My grandfather taught me that the right tools always make getting the job done easier. Here are a handful of my Internet Marketing Power Tools. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can always reach me at chris@practicalonlinemarketing.com.
If you need help with using any of these tools, or setting them up use THIS ONLINE INQUIRY FORM or call/text me at (978) 325-2983.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free tool from Google that can be used to track website activity such as visitor sessions, visitor session duration, pages viewed per session, what those specific pages were (i.e. most popular pages), “bounce rate” of the individuals using the site, and information about the referring sources driving traffic to your website. https://analytics.google.com
Google Search Console
Search Console is a free internet marketing tool from the folks at Google and it will help you get, keep, and improve your website’s overall visibility, findability, and rankings at the world’s most popular search engine! If Google sees any issues at your website, issues that could impact your visibility and rankings at Google, it will let you know via the Google Search Console. https://search.google.com/search-console
Google My Business
Google My Business is another free internet marketing tool from Google and is essentially a profile of your business in Google Search. Think of it as a mini-website that Google may use to present your business when someone searches for it. Google My Business (GMB) is a very important part of optimizing the visibility of your business at the world’s most popular search engine! https://www.google.com/business/
LastPass
Today most of the tools we use to manage our internet marketing are online and require a login and password. Login and password management is serious business if you want to avoid trouble. Good login/password management also can save you a lot of time and hassle! Last Pass is cross-platform and synchs between a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. https://lastpass.com
VaultPress
If you use WordPress VaultPress is a reliable set-it-and-forget-it backup and disaster recovery tool. I highly recommend a backup to your backup. A “Plan B.” In other words, a backup to your hosting company provided backup, assuming they provide one. https://vaultpress.com
Workflowy
Workflowy is a simple personal productivity app that will help you manage tasks and projects more easily and more effectively, for example, your internet marketing! I like it because it is completely customizable to my style of work and my workflows. In its simplest form, it is a to-do list app. But it can be much, much more! Workflowy is a cross-platform app, so it synchs and works on across your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. https://workflowy.com
Calendly
Calendly is an online scheduling tool that lets people self-schedule time on your digital calendar based on your open availability. It’s one of my favorite Internet marketing tools because it takes the friction out of scheduling meetings and reduces back-and-forth emails. https://calendly.com
Live Chat
You’ve probably used them yourself, and they are getting more and more popular across the internet. Live Chat Inc. is a simple, easy, and cost-effective way to set up a Live Chat operator on your website. A live chat option at your website can help you convert more of your website visitors into an initial engagement and ultimately a new customer. https://livechatinc.com
Auto-Responders
Auto-responders can help you quickly deliver the information people are looking for from your business while generating lead/contact information (i.e. “Fill in this form to get…”). You may even automatically send a series of follow-ups, spread over a few days, a week, or a month, commonly referred to as a “follow-up campaign.” I’ve used Aweber for years and it is my go-to auto-responder app. https://aweber.com
Email Read Confirmations
Boomerang has been my go-to app for years when it comes to getting read confirmations for the email messages I send. It works great for individual sends (i.e. to one person), but not if your email message has multiple recipients. https://www.boomerangapp.com
Online Form Builder
While there are many options for building forms at your website my favorite is Cognito Forms. Simply build your form fields, stylize the form to match your website, configure who should get the form information, and what should happen after someone submits a form, and cut/paste a snippet of code that is provided into your website. Voila. https://www.cognitoforms.com
Smarter Queue
Smarter Queue is my hands-down favorite social media management tool. It does most of what all the others do, but… has an awesome “recycle” or “reposting” option that re-feeds a social post repeatedly over time. I typically recycle a post once a month. Sometimes more often. 90% of my social media marketing content is re-postable and I bet the same could be true for yours. Smarter Queue is pretty much a set-it-and-forget-it social media management tool. https://smarterqueue.com
Opt-in Monster (OIM)
Pop-up boxes. Love them, or hate them, the fact is that pop-up boxes increase conversion compared to non-pop-up forms. Bottom Line: they will help you turn more of your website visitors into leads. The “exit intent” option in OIM pops a box/offer when someone goes to leave your website. It is a kind of “last ditch” conversion attempt, and it works. Of course, the offer has a lot to do with it! I use Optin Monster with Aweber (https://aweber.com) to automatically put my captured leads into a campaign with a series of automated follow-ups. I love automation! https://optinmonster.com
High-Performance, Reliable, Business Class Website Hosting
Every business website should have high-quality, high-performance, secure website hosting under it. I’ve tried them all and been disappointed by most of them. Today I host my WordPress websites with SiteGround. I’ve been with SiteGround for several years after much frustration with website hosting at Go Daddy, Hostgator, Bluehost, and too many others to list. If you are looking for reliable, high-performance business-class website hosting, as well as excellent customer support, SiteGround is your answer. https://siteground.com
Hello Bar
Hello Bar is an announcement bar that will help you get more leads from your website. Announcement bars are a great way to promote your newsletter subscription, a special limited time offer, or maybe a downloadable “take-away.” Whatever you want to draw attention to! Hello Bar allows you to configure bars, modals, and sliders. For those of you who really like to dive in, advanced targeting options make it even more powerful. https://www.hellobar.com
If you need help with using any of these tools, or setting them up use THIS ONLINE INQUIRY FORM or call/text me at (978) 325-2983.
"Whether it's search ranking, lead generation, web design, or building traffic, Chris is my Go-To guy. He's an in-the-trenches Internet Marketing Consultant whose guidance and advice always yield great results. Few have the insight and experience that he brings to the table. If you struggle with your Internet marketing, or are tired of wasting time and money, I would recommend you call him immediately." Ricky Brandano, CEO,