FREE Online Guide to Creating a Small Business Brand

While traveling on a country road, anything is possible. I had to stop and ponder when I encountered this small business on a recent camping trip with my wife and daughter. The bold approach of this small town boutique hair shop took my eyes of the cows. But, before you pass judgement, think of this: they must have enough loyal customers to name their business "Curl Up and Dye." Unfortunately, no matter how tightly the name clung to me or how syrupy sweet the font was; I continue to doubt the safety of any encounter with a pair of their scissors.

What do you think?

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You type a word into the blank rectangular box on a search engine page and hit the enter key. Before you know it, you are delivered ordered results. It lists the links that it thinks are the most relevant first, and the others are placed in a descending pecking order. It seems like magic. How did it do that?

Welcome to the fast growing world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Search engine technology is the most advanced artificial intelligence created whose goal is to deliver the most relevant content to your search parameters. The top listings of the search results are from websites that have shaped their Web pages according to a search engine's strict filtering process. These engines are the most effective "police" force in online business because they ensure brands are clearly saying what they offer.

People search and rank businesses based on many similar parameters that search engines do. Just as fast as the search engines determine relevance, people have a lightning-fast, subconscious filtering process that they go through when selecting one business over another. So, just as you can have your website optimized to heighten your result ranking; you can also optimize your small business to rank higher with customers.

Here are seven valuable "brand optimization" lessons that your small business practices can learn from the basics of SEO tactics:

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SEO Tactic #1: Pick primary keywords that your customers will likely search you by. Instead of picking "fashion design" as a keyword, be specific with "European fashion design."

Applying this lesson to your Small Business Brand Practice: This is an equivalent to having a clear focus for your brand. In BRANDING TO THE POWER OF 5, I highlight that the single most important aspect of a business is VALUE, which is partly made up of having a clear Focus. You must know specifically what niche you offer, why it's important to your brand, and why it's beneficial to your customer. This underlying VALUE must shine through everything you are saying and doing.

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SEO Tactic #2: Make sure your site's title is clear. Titles are what appear on the top of your Web site pages and must include your selected keywords from Tip# 1.

Applying this lesson to your Small Business Brand Practice: This is an equivalent to your soul pitch (a passionate elevator pitch). It's how customers understand the benefit they will receive from your brand. If they "feel" they will get something significant from your brand right from the first encounter, they will interact with you further.

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SEO Tactic #3: Keep your Web site text detailed and brief. The more precise your words are, and the more relevant they are to your keywords, the better your chances of getting ranked higher.

Applying this lesson to your Small Business Brand Practice: Your business must demonstrate VALUE in every touchpoint a customer encounters. The clearer and to the point your small brand is in describing how you fit into their life; the higher your brand will rise in their hearts.

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SEO Tactic #4: Take Advantage of Heading Tags. Heading Tags are the titles of the sub-sections in your Web pages. These are often overlooked and play an important role in rankings.

Applying this lesson to your Small Business Brand Practice: Every portion of your business needs to be clear in how that part fits in with the overall VALUE the small brand provides. This creates a subconscious hierarchy of importance in a customer's mind.

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SEO Tactic #5: Don't abuse Meta Tags. Meta Tags are invisible keywords and descriptions that define your Web site. Don't say "Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee" repeatedly. Search engines know when you are overdoing it.

Applying this lesson to your Small Business Brand Practice: Your customers feel the "invisible" things of your business such as the tone in which you speak, the signs your business shows, and all the little DETAILS that make up your brands larger picture. The more desperate you appear; the more uncomfortable they will feel. You must demonstrate natural CONFIDENCE.

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SEO Tactic #6: Use hyperlinks effectively. Incorporate keywords in the text of your links, as well as before and after the link. (e.g. Providing quality coffee all day long is tough for cafes. Here are a few brewing tips from Wyoming's Best Coffee to help you understand the basic rules of making a consistent cup of Joe.)

Applying this lesson to your Small Business Brand Practice: One of the suggestions I offer in BRANDING TO THE POWER OF 5, is to form Shared VALUE Groups. This is a small business alliance formed in your geographic area that you refer business to. Listen to your customer's needs. It's important that you believe in the VALUE they provide. Then "bake" it in when referring your customers to other businesses that they could benefit from. (i.e. "You are wearing such beautiful custom jewelry. A boutique owner down the road who shops here a lot has this incredible collection from a local artist.")

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SEO Tactic #7: Don't try to trick the search engine. Some sites try to add repetitive keywords on a page with the same color as the background, use more than one title tag, duplicate pages, or write out keywords as a list in the Web site text. You run the risk of being blacklisted from search engines if you try this, because they know what your angle is.

Applying this lesson to your for Small Business Brand Practice: Just as search engines are receptive to deception, so are your customers. Bait and switch tactics, discount sales, coupons, etc. may draw customers into your business. But, the less desperate measures you take, over time your brand will appear to have higher quality.

By comparing your small business brand with the basics on how Web sites are ranked on search engines, you can see that the important factors are:

To be precise and clear with the benefit your brand provides and;

Demonstrate that VALUE in every DETAIL, especially during customer encounters.

In BRANDING TO THE POWER OF 5, I stress that VALUE is the foundation of your business. Let your customers sense your VALUE and you will rank the highest in their heart.