15 replies to this topic

[demsco]

Hello all,

I am new to this forum and new, kind of, to being a webmaster. I own annuityiq.com and work specifically with variable annuities, don't go to sleep on me now! I am an expert I have over 12 years experience in the financial services industry. Now I launched my site about 2.5 weeks ago, (and of course I am wondering why I am not number one in google yet cause I am the best ;-)) and I did a press release and got visitors and some sales which is good. My question is how do expand my reach and let people know I am a true expert? If you go to my site I hold nothing back and show people where they can track my record, etc, but I need more mainstream coverage. How or where do I go where I can write on my topic? I know my stuff, but am not sure who to tell it to. Any ideas out there?

[ewo]

Two possible resources: Eldrige and Bly

[SearchRank]

You might start a blog and make sure you have a RSS feed so your content can be picked up. However with this and anything else you do, it can still take to establish credibility and influence online. It is not typically something that can be achieved overnight.

[demsco]

You might start a blog and make sure you have a RSS feed so your content can be picked up. However with this and anything else you do, it can still take to establish credibility and influence online. It is not typically something that can be achieved overnight.

But I want it now! Joke, I know, i actually do have a blog on my site and a forum. Would you be willing to look at it and let me know what you think? annuityiq.com, no hyperlink cause I do not want to spam it here. Thanks for the quick reply btw.

ewo I will check that out thank you, looks interesting.

[Jill]

demsco, you'll need to follow Forum Rules in regards to getting a site review, so please reread those when you get a chance.

In addition to a blog, you might want to start an email newsletter, and also hang out in forums where your target market hangs out and just be generally helpful and informative there.

[bsmithey011]

Good SEO takes time and cannot be done overnight. I hear article submission to article directories can get you listed quicker, but many times thee articles will out place your website and more readers will click on the ads than on your resource link. Also many directories have not been honoring active links or even omit the link in its entirety.

[torka]

Sounds to me as though you're talking about marketing and public relations as much as you are SEO, at least to start with. That's how you get the word out about yourself and brand yourself as an expert.

Pitch articles to magazines and newspapers. Try to get friendly with local TV reporters so they'll call on you as a "local expert" for stories with a financial angle. Your first press release had some positive effects, so don't stop with just the one. Submit periodic (but not too frequent ) press releases with tie-ins between your services and upcoming holidays, current events, recent news stories, etc. Come up with a presentation or two on interesting topics related to your area of expertise, and go out on the speaking circuit in your area (check with local business organizations, chambers of commerce, etc. to see if they're looking for after-dinner speakers or people to make presentations at meeting). Podcasts. Webinars. An e-book...

Just keep in mind, branding yourself as an expert, like getting top rankings in the SEs, will take work and likely won't happen overnight.

--Torka

[rogerbauer]

Torka is on point. Adding a little to that: give potential customers something they desire for free (within reason), and many will feel a sense of obligation to buy something from you in return. That's the theory of reciprocity in action, and it can pay huge dividends if used appropriately.

[Keith Cash]

Post articles in ezines and post helpful tips on blogs, related to financial services industry.

Hope this Helps you.

Cheers

[JamesDean]

I feel one of the best ways out there is submitting articles to directories which in turn you will get traffic from the articles and it will also help you rank higher in the serps

[Manish]

Right on Torka!

Everything in this world takes time. Think of any company what so ever it may be. They build something in common. Something free and valuable that will help many in some way or the other.

Think about this thread if we give you good advice then you would thank us otherwise just go away!

Take care

[John H]

Have a discussion with a PR firm who specializes working with people have a background in providing PR work for online businesses.

[John H]

Have a discussion with a PR firm who specializes working with people have a background in providing PR work for online businesses.

We just finished a trade show and two publications are going to do a news article about our new business. Are there any trade shows you could go to to get that type of exposure?

Thanks,

John

[drmadcow]

My first tip would be to 301 annuityiq.com to www.annuityiq.com, there are 12 links to your site that don't include www (530ish Yahoo) this will pass the strength over however little it may be. Your site also feels way too much like a template and generic, which may scare off consumers work on making your image more distinct and unique. You might also want to experiment with remove a few instances of annuity from your content and see if your rankings go up or down on your keyphrases. Thats my two sense, of course the easier answer is just hire an SEO

[DanThies]

One of the easiest things you can do is write and publish. You're after publications that reach your target audience - the more readers the better. Go direct, find out what it will take to get published, then do it.

You're taking the right approach by becoming an expert first, BTW. 8 years ago, I had gotten lucky enough times in a row that I thought I was an SEO expert. Compared to the other available experts, I probably was, but it didn't take long for people like Alan Perkins and Jill Whalen to point out how little I actually knew... so I had to go back to school and become an expert after the fact. It's easier to start as an expert.