During various stints in my diverse work history I’ve seen receipt organization vary from the most fastidious expense coversheets all the way to crumpled papers wadded into the “receipt drawer” of my manager’s desk. Having done my share of freelance work as well, I know firsthand the pitfalls and terrific opportunities for self-inflicted injuries here. Quite normally a shoebox would be considered a second-tier receipt organizer at best, but thanks to a handy-dandy site I’ve happened upon recently I’ve found that my wadded up scraps of paper collection is just fine the way it is! Ladies and gents, I’d like to introduce what may quickly become your new favorite small business solution: Shoeboxed.com
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Have you heard of Google Alerts (www.google.com/alerts)? This is a great tool setup that will constantly scan the Internet for absolutely anything you may be looking for, reporting back to you via email with a link and brief description every time it locates a match. Properly utilized, this can be a great tool for any business – let me show you how:
1. Find New Customers: Google Alerts makes it easy to find new customers. These days consumers are talking more and more online, giving their opinion on products and services and taking advice from one another. These are exactly the type of conversations you want to be involved in, especially when it relates to your products or services. Try using terms that someone looking for your product or service might use when looking for recommendations or answers. To use Adcuda as an example: we utilize Google Alerts to find people interested in our services using search terms such as, “looking for SEO company,” or, “recommend online ad agency.” Doing this for multiple long tailed terms sends us great links to conversations or “threads” on different sites where we can then jump in and offer our advice or drop our company name. This simple, personal engagement leads to multiple contacts, people connecting with us in regards to our services.
This can be just as effective for an online retailer as well. Let’s say your company sells golf equipment, you could use search terms such as, “best Callaway driver,” or, “any suggestions on a driver.” This gives the retailer the opportunity to join the conversation, make some useful suggestions, and provide the customer the ability to visit your online store. This customer now has a personal experience with the company, and has built a good amount of trust based on the insightful driver suggestions you gave. Just be sure to not cross the line into spamming these sites with only your information. Always make sure to offer insight and expertise first and foremost.
2. Track Your Brand: Using Google Alerts to track what customers are saying about your company is an easy way to not only gauge public perception, but also observe the speed in which your name is spreading. Again, you have the opportunity to directly connect with customers, answering questions about your product while building trust by proving yourself helpful and attentive to your clientele’s needs.
3. Track Your Competitors: Google Alerts is also a great way to keep tabs on what your competitors are doing online as well as what their customers are saying about them. This allows you to maintain your market position concerning price, value, etcetera, by matching any observed sales or services offered by said competitor.
4. Target Keywords: Try adding keywords for terms you are trying to rank highly for. This lets you see where Google is finding and ranking pages for this term and gives you the opportunity to try and backlink from this location. This also helps you identify your competition for this phrase.
You can get good information on how to setup your Google Alerts here. Its easy, do it today.
To coincide with our site redesign we decided to do a bit of spring (mid-summer?) cleaning on our blog as well. So in this, our re-introduction, we’d like to once more let our readers and friends know this will still be the space to find information that new and small business owners can put to use in the competitive online marketplace. From accounting to marketing Adcuda is here to help keep you abreast of the newest and, well, in our humble opinion, coolest trends. So no need to fret, Miss or Mister Do-It-Yourselfer, we’ll be restocking the information cache shortly, just be sure to bookmark us here, or follow us on Twitter for our upcoming tricks of the trade that can help keep you ahead of the pack.


















