Find Buffalo Blog

If your looking for one more reason to visit Buffalo, or you’re a resident in search of great locally produced items, then mark Saturday mornings on your calendar. The Buffalo, MN Farmers Market kicks off the 2007 summer on May 5th with hanging baskets, bedding and vegetable plants, lettuce, spinach, and radishes and continues with fresh local fruits and vegetables all season long. You will also find eggs, fresh baked breads and pies, delicious maple syrup, candies, and handmade soaps and crafts throughout the season.

The Farmers Market is open every Saturday through October, rain or shine, from 8:00am to Noon. The market is located in downtown Buffalo (get directions) in the parking lot across from the Buffalo Movie Theater.

I have loved reading Daniel’s DailyBlogTips Blogger Face-Off posts (Odden vs. Fishkin, Chow vs. Coddington) and wanted to use that format with some great local search minds. Paul Jahn of LocalMN and Matt McGee of Small Business SEM are two great local search experts. I emailed these pros of local search with nine questions and here is how they weighed in. I’m hoping to put together another Local Search One-on-One next month so stay tuned.

	Paul Jahn | Local MN Blog Covering local search marketing
	Matt McGee | Small Business SEM For small businesses that want to compete and succeed on their own terms (and budgets).

Q: What’s your favorite thing about local search?
Paul: Definitely being able to search for something online, finding exactly what I want, then walking or driving to purchase something and have it all within an hour or two.

Matt: From a marketing perspective, it’s a tougher nut to crack than regular search. From a user perspective, it’s less bulky than the phone book.

Q: What’s next for local search?
Paul: I see more adoption of user ratings and reviews, similar to what’s prevalent in online product search.

Matt: More confusion, more trouble with bad data or lack of data, more growth predictions, and hopefully more consolidation.

Q: The better local solution right now: Google Maps or Yahoo Local?
Paul: Two days ago I would have said Yahoo. Right now, I’d say Google and more attention to TrueLocal (Yahoo Local has some local spam issues to fix).

Matt: Yahoo has better tools for maps and driving directions. Google is a better natural search option for business owners, but Yahoo is a better paid search option.

Q: What is your favorite local directory?
Paul: Right now there’s not one in particular, but in a few months or so I’m guessing it will have something to do with iBegin Source.

Matt: Probably Yelp because at my age I tend to like things that make me feel hip.

Q: Would you rather own and operate a local search engine or a local directory website?
Paul: Given my lack of algorithmic formula skills, I’d definitely have to say a directory.

Matt: Neither? They both sound less satisfying than what I’m doing now.

Q: With a $1,000 or less annual budget, what 3 things should a small business execute online?
Paul: Getting their correct business information to the online portals, get social (online), and proactively encourage customers to provide online ratings and reviews … and up the budget (ok, that’s four).

Matt: Less than $100/month? That’s ultra-small budget. Okay… 1) A blog. 2) A listing in all the free local search sites. 3) A PPC campaign on low-cost, long tail phrases (including geo-targeting).

Q: What is the most important SEO tactic for a small business (excluding content)?
Paul: This deviates from SEO a bit, but 3rd party reviews on trusted, visible sites.

Matt: Almost impossible to answer because SEO is a process. Great content won’t do much good without links. But I’ll say keyword research, because if you get that wrong, you’ve sabotaged almost everything else in the process.

Q: What do you think FindBuffalo.com’s strongest feature is?
Paul: Aaron, there is absolutely no one in Buffalo that is providing the unique community content like you are, and there aren’t many people in other communities that do, either.

Matt: Aside from the fact you once linked to my wife’s real estate blog? Okay… you’re very focused on one specific area. “Hyper-local” seems to be the hot keyword these days, and that’s what you are.

Q: What one thing should FindBuffalo.com improve or add?
Paul: Hmm - maybe an area for businesses to portray user-generated “YouTube type” commercials and the Find Buffalo faithful could rate them? I don’t think anyone is doing that right now.

Matt: Localize what people are doing elsewhere on the web; i.e., Buffalo-Tube, where local folks can share videos. Buffalickr, where local folks can share photos, but with a better name than that! (What about a place for local photographers to post and sell their photos?) Buffalauction, where local folks can post links to their eBay auctions, because it’s always easier when the buyer and seller are nearby. That’s more than one, sorry.

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Thanks Paul and Matt for taking the time and giving great information for any small business and any local search mind. You’ve set the bar high for whomever follows here. My readers now have two new blogs to subscribe to.

Great websites come in “ones”, not hundreds or thousands. So why do so many small businesses buy a packaged web solution with their content all ready created, some design choices (nasty ones), and “Search Engine Tools”? I would rank their most common reasons as:

1. Price point
2. Turn-key with content & design
3. They don’t know any better

The first reason is easy to understand to a point. Every business and organization should be financially responsible and how great does a $100 set-up fee and $20 a month look compared to thousands of dollars for a custom solution? They think it’s priceless, but really it’s costly. These businesses range from Real Estate/Mortgage to Lawyers to Car Dealerships. They launch their shiny new pre-packaged site and join 50 or 100 or 1,000 other sites, saying the same thing and looking the same way. Instead of saying, “Here is what we do different to earn your business” they scream “At least we have a website that tells you nothing different that a bunch of others.” Search Engines could care else about these sites, they already have indexed thousands of pages with this content. Other sites? Not many see value in linking to you and your stale content. All these pieces result in few leads developed, converting only those that were seeking you out in the first place.

So what should these businesses do?
The first step is realizing the value in doing things correctly, even at small level. Here is what I recommend to those weighing out a fabulous 100 page pre-packaged website vs. a 5 page custom site.

1. A basic, clean and professional design is better than anything. Create, shoot or buy one good image (pro photographer) to build your image around. A simple layout makes it easier for users to both understand your site and use your site.

2. If you have very little creativity, hire a free lancer that does! Using a web savvy copywriter is the best bang for your buck. A good copywriter will interview your staff, find the key components to telling your story, give it some energy and also have some understanding of search engines and keywords. The bonus: Good copy can also be used or tweaked for print materials.

3. Answer the top ten. If your website does not answer the top ten questions you get from a prospective client on the phone or in person, your going to loose out when a potential client is comparing you or trying to get a feel for you. Sounds simple, but most websites fail this test.

So small business owners and decision makers, keep these points in mind and consider my parting point. What equation sounds better to you, little money for no leads or some money for more leads?

So I can review what the heck I was thinking when the last day of 2006 seems like a long time ago, I’ll post it. FindBuffalo.com has been up and running for about 30 days now I’m pleased with the steady progress the site is making. I have definately made a short and long list of improvements to the site and most of them center around giving the users more control and abilties. Those include job postings, user reviews and possibly Buffalo, MN real estate listings. The other two numbers that matter to me are these:

1. Grow to an average of 300+ users per day.

2. Land 40+ local businesses as site sponsors/advertisers.

I know I will be blogging more on how I’m doing with these numbers so stay tuned. I will also add that I have learned a TON about the Blogosphere and all that it has to offer. I’m looking forward to writing more, attracting more readers, getting more comments/feedback and growing my blogability even further. Best of luck to everyone out there in 2007 and Happy New Year!

The goal of local search is getting more defined as providers of pay per click and search realize that local means “in my neighborhood”. Currently Google or Yahoo can provide PPC ads for specific larger cities or states, but new technnology seems to be emerging that would allow PPC advertisers to specify zip codes and even neighborhoods they want to market to. Imagine waking up on a Sunday morning, typing in “fresh donuts” and getting the results of two bakeries, just 4 blocks away that have yummy donuts at a special price for you. It may just happen.

BusinessWeek.com put out an article on December 26th on Skyhook and how their technology can provide this scenario if the right partnerships fall into place (read article). Skyhook Wireless out of Boston has developed software that employs a computers Wi-fi to pinpoint the users location and then, with the cooperation of the big search engines, relevant ads can be delivered based on their location. This can be another major step in small business internet marketing and one useful tool for consumers.

Reports cite that Skyhook has mapped 100 of largest cities in the U.S. to date with more to come. Skyhook also stated that rollout of the service in some form is scheduled for 6 to 12 months down the line. It will likely take time after a full roll out to reach a community the size of Buffalo, but when it does, it will be great for getting a steal on a dozen donuts.

The business directory on FindBuffalo.com offers a local business the opportunity to have more information displayed on their company and offering. The PLUS listing allows the display of the company logo, up to four (4) photos, contact info, website link, text on services or products, directions and a Mapquest link. The PLUS listing page will also have editable page titles, meta information and unique URL to aid in SEO efforts.

View an example PLUS listing at: findbuffalo.com/foxefyre

In Fox Fyre Gallery’s case, they do not have a website, so the PLUS listing can now be the most informative page about them on the internet. It also allows them to eventually be indexed with keywords/terms related to their services and locale of “custom framing Buffalo, MN” or “picture framing Buffalo, MN“. This benefits the business and FindBuffalo as well for generating traffic. Foxe Fyre also receives a custom URL (as linked) that they can give out over the phone to someone wanting directions or to use on a business card or other print collateral.

My goal is to provide the business with an internet presence or another quality link into their site to improve their own SEO in addition to the lead generation the page on it’s own can have through users searching the directory. I’ll be sure to post more once I have some examples of these PLUS listings generating traffic from search engines.

In doing some searching on Yahoo I came across the Yahoo City Guide for Buffalo. (search buffalo mn on yahoo and this will be your first organic result)

I’m mostly a Google searcher so this is the first time I have noticed this feature, so forgive my ignorance if this has been in play for some time. The page provides a Yahoo Map with an option to see Wi-fi hotspots, but there are none listed. I have you beat Yahoo, here are the Buffalo, MN Wi-Fi hotspots. Below the map are columns that provide user ratings on Buffalo, MN restaurants and other local favorites, very cool. Yahoo user Jud, rated BJ’s Deli a 4 star out of 5 and I agree. BJ and Matt make some great sandwiches and wraps however you want them right in the heart of downtown Buffalo.

Also getting some props is The Mill Creek Inn. The Mill is known for it’s nightly specials and good value. Here is a great example of a business getting buzz or mileage from patrons willing to post about their experience, but Mill Creek has no website to further the experience of a user who read their ratings and then went to search for their website. The next time I’m eating out there I’ll try to leverage the power of a Directory Plus listing on FindBuffalo to give them a bit more exposure online … where people are already speaking up about them.

I’m a strong believer in PR and press releases. In FindBuffalo.com’s infancy it will be important to tap into key PR opportunities to generate branding, awareness and buzz for the site locally. One thing that was easy as well as a must was to write a press release about the launching of FindBuffalo.com.

As you can tell from reading my blog, an accomplished writer I am not. Writing an adequate press release is not rocket science if you follow some basic rules. There are a lot of PR advice sites out there, just search it. I also feel that if you have zero talent or time to produce this, then seek a pro to help you out. It is more than worth it.

I used to visit PRweb to distribute a press release online, but they have moved away from free services to only fee services so it led me to seek out another source for this. I came up with PR.com after a search and used their free distribution service, but I did pay a small fee to include a link in the release. I linked the text “Buffalo, Minnesota” in the opening sentence to FindBuffalo.com in order to generate a bit of SEO weight. Click here to read the press release. The service also secured that the release would appear on Google News. Click here for Google News result display

In addition to seeking out ways to get PR, I hope that the site creates some opportunities by it’s unique offering and perceived value.

Well, after about 8 months of planning and work FindBuffalo.com is viewable to the world. This is a 2 man, grass roots project … and hopefully we’ll find a volunteer or two along the way. The next month or so to end 2006 will be spent working out the bugs, putting good ideas to work and getting things ship-shape. The site is built on the Site Management Console from Intrcomm Technology and it is a great hosted CMS. I have worked with the SMC for 5 years now and truly believe in it’s abilities, flexibility, scalability and most of all, ease of use. My job (FindBuffalo.com is a hobby) utilizes this system to build our websites and it services everything from banking sites to e-commerce.

Not a soul knows about this site so we will be building a brand and user following from nothing. I’m extremely interested to see how some of the SEO tactics I’ve put together perform. I’m sure I’ll be blogging about that plenty. Thats enough for post number one, on day number one. Cheers to the future.

Site Users on 12.7.06: ZERO
Sites linking to FindBuffalo.com: 2