I think this is true.

My frame of reference is so different from so many of my friends.  Like, 180 degrees out-of-phase different.  This is not a slight on any of my friends or acquaintances, just an honest observation.

Most of the people I know do what most people do.  They have good jobs, where they are respected.  They get up in the morning, commute to an office, and work hard on solving the problems they were hired to solve.

This is a fine path.  It is an honest path and followers should be proud to do it.  Some will rise to the top levels of corporate management.  Some will remain in middle management.

I think the debate is open as to whether or not one is better than the other.  It’s not still open for me, nor is it open for those committed to climbing a corporate ladder, and therein lies the crux of the matter.

There are people I try to be around because it helps me think.  It helps contextualize everything I do.  My clients who have built their businesses from nothing into solid, profit centers.  My business partners who have the same challenges with scaling business processes and profitability that I do.  My self-employed friends who need new work regularly, or they don’t get paid.

Being around people like this feeds all my efforts.  It’s also fun.  Where the limits are set only by imagination and a willingness to act, the possibilities are thrilling.  Come on in…the water’s fine…

Why do we all spend so much time doing that which we don’t want to do?

When I first asked myself this question, my own answer was – at best – convoluted.

Because I can’t afford to get fired.

Because I have to pay my bills.

I can’t go back to school at this age.

I could never change professions now.

My kids and family are the priority.

My customers need the support.

There is nobody else who can do it.

I can’t hire anybody to do what I do.

Hiring someone is too expensive.

Blah, blah, blah.

All these things could – did – apply to me.  Well, at least the ones about family responsibility and hiring people.

But after I thought about it for a while, things crystalized in a big way.

I am LAZY.

If you do that which you don’t want to do, you’re lazy too.

It’s ironic; we’re too lazy to do the work required to do what we want to do, so we settle for doing things we don’t want to do.

Today, I’m thinking about work in a new way.  A New Year’s resolution?

Maybe.

Regardless, if we act instead of wish, we can do fewer of the things we don’t like.

If you want to change something, do it.

What’s holding you back?

Some self-imposed notion of difficulty?  Self-doubt?  Risk aversion?

I think that half the battle is just making a plan and starting it.  Even if it doesn’t produce results immediately, the very act of working toward something will make you feel like you’re taking control.

One thing is for sure: If you get up tomorrow and do the same thing you did today, nothing will change.

Networking is the best driver for new business.

Period.

There were maybe a dozen or so companies represented at the session.  We began and the first thing that came up was social media.  I’m all for social media, if it makes sense.  But there is a harsh reality about it:  Most businesses don;t even have a basic website set up correctly, messing with social media is way far down the list of priorities, in my opinion.

After the group essentially agreed that social media as a direct marketing outlet is a complete dog, we moved on to general online advertising.  The conversation was short lived…we started talking about networking.

I think nearly half the session was spent talking about networking on one way or another.  It was clear – networking works.

Maybe the group was skewed?  After all, those attending were there to….network!  Be that as it may, I have my own experiences to draw from.  Truth of it is, for a marketing company, we don’t do a ton of our own marketing.  Not because it doesn’t work, but because we get our business from referrals.  As we ramp up operations for the 2012 plan, that will change. I’m sure.

SEO is critical.  Any company not doing it systematically is…well…insane.  The cost to do it vs. the tremendous benefit makes it a no brainer for every business.  Every single one.

Local newspaper and magazine ads… Sigh…Compared to the bang for the buck from Pay Per Click or SEO, it’s not even close.

TV?  Radio?  Maybe, if the budget is there and the product is one that is amenable to such vehicles.

Social Networking?  Like I said, when you’re site doesn’t even have basic SEO done, has no call-to-action or sales funnel set up, you’re wasting your time.

Networking?  Ohhhh, sweet networking.  If someone says, “I need a lawyer.”  His buddy says, “Call Harry, he’s the best there is.  I used him, I know him, and he’s very good.”  What do you suppose the conversion rate is on that inbound call?

So networking works.

I’m going to start doing more of it….

Even though most of our customers are local, we never thought to craft services specifically for them.  Sure, we have always run geo-targted pay-per-click campaigns.  But we never sat back and focused intensely on the local business.

Times they are a changing!

Google local search results have changed dramatically – even in the last few weeks!  There is no question: having a website optimized for local search is a MUST for any local business.  It doesn’t matter if you own a restaurant, a law firm, a gym, an accounting firm or a babysitting service.

If you service local customers of any kind, you must have local search optimization if you are going to compete.

Local search is the new Yellow Pages.  You must be found there.  That also means you must be optimized for mobile devices.  Fortunately, Search First can handle it all for you.

Our new service provides a turn-key system to help your business get found in local search results, on mobile devices and ultimately, to get more customers.

Read more about Local Launch here.  See you on the other side…

Search First listened!

In response to customer feedback, we took our most popular products (web design and SEO) and packaged them up so that EVERY company, no matter how small, can get into the web game.

The two new packages are the Launch and Accelerator plans.  The Launch Package is designed to get you started with a professionally designed website and a solid marketing package (so that people can actually FIND your website).  The Accelerator takes things to the next level, by incorporating a blog and some more advanced Search Engine Optimization.

We’re excited about the new packages and think our customers, or at least our prospective customers, will be too.

UPDATE 12/20/2010 : The Business Packages are no longer available.  They have been replaced by the Local Launch and Website Design services.