A New Year’s Resolution for Business Owners – Understand SEO in 2017

You know how it is when there’s something very important you’ve got to do, but you’re not really sure how to do it, and you’ve got so much else on your plate, that you end up putting it off?

That’s how I feel a lot of business owners are treating the entire advent of the Information Age. Some of them have been putting off any kind of adaption for 15 years. Others have done a little bit so that they feel it’s getting done, but have achieved no real progress.

So, now is the time to just do it! If you’re a manager who has put off the business of understanding SEO, then let 2017 be the year that you finally come to grips with Google and how it works. Let 2017 be the year that the Internet becomes your revenue-making ally, rather than the hobgoblin of your business. Now is the time to get out there and do it!

“But,” I hear you say, “A lack of will isn’t my problem. I want to get this right, I just don’t know how, no one will give me a straight answer, and SEO ‘experts’ just want my money. No matter how much I spend, my website just doesn’t bring in the revenue.”

I hear you! It’s an unfortunate fact that the digital marketing industry (and the software industry in general) is one of those odd industries where the vendors know a lot more about their clients’ needs than the clients do themselves. It’s a tough time to own a business – without an independent understanding of the Internet and what it means for you, it’s very difficult to compete with the tech-savvy giants like Amazon.

That’s why on January 17th, we’re making it easy.

Search Engine Marketing: Understand SEO – and how to put it to work for you – in about six weeks

I know . . . ew, right? You thought you were reading an insightful article, and it turns out I’m selling something. But don’t let this be a knee-jerk turn-off moment.  Hear me out. There are couple of simple reasons why this is so important:

  • It is a fact that your customers are on the internet, and they’re using search engines to find you. 80% of people use search engines at some point in the process when buying from local businesses. 68 percent of adults own smartphones, up from 35 percent four years ago. Having a website that is search-optimized and mobile-friendly just isn’t optional any more.
  • 91% of small business websites are not optimized for mobile. The 9% who are enjoy a significant advantage with customers who are primarily researching and searching through mobile. Optimizing for mobile isn’t that hard, or that costly. Not doing it is basically leaving money on the table.
  • You know full well how important the internet is when it comes to buying, because you probably use it extensively yourself. Most of us go to our phones when we’re thinking about buying something. Most of us do at least a little bit of research. Most of us are turned off by a site when we perceive it as frustrating to use, or outdated, or clunky. You know where you set the bar for other websites. Does your own website meet that standard?
  • Shasta County is not going to become a tech hub unless local businesses master this. Communities like Redding actually have a tremendous advantage when it comes to attracting business to the area simply because Shasta County is beautiful, the cost of living is low, and there’s no commute. The biggest reason tech companies stay in the big cities is that’s where the talent is. If we all become sharp when it comes to SEO, then our community could become a true economic force. That helps everyone.

It is this last point that drives us. Cloud Wise Academy makes enough money to cover our costs, but the reason we create classes is not to become rich. We exist because the Shasta Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit dedicated to improving economic circumstances in Shasta County, backed us from the start and helped us succeed.

Our web development courses have already changed lives. Many of our graduates, including this writer, have gone on to work for tech startups around town. But we aren’t just interested in helping individuals take charge of their lives. We want to transform companies also. Our goal is to equip you with total confidence when it comes to the difficult task of marketing online. We hope you understand what a transformative asset that can be. We hope you’ll join us.
Search engine marketing begins on January 17th. It will take place in the Cloud Wise Academy  at 4300 Caterpillar Road in Redding. Class times are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6-9 PM, for six weeks. This course requires no prior web development or marketing experience. Sign-ups are online, at Cloud Wise Academy’s website, http://www.cloudwiseacademy.com. Scholarships are available for students. If you have any questions call us at 800-241-0341 or email us at info@cloudwiseacademy.com.

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Chambers announce marketing & e-commerce workshop

By Joe Mckenna • April 14, 2022
JOHNSON CITY & KINGSPORT – Cloud Wise Academy announced today a new local marketing and e-commence workshop, Amplify Our City, to teach local business owners how to best use the internet’s capabilities. The workshops will be taught in partnership with the Kingsport and Johnson City chambers of commerce. Amplify Our City is a three-step workshop to attract more customers online and in store. In this workshop, business owners will learn where to start and how to use online tools, free local marketing tactics, when to spend money and what savvy marketing peers are doing. Participants will learn how the internet favors local companies, how to market on a small budget, and how to avoid costly mistakes. “In today’s post-pandemic world, social media has become a key means of retail purchasing,” said Bob Cantler, President and CEO of the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce. “Learning tricks of the trade to maximize your business’ exposure will certainly enhance sales across the board.” “I don’t care what kind of business you have; one of the most important assets to your business is your web presence,” said Aundrea Salyer, senior business counselor for the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at ETSU Kingsport Affiliate Office. “That means making it easy for your customers to find you online and to shop online. I get asked all the time whether a business should invest in a web site or leverage existing social media platforms. I’m very interested to hear how Joe addresses this.” The two workshop sessions will be held in partnership with local chambers of commerce this month. You do not have to be member of the Chamber(s) to participate. Kingsport Chamber of Commerce: April 21 from 8-10:30 is an online webinar available to the public regardless of geographic location. Attendees must register in advance: https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=10420014 . Johnson City Chamber of Commerce: April 22 from 8-10:30 a.m., at the 602 Sevier St., Suite 101, in Johnson City. Attendees must register in advance: https://cca.johnsoncitytnchamber.com/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=TNJC&evtid=105727&class=E The course is taught by Joe McKenna, founder of Cloud Wise Academy , which specializes in e-commerce training. “Many companies are surprised to discover that the internet favors local companies. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to put the internet to work for your company instead of against it,” said McKenna. By providing the workshop through the chambers of commerce, McKenna hopes this will broaden the education of citizens of Kingsport and Johnson City and help local businesses grow. For more information, email McKenna at joe@cloudwiseacademy.com or call 530-515-9851.

Local search engine marketing workshop

By Joe Mckenna • April 14, 2022
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – (April 4, 2022) Grow your career or business by learning valuable search engine marketing skills. According to 99 Firms, 46% of all Google searches are linked to something local, so it is crucial to learn these valuable skills for yourself, your business and our community. This spring, Cloud Wise Academy, an East Tennessee State University Innovation Lab affiliate member, is hosting a "Local Search Engine Marketing" course aimed at local companies that want to rank better on Google and marketing professionals who want to learn valuable skills. "Students will learn the pros' skills and tools in search engine marketing," said Joe Mckenna, founder of Cloud Wise Academy. “Many companies are surprised to discover that the internet favors local companies. Around 93% of all web traffic is via search engines. Search engine marketing is the lifeblood of every company. We'll demystify it and teach you the valuable skill you need.” The workshop begins May 16 and runs through June 22, with classes on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m. In-person participants meet at the ETSU Innovation Lab, located at 2109 W. Market St. in Johnson City. The class may also be taken synchronously online. Registration fees are $350 per participant, and participants may use the code "early50" through May 1 to save $50. “This class will teach aspiring SEO professionals the ins and outs of local search engine optimization,” said Chauncy Haworth, course instructor. “With hands-on support, you will learn how to alter an existing website and properly create online profiles that will get search engines and local customers attention.” "We are pleased to have Cloud Wise Academy bring search engine marketing opportunities like this to the Appalachian Highlands," said Liz Bennett, assistant director of the Innovation Lab. "We've heard great feedback from previous students and are excited to see more classes like this offered in the area. We hope that students, community members and entrepreneurs will take advantage of these types of classes that help bring new business opportunities to this area." Learn more and register at www.cloudwiseacademy.com/seo-course . For more information about Cloud Wise Academy and future courses, visit cloudwiseacademy.com , or reach Mckenna at joe@cloudwiseacademy.com or at 530-515-9851. The ETSU Innovation Lab is a high-tech business incubator that assists aspiring entrepreneurs from concept through commercialization. For more information, visit etsu.edu/ilab or contact Dr. Audrey Depelteau, director of the Innovation Lab, at depelteau@etsu.edu .