Five free to-dos to promote your web site:

1. Make sure your URL is listed on all of your printed material: business cards, brochures, ads, invoices, giveaways, etc…
2. Get listed on Google Local  – Submit your business at Google.com so you show up when someone searches for your type of housing/service in your city (example, Assisted Living Boston, MA)
3. Ask for links (called link building) – Google considers inbound links very important, especially when they are one way (not reciprocated). Ask for a link from friends and colleagues in with web sites of a similar nature, or focused on the same region. Request links when you advertise & from any organizations in which you are a member. If you can’t get a free link, consider paying for it.
4. Optimize your site (called search engine optimization – SEO) – For starters, make  a list of keyword phrases under which you want to show up on the search engines & make sure they are included in the copy/text on your site. If you are a retirement community in Denver, make sure your home page says so!
5. Train your employees on what’s available on your site so they can use it and refer others there as well! This can be especially helpful for an off-hours receptionist, or anyone else with dealings in & outside your community, but no access to the office.

A forum, what is it? The Wikipedia definition is: “…a message board, an online discussion site.” With all the questions we get from those looking for senior housing and care, and all the incredible knowledge our clients have on the subject, we felt a need to create a forum to bring these two groups together.

We are asked a lot about finding affordable senior housing, the types of care, financial assistance for senior care, pricing, how to find the best care, inspection reports and more. So we have posted these questions and more and will promote our forum as a reliable place to get answers to questions on senior residences and care options. We implore you, our clients, the “experts” in the industry, to answer these questions for the public and point out other important considerations. You can also use this site to ask the public questions you may have for them.

We will monitor the site to make sure that negative comments about particular locations are not posted, but concerns can be addressed. This is the perfect opportunity for you to promote your special services and knowledge. Showing that you are an expert in the field in your area, will better your brand, giving you a heads up on your competition.

Please visit http://forum.newlifestyles.com and answer a questions &/or post a question. We intend this to be our B2C area, like our main site. If you have industry related questions, feel free to post them here.

Happy social networking! 

Jennifer

February didn’t last very long, did it?  March is here, spring is on the horizon and New LifeStyles is busy helping seniors, their families and caregivers find the great services of our housing, care and service providing advertisers.   What’s can you expect from us this month?

• The latest edition of the New LifeStyles E-Newsletter should hit your inbox next week.  Look for informative articles, helpful tidbits and more.   If you would like to contribute and article or sponsor a future newsletter, let us know and we will send you statistics on the newsletter and rates.  Don’t receive our newsletter?  Send us your e-mail and we’ll add you to the distribution.
• If you are interested in knowing more about both the print and online advertising options at New LifeStyles, we have a new animated, interactive media kit now up on our web site.  After reviewing everything available, you can contact us for closing deadlines, rates, statistics and more.
• Our new site is LIVE!  Please visit, research your community/business and area and tell us what you think. 
• The New LifeStyles forum will be live in March.   It’s a great opportunity for communities, families, caregivers and seniors to share ideas and information!

 The following print guides close in March:

• San Francisco Bay – A longtime information stalwart in Northern California
• South Florida – a distribution of 80,000 with a wealth of choices for seniors
• Pittsburgh – this book continues to grow in an area with great healthcare and quality of life for seniors
• Orange County – one of the original, with extensive distribution and participation
• Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo – a beautiful area with great options
• New Jersey – the entire state is covered, all options included, distributed throughout with additional distribution in PA and NY
• Central/Western Massachusetts – brings you all the housing and care available in the many cities and towns to the west of the Greater Boston area

For more information, contact us immediately!

New LifeStyles.com presents these new online tours:

• Wesley Enhanced Living at Maple Village in Hatboro, PA (RET/AL)
• Gardens of Richardson – Texas (NUR/AL)
• The Chateau in McKinney  – Texas (APT, AAC and RET)

Take a look at these and see if a reasonably priced online tour can help your marketing efforts.

New LifeStyles took more than 10 newly designed or re-designed website live in February.  To get the lastest information on our web design division, friend New LifeStyles on Facebook , connect with us on LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

Enjoy March, I hope Spring graces your doorstep, Doug