Signing up for alerts is easy, go to  http://www.google.com/alerts and fill out the information you want to receive alerts on.

How you can use Google Alerts

1. Track Your Company. I have a Google Alert running for “Network in Vegas” and various other businesses that I monitor. I am updated everytime something is published about one of my companies.
2. Track Your URL. “Yourbusiness.com”
3. Stay on top of Industry News – To stay on top of industry news, create alerts for keywords and key phrases related to your industry.
4. Track Your Products. Set up alerts for your branded product names. If you have multiple products with different names, set up alerts for each one.
5. Track Your employees. You can also setup alerts for key people within your company. If you have employees who speak publicly about your business, it’s a good idea to track their name with an alert.
6. Track Your Competitors. You can also setup alerts on your competitors business. Doing this can give you a huge edge on your competition and allow you to respond quickly to their latest sales and marketing efforts.

Blogging, Social Media, Search Engines, Websites, what’s a business owner to do?

Well to begin with you need to have a presence online ( a powerful presence). From looking up reviews of local restaurants to finding directions to your next meeting, the internet has changed the way people do business.

With just a couple clicks, people can find out everything they need to know about a product, or a business. The good, the bad, and the ugly, it’s all there for the world to see. What are your customers finding when they search for you? Can they even find you, and if they can what are they saying?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you need to find out. Do a quick Google search on your companies name, then do a quick search on your name, find anything? What are people saying?

Hopefully what you found is not to bad, or even worse, hopefully you didn’t come to find out that the internet has forgotten about you and your business. No matter what the case, it’s not to late to create a powerful online presence.

Things you can do to get started.

1. Website – I’m hoping that you at least have a website. If you don’t you need to develop one right now. Even if your “just a sales person” you should have a small website telling your prospects who you are and what you do. Remember you are trying to brand yourself, while at the same time controlling what information people see when they search for you or your product.
2. Blogging - Blogging is easy, and it allows you to stay connected to your customers. Think of it as a powerful way of networking. Blogging allows you to write posts on everything from helpful tips on how to use your products – to relevant news related to your industry. It is a great tool that can help you stay in contact with your customers.  If you need help setting up a blog contact us over at  http://richardsongraphics.com/webdesign/blogs.
3. Social Media / Networking – Social Media is like networking on steroids. It consists of using tools like  Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, commenting on other blogs, and a myriad of other social networking sites.If done right it can be a very effective way of growing your business. One word of caution, make sure you know what your doing. Using Facebook and other Social networking sites can also be very harmful to your business. Remember that everything you do online is there for the world to see. A lot of these sites are filled with people making fools out of themselves, don’t be one of them.

There are a million and one things you can do to control your brand online.  With a little bit of work you can use the internet to grow your business beyond your wildest expectations.

Need help establishing your online presence? Contact me at www.RichardsonGraphics.com You can also call me directly at 702-253-7446

With a growing number of strip malls and stores in the Las Vegas Area it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. It can be hard for one business to stand out from the next.

To really stand out and attract new customers you have to be different, you have to draw your prospects attention and make them want to come through your door. One of the best things we ever starting doing at Richardson Graphics, was full color window graphics. They have really helped our customers to smash there competition.

Check out some of the stores here in Las Vegas that have successfully used window graphics to increase their customer base.

Window Graphics all by RichardsonGraphics.com

If you want to attract attention to your business give us a call at 702-253-7446.
You can also checkout some more of our work at Richardsongraphics.com

Google Adwords can help people find you when they search on Google. Adwords lets your ads appear next to the search results.

Need help making your tradeshow a success? Click here

Even if your not active in social networking , chances are at some point you will be.  Make sure you take the time to register your company name on sites like, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and MySpace. Even if you never use these profiles, you will ensure that no one else uses your name.

Monday

• SURFACES 2009
• Open Bar at Mist

Tuesday

• World of Concrete Convention
• SURFACES 2009
• Open Bar at Double Helix Wine Bar and Boutique

Wednesday

• North Las Vegas Chamber Monthly breakfast
• SURFACES 2009
• Open Bar at Wasted Space

Thursday

• SURFACES 2009
• Henderson State of the City 2009
• Las Vegas Chamber Business After Hours Mixer
• B.U.S.E. Club
• Open Bar at Rouge

Friday

• North LV Chamber WOMEN’S FORUM BIZLUNCH
• First Friday Las Vegas Arts Events

It’s important to find out why your customer bought your product. Find out what made them want to buy your product over your competitor’s product. Knowing this can help you to fine tune your marketing and maximize your advertising dollars.

Don’t be scared to be creative and above all don’t be afraid of rejection. Not everyone is going to want to buy what your selling, but if you are willing to put yourself out there, you will be one step ahead of your competition and on the path to success.

Before you are done working today, take a few minutes to sit down and figure out a plan of action. Figure out away to stand out from your competition and then act on it.

Need some help with your marketing? Check out these Ideas:

• What is Marketing
• Crazy Marketing Ideas
• Guerrilla Marketing
• Rob’s Huge list of marketing Ideas
• 15 Ideas to increase your business
• Bold Marketing with Direct Mail