Golf Marketing SEO Tips

Back9clicks.com golf marketing plans market your golf website on thre three major search engines. Microsoft's new Bing search engine will change the way we all have to approach SEO. With the introduction of Bing, gone are those days when you have to submit your site to search engines or get links from various sources just to be indexed on the search engines.

With the release of Bing, the first thing that online marketers want to inquire is to how to get their websites on the top of the results page of the search engine. Here are some SEO tips for Bing, which will help golf marketers to get noticed on Bing.

For golf websites to make it to the top of Bing, make sure to have a title that correlates to the subject at hand. You must also link out. Many marketers do not favor linking out because they fear that their page rank will be lowered, especially with Google.

Try to add more and more text. In most search engines, the amount of text on the page usually is not usually a huge factor. However, Bing really likes pages with at least 350 words of text.


Bing appears to put a lot of stock into how long ago a domain was registered. For marketers, this means that you may look to purchase older domains if you want to get on good position in Bing.

Try using only the well-formed HTML codes in your web pages. You should always ensure to close all the paired tags and should see that all links open the correct webpage. For information on validating your HTML code, you can see either HTTP Conditional Get test tool or HTTP Compression or W3C Markup Validation Service. If your website contains broken link then MSNBot might not be able to index your website effectively, thereby preventing people from reaching all of your web pages. To find more information on finding broken links on your website you can see the Help topic for the Webmaster Center's Crawl Issues tool.

If you have moved a web page then you must set up the webpage's original URL to redirect people to the new webpage. Also, indicate whether the move is permanent or temporary.

You have to make sure MSNBot is allowed to crawl your website and is not on your list of web crawlers that are prohibited from indexing your website. For more information on this, you can see Control which web pages on your website are indexed.

You should use a Robots.txt file or tags to control how MSNBot and other web crawlers index your website. You can use the Robots.txt file to prevent web crawlers from crawling specific files and folders.


Keep all your URLs static and simple. URLs that are complicated or that change frequently are difficult to index as link destinations. In addition, a URL that does not change is easy for people to remember and bookmark. That makes your webpage a more likely link destination from other websites.

You should watch for malicious software. Watch out for the links to web pages on your website that lead to malware on third-party websites or contains malicious content, such as a maliciously corrupted document or image file, or a harmful JavaScript or ActiveX control, will be disabled and highlighted as Malware in Bing results web pages.

In the end, it is very important to get more links to your site in terms of quantity as well as quality and to make sure that your website's content matches that with your keywords.

The Golf Marketing Experts

How to build word-of-mouse marketing

From Microsoft

By Joanna L. Krotz
Ask any expert to choose the single most powerful form of marketing and you're bound to hear: Word-of-mouth referrals.

"It's the holy grail of marketers, CEOs and entrepreneurs, as it can make or break a product," says Dave Balter, founder of BzzAgent, a Boston-based research firm that specializes in word-of-mouth marketing.

When a friend or associate tells you about a great service or product, it's an unsolicited, honest endorsement. The approval carries rock-solid credibility that can't be bought. (Read more about word-of-mouth marketing.)

Naturally enough, as online advertising comes roaring back, marketers are scrambling to create Web-based versions of the word-of-mouth experience. Because if one real-world happy customer can influence a dozen or so friends or family, imagine the reach of a network-enhanced personal referral campaign, that is, "word of mouse."

To help you build online buzz for your company, here are guidelines to follow when planning and implementing electronic word-of-mouth campaigns.

Make sure your message is authentic

A dull widget won't turn into a hot item just because you send an e-mail blast to 50 best buds saying it's so.

"Successful word-of-mouth efforts tap into an existing zeitgeist, then seed, channel and expand it," says Eric Anderson, director of agency services at White Horse, a Portland, Ore. marketing agency. You must have a standout product that delivers a memorable customer experience in the first place. Otherwise, why should anyone pass on your message?

"The best way to launch a viral marketing campaign is to find an opening in some behavior that's already taking place," says Anderson. You can then coax that behavior along with what he calls "programmatic tools," such as "send to a friend" e-mail forms, special "insider" selections, such as downloading a tune or uploading an image or other interactive activities. Make sure any applet or activity you choose works fast and is immediately intuitive, of course.

White Horse, for instance, created an online campaign for a client that combined already-popular viral videos with spoof ads, and then offered a site to view the videos as well as a way to pass the spoofs along to friends and associates.

Know your target well before choosing format or content

If you market, let's say, flannel pajamas, your "cozy and great value" message doesn't exactly sync up with an edgy Flash animation that takes cues from a "Blackhawk Down" video game. While that may seem like common sense, you'd be surprised by how many marketers fall for cool effects that have little to do with their products' benefits. Such disconnects waste time and money.

Instead, take time to wander in the shoes of your online customer evangelist. That means visiting Web sites your targets do and investigating the online messages of your competition and of related products and services. Only then, when you've defined a relevant look and feel, can you develop content and interactive formats that will push buttons for your particular customer.

Plus, don't forget incentives. "Whenever I do a viral campaign I give away bribes, uh, I mean free gifts," says Robert Smith, a Rockford, Ill., publicist. "I mention it as a free gift for their inconvenience and as a way of thanking them. So far, I've had great success building my in-house mailing list and my customer base."

When you know your target well, it's a lot easier to figure out which incentive will entice customers to pass on your messaging.

Stay up to speed about online options

As you know all too well, it's a world of fast moves and clutter out there, with dozens of messages and media campaigns fighting for attention. Despite spam filters and junk-mail firewalls, consumers are frequently close to overload — except, of course, for those messages they want to receive. "Most people are sick of being bombarded with ads yet they also care passionately about certain products or services," says Balter. "And when people love a product, they want to tell friends about it."

So, as always, you must find the buyers who will love your product. In addition, nowadays you need to find new ways to connect with online consumers who have grown sophisticated. Don't underestimate them.

For instance, before the 2004 presidential election, blogs scarcely hit anyone's screen. By 2005, according to a comScore Networks survey, 30% of all United States Internet users, or one in every six Americans, had visited a blog site. Word-of-mouse, for sure. (Read more about blogs.)

Maybe a personal blog from the owner that offers an opportunity to post opinions and comments on a (monitored) chat room is just the thing to get your gang's juices going.

Integrate your efforts with other marketing

As online options gain traction, it's tempting to rely on electronic channels altogether. Why? They're often more affordable, efficient and faster to quantify than marketing in other channels. A Web analytics program, like Microsoft FastCounter Pro for example, lets you quickly evaluate efforts to pull in traffic, along with information about which sites and sources work best.

Nevertheless, real return on marketing comes from a concerted, coordinated message. Depending on your product (see "Know your target" above) that might mean a mobile blogging campaign mixed with radio spots on the local pop music station. Or it might be developing a new mini-site on the corporate site combined with a direct-mail brochure to launch a new service. You get the idea.

Don't forget the follow-up

Finally, no marketing works without the requisite follow-up. Don't put out your message, find out that, in fact, you've scored a great hit and then figure you've done enough. Keep going. And then go some more.

Does Your Website Work

A few years back, I was brought in to write copy for a client's new Website. The client had a fancy (but frankly, butt-ugly) black flash Website that didn't match his brand. It had a lot of pages and images that moved, but not much useful information. And it sure didn't do much to make me want to hire him.

I began work on the project by consulting with the other Web, designers, graphic designers and marketers on the team. In addition to creating a new site design, we decided he needed quite a bit more content, including: case studies, helpful tips, solid reasons to hire them instead of the competition, tools to keep people coming back to the site, and more.

Then there was the matter of organizing everything...From planning the navigation, to deciding on the path visitors should take through the site, and creating compelling calls to action.

Soon things were coming together nicely. But when we brought the client in to review our plans, he seemed confused.

He couldn't understand why we were putting so much time and energy into planning. Seems all he wanted was a Website that looked nicer and better matched his new logo and colors.

Boy, did this throw me for a loop! I mean, why invest any time and money redesigning your Website if you're not going to make it a more effective sales tool, right?!?

So I started asking questions trying to better understand where he was coming from. Finally, I got to the root of the matter...

His current Website had never brought in any new business-no leads, no sales, nothing. Not really surprising because, in addition to being an assault on the eyeballs, the site was clearly never designed to make sales.

Of course, my next question was, "Would you like your Website to generate leads and make sales for you?" You know what his response was??? A "deer-in-the-headlights" stare!

It never occurred to him that his Website could actually be doing a large part of the sales and marketing job for him.

The thing is, he's not the only small business owner I've run across who feels this way. Whenever I ask entrepreneurs what their Website does to grow their business, nine times out of ten the answer is "nothing". Or at best, prospects go there to learn more only after talking to them on the phone or in person.

Most small business Websites are nothing more than glorified electrified brochures!

In this day and age, having an EFFECTIVE, sales-oriented Website is one of the best ways to grow almost any small business without spending a ton of time and money.

Wouldn't it be nice to wake up and find emails from 3 hot leads who are dying to hire you? Or that you made $300 in online sales while you were sleeping? Duh, of course it would! And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to make it happen.

Best of all, turning your Website into a lead-generating, sales-making machine does not have to cost an arm and a leg. You just need to understand what makes a Website effective, decide exactly what you want yours to do for you, create a plan, then hire someone to get it done (or make the changes yourself).

Could your Website be doing more for you?

Obviously, if my little story hit home for you, the answer is probably yes. But if you're not sure, just answer these questions...

1) Does your Website regularly make sales, or send hot leads to your Inbox?
2) Does it show people exactly what you offer, and to whom, front and center on the first page? They should be able to figure this out in 2 seconds or less!
3) Does your Website give visitors a compelling, powerful reason to buy from you instead of your competition?
4) Is the most important content on your site reachable within two clicks off the home page?
5) Does your Website answer visitor's questions and address their main concerns?
6) Does it help your credibility as an expert by offering useful information to visitors?
7) Do people often compliment you on the ease of navigating your Website?
8) Has your Website content been updated in the last 6 months?
9) Was your Website built with a purpose in mind other than simply having a Web presence (IE: Building a list, selling product, becoming a resource center, etc.)?
10) Did you have a site plan before your site was designed and built?
11) Did a professional copywriter or sales and marketing expert write your content?
12) Does your Website focus on solving the specific problems of your target market and speak directly to them in a conversational, one-on-one tone?

If you answered 'no', 'maybe', or 'I don't know' to any of these questions, chances are your site could be doing a whole lot more to grow your business. So use these questions as starting points to amp up the sales-making power of your Website.

With more than 20 years experience running small businesses, author Stacy Karacostas has developed a variety of proven tools, tips and tricks that take the struggle out of growing your small business. Discover all kinds of powerful resources, free for the taking, at http://www.success-stream.com

Social Networking for Golf Marketers

Everyone has heard of YouTube, Facebook , and sites of that nature. These are known as social networking sites. Anyone can use them. All are generally free and you can use it to promote your business if you want. Business or anything imaginable that you want to trade info about. It looks a little scary though if you have never done it before. Like walking into a swanky bar that professes a relaxed atmosphere. How long do you stand there and wonder whether or not you are supposed to seat yourself. If you just don't know how to fit in, it's a good idea to check around and think on these ideas.

First thing to know is that you have to be able to pump some time into this endeavor. It only really works effectively for those that are online all the time doing updates and on their pages. You really don't want to go to the trouble of creating a site and then forgetting all about it. If you are doing it for business then use it that way. Don't discuss boring personal info. Your friends will be nice and listen to you but believe me, people that don't know you are not interested. You need to take into consideration the attention span that people have. Short bursts of info are the only things that will get actually read.

If you have a reason for doing this in the first place then stick to it. You need to be clear about what you want. If you are after reaching a certain demographic then you need to plan out how to keep them interested to come back for more. This really works the best if you are interested in the subject as well. If you really don't care what you write about then other people will feel that and lose interest.

Keep it simple. Social networking is very informal, so don't think that just because you are posting on behalf of your business, that it must be all business like. Posts that are fun, laid back and funny will get more attention so don't be afraid to let your sense of humor shine through. Use as many tools as possible. You can post on multiple sites at once and even create your own blogs as well. You can even link these things together to take people from one of your posts on one social networking site to another. Don't limit yourself, use them all.

There is a niche for everything. You just have to uncover yours. Using keywords is the final most important thing about using this plan of action. You have to be specific and make sure what you use will make sense and is directly connected to your business. By sticking very close to that and things related you will be able to funnel more people to your specific subject. If you need some creative ideas, just look around at how other people are doing it and go from there.

Golf Marketing Sales Letters

Here's a nice article from a fellow golf marketer.

That was the headline of perhaps the greatest letter I ever penned, my famous "Insane" letter. This one page letter alone is responsible for over five million dollars in income but here's the REAL beauty of it. I have used the same letter for almost 15 years with the same staggering results in a number of different businesses from selling franchises in the karate industry, to software in the golf business.

The reason this letter has been so successful is simple, the concept and the copy resonates with the readers. The idea that doing the same thing again and again and yet expecting different results is, in fact, INSANE!

This type of connection and understanding of human nature, motivation and buying psychology is what separates a $500 sales letter writer from a $5,000 or even $15,000 dollar sales letter writer, with a corresponding increase in response.

There is NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING, more powerful than a well-written letter! By well-written I don't mean spelling, grammar, punctuation and all the things I seemed to have missed by quitting school at age 15. What I mean is a letter that connects with a PROSPECT at the soul. A letter that speaks the language of your prospect, not the corporate speak language that some Madison Avenue type THINKS your prospect speaks. And very possibly, NOT THE LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK!

It's that connection that makes your copy work and it's the lack of that connection that makes it fail, whether in a letter, brochure, postcard or Web site.

Here are ten tips for connecting with your audience; check your copy to see how it rates:

* Always write like you are writing to a friend.
* Never use complicated language, keep it simple!
* Avoid the overuse of superlative words.
* Every headline and subhead MUST have maximum impact and interest to the reader's SELF INTEREST or curiosity!
* Don't say what everyone else says; be different, ASTONISHINGLY DIFFERENT, if at all possible.
* Paint a picture with your words and make the reader want to jump into that picture with you!
* Engage the readers with a story; don't just give them the cold, hard, FACTS.

For example, if you were advertising Loch Lommond Golf Club in Scotland, you could say that the course was designed by noted player Tom Weiskof. A fact, but of little impact. However, if you say, Loch Lommond was very nearly the last course Tom Weiskof ever designed; you lead right into the story... While wandering around one morning in the gentle Scottish mist, while designing the course, Weiskof stepped up to his neck in quicksand and remained there for several hours before being discovered. Is there any wonder the 17th hole is so special for him?

Always use visual, aural and feeling references to reach people of different information processing persuasions. (How many copywriters do you think even know this critical fact, let alone use it? Exactly, not many but it's great little tricks like this that makes the difference.)

Always make your piece readable on three levels to accommodate the skimmer, the bobber and the studious. That is to say, for the skimmer: the headlines, underlines and captions alone MUST tell your story. The studious will read the whole thing, while the bobber will zone in on subheads of interest and ignore the rest.

Amazingly the most common mistake in marketing literature of all kinds is simply failing to provide clear action steps on what you want the prospect to do next!

Well, there it is sports fans; how to connect with your prospects. Oh, I know that someone at the club will still sabotage your next brochure or letter with well-meaning corporate speak. But, at least, when you read it, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing in advance, why your results will be so predictably poor!

For instance, if you want great copy that motivates people to ACTION, call me now at 1-800-827-1663! Andrew Wood is the world's leading expert on golf related marketing. He is the author of over 20 books including Cunningly Clever Marketing Book and The Golf Marketing Bible. Andrew speaks worldwide on sales and marketing topics. He is also the CEO multiple golf marketing companies including Legendary Golf Management Company.