need to survive any sales call; a web site with a ton of tools to get the job done. Now that you know what you need to do: Who do you talk to? Where do you go to get it done? Anticipating the desire of it's members to take their online presence to the next level, AMTDA has created an online marketing program called AMTDA Bytes to help its members excel in the online marketplace. Whether it's a web site redesign, SEO optimization, email marketing templates, or technology consulting, AMTDA Bytes has you covered. Take a look at some of the projects we have done so far by visiting AMTDABytes.org. If there are services or advise you are looking for, give me, Jake Ervin, Coordinator - Media Strategy, a call and pick my brain. I'd be excited to talk about the solutions we could offer, or just to point you in the right direction. I'm a nerd, it's what I do.