This is a story about a small business getting it terribly wrong…and how you can avoid the same mistake.

My local Chamber Of Commerce recently distributed a brochure on behalf of one of it’s members. The brochure asked…“Does Google ignore you?” It then went on for 6 pages explaining how they could ensure this didn’t happen for your business. Fair enough…they made some good points…they appeared to be a local SEO company good at what they did. They even offered a ‘free Google website ranking check’.

At this point I’m thinking, I like the sound of these guys…they tell me they know their stuff, they have a core focus and are offering a nice little free entry level product. And they’re asking a question in ‘Does Google ignore me?’ which is clearly a question many business owners ask themselves.

So…before I call them I figure I’ll just check that they’re walking their talk. So, into Google I key in their business name…and back they come, front and center. Then I key in typical search terms that one would use to find them…I key in the most obvious…’SEO experts in (insert my suburb)’…NOTHING! I try four more obvious search phrases…NOTHING!

At this point they’ve lost me and a potential new client…instead I decided to blog about the experience.

Guys…if you make a claim in your business…BACK IT UP WITH REAL LIFE EXAMPLES. That makes sense, doesn’t it?

Oh…and just to make things worse here’s a few more things they got wrong and that we all can learn from:

• There was no URL in their call to action…just an address and phone number…Really!
• They had no social media involvement listed either…fundamental for an SEO business I would have thought.
• And when I did go to their website..they had an outdated blog (last entry May 2008!).

OK…enough bagging these poor guys. The lesson? Back up every offer you make with a claim..a case study…a testimonial.

In fact, live by the below saying and you’ll be well and truly on the right track:

“Don’t tell me you’re funny…tell me a joke!”

What do you think? Do you agree?

Last week I was heading out to an after-hours business networking event hosted by the local Small Business Centre. As I was getting ready, my six year old asked where I was going. I said that I was going to a business networking event. He often repeats what I say, so he responded in his usual innocent voice, “A business not-working event daddy?” I chuckled and replied, “Yes I’m sure there are a few not-working businesses there!”

Sure enough, that night I met a few business owners with the same story. They wouldn’t say that business is “not working”, but things could be better. I often wonder if they truly own their business, or if their business owns them. These ‘business owners’ go to work at eight, and come home at six, if they’re lucky. Their routine looks strikingly similar to their life before they went into business. The promise of more freedom and more income by entering into business for themselves hasn’t quite materialised yet.

I wouldn’t be so bold to say that if you are “owned” by your business, rather than you owning your business, that your business is not working. You may thoroughly love what you do, and you wouldn’t dream of doing anything else. If this is the case, then sure, your business is working, it is providing you with exactly what you desire. If your desire is to own a business that provides for you, not you providing for your business, then it may be worth admitting to yourself that business is not working.
I’m not suggesting it’s time to give up, on the contrary. If you can front up to the idea that business is not working, then you are on your way to doing something about it. If your business is not working then reassess your goals, identify what’s getting in your way, and then make your business work. Grab some of that passion and determination that you first saw when you started out in business.

Well done for getting this far in business, you should be proud of yourself. Now look forward to the future of owning a business that works for you and provides for you.