Google Market Finder is a terrific free tool designed by Google which allows users to take a look at local monthly search volumes for specific locations. It also includes the costs of targeting particular keywords in every market, including foreign ones. This has been very beneficial in terms of growing our business on a world-wide basis.

Find New Markets

The free Google Market Finder tool uses world-wide Internet search data to reveal the number of times that keywords are searched for, in 56 different languages. We use the tool to see where consumers search for our products and services. Then we evaluate the new potential markets by comparing the local search volume, estimated keyword price and the competition for each keyword in all markets. This is really helpful in planning our marketing budget for the best results.

Here is an example of how it works:

Let’s say your company manufactures a cool line of sunglasses and you are interested in selling them outside of the US.  And let’s say (just for example) that you had several Spanish speaking employees and could support new business from Latin America.

You could use the Google Market Finder tool to search this type of query, and the results would look something like this:

Translate Key Words

Now that you have identified the countries that had the highest search volume for the phrase “sunglasses” you could use the free Global Market Finder tool to automatically translate our keywords into the language of our choosing (in this case Spanish), for all of our new potential customers. Using the tool, we can also see where people are searching for our products and services. Then we can narrow it down to specific locations to target in our online marketing plan. For this reason alone, it is an invaluable service, since we are not fluent in other languages. We would actually need to hire someone to do these translations, which would be quite costly. By knowing where our target audience is, we can best take advantage of the world-wide marketplace to expand our business and take it to the next level.

Use With Google AdWords

Google Market Finder is particularly effective when combined with Google AdWords. The free Google Market Finder tool showcases all of the estimates of a suggested keyword bid, as well as the competition for each Google translation for that specific target market keyword. In this way, since we are already using a Google Adwords campaign, we can use the Google Market Finder to choose a precise location and language with which to display our ads.

Access to All Marketing Media

The Google Market Finder can be used as a powerful marketing tool to help reach our potential customers on a worldwide level. Used with ad formats such as search engines, mobile devices, video and TV, this tool is extremely helpful in targeting exact marketing locations to find the best audience for our business products and services.

In our continuing series of blog posts on LinkedIn, we will share the top things that we see people failing to do on LinkedIn and how you can fix the problems quickly and easily.

Mistake #1 – Failing to get recommendations

One of the things we like best about LinkedIn is the transparency.  Unlike other social sites where spam is prevalent, LinkedIn offers you the ability to read and see if the people you interact with are real and credible.  For instance, if you have a recommendation in your LinkedIn profile, anyone you are connected to can click through the recommending person’s profile.  This lends tremendous credibility when I can see what type of person is making the recommendation.

It therefore goes without saying that having testimonials are very helpful on your profile. They’re a great indication of the quality of your work and the relationships you maintain.

Ask and you shall receive…

The reality is that testimonials won’t just shot up in your profile without a little work.  You have to ASK for them.  Remember that everyone has a few hundred connections and if we all took the time to write recommendations about everyone we know, we’d never get to work.  So be sensitive that others are busy too, and send a note asking for a recommendation to someone you think can provide a good one.

Tip – the easiest way to GET a recommendation is to GIVE one first.  When you write a testimonial for someone else, LinkedIn asks the person to approve it, then suggests they write one about you.  It’s quick, easy and the fastest way to get testimonials showing up in your profile.

Mistake #2 – Waiting for people to come to you

This is one of the big mistakes, and unfortunately one we see all the time especially in our social media training courses.  Someone sets up a profile and then sits and waits, then complains that LinkedIn doesn’t work as they don’t have any connections coming in!

Just like any other form of networking, if you want this to work take the initiative to reach out and make connection requests yourself.

Here are some easy ways to promote your profile:

• Include your profile link and icon in your email
• Promote your profile on your website and traditional marketing materials
• Look for mentions of LinkedIn profiles on Facebook and Twitter
• Use all of the connection tools LinkedIn offers including Outlook Connector and Search
• Answer questions on the Q & A boards
• Look into mobile apps for your smartphone to make it easier to post updates
• Consider LinkedIn ads

Mistake #3 – Wasting new connections

After all this work, you finally get someone to connect with you.  Now what?  I suggest you type up a quick “Thanks for connecting” email and send that to new connections.  Think about what you are trying to get out of your LinkedIn participation and craft the message that way.

For example, if you were in real estate and were using LinkedIn to make new connections and maybe sell more houses you could try something like this:

“Hi New Connection,

Thanks for taking the time to connect with me on LinkedIn.  I look forward to keeping up with you on this great tool.  As you know I am in the real estate business, and if you would like to keep up with information about real estate in your area, take a moment and checkout our blog http://blog.example.com where we update the most important information buyers and sellers need to know.

Again thanks for connecting with me on LinkedIn!”

Remember, tell them why they should care that they connected with you and what they can get out of it.  Don’t sell hard, just remember to remind them of the value you bring to the table.

You would think that by now people would be getting the hang of social media.  But as we conduct more and more of these social media training classes, I am becoming convinced that for every person who has embraced this technology with both hands, there are just as many people who are burying their head in the sand for as long as they can.  And I think I understand why they would do this, but sooner or later these people are slowly coming around to find out what they have been missing.

As such we are dedicating this series of blog posts on “Dumbest LinkedIn Mistakes” in hopes that we can help them learn the ropes, and maybe have a few chuckles along the way…

Top 3 Dumbest Things to Do On LinkedIn

Mistake #1 – Ignore Connection Requests

I am amazed at how many people that I hear from tell me that they don’t participate in LinkedIn for one reason or another.  I’ve heard the usual reasons ranging from “I’m too busy” to “that doesn’t work in my field.”

However, when the phone rings with a client or prospect they always manage to take the call…

So when you receive an email notification that someone wants to connect with you on LinkedIn, think of it as the digital equivalent of a phone call from a friend, client or prospect.  Don’t ignore it and don’t waste the opportunity.

Mistake #2 – Have a profile only a mother could love

The second item on our list is only a close 2nd.  After all, how many profiles have you seen where the person didn’t have a picture, or had so little information in their profile that you couldn’t tell if they were John Doe from New Orleans or New York?

It only takes a little bit of time to build out your LinkedIn profile – and your goal should be 100% completeness.  Upload a professional photo, fill in your experience and don’t forget to take advantage of new tools such as adding in your specific skills.

Some good features your profile simply must have:

• Current and past positions
• Your website url
• Your Twitter account
• Your blog
• Your summary
• A few recommendations
• Your certifications
• Your specialties
• Creative Portfolio Display
• Amazon Reading List
• Honors and awards

Mistake #3:  Sell, sell, sell

Like Jim Cramer banging on a poor performing stock, many people still get onto LinkedIn with the idea of “sell, sell, sell!”  LinkedIn is the digital equivalent of a high level business networking event, and while you should let people know what you do it’s important to let them know what value you bring to the table.

As in life, the Golden Rule should be followed in this case.  If you don’t want to get on a networking site and be bombarded with hard sales pitches, don’t do it yourself.  Try giving first and see what comes back…I think you’ll be glad you did.

This is just our first installment of “LinkedIn Dumbest…” series.  Look for more posts in the coming weeks, and if you have your own ideas and suggestions feel free to post them here.

Drive more business with local search

FREE webinar on August 18

WSI is conducting a special webinar on how you can drive more business for your company using local search marketing tactics.

Local searchers are ready to buy. They are searching online looking for the product / service they need and a reputable company to purchase from. Much like how advertisers are moving their marketing dollars from the Yellow Pages to the web, consumers are moving their searches from the Yellow Pages to the Web as well.

In this webinar, you will learn how your business can increase your online visibility through several effective local search marketing techniques to ensure you appear right as customers are looking to purchase your product or service. Make plans to join us for this webinar. Registration details are below.

Topic: Driving Business with Local Search

Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/288935664