For All You Technically Astute

[millring]

I'm looking into hiring this guy's service...
besearched.com/

Of all the artists I know who have decided to try having a website, only one has turned their website into a viable marketing tool. The major difference between that one artist and all the others is that she hired the "besearched" guy.

On the other hand, I was talking to another artist on Saturday and I mentioned that I was thinking about hiring "besearched" and his comment (a comment made without knowing specifically about "besearched") was, "Well, I hope it's not a service that you're going to PAY for".

I'm going to email my negative friend back today and ask him what he meant by the "Well, I hope...: comment. Meanwhile, I figure there's enough internet savy here that it's worth asking...

...so, is what the "besearched" guy is offering so elementary, so simple that I shouldn't be paying for it? Is it something that can be simply and cheaply done?

"Besearch"'s basic package starts at $1400 annually. (though, if I understand it, what they can do in that year makes them only marginally necessary for subsequent years).

[timfarney]

I'm guessing, John, that all this service does is optimize your site for search engine hits. I don't know how that's done, but in all likelihood, there's probably a freelancer in your area that could do it much cheaper. I've talked to the folks I get strings from about this. They do the stocking, order-taking, etc. Their son-in-law set up the web site and optimized it for Google hits. No service, just one computer-savvy guy. And if you type "guitar strings" into Google, they come up six down (stringsandbeyond.com) with two of the hits above them being manufacturers, not retailers. Not bad.

The other trick, of course, is making sure that one sentence that shows up in Google is interesting enough to get people to click. That has to do with brand message and advertising crap. I'd be happy to help you with that at no charge.

Anybody out there know how to get good Google search results? We could save John $1400 a year.

Tim

[Deleted]

Great topic!

only one has turned their website into a viable marketing tool.

I did my own site and I can't see that it is in any way optimised for "marketing", or even getting "an internet presence" . So I'm maybe the last person to listen to for advice in this area. Nevertheless...

If you calculate that it will get adequate return against investment, then go for it, but there is a conundrum that keeps rattling around in my mind that I haven't found a solution to (yet). It is as follows:

Out of all the genres trying to market music, acoustic guitarists are looking to engage an audience that is among the least internet savvy or interested. Our audience is into old-timey stuff and have traditional, non-technological sensibilites - often consciously so. Some even avoid, or even despise the internet. Don't even think about them downloading your songs from iTunes, and the like.

Of course, I generalise and maybe exagerate a little, but I think my point has validity. Look around your audience at your next gig and count the iPods. For the heck of it, imagine how many of them spend a lot of time surfing the internet with broadband connections.

Yes, it's partly a generational thing, but there's an element of traditionalism that's playing a part too.

When I've worked it out (the conundrum), I'll be in a better place to make judgements about investing in professional web designers and the like. Until then my "Buy It Now" button and alternative link to CDBaby will have to suffice. I still reckon I'll sell more CDs at gigs.

See, I told you I would be the last person to listen to!

Cheers!

[Gypsy Picker]

John -- I've written a fair amount on this subject, and likely emailed some you some info last year, as I recall. Let me see if I can dig up a primer for you.

[millring]

Scott,

You're the first person I ever heard all this from. I'm just trying to figure out if there's anything he's actually doing on his end -- besides telling me what words I can best use in my website -- to get me further "up-page" on the search engines.

He has a 90 day money-back guarantee that he'll have me on the front page of at least one search engine.

I've got to get a kiln loaded but there's LOTS more to discuss on the subject.

[Gypsy Picker]

John, I'll check his website as soon as I get the time. There are a number of things that can be done to optimize web search results. Some sites go so far as submitting seperate home pages specifically optimized for each different search engine's ranking algorithm. As a small operation, one thing for you to consider before undertaking anything costly is if you really want that much exposure right now.

[mnhermit]

John - I know that when I searched for you through google - even knowing your name and what state you were in - it was hard to find your site. Now that I know the 'key' word 'stoneware' it should be easier the next time.

My understanding of the way that google works is that the more people who have links to your site the higher it will rank on google's list and I'm not sure that paying 'besearched' that much money a year is really worth it. If all of us on this forum who have websites would add a link to your site it might help as much. If you're going to spend your money on web stuff - spend it on upgrading your online store it would show a better return on investment. Or possibly check out how much it would cost to buy an add on google under search word 'potter' or 'stoneware'

A last word - I make NO money from the web so this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it. :-) I'm probably just full of shit.

Good luck John

[Gypsy Picker]

Or possibly check out how much it would cost to buy an add on google under search word 'potter'...

With Harry Potter's popularity, I would suggest you don't even bother considering that option (no offense, Hermit).

[mnhermit]

None taken gypsy - I'd forgotten entirely about the Harry kind of potter

[Gypsy Picker]

The more generalized and/or popluar a word or phrase is, the more Google charges for an ad or otherwise enhanced listing. Even terms that are very specialized can be quite expensive. Plus, there are additional charges for each click-through. If the click-throughs you get aren't really your target audience, it's akin to inviting (and paying for) metal-shredders to the opera.

[timfarney]

He has a 90 day money-back guarantee that he'll have me on the front page of at least one search engine.

Given the dominance of their market share, for that kind of money, I'd want to be on the front page of Google, not "at least one search engine."

There's no doubt that you have to get good Google to have a decent commerce site. Sounds like a couple of others here can give you better advice on how to do that.

Tim

[millring]

"it's akin to inviting (and paying for) metal-shredders to the opera."

And that, I believe, is precisely my friend's major problem with the whole notion.

When I was young and starting out I used to do shows in malls. Back in the 70s that wasn't a horrible option -- and some of those shows were pretty good.

But it didn't take long to realize that an audience that is there to buy shoes is only, at best, going to halfway look at a pottery booth set up in a mall.

Sorta likewise the web. Some hits are not worth attracting.

On the other hand, the very thing that I find attractive about a web presence is the millions of people who will never attend an art fair in the midwest.

If I can duplicate/imitate the kind of appeal through my website that I have at the art fairs, I could maybe see myself needing to travel less for my business.

I think that's a long shot. I think I'm ready to see though.

Inventory has been my constant problem for the past twenty-five years. This year I will have been on the road for 75 days total. That's 75 day that I'm not in the studio making more inventory.

It's been the constant catch 22 of business. I can either have inventory or I can sell it. I can't do both.

Thanks for the input, fellas.