Know Your Place!

Still can't get your business onto Google page 1?

Google Places is a feature that will get your business listed on a map that appears on page 1 of Google. And it's FREE!



When someone initates a Google search, a map appears with locations pinpointed with a link to an informational page with details such as your contact info, description, business categories, operation hours, payment options, photos, videos, custom info and even a hyperlink to your own web page. You can even add coupons to your Google Places listing.

In addition, Google offers a personalized dashboard within Google Places that includes data about how many times people have found your business on Google, what keywords they used to find it and even what areas people traveled from to visit your business. This great marketing tool can help you make decisions within your own business. You can concentrate your efforts to fill the demands that Google search says people are looking for.

My clients have moved to page 1, you can easily do so too. Please contact me if you need assistance with Google Places.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

Why Number 11 Is Bad For Business

When conducting an online search, the first page on Google includes 10 entries. The click through rate to page 2 is an astonishing low 0.66%.

Ouch!

Number 11 gets you to the top of page 2, but realistically, less than 1% of your potential customers will ever see your listing.

There are 2 distinct ways to get on Google page 1

1. Google Adwords. With this method, you set your own daily budget and you pay a set amount for certain search words that your customers may use when looking for your service or product. This can cost as low as a couple pennies per click, up to over $50 per click.

2. SEO or Search Engine Optimization. This method involves many different "tune ups" to your website, many of which I discussed previously. Executed properly, your website can move up to page 1.

Here are some websites I designed and preformed my magic with SEO. Listed first is the website, next are the key words that potential customers would most likely use.

Black Eyed Pig Restaurant Naples Barbecue Restaurant
Ardent Manor Naples Adult Day Care
Mega Kids Naples Naples Childrens Furniture
Clearview Naples Naples Retractable Screens
and...
Dave Horton Advertising Naples Advertising Agency

There are many ad agencies below me in Google rankings that brag about their SEO talents. Why are they not above me in their own category?

If your website is #11 (or worse), please contact me for a free consultation. I can give you a few pointers on how you can improve your Google rankings yourself.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

A Good First Impression for $59

Your first impression to a potential client will usually determines whether he will do business with you in the future or not. Your business card is an inexpensive self-promotion tool that allow you to stand out from the pack and give yourself an edge. A well designed business card printed on a quality card stock shows that you value the quality of your work and that you are likely to offer the same service to customers. A poorly designed card on cheap paper serves as a warning to others that you cut corners promoting yourself, and will probably do the same with customer's work.

"I can do it myself. I have Publisher!" I hear many say when I offer to design and print cards for them. Most times their well intended efforts yield poor results after many hours of frustration and wasted time.

Below offers a typical example of a home made card a client put together and the card I designed and printed for him.

I design, assemble and print 1000 business cards printed on 14pt. UV coated card stock (the glossy cards) for only $59. This offer is extended to anyone in the United States.

Become a follower of my blog in the month of April. On May 1st, a random follower will receive 1000 FREE Business Cards.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

Please Stand By

A great way to save 50% - 80% off regular advertising rates is by running a "Stand-By Ad".

A stand-by ad is a print advertisement that a newspaper or magazine uses when, hours before press run, "holes" in the publication appear that requires ads for filler. If you submit a stand-by ad and it is ready to print, the ad can run at a huge discount.


The downside, of course, is that there is no guarantee your ad will appear on any given day.

It is important that your stand-by ad catches the eye of the reader. This can be achieved by utilizing the services of a graphic designer who uses basic design principles effectively. Please see a selection of ads I've designed on my website. Please contact me, and I will design and assemble your stand-by ad. In addition, I will also negotiate fees with your local publication.

Please Stand By.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

My Business Lifesaver

When the real estate market crashed, so did my business. I was in real trouble, as my builders and developers stopped operations. I needed to find new clients, quickly!

A friend suggested a networking group called BNI (Business Networking International) because BNI help grow his business. I was skeptical, because I had been a member of various business groups in the past, which was great for happy hour fun, but not for increasing my customer base.

BNI became a business life saver for me. The group I joined has about 25 members, all representing different occupations. I became the exclusive Advertising Agency of the group and was afforded the weekly opportunity to share with the group details of what I do, and what type of referrals I am seeking. The other members became my sales team, and they responded with many great leads for me. In return, I've been able to pass along many leads to the others in my group, as I've made countless business contacts throughout the 25 years I've been in Naples.

The results? At the conclusion of my first year in BNI, revenue generated through referrals totaled over 20 times my membership investment.

The secret? BNI trains members how to ask for referrals properly, and also how to listen and respond to other's requests efficiently. There is no shame in asking others for help. This was not the case in the other business groups I've associated with.

BNI is not exclusive to Naples. Groups can be found in anywhere. BNI rules allow 2 free visits before you are asked to decide to join.

I highly recommend you do.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://www.davehortonads/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

Why I Am So Narrow Minded

If everyone is your customer, then no one is your customer.

That is, if you fail to focus your message to a specific group that is interested in your product, you will waste time, effort and money trying to reach those that have no interest in what you are selling.

Let's say, for example, you are selling new glow-in-the dark baseballs.

If you use a poor "shotgun" approach to selling (marketing to the masses), you would use the following logic..."I need to sell a lot of glow-in-the-dark baseballs, so I will run ads in the publication with the highest circulation."

In order to reach your target buyers for glow-in-the-dark baseballs more effectively, I would suggest the following...

1. Identify your market. In this case it would be children who play baseball.

2. Narrow your focus and identify specility magazines that children read or parents of children who play baseball read, then insert a strong ad. See my offer below if you wish to receive a comprehensive list of niche publications that reach your target market.

3. Design a highly visible banner and hang it on the outfield wall at the local Little League ball park.

4. Run an eye catching ad in the local minor league baseball team program.

These simple marketing examples will enable you to direct your message to baseball families at a much more reasonable cost and offer a greater response in return than the "shotgun" approach.

Every business has different clientele, assets and budget. That is why it is important to consult a marketing expert before you summon random hordes of salespeople into your office.


I offer FREE consultations and recommendations to improve your sales. In addition, I always include a cost quote to implement my plans.

When it comes to advertising, I am very narrow minded, and I encourage my clients to be narrow minded too.

If you click the button to the right and become a follower to my weekly blog, I will send you a link to a great website that offers a long list of niche magazines and publications that appeal to most all demographics.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook
Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

4 Tips That Saved a Business

Carl's BBQ restaurant was struggling. Even though his small diner was located on a major through road, customers didn't know he was there. He contacted me last summer and asked for advice. Here are the 4 marketing tips I recommended...

1. Change your restaurant's name. Carl's Classic Cafe does not indicate BBQ.
Solution - He changed the name of the restaurant to Black Eyed Pig BBQ.

2. Design a strong, immediately recognizable logo that gave his restaurant credibility and provided customers with a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Solution - I designed the Black Eyed Pig logo.

3. Install HUGE, highly visible signs. His strongest asset was his location, and by simply letting people know he is there and open would certainly generate sales.
Solution - I designed large aluminum signs that were installed on the roof facade. I also installed 5 foot high, bright orange B-B-Q vinyl letters on the windows.

4. Generate a web presence.
Solution - I designed and assembled a website for him, locked in a solid domain name and installed keywords in his code that got him onto page one on Google within weeks.

The results...
Carl's traffic has increased 4 fold since my recommendations were implemented. His business has been so overwhelming, he is thinking of opening a second diner, even in this weak economy.

Every business has different clientele, assets and budget. What worked for Carl may not work for the next restaurant down the road. That is why it is important to consult a marketing expert before you drop a nickel on advertising. I offer FREE consultations and recommendations to improve your sales. In addition, I always include a cost quote to implement my plans.

After following my recommendations, you will clearly discover my advertising and marketing services are not an expense, but a wise investment in your company.

Ask Carl.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://www.davehortonads/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com