“Having a web site without it being optimized for search engines is like having an unlisted telephone number – both are bad for business.”
~ Evan Sohn

Yesterday I did a search for one my colleagues websites.  She had a unique name so I just typed it in the Google search.  A lot came up but not her website or any links to her website.  So, I thought I’ll just add her credentials to narrow it down a bit – still nothing that would lead me to her site.  Finally I dug through my business card pile and found her web address and typed it in. And if you can believe this, the domain name was hername.com and yet I still couldn’t find it on a Google search – crazy!

When I finally got to her page, I was impressed by her great new website – very professional, good design, easy navigation, and a rocking picture.  It was sad to me that it was so hard to find her site.  She has all you would want in a website, yet you can’t find her site anywhere unless you actually type in the web address – it’s kind of like the an unlisted number.  This is where SEO comes into play.  

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) may sound too technical and you might think you would have to pay thousands for it but here is the reality I’ve experienced:  Private practice small business owners can do just a few easy, and free, things that will greatly improve their search engine rankings as well as increase their visibility on the web.  I have seen several counselor sites climb to the top of Google searches without signing up for expensive services. 

If you find yourself with an “unlisted website” give me a call and we can see what can be done to help you find your way to the top… of the Google search that is.

Check out more info from Evan Sohn on low cost ways to drive new clients to your business.

You may have noticed that there have been a few less posts lately… not sure why.  Maybe because I was planning a wedding and honeymoon and then having my wedding and enjoying my honeymoon.  Somewhere in there, I forgot to do a few of my blog posts : )

Here is a great quote that I love… and was reminded of when I was on my honeymoon.  We stayed on the coast and this was our view of the ocean every day – not bad.

We do so long for safety, but is that really what life is all about?  Do we dream about the port or the wide open, beautiful, wild ocean?

“A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
-Grace Hopper

I am amazed at the never ending resources Google has to offer… it seems like every day I am learning about some new gadget or tool they have. 

So far my favorite, and most useful, tool is the Local Business Center.  The best part is that it is FREE and, chances are, it will put you toward the TOP of the Google page.  All you have to do is sign up, enter your business info, and add a few pictures.  Google loves pictures and video, so if you have a few shots or your office or a fitting video, add it to your business profile it and it will only improve your chances of being at the top of the list.  And you can even have your colleagues write some rocking reviews about how you are a great therapist. 

Then wait a couple days and do a search for ”counseling” or “mental health” in your city and see what comes up.  Right now, when you search for  ”mental health renton wa” my consulting and counseling businesses come up as #1 and #2 at the top of the Google page which is so exciting!   And when you search for “counseling renton wa” my counseling site comes us as #2 – not too bad!  

Really, the whole search engine ranking process is a bit of a mystery, and not just to me, I was told that from someone who’s career is in Search Engine Optimization.  We really don’t know for sure how Google decides who gets at the top, but I feel like the Local Business Search (as well as Biznik) has really paid off for me.  It was definitely worth the 10 minutes I spent setting up my business profile. 

So don’t just take my word for it – sign up today and see what happens. It’s free!

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” 
~Maya Angelou

This is so much of what therapy is about, being with another in the midst of stories one never thought would be shared.  And oh the healing in just speaking the words… and at the same time realizing that this is the beginning of much hard work yet to be done.

More inspiration from Maya Angelou

Jeffery Gitomers is a big time sale guru who says it like it is.

The economy is falling. The economy is falling.

It must be true. It’s all over the news. The economy is in BIG trouble. Stocks, mortgages, banks, insurance companies, the Yankees. All falling or failing.

Falling from where? The biggest economic boom of all time? The biggest housing boom of all time? The easiest loan requirements of all time?

Business is not down, it’s different.

For example, when you hear the negative statistic on the news that home sales are down 33%, it actually means that FIVE MILLION homes will be sold this year. The only unanswered question is: Who will get that business? The media portrays gloom when actually there’s still PLENTY of opportunity – just not as much as before.

The low hanging fruit of two years ago is now much higher in the trees.

There’s plenty of business in the marketplace – just not as much as there was during what was the biggest housing and economic boom of all time. As a result, businesses are adjusting to current market conditions, and your company is no exception.

How’s business with you? Flat? Dipping a bit? When will it begin to get better?

Read more from Gitomer.

Starting a business is a big venture… and it is likely that we will make many mistakes along the way, that’s how we learn right? On the other hand, there is always the option of learning from other people who have already make the mistakes. Seek out those “other people”

“Some of us learn from other people’s mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people.”
- Zig Ziglar

Biznik is the best when it comes to business networking! There isn’t another business networking community out there that rocks it like Biznik – I love it! You can go to classes and learn about all sorts of small business topics – for free! You can meet people, in your area, face-to-face at networking events – for free! And talk about SEO power – if you register with Biznik, your business will get a much higher rank in Google searches! All this for free… or you can upgrade for $10 or $24 a month and get even more benefits. If you have a small business and haven’t singed up yet, you are missing out. Follow this link to check out Biznik and sign up today. And they aren’t even paying me for this plug – I just think it’s that great!

This is one of my favorite quotes… It’s on the back of my counseling business card because it moves me, inspires me, and reminds me of what it is that I do as a therapist and what it is that I search for as a human being.

“We probably have wondered in our many lonesome moments if there is one corner in this competitive, demanding world where it is safe to be relaxed, to expose ourselves to someone else, and to give unconditionally. It might be very small and hidden. but if this corner exists, it calls for a search through the complexities of our human relationships in order to find it.”
~ Henri Nouwen

Our fears are powerful.  They keep us bound and prevent us from moving forward.  Marianne Williamson makes an interesting point that what we truly fear is our success.  We may think it is our fear of failure that paralyzes us, but take a read of this quote and ponder it a bit.  Even if you don’t buy into the spiritual aspect of this idea, you have to admit that there is some truth to what she says. Let’s not let our ability to succeed hold us back, we are brilliant and talented so let us live our dreams!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  
~ Marianne Williamson

I love this image, even though it is just a photo of rusted metal… but actually, it turns out that rusted metal is quite beautiful.  I came across this site the has 50 free images of rusted metal and I just love it.  The colors and the textures excite me and get my mind going about all sorts of art I could create with these images.  I think part of the draw in this photo is that is shows the beauty of the wear and tear of life.  The metal is worn and aged, the colors have faded in places, and the surface is scratched and pealing… but it’s an amazing piece of art to me because it shows the beauty of the wear and tear that we all experience.  Life is hard, for sure, and we are marked by it… but there is hope that the hard things many also bring beauty.