Four States Small Business Blog

Creating a stellar website is only the first step in getting people to find your business online -- your site must also be discoverable. The process of creating a website that's appealing to search engines is called SEO, or Search Engine Optimization. In its simplest form, SEO is defined by industry-leader Moz as "the process of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results". This sounds fascinating, but what does it really mean? The rules around SEO can be complex and are changing on a regular basis. Here are the top five ways that search optimization practices have changed in the last decade.

When it comes to four state area radio, there really is only one clear choice . . . and you don't have to take it from us! We love it when marketers from around the area share their success stories. It really reminds us why we do what we do every day -- to not only provide quality programming to our listeners but also to help area businesses reach their core audiences and business goals, too. See how the elements of radio advertising work together to supercharge the reach for our advertisers.

While spring ushered in warmer weather and longer days, kicking off the home improvement season, these are the heady days of summer. The season is hot, and homeowners are looking to start their next project before it ends. To capture as many customers as you can, you need to understand your target audience and the goals, desires, and needs that drive their choices.

We could share countless stats around the power of radio — 93% of American adults reached weekly, $17 payback per $1 spent on radio by department stores, two-thirds of time spent listening happens outside the home… But we know stories are more powerful than numbers, and we love shining a light on the success of local businesses.

It’s undeniable that we live in an omnichannel world where shoppers no longer distinguish between the physical and digital realms. Consumers expect to encounter brands across channels, and they’re bombarded left and right with marketing. That makes it awfully tempting for brands — especially relatively new brands and small businesses — to try to be all things to all current and potential customers across all channels.

Since 2012, Randy Brooks and Kaylee Cole have been waking up KIX listeners with lively interviews, contests, phone calls, crazy songs, and other shenanigans. Zimmer is proud to announce that the entertaining duo beat out hundreds of other personalities in the state of Missouri to take home a 2018 MBA Award for best medium market radio air talent.

Rush Limbaugh recently made a point to remind everyone of the true impact and power of radio, quoting a Washington Times article from this past April that highlighted new findings from Nielsen. In a half-hour audio clip you can find below, the pioneer of AM radio shared why he prefers radio to TV, compelling stats from Nielsen’s second-quarter 2017 Comparable Metrics Report, and a healthy dose of Rush political talk on listenership and stories from around the nation.

If you think someone in their twilight years isn’t looking online for an assisted living center… well, you might be partly right, but they aren’t your primary online audience. Their children are often the ones doing research and looking for the best option for their parents, and both groups want to feel confident and happy in their choice.

This time of year in Joplin can bring to mind images of storms and tornadoes that wreak havoc on our communities. In the not so distant past, storms have been utterly devastating. As a local business, you need to stay prepared, but you can also play a role in helping your community and your customers be better informed and stay safe.

If you’ve seen one of Peyton Manning’s commercials for Nationwide Insurance, you’ll immediately understand the impact a jingle has on your audience. Nationwide’s jingle is catchy, creative, and above all, gets stuck in your head. In fact, it’s been memorable since 1977, and in more recent years, the jingle has evolved for newer audiences, adding elements of authenticity with its Songs for All Our Sides campaign. Perhaps most importantly, it makes it easy for the listener to never confuse Nationwide with a competitor like State Farm, which also features its own jingle dating back to the 1970’s.