Google has already prepared THOUSANDS of free websites for businesses everywhere.  The problem is, you and other business owners don’t know about them.  Most SEO companies and web design companies don’t know about them either.

I will show you how to get yours, and more importantly I will show you how to use it to ROCK Google and the interwebs for the betterment of your business!  Watch these 3 free videos.  You’ll love em or your money back.

You’ll see first hand how I claimed the free google listing and web page for our Naperville App which is in itunes.

How To Get Your FREE Google Business Website in Google Places, Google Local Vid #1

How To Get Your FREE Google Business Website in Google Places, Google Local Vid #2

How To Get Your FREE Google Business Website in Google Places, Google Local Vid #3

Google has a free website for your business, which is already search engine optimized to work seamlessly with the top 2 search engines on the planet (google and youtube).

Matt Dubiel will show you exactly how to claim your free website, why it’s important, and how you can use it to make more money.

Get free radio advertising in Suburban Chicago Here.
Listen to Mancow and Dan Patrick here.
Advertise on Chicago’s Digital leader.
More from Matt Dubiel.

Forget about KONY. Kony is Darth Vader…the question is…WHO is the Emperor? That’s who you need to stop.

Watch these “think” videos from MTV. WOW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYI1PY-b-ro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2ZhQrWQj7k

Forget radio, marketing, and all the other nonsense in life. This is the SHIT. This is the good stuff. Nothing else matters. I hope you enjoy.

You can change the world.

This guy in Dublin, Ireland knows the secret of success. Do you?
lemonade, door closes, take action, do it now, make it happen, be the ball, just do it!

If you like that…you might like this article.

It should be noted I got a call first thing this morning from Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Town and they were very nice and understanding. It sounds like Westfield is going to look into the whole thing and work to improve.

That’s good…

Do they? Do you? Do you feel like I do?

Who are THEY? Them…you know…the newscasters who are spoiling the magic of Christmas, the Scrooges who are yelling and honking their horns…the Westfield Mall Photog who called security on me…

It’s true. I am a menace, clearly. This time I deserved it though. I crossed the line. I had the nerve to bring my family to the Fox Valley Mall. We had a nice little dinner at Panera inside the mall. Then we strolled down to Santa’s “set”. Santa was on break for another fifteen minutes, but we were 2nd in line!

While we waited we started talking. Then the BIG MAN himself came down the escalator, with his handler. Santa immediately said hi to those in line and explained the reindeer would poke holes in the roof if he didn’t feed them at regular intervals. That jolly old elf was on top of his game!

My kids were stoked! My 4 year turned and asked, “Where’s his mother?” He meant Mrs. Claus, Santa’s better half and I encouraged him to ASK Santa.

After all, what are we there for if not to get to know this elusive elf, right? As I often do, and have been doing for 9 years, I fired up my video recorder (on my iPhone) and began recording the banter between my kids while on line to see S-A-N-T-A. This is GOLD and I like to get every minute.

From there, the corporate minions took hold. I was asked not to take pictures. I assured the kind folks I would do no such thing. The photograph taking would be left to the “professionals” with the flash and fisheye lense. I simple wanted to video tape the live raw excitement of my cherubs as they encountered the Magic Man, Mr. Claus in the flesh! That seemed to suffice…for a moment…until the pit boss of the Santa Set began to call out to me in front of everyone.

By now the children were on Santa’s lap and I WAS MISSING IT!!!! This is good stuff. These moments come once in a lifetime. Did he ask about Mrs. Claus yet? Did my daughter mention her deepest desires for a gift???? I DON’T KNOW because I was being yelled at by Sara like a school boy who was chewing gum in class!!!

My wife briefly attempted to talk me out of videotaping, but thought better of it. She wanted some video too!

I pressed forward. I focused…or tried to. In my coolest Sharon Stone impersonation I wanted to utter, “What are you gonna do, arrest me for smoking video-taping my own children while they tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas?”

Then she did it.  She utter the mother of all dirty phrases…..the “I am going to dash dash (call security)” phrase.  I was in for it now.

We asked her to snap the picture.  Our credit card was out the whole time.  People were waiting.  The tension was mounting.

After I shut the camera off (so she would snap the picture) THREE security guards came down and waited for me.  She ruined my experience and my wife’s.  The kids enjoyed Santa immensely.  She ruined our video memories… and we paid $25 for a picture.  The security folks did nothing.

I go to the mall about 2 times a year.  Well, I used to.  I bet you can guess why…  Easter, and Christmas.  That’s probably going to change though.

News flash to Shutterfly, Cherry Hill and Westfield:

You should want me to videotape my kids having magical moments at your place of business while using your service.  Take a lesson from Disney.  He makes MILLIONS from letting people photgraph and videotape their happiness early and often.

You’re not in the business of selling pictures.  You’re in the business of selling happiness and connections.  You never know who’s coming through your doors.  Everyone should be treated like a king.  You treated me like a crook, when in reality it is YOU who stole something from me and my family tonight…and for what?

These are the ratings of tomorrow. Actually, they are the ratings of TODAY, but everyone would rather focus on the VOODOO numbers published and paid for.

Like any ratings or statistics, these aren’t the end all be all. These are simply versions of VARIOUS available measuring sticks. These stats are an indicator of your stickiness…or lack of stickiness. These numbers are an indicator of the level of involvement your audience (or customers) have with your business/brand.

Enter the Chicago Radio Digital “Ratings” for September 2011 (We’ll post these monthly).  I am considering including Steve Dahl’s stats in the next period.  If you think there is someone else like Steve or a web entity that’s Chicago centric I should include, please suggest it in the comments below.

Chicago Radio’s Facebook Ratings September 2011:

Chicago Radio’s Twitter Ratings September 2011:

Here’s the book on Flow I mentioned: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

flow/flō/
Verb: (esp. of a liquid) Move along or out steadily and continuously in a current or stream: “from here the river flows north”; “a cross-current of electricity seemed to flow between them”.
Noun: The action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream.

In a time when mainstreet USA was struggling for business, Groupon rode in on their White Stallion and promised to bring business in the front door.  They patted the small business owner on the head and said, “don’t worry…we’ll help YOU.”

Groupon offered to advertise your business for free.  They said they’d even sell your stuff for you.  They’d handle EVERYTHING for YOU.  The best part is there’s NO RISK to you.  If no one buys, it didn’t cost you anything!

If no one buys, you get FREE advertising from GROUPON!!!!!

But what if lots of people buy?  What’s this “Groupon Effect” people are talking about?

Well simply put, when people buy your outragiously discounted and now commoditized wares through Groupon….Groupon will write YOU a check!!!

So to recap:

1. Groupon advertises YOUR business FREE
2. There’s “no risk” to you
3. If no one buys your stuff, you pay nothing
4. GROUPON will pay YOU if you sell your products or services

This sounds GREAT!  What’s the catch?

1. You have to dive on price which compromises your integrity
2. The reduced profit is split with Groupon
3. Groupon uses your name, brand and customer base to build their database to use later to market other businesses, and even competitors
4. You risk alienating your loyal customer base
5. You risk overwhelming your staff with an influx of non-local business
6. You give deals and price breaks to strangers instead of your loyal customer base
7. You lose over 50% of your profit margin
8. You have to clean up the mess, while Groupon moves on to the next business

In short, your business is underwriting Groupon’s growth.  They’re now selling shares for BILLIONS and you are still struggling to pay your CAM.  You are essentially paying THOUSANDS of dollars for an email blast that should cost you pennies.  Imagine paying $15,000 for an email blast.

But Groupon rocks other than that.

Here’s more on Groupon from the Tribune.

The solution?  Build your own following one loyal customer at a time.  Read 1,000 True Fans.  Partner with other local businesses and cross promote locally so you can grow together, steadily.  Forget the GRAND opening mentality.  It’s easier to keep a customer than it is to get a new one.  Love the ones you’re with and empower them to spread the word.

If you ran a Groupon, ask the board for some stock.  You helped build Groupon.