Why You Need to Optimize Your Google My Business Listing Today

When business owners start looking for ways to attract more customers, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The internet, right? But before they start having conversations about SEO, SMO, and social media ads, they need to make sure they have fully optimized the free online marketing platforms available, like Google My Business.

Your-Google-My-Business-Listing-Tom-Martin-Coaching

When digital platforms like Google My Business and Nextdoor are fully optimized phones start ringing, customers start showing up, and traffic increases on websites.

Sadly though, many small business owners fall under the misconception that a website, some search engine optimization and a few social media posts are all they need for business growth to occur.

Your website doesn’t need to be found by everyone; it just needs to be seen by the people who live in your community. You get this right, and the results can be significant.

4 out of 5 people use search engines to find information about your business.

Your potential customers are searching find local business information like business hours, location, phone number, online reviews, and more. Customer surveys reveal that businesses with detailed online profiles and complete business listings are twice as likely to be considered reputable by consumers.

How to Stop Indulging Your Limiting Beliefs

The struggle is real. And with the dawn of each new day, our confidence must do battle with the limiting beliefs that echo around in our heads.

Confidence-over-limiting-beliefs-Tom-Martin-Coaching

If you look at the image above you’ll see an assortment of limiting beliefs I’ve heard in the course of my business coaching and life coaching with clients. 

According to Wikipedia, a Belief is the state of mind in which a person thinks something to be the case, with or without there being empirical evidence to prove that something is the case with factual certainty. 

Our beliefs can either be empowering or disempowering. And over time, because our actions or inactions follow our beliefs, they will create our reality. 

So if the battlefield is our minds, what strategy can we use to silence our limiting beliefs, gain confidence, and achieve more in life and in business?

What You Can Expect During Eclipse 2017

So you think you’re ready for the once in your lifetime total solar eclipse 2017?

eclipse-2017-count-down-timer

  • You have 1-3 pm blocked off on your calendar so you won’t be interrupted during the eclipse.✔️
  • You’ve purchased your ISO certified solar eclipse glasses. ✔️
  • You’ve scouted a perfect location to view the eclipse. ✔️ 

Great job preparing for Eclipse 2017!  

But, do you know what to expect? Do you know what to look for as this grand spectacle unfolds? 

Why You Need To Do a Mid-Year Business Review

It’s halftime, how did you do? The end of June represents halftime for the personal goals and business objectives you set for the year. Much like in a football game, the scoreboard only tells part of the story at the end of the second quarter. So, before you kick-off the second half of the year, the wise thing to do is a mid-year business review.

Photo Small Business Owner Mid-Year Business Review

While the band is on the field at halftime, coaches and players are examining film and adjusting X’s and O’s to come up with a winning second-half game plan. Sadly though, many small business owners and sales professionals emerge from the July 4th holiday break with the same plan that has been in place since January. 

We Know We Should

The cars we drive, the planes we fly in, and the high-tech machines we use all need to be tuned and calibrated to ensure optimal performance. Intuitively we know our lives and our businesses have similar demands, yet we fail to schedule the time for this review. It is encouraging to see more and more of my small business owner clients incorporating a mid-year business review into their management philosophy.

Common Reasons Why We Don’t

And while more of my clients are open to this, there are two common scenarios where people resist doing a mid-year business review. 

Why is it Hard to Prepare?

This is a guest post from Mark Miller the best-selling author of 6 books, an in-demand speaker and the Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. His latest book, Leaders Made Here, describes how to nurture leaders throughout the organization, from the front lines to the executive ranks and outlines a clear and replicable approach to creating the leadership bench every organization needs.

I was standing in the back of the room listening to my introduction, hoping the person would say something I could comment on when I took the stage. The room was full – hundreds of people. They had come to hear me speak. They wondered what I would say. So, did I… I was not prepared.

Image Hard to Prepare

I hope this has never happened to you as a leader. Take my word for it; to stand and speak in front of a group, large or small, ill prepared is not my idea of fun. Now, I’m okay with making spontaneous remarks as needed – that’s VERY different than a keynote presentation, or workshop setting in which success really does hang in the balance if you’re not prepared.

Are You Using Nextdoor?

By now you have probably received an invitation to join Nextdoor. And if recent press is any indication, you have been using Nextdoor in your community for quite some time.

Image Nextdoor Sign Up Page

Nextdoor currently has over 125,000 neighborhoods registered in its network, which, according to Nextdoor co-founder Nirav Tolia, represents over 75% of the neighborhoods in US.

For those unfamiliar with Nextdoor, Charlie Rose recently interviewed Tolia and they discussed the history of Nextdoor and the value it offers to consumers and local business owners.

One of the biggest use cases for Nexdoor members early on was neighbors asking other neighbors for the best service provider in their area. In a New York Times article about why Nextdoor has caught on, Tolia describes why it works so well for local business owners…

Of the five million messages are exchanged each day on Nextdoor, Mr. Tolia said, “the network’s users send more than one million recommending services to one another. And around 80% of those posts are discussions about local service providers and businesses.

Nextdoor vs. Facebook

How To Avoid The January Funk

How are you doing? Is the January Funk messing with your mind and playing with your attitude? Well the good news is you survived Blue Monday, the unofficial “gloomiest day” of the year.

how-to-avoid-january-funk-tom-martin-coaching

The first Blue Monday was declared on January 24 in 2005 as part of a press release from a travel company. The date was a result of research used to discern travel trends and holiday bookings. And while science has debunked the gloomiest day of the year theory, there is no denying seasonal factors like post-holiday depression, increase debt, and inclement weather can be a catalyst for the January Funk.

But the good news is there are three things you can start doing today to beat the January Funk.

Why You Need To Pursue Your Purpose

Personal Development Coaching can help you pursue your purpose. This style of personal growth coaching creates an environment where you can explore and assess their current strengths and weaknesses in order to initiate positive change which can improve your overall quality of life.

pursuing-your-purpose-tom-martin-coaching

Lasting Improvement

The primary objective in personal development coaching is to instill empowering beliefs builds  confidence and equips you for sustainable and lasting improvement.

Meet Richard (not his real name), a guy who seems to be living the dream. He has done well in his career, his marriage has a solid footing, his kids do well in school and are active in sports. He lives in a nice neighborhood, attends church on a pretty regular basis, and wishes he had more time to be at the lake or on the golf course.

Thanksgiving Prayer

thanksgiving-prayer-tommartincoaching

Thanksgiving Prayer

O God, when I have food…help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work…help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home…help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain…help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering;
…help me to destroy my complacency;
…bestir my compassion,
…and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Happy Thanksgiving

from Tom Martin Coaching!