8 Tips to More Business Blog Traffic & Visitors

So you’ve created a fantastic business blog that engages visitors with unique and valuable content — only your hit counters is moving at a snails pace...ie: no one knows how great your business blog is yet.

No Problem!

Getting visitors to your great content is not rocket science and will not require you to move mountains. Here’s how to get increased visitor traffic to your business blog.

Take Advantage of Your Network
If you’ve been actively getting out, mingling with neighbors, clients and other fellow business owners - you’ve built up a pretty good network of potential blog readers and website-owning associates. Drop them an email to let them know about your new blog and ask them if they’ll read it and recommend your articles.

Promote Your Blog’s URL
You're in business which means you understand that everything you do is related to marketing. This concept applies to your business blog as well! Keep an eye out for different ways to make people aware of your blog’s URL. The most obvious way is to include it on any branding material like business cards, letterhead, in your email signature, and of course on your website! Make sure your blog is easy to get to - don't just tell people you have a blog, be sure to include the address or link your blog icon directly to your business blog. If you have a storefront - create a poster or signage that compels people to check out your blog for compelling information. Be creative - there are no limits to the ways you can promote your blog.

Don’t Ignore Search Engine Optimization
Just like your website, making sure your business blog is optimized for search engines to find it is a very smart thing to do. It may not make much difference right away but search engines are constantly looking for current and valuable content. As you continue to establish this consistently, it will pay huge dividends the larger and older your blog gets. Be sure to include relevant keywords in your blog title especially so the search engines know what your post is mainly about.

Create a Consistent Theme
The majority of bloggers don’t design the themes for their blog. As a business blogger you'll want to make sure that your visitors can identify right away what your blog is about and the kind of information they can expect. The look and feel of your blog should match that of your business. Please don't confuse this with blatent advertising. If your blog only sells you and your products - then you are less likely to get repeat visitors or blog subscribers. Your blog content should relate to your business and brand you as the expert (clearly this should be part of your theme).

Comment on Other BlogsCommenting on other blogs is a great way to get noticed, both by the blogger and by people reading the comments. Make sure your comments add value to the discussion, though. Saying comments like “That’s right!” or “I agree” doesn't give me any kind of connection to your own knowledge. Plus the strategy could backfire in a huge way if you only make comments that tryto get visitors to your blog by spamming other blogs.

Create Valuable Links Within Your Blog
In every post you write, be sure to link to sources, your website, other associate's websites and other pertinent locations. If you link to another blog, most avid bloggers watch their sites and notice right away if someone has linked to them, quite often leading to a beautiful friendship. Create posts specifically to review, expound, critique or disagree with things other bloggers have written (always respectfully so), and be aware of other opportunities to link out in every post you write. Some people worry that this kind of link sharing will lead people away from your blog but to be honest, just like most social media - sharing is caring. Make your business blog visitor believe that you have their interests in mind and again, they will remember you as the expert!

Join a Blog Network
A blog network is simply a collection of blogs that help drive traffic to one another. Large, established networks might not accept new blogs, but many do hold open application periods every so often. You can also approach networks that look like a good fit for your blog or even start your own — getting visitors to your blog and helping others to do the same!

Most Importantly…
All of these ideas are based on the assumption that you are posting relevant content on your business blog — which is easily the number one way to get visitors to your blog. If you don’t have valuable content, you’re not going to stand out and get repeat visitors. If you do have great content, you may not have to do anything else. People will talk and link and promote you themselves without you having to lift a finger. It’s not quite “If you build it, they will come,” but it’s very close. The main thing you may have to remember is to be patient.

So spend you initial energy on posting stuff worth reading before you start trying to actively get people to read it. You will not be disappointed!

Get your Qlixite Business Blog Now!

Are QR (Quick Response) Codes just a fad?

Are QR Codes, these little square pixelated boxes seen in advertising in magazines, on signs and even in television commercials really here to stay?  According to a study by comScore, 14 million mobile phone users in the United States scanned a QR code in June 2011.  That's 6.2% of the total mobile audience focusing on a QR code or barcode to seek information. That number is set to rise as the smartphone takes over the current mobile marketplace.

The study went further to breakdown men versus women users, age groups, household income and where and when they scanned QR codes.  QR Scanners were more likely to be men (60.5%) and aged 18 to 34 (53.4%) and had a household income of $100,000 or above (36.1%).  Mobile users scanned QR codes on their mobile devices at a rate of 58% from home while 39.4% scanned QR codes from a retail store with 24.5% from a grocery store.  Nearly 20% scanned a QR code from work while 12.6% did so outside with 7.6% scanning a QR code while in a restaurant.

"QR codes demonstrate just one of the ways in which mobile marketing can effectively be integrated into existing media and marketing campaigns to help reach desired consumer segments," says Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president of mobile.

In business layman's terms - it is about getting noticed - being found - answering a need.

QR codes fit with the trend today of  having information at your fingertips and the ease to enter it into your contact list for future reference. Still think it's a FAD?  Think again - get your FREE business QR code from Qlixite.com and start using it and tracking more traffic. "See a need - fill a need!"

How do I use a QR Code in Business Marketing?


  A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. A QR Code can deliver information to potential customers FAST! There are several different types of ways you can use your QR Code for business marketing.

QR Codes on Branding Materials - On branding items like Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes and Directory Listings, a QR Code that displays a vCard or Contact information will be most useful. When a potential customer scans this kind of QR Code they will see your name, phone number, location or mailing address, email address, web address and even a memo or tag line. This information is easy to register and save to their address file with absolutely no need to enter numbers or words which can be mistakenly mispelled or entered incorrectly.

QR Codes To Make Referrals - Texting is a phenomenon! When you want people to share your company or product with their friends or co-workers, an SMS message might be your best kind of QR Code. When a potential customer scans this type of QR Code then it will open their texting application with an automatic message ready to send to anyone in their address book. For example, if you are offering a special or coupon, including an SMS QR Code on the coupon that is labeled "Share with Friends" will auto populate a message about how they would like to share your business coupon. The message can include your contact info or website as well.

QR Code in Advertising - QR Codes are limited to a certain amount of characters which may mean that you want to send people to your website which allows them to learn alot more about your business. When a potential customer scans a URL QR Code, they are transported directly to your website right on their phone. They can shop, subscribe or map your business right there! You can also embed a video and link the QR Code to that page where the video is located so the visitor can watch it from their smart phone.

QR Code on Signage - It's a great idea to include QR Codes on your signs to again, allow people to program your information into their phone for future use. When a customer scans your QR Code from a sign, either in front of your business, billboard, real estate or other, they will be able to quickly connect with your business even if you aren't there...or open!

Whatever QR Code you use - make sure your business name is clear! In the very least, your customers should be able to find your website and phone number without much trouble. As you get more familiar with how to use the different kinds of QR Codes to best suit your marketing needs.


 
Read More About QR Codes:
• What is a QR Code?
• How does a QR Code work?
• What kind of QR Code do I need?
• How do I use my QR Code?

Qlixite will customize your QR Code for Free - Get Yours NOW!

What Kind of QR Code do I Need?



A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. A QR Code can deliver information to potential customers FAST! There are several different types of ways you can use your QR Code for business so you will need to identify what kind of QR Code you will need?

QR Code delivers CONTACT INFORMATION - On branding items like Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes and Directory Listings, a QR Code that displays a vCard or Contact information will be most useful. When a potential customer scans this kind of QR Code they will see your name, phone number, location or mailing address, email address, web address and even a memo or tag line. This information is easy to register and save to their address file with absolutely no need to enter numbers or words which can be mistakenly mispelled or entered incorrectly.

QR Code delivers an SMS MESSAGE - Texting is a phenomenon! When you want people to share your company or product with their friends or co-workers, an SMS message might be your best kind of QR Code. When a potential customer scans this type of QR Code then it will open their texting application with an automatic message ready to send to anyone in their address book. For example, if you are offering a special or coupon, including an SMS QR Code on the coupon that is labeled "Share with Friends" will auto populate a message about how they would like to share your business coupon. The message can include your contact info or website as well.

QR Code takes a visitor to a WEBSITE - QR Codes are limited to a certain amount of characters which may mean that you want to send people to your website which allows them to learn alot more about your business. When a potential customer scans a URL QR Code, they are transported directly to your website right on their phone. They can shop, subscribe or map your business right there! You can also embed a video and link the QR Code to that page where the video is located so the visitor can watch it from their smart phone.

QR Code displays a CALENDAR EVENT - If you are running a special on a particular day or have an open house scheduled, you might want to use a Calendar QR Code to make it easy for a potential customer to remember your event. When a customer scans your Event QR Code they will see the event title, location, date, time and description in a format that they can save right to their calendar. Put your event on their schedule with just a touch of a button - or screen!

Whatever QR Code you use - make sure your business name is clear! In the very least, your customers should be able to find your website and phone number without much trouble. As you get more familiar with how to use the different kinds of QR Codes to best suit your marketing needs.


 
Read More About QR Codes:
• What is a QR Code?
• How does a QR Code work?
• What kind of QR Code do I need?
• How do I use my QR Code?
Qlixite will customize your QR Code for Free - Get Yours NOW!

How Does a QR Code Work?



A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones.

Market - A business or organization incorporates various kinds of QR Codes into their marketing and advertising. They link their website to their advertising, their contact information to their business cards and offer specials through the codes on exclusive emails or mailings.

Scan - A potential customer receives a business card from the business owner or sees an ad in a local publication. They use their smart phone to scan the QR Code which directly opens the business' website or displays all of the contact information into the customers phone. Now it is quick and easy for the customer to research and connect with the business.

Connect - Even if the customer doesn't connect with the business right after scanning the QR Code - their phone retains the information until they physically delete it. SO if the potential customer wants to get in touch with the business - they may not remember the website name or have the advertisement for reference but they have all of the information right in their phone - ready to make the call or map for directions.


 
Read More About QR Codes:
• What is a QR Code?
• How does a QR Code work?
• What kind of QR Code do I need?
• How do I use my QR Code?
Qlixite will customize your QR Code for Free - Get Yours NOW!

What is a QR Code?



A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.

This QR Code Leads to a webpage
so a visitor can watch a Video

Common in Japan, where it was created by Toyota subsidiary Denso-Wave in 1994, the QR code is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional barcodes. The QR code was created to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes now are used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking applications and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users (termed mobile tagging). QR codes may be used to display text to the user, to add contact information to the user's device, to open a website, link to a video on a server like YouTube, or to compose an e-mail or text message. Users can generate and print their own QR codes for others to scan and use by visiting one of several free QR code generating sites.

QR codes storing addresses and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or almost any object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is termed hardlinking or object hyperlinking.
Google's mobile Android operating system supports QR codes by natively including the barcode scanner (ZXing) on some models, and the browser supports URI redirection, which allows QR codes to send metadata to existing applications on the device. Nokia's Symbian operating system is provided with a barcode scanner, which is able to read QR codes, while mbarcode is a QR code reader for the Maemo operating system. In the Apple iOS, a QR code reader is not natively included, but more than fifty free apps are available with reader and metadata browser URI redirection ability. With BlackBerry devices, the App World application can natively scan QR codes and load any recognized Web URLs on the device's Web browse this for compliance.

The use of QR codes is free of any license. The QR code is clearly defined and published as an ISO standard. Denso Wave owns the patent rights on QR codes, but has chosen not to exercise them. The term QR code itself is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated.

Standard QR code is the QR code standard for applications that possess the ability to handle large scans. A standard QR code can contain up to 7089 characters, though not all QR readers can accept that much data.

Read More About QR Codes:
• What is a QR Code?
• How does a QR Code work?
• What kind of QR Code do I need?
• How do I use my QR Code?
Qlixite will customize your QR Code for Free - Get Yours NOW!

What Makes a Good Coupon? (And What Makes A Bad One)

Some people spend their whole marketing careers creating the definitive "Good Coupon" (ie: a coupon that brings the customer to you and yet doesn't cost too much in profit) and avoiding a bad coupon (usually a coupon that gets no response). Small business owners can see a dramatic improvement in their profits by offering coupon. To make a good coupon, you need to think like your customers. What would make you clip that coupon and go use it? What kind of coupon calls you to check out that business if you've never used them before? What coupons do you pass on?

Pick A Product/Service to Discount that your Customer is Actually Interested In
A coupon advertises a discount for a limited period of time on a product or service. You may have an low cost/high profit item that you WANT people to purchase however if that's not the item that is currently bringing customers in the door, your coupon (unless a deep discount) is not going to be as effective.

Don't Limit Who Can Use the Coupon
People dislike fine print. There's nothing I despise more than when I take a coupon and try to use it only to learn that my coupon does not apply to me because I am an existing customer. Why would you not want to reward your current customers for shopping with you? If you are discounting a service that only a very limited number of people can use, make sure you are offering a variety of coupons at the same time that together will include everyone.

Create Urgency with An Expiration Date
Expiration dates create an sense of urgency that your customer will need to act quickly to use and benefit from the coupon. Experiment with expiration dates. A date that is too close can be disastrous if your marketing strategy doesn't get the coupon out in time. Plus it doesn't give people enough time to redeem it. A date too far away will be forgotten. Depending on your advertising, what your discount is and the nature of your business, 2 weeks to 1 month can be a good time frame for a coupon expiration date.

Offer a Discount not just a Coupon
Statistics show that people don't respond if a coupon's face value is too small. I recently saw a coupon for a medical office that offered $1.00 off an office visit. Their visit costs, on average, $35.00 so their coupon gave me less than 3% off. That doesn't make me want to respond to that coupon at all. In fact I was almost turned off to the business itself for offering such a sad coupon. This is where you need to put your customer hat back on. If you see 10% off, 15% off or 25% off coupons - which do you respond to? You may cringe at the idea of offering a 25% off coupon but think about successful chains like Macy's which focus millions of dollars on this marketing strategy that people come shop with them more if they believe they'll save with their coupon.

Create a Coupon Strategy and Go For It!
If you want to do a semi annual or annual deep discount coupon then plan it out and market accordingly. If you want people to consistently check your website or store for coupons then offer a variety and consistently market them. Whatever you decide to do - plan it out and execute it. That doesn't mean you can't modify your plan as you find coupons that work or fail. It means you are taking an active role in this side of your marketing strategy.

Free September Desktop Wallpaper

Though I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, I'm sure that by the end of this month it will feel like Autumn is in our midst. This month's chosen picture leaves me dreaming of boating and summer water fun while slowly getting myself excited over fall leaves, cool breezes and comfy sweaters. Enjoy!
Ashlei Jackson, Design Manager
There are two versions of the wallpaper:

 One for square shaped computer screens (101Kb JPEG)
Get Square Wallpaper Here

 One for rectangle shaped computer screens (127Kb JPEG)
Get Rectangle Wallpaper Here

 Once the image opens - right click and select 'Set as Background'
Please note that this is not a program or application that will modify your computer performance. You may change your desktop background at any time by going to your display options