Hi Folks,
Getting a lot of questions about the announcement from Google about an enhancement to their Click-To-Call service. This is one that let's you actually call (from your computer) based on an Adwords ad.
Two things, first for people who I've worked with - this doesn't affect you. This feature is not something I use for therapy businesses. So, as with many Google things, just delete that email and enjoy your weekend.
For those out there, this only impacts you if you have ads with your phone # in them, or are using a very advanced feature called "Call Extensions".
I don't think that having the phone # in an ad is useful for us as therapists. For some businesses (let's say a locksmith, or a tow-truck) where you really don't care *who* provides the service, you just want it *now*, I see this as a useful thing. But, unless your ideal client really can pick a therapist from a 25-character headline, and 70 characters of ad copy, then I have never seen it as a useful thing.
In my counseling experience, I've found people who want a generic counselor to be difficult clients that don't stay long, don't do much work, and often have trouble paying.
As a client of other practitioners (therapy, massage, acupuncture, etc.) I cannot imagine calling from an Adwords ad. I'd need to go to the therapist's website (or some other web page about them) before wanting to call.
As always, you can count on me to have an opinion :-)
Now go get back to the weekend! Best, Peter
Google Adwords for Therapists
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Today's Advice About Google Plus
Hey folks,
Had some fun with an animating tool called Xtranormal. But the message is what I'd say if I had to type it. So take a look - two and a half minutes of fun (it made my wife laugh).
FYI, the link for a Google Plus button is at http://www.google.com/webmasters/+1/button/
Happy Summer! Peter in still rainy Seattle
Your Google (+?) Guy
Had some fun with an animating tool called Xtranormal. But the message is what I'd say if I had to type it. So take a look - two and a half minutes of fun (it made my wife laugh).
FYI, the link for a Google Plus button is at http://www.google.com/webmasters/+1/button/
Happy Summer! Peter in still rainy Seattle
Your Google (+?) Guy
Sunday, July 10, 2011
How To Lose Me As a Twitter Follower
OK, so I've often been a critic of Twitter. I've been using it a bit more lately, and find that it can be a useful business, P.R. and news tool.
As I've lived it a little more, I've found my personal pet peeves about Twitter. They are the things that can drive me to unfollow someone.
1) Too personal - I'm a business tweeter. Talk about your favorite TV shows on Facebook, for God's sake. I don't care what you ate for dinner, or are stuck in traffic. Buh-bye.
2) High-volume, Low-value - so if you tweet 10 times in 15 minutes, a few things happen for me. First, you are drowning out other people on my screen. Second, I can't tell which thing you've written is important. Usually if you say 10 things in 10 minutes, I find none of them are important. (Breaking news eyewitnessing is the sole exception). Buh-bye.
3) TOTD & QOTD - OMG, I am sooooo sick of Quote of the Day, Thought of the Day tweets. I am intelligent and so most of my friends and network are too. I like new information (find me a great article, or resource, for instance). If I see one more "Deep Thought" I am going to puke. Buh-bye.
What causes *you* to unfollow someone? Your Google Guy would like to know!
Best, Peter
Search Engine Marketing for Therapists
Follow my low-volume, high-value Tweets on Twitter!
As I've lived it a little more, I've found my personal pet peeves about Twitter. They are the things that can drive me to unfollow someone.
1) Too personal - I'm a business tweeter. Talk about your favorite TV shows on Facebook, for God's sake. I don't care what you ate for dinner, or are stuck in traffic. Buh-bye.
2) High-volume, Low-value - so if you tweet 10 times in 15 minutes, a few things happen for me. First, you are drowning out other people on my screen. Second, I can't tell which thing you've written is important. Usually if you say 10 things in 10 minutes, I find none of them are important. (Breaking news eyewitnessing is the sole exception). Buh-bye.
3) TOTD & QOTD - OMG, I am sooooo sick of Quote of the Day, Thought of the Day tweets. I am intelligent and so most of my friends and network are too. I like new information (find me a great article, or resource, for instance). If I see one more "Deep Thought" I am going to puke. Buh-bye.
What causes *you* to unfollow someone? Your Google Guy would like to know!
Best, Peter
Search Engine Marketing for Therapists
Follow my low-volume, high-value Tweets on Twitter!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
More SEO Cold Calls
Hi folks,
Got an email from a colleague today, saying "Google had called her". She was a bit upset, as the person on the phone got irate when she told them she didn't think she was interested.
I replied that I was pretty sure this wasn't Google calling. I want *you* to hear that, too, and let any of your friends know. Google *rarely* if *ever* calls people like us. We are small fish.
Who does call us? Salesmen making cold calls. And they use confusion and obfuscation as a tool. I had a voicemail last week from a man who said "he was from Google". He said he could get "get me on the search engines, Google, Yahoo and Bing." That was a good clue. Google would *never* mention, or try to help, Yahoo and Bing. Never, ever, ever. It was pretty bold-faced lying on his part.
Terms companies can used, which would be confusing, but not a lie, include:
- Google-certified
- Google-qualified
- Google-listed
They do *NOT* work for Google.
Finally, here is a strategy for getting true info and getting them off the phone (if they reach you in person).
1) Act nice, but say you have someone (a webmaster, a marketing coach, a spouse) who does your webmarketing for you, so you'll need to run this by them.
2) Ask for callback info (name, company, phone #) or to have them email you info.
3) Get the heck off the phone!
4) If you wonder who they are, Google the phone # you gave them. I'll be you a dollar it ain't Google!
OK, remember don't take the snake oil!
Best, Peter
Google SEO Help for Therapists
Got an email from a colleague today, saying "Google had called her". She was a bit upset, as the person on the phone got irate when she told them she didn't think she was interested.
I replied that I was pretty sure this wasn't Google calling. I want *you* to hear that, too, and let any of your friends know. Google *rarely* if *ever* calls people like us. We are small fish.
Who does call us? Salesmen making cold calls. And they use confusion and obfuscation as a tool. I had a voicemail last week from a man who said "he was from Google". He said he could get "get me on the search engines, Google, Yahoo and Bing." That was a good clue. Google would *never* mention, or try to help, Yahoo and Bing. Never, ever, ever. It was pretty bold-faced lying on his part.
Terms companies can used, which would be confusing, but not a lie, include:
- Google-certified
- Google-qualified
- Google-listed
They do *NOT* work for Google.
Finally, here is a strategy for getting true info and getting them off the phone (if they reach you in person).
1) Act nice, but say you have someone (a webmaster, a marketing coach, a spouse) who does your webmarketing for you, so you'll need to run this by them.
2) Ask for callback info (name, company, phone #) or to have them email you info.
3) Get the heck off the phone!
4) If you wonder who they are, Google the phone # you gave them. I'll be you a dollar it ain't Google!
OK, remember don't take the snake oil!
Best, Peter
Google SEO Help for Therapists
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Marketing Info Products, Commitment, Success & ROI for Therapists
Hi Folks,
I am working with a lovely therapist right now who has written a great book, and is looking to promote it and make money from it online. I really look up to what she's created and the value she can bring to people's lives. She's got something original to say. But, I'm worried for her.
See, she is like many people I know - she's heard that she should write a book, have an info product, build an email list. She is psyched. Thinks she'll be raking in the dough. I'm a bit dubious.
It reminds me of people over the last 3 years saying "I've heard I should blog! I've heard it will do wonders for my business!" If you've heard me speak on this topic (and I'm a pretty good Devil's Advocate on many things) you know I think most people aren't ready to write regularly and passionately about topics for weeks, then months, then years. A blog last updated in 2009, in my mind, looks crappy.
Anyway, back to information products. Selling e-books, MP3's & videos is something I think most anyone *can* do. I just don't think most people are ready to do everything necessary to make it successful. And, frankly, I don't think most people do the math about the ROI (return on investment) of it all.
See, to do this whole thing properly, you'll need to learn about, and either do (or outsource) a number of different things.
First, you'll need the information products themselves. You'll need things at least 3 different price points (free, cheap, and profitable). This is all part of working the "sales funnel".
Then, you'll need a website that sells the products. A good sales website is a LOT different than a therapist's site. It also operates to get people to trade their email addresses for a free e-book or white paper (this is called the "squeeze page" with the "ethical bribe").
Now, you're into auto-responders and email marketing. You have to send some emails to start trying to sell these new list-members your more profitable items.
And, I haven't even gotten to the question of "how do you get leads TO your website in the first place."
So, sorry to be a wet blanket, but for most people this level of learning and commitment (it takes continuing effort) isn't realistic.
Listen, most of the therapists I know really love doing therapy. They aren't great salesmen or marketers. There are exception - the Casey Truffos and Juliet Austins of the world - who actually DO it online, but they are skilled and stick to it.
When you look at what we can get for an hour of work ($100 at least, I hope) versus what you'll spend in either time, consulting or money to make an info products business run - I strongly suggest you do your homework before diving in.
Best to you all, Peter
I am working with a lovely therapist right now who has written a great book, and is looking to promote it and make money from it online. I really look up to what she's created and the value she can bring to people's lives. She's got something original to say. But, I'm worried for her.
See, she is like many people I know - she's heard that she should write a book, have an info product, build an email list. She is psyched. Thinks she'll be raking in the dough. I'm a bit dubious.
It reminds me of people over the last 3 years saying "I've heard I should blog! I've heard it will do wonders for my business!" If you've heard me speak on this topic (and I'm a pretty good Devil's Advocate on many things) you know I think most people aren't ready to write regularly and passionately about topics for weeks, then months, then years. A blog last updated in 2009, in my mind, looks crappy.
Anyway, back to information products. Selling e-books, MP3's & videos is something I think most anyone *can* do. I just don't think most people are ready to do everything necessary to make it successful. And, frankly, I don't think most people do the math about the ROI (return on investment) of it all.
See, to do this whole thing properly, you'll need to learn about, and either do (or outsource) a number of different things.
First, you'll need the information products themselves. You'll need things at least 3 different price points (free, cheap, and profitable). This is all part of working the "sales funnel".
Then, you'll need a website that sells the products. A good sales website is a LOT different than a therapist's site. It also operates to get people to trade their email addresses for a free e-book or white paper (this is called the "squeeze page" with the "ethical bribe").
Now, you're into auto-responders and email marketing. You have to send some emails to start trying to sell these new list-members your more profitable items.
And, I haven't even gotten to the question of "how do you get leads TO your website in the first place."
So, sorry to be a wet blanket, but for most people this level of learning and commitment (it takes continuing effort) isn't realistic.
Listen, most of the therapists I know really love doing therapy. They aren't great salesmen or marketers. There are exception - the Casey Truffos and Juliet Austins of the world - who actually DO it online, but they are skilled and stick to it.
When you look at what we can get for an hour of work ($100 at least, I hope) versus what you'll spend in either time, consulting or money to make an info products business run - I strongly suggest you do your homework before diving in.
Best to you all, Peter
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Announcing My New Google Places SEO Service
Hi everyone,
I'm excited to announce a new, exciting SEO service for the therapy community. It's goal is simple - to get you on Page 1 of Google, in the Places section (that Pushpin section which used to be called Google Local or Google Maps) for multiple phrases in your city.
It's simple - we do all the work. There's no long-term commitment, and you don't pay until we get you to Page 1! I don't know how you can get any lower-risk than that.
Here's the web page for the new SEO service as well as a brief video to describe it.
I'm doing this in partnership with the amazing Michael Borgelt, an SEO wizard who has been quietly working with me for a few years now. With my Adwords and his SEO, we make a heckuva 1-2 punch!
Please feel free to email me with any questions - or to get a quote for your city!
Best, Peter
I'm excited to announce a new, exciting SEO service for the therapy community. It's goal is simple - to get you on Page 1 of Google, in the Places section (that Pushpin section which used to be called Google Local or Google Maps) for multiple phrases in your city.
It's simple - we do all the work. There's no long-term commitment, and you don't pay until we get you to Page 1! I don't know how you can get any lower-risk than that.
Here's the web page for the new SEO service as well as a brief video to describe it.
I'm doing this in partnership with the amazing Michael Borgelt, an SEO wizard who has been quietly working with me for a few years now. With my Adwords and his SEO, we make a heckuva 1-2 punch!
Please feel free to email me with any questions - or to get a quote for your city!
Best, Peter
Monday, March 21, 2011
It's Becoming An Email, Email World
Found a very interesting NY Times article this weekend that indicates we are becoming less and less of a phone call culture, as email and text and Facebook supplant that form of communication.
This can important for therapists to know, as I've found many, especially older ones, are still in the telephone paradigm, and miss potential new clients because they don't check email often.
I'm working on a new White Paper on the different way we need to approach web-based potential clients, but becoming fluent in email, and checking it regularly, are definitely a must if you are going to be marketing your practice on the web.
OK, here's the article (linked via Seattle Times to avoid the new NYT paywall):
Don't call me, I won't call you
Happy, well, emailing! Peter
This can important for therapists to know, as I've found many, especially older ones, are still in the telephone paradigm, and miss potential new clients because they don't check email often.
I'm working on a new White Paper on the different way we need to approach web-based potential clients, but becoming fluent in email, and checking it regularly, are definitely a must if you are going to be marketing your practice on the web.
OK, here's the article (linked via Seattle Times to avoid the new NYT paywall):
Don't call me, I won't call you
Happy, well, emailing! Peter
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