You see, blogs are great for search engines because they’re updated with fresh content every day.  They’re indexed often by Google, Yahoo, and MSN.  That one aspect of blogging could make it worth your wild to get started right away.

One of the best area’s that can advance from blogging are local businesses.  You might be wondering why and that’s exactly what I’m about to explain.  But before I get into some of those details please allow me to mention a few things that blogging does for your followers.

The most important thing blogging does for your followers and you is it builds trust.  As long as you post regularly and you are consistent with how you speak and the message you bring, people will get to know who you are and what you stand for.

After you build trust in people you can influence them in almost any direction.  Not in a devious way but in a good way.  Think about the last time you went to see a great movie and wanted to tell everyone about it.  When you told your friends, the people who trust you, they probably went to go see it almost right away.

Blogging works the same way.  You build a following.  You can build trust with them.  You can bring them value and make their lives better just by reading your blog.

Once you’ve begun building that relationship, during the process of posting regularly, you’re giving the search engines information and content to start ranking your blog.

This is especially good for local businesses.

Why?

Because there is much less overall competition when you’re only trying to compete locally.  And if you’ve done things right, gotten your business into a local city search directory and have started blogging specifically about your area, it’s possible for you to dominate your local search listings.

The other aspect of leveraging a blog is it gives you the ability to get testimonials about your product or service right there on your blog for everyone to see.  Not only can you start ranking for your businesses in your area but when people search they may even get the opportunity to see what others have said about you.

This can be a double edged sword for shady businesses.  But the bottom line is, if you’re legit and are truly trying to do what you can to succeed especially during these tough times, you could make a name for yourself.

If you own a local business that needs a jump start just before the economy really starts drowning then I would consider a few things.  Lower your marketing costs, get in a local city search directory such as Directory of Austin, and start blogging.

See Directory of Austin

These are tough times…

The businesses and companies hurting most aren’t the huge corporations that were making billions of dollars.  It’s the smaller local companies that reside right there in the heart of America.  They’re the ones feeling the pain the most.

People are spending less, going out of their homes less, and trying their best to get in control of their debt filled lives.  As a business owner it’s your job to get these people out and into your store or using your service.

It’s the local businesses and companies that need to market their products and services even during tough times to keep people involved with what they have to offer.  It’s those same companies that have to entice these people, who are trying to protect themselves; out of their caves they call a house.

The only way to do this is through marketing and advertising.

But wait… It’s not through the normal marketing and advertising that this should be done.  It’s too expensive especially during this type of down spiraling economy.  It’s by using technology and the internet that will help local businesses gain ground and make money during these tough times.

You might be wondering… how?

Local search online marketing is the way to go.  It’s cheap, easy, and isn’t cluttered yet by too much competition.  More people are searching online for what they need, even when those needs are local.

That’s why local search marketing is a key to success as we move forward in today’s economic and technological landscape.  Using local search city directories such as the Directory of Austin might just do the trick.

These local city directories are highly optimized for local search, they’re broken into categories, and essentially become the equivalent of a shopping mall.  You walk in and decide what you want and where you want to go based on what you’re looking for.

These city directories are that easy and provide a mechanism for local businesses to get out in front of their target markets faster and cheaper than print advertising such as newspapers or magazines.

It’s time for local businesses to use the technology at hand or it put them in the vortex and cause them to fall quickly.  You’ll begin to notice that more local businesses are doing local search and if you don’t get on board with them you’ll always be trying to catch up.

See Directory of Austin

On average, Austin’s rainfall per year is about 34 inches (853.4 mm), with most of the precipitation falling in the spring and the fall. Rainfall amounts have been known to exceed 5 inches in several hours, causing flash floods. During springtime, severe thunderstorms sometimes take place, and although tornadoes are rare in the city, they have occurred. Most of the winter precipitation consists of light rain, and although snow is not usually in the forecast, it does visit the area during some winters. On average, once or twice a year Austin suffers an ice storm that freezes roads over and the city shuts down, sometimes for as long as 48 hours. .

Austin summers are usually hot and humid, with average temperatures of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) from the months of June until September. It is usually at least partially sunny in the summer, but frequently humid due to the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico.

Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are common in the city of Austin. The highest (known) recorded temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) on September 5, 2000. In addition, there is an average of 111 days above 90 °F (32 °C) and 198 days above 80 °F (27 °C).for the entire year. There are, on average, only 24 days out of the year when the minimum temperature falls below freezing. Good to know that forecast if you are planning a visit!

Winters in Austin are mostly dry and mild. For the entire year, Austin averages just 88 days below 45 °F (7 °C). The lowest recorded temperature for Austin weather was -2 °F (-19 °C) on January 31, 1949. Although mild weather prevails in Austin during most of the winter, sub-freezing temperatures occur on average about 25 days each year. On sunny winter days, the temperature warms to pleasant levels, while the nights are relatively cooler.

For more on forecasts for the city of Austin, check out News 8 Austin Weather, KVUE Weather for Austin, or the National Weather Service Forecast Office for Austin/San Antonio

]]> http://www.directoryofaustin.com/blog/austin-weather-climate/feed/ http://www.directoryofaustin.com/blog/about-austin-texas-in-a-word-awesome/ http://www.directoryofaustin.com/blog/about-austin-texas-in-a-word-awesome/#comments Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:53:45 +0000 Wayne http://directoryofaustin.com/blog/?p=37 Who wouldn’t want to know the facts about Austin Texas? Selected in 2006 as the number ONE Best Big City by Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” and the “Greenest City in America” by MSN, Austin is, in a word, awesome. According to CNN Headline News and Travel, the city also ranks #2 on the list of cities with the best people. This, of course, refers to the genuine qualities and characteristics of the citizens, lovingly known as “Austinites”.

“Austinites” are a diverse mix of people, including politicians, university professors, state employees, musicians, artists, students, high-tech workers, low-tech workers, white and blue-collar workers, and everything else in between. Also known as “Silicon Hills”, the city is home to large sites of major technology corporations such as IBM and Dell Computers, among other hi-tech and Fortune 500 Companies.

The city of Austin was named after Stephen F. Austin. Originally called “Waterloo”, the area was settled in the 1830s on the banks of the Colorado River, and in 1839 was chosen to become the capital of the newly independent Republic of Texas. The city grew throughout the 19th century. After a lull in growth from the Great Depression, Austin emerged as a center for government and education with the construction of the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas. As the main campus of the University of Texas is located in this great city, Austin was also voted America’s #1 College Town by the Travel Channel. (Find more facts about Austin Texas and it’s college life).

Facts about Austin: Located in Central Texas and part of the American Southwest, Austin is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 16th-largest in the United States of America. From 2000 to 2006, the city was the third-fastest growing city in the nation. It is the capital of the state of Texas and the county seat of Travis County. According to the 2007 U.S. Census, Austin has a population of 743,074. The city is also the cultural and economic center of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area with a population of about 1.6 million people, collectively.

Because Austin is home to many musicians and music venues, Austin’s official slogan promotes the city as “The Live Music Capital of the World”. Another little known fact about Austin Texas: In recent years, select “Austinites” have also adopted the unofficial slogan “Keep Austin Weird”. This refers in part to the eclectic lifestyle of many Austin residents, but is also the slogan for a campaign to preserve small local businesses and resist unnecessary commercialization.

To find more facts about Austin Texas, visit the Austin Chamber of Commerce

or the University of Texas About Austin page.

For fast access to all things Austin, see the Directory of Austin

According to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors, the national median price of a home fell on a year-over-year basis in August 2006 by 1.7%. Contrary to this national trend, the median price of a home in Texas actually increased 4.8% over the same period. Additionally, sales are down nationally but remain strong in Texas. Clearly, it’s a great time to buy or sell a home here in Austin.

Homes in Austin

There is a wide variety of homes on the Austin real estate market. Character homes, built in the late 1800s, are famous in the city. The architecture of the city is like a metaphor for its culture: old meets new. Victorian homes, many converted into businesses, stand side by side with the glass and steel of modern high rises.

Austin Neighborhoods

From the newer, more suburban houses of the North, to the older, more expensive houses in the West, there is tremendous variety in the distinct neighborhoods of Austin. Use the neighborhood map and statistics page (courtesy of VOX Real Estate) to begin your research. You can also a quick search and browse the neighborhood information and current housing listings via Cantera Real Estate and Affinity Properties. The Austin Business Journal recently released its list of the Top 25 Residential Developments in the Austin area

Real Estate Purchasing Tools

From VOX Real Estate, this handy Home Buying Process explains the steps to buy a home in chronological order. Also find there a Real Estate Calculator which helps you see what home price you can qualify for based on your salary or calculate a home price based on a desired monthly payment.

How to Find the Right Realtor in Austin

Austin Realtors have taken hundreds of hours of continuing education classes and completed hundreds of transactions on behalf of their clients. You can evaluate Austin Realtors via the Texas Real Estate Commission website. Just go to the TREC website and type in the name and you can view the agent’s education history.

Other Austin Resources

• Directory of Austin
• Austin Housing FAQ
• Austin Chamber of Commerce