4 Ways Partnerships Can Increase Your Google Rank and Brand Awareness

In a previous post, we talked about a number of ways to optimize your website for search engines organically. While this should be a priority for you, it’s also important to know how you can increase your ranking aside from keywords, tagging, and all the other daunting ways it takes to get your site optimized organically. The secret is in partnerships. The more others talk about you online, the more likely you are to boost your rankings in the search engines. So how do you get that to happen? Here are three tried-and-true methods for getting your ranking up there without minimal work on your end.

Google Reviews

It’s ok to have your customers do a little work for you. If you know someone has had a positive experience with your business, always ask for a Google review. Better yet, write your own review for them, send them the Google link, and let them know its as simple as copy and paste. Make it as easy as possible for them and tell them you’ve paraphrased a sample review for them so they know what keywords should be used.

Here are some best practices about asking for reviews, from the Google experts themselves:

Verify your Business Profile: This makes your business information show up on Maps, Search, and other Google services. To respond to a review, you must have a verified business.

• Remind customers to leave reviews: Let them know it’s quick and easy to leave reviews. Google advises against offering incentives to customers to leave reviews, but you an make it easier for them if you create and share a link. To do so, log in with the account you used to sign up for your Business Profile. Search on Google for your exact business name. Select Customers Reviews -> Get more reviews. Share the link with your customers directly or use the sharing options provided.

• Reply to reviews to build customer trust: Your customers will notice your business values their input if you read and reply to their reviews.

• Value all reviews: Reviews are useful for potential customers when they’re honest and objective. Customers find a mix of positive and negative reviews more trustworthy. You can always respond to a review to show the customers that you care and provide additional context. If the review doesn't follow our posting guidelines, you can request its removal.

Media Relations

Having a PR background is definitely a perk when it comes to media placement for your business, but really any sort of media mention - whether it’s a blog post, an online article, or social media shout-out, only helps increase your ranks in the search engines. Be sure you add any media mentions you have to your website, which also helps.

Social Media / Influencer Partnerships

Remember that whole social media thing and how you’ve tried to avoid it for the past 20 years? Well, unfortunately for those who have a love/ hate relationship with social media, the truth is, it’s not going away anytime soon. When it comes to marketing, social media is king these days and any partnerships you’re able to build through social channels are great ways to not just boost your rankings, but also increase brand awareness.

Email Marketing

Despite what some may say, email is not dead….yet. In fact, most people I speak with tell me something comes from every email campaign they send - whether it be a sale, question, or some other type of engagement. And if there’s anything you can take away from this blog post, it’s just that - engagement. You want people to remember you’re still alive even when it seems like there are crickets on the opposite end of the email chain. When you do reach out to influencers about potential partnerships, ask for an email mention in their newsletter - it will only increase your exposure online.

#EmbraceAmbition: 6 Sessions You Don't Want to Miss

2022 has been one of the biggest years for my business thus far. I started this little agency in 2019, having no clue what I was doing but armed with 15 years of corporate marketing experience, a strong instinct, resources, and determination, I kept things going here. Despite the twists and turns that all business owners went through during COVID, SW Creative is still thriving today.

A few months ago, I applied to Tory Burch Foundation’s 2022 Embrace Ambition Summit: Confronting Stereotypes and Creating New Norms, and couldn’t believe I was accepted to attend among the thousands of others who applied.

There are so many reasons I’m excited about this event—too many to list, but with the Summit taking place in a week I thought I’d highlight a few of the sessions I’m probably most excited about as they hit home in some shape or form for me.

This year, the Summit returns as a live and virtual experience—a full day of conversations and performances from leaders in business, entertainment, science, social justice and sports. You can still get your virtual ticket here.

ADVOCATING FOR GUN CONTROL, SESSION 3, 11:50-1PM

Julianne Moore, Actor, Activist, Mother and Founding Chair of the Everytown for Gun Safety Creative Council and Monisha Henley, Director of State Affairs, Everytown for Gun Safety. I don’t think there’s much more I need to say about this session and my passion for gun advocacy. You can read more about my thoughts on Uvalde here.

WOMEN AND SCIENCE: SESSION 6, 5-6PM

Aside from Tory, I don’t know that there’s anyone else I’m more excited to hear speak than Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-American engineer who earned a bachelor’s degree electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, (also my alma mater) in 1988 and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., while working full-time at MCI Communications.

She is the CEO of XPRIZE, an Astronaut, a High-tech serial entrepreneur and a Global Change Maker. Entrepreneur Magazine says of her, “Ansari's journey to space in 2006 has led her to being immortalized in history, with the Iranian American entrepreneur also forever going to be remembered as the first Muslim woman in the world to travel to space.”

As someone who was raised by a Persian single mother and my entire life, pushed to succeed, go to college, and be a change maker, I am not only humbled by Anoush’s accomplishments but feel as though her story resonates so much with my upbringing. I can’t wait to hear her in person.

WE MUST TALK ABOUT MISCARRIAGE: A CONVERSATION WITH MARY KEEGAN, SESSION 3, 11:50-1PM

Mary Keegan is a Talent Brand Communications Manager and an advocate for parents and women in the workforce. She will be speaking about the bereavement leave policy after miscarriage that she created at her place of employment.

RECLAIMING OUR ICONS IN HISTORY: AN INTERVIEW WITH DOLORES HUERTES, SESSION 2, 10:25-11:30

Dolores Huerta has been a labor organizer and activist for over 50 years. She co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union in 1962, an organization that played a key role in securing rights for agricultural laborers–but her co-founder and then-partner Cesar Chavez became the face of the movement, insisting only one of them could be its leader. At age 92, Ms. Huerta still has plenty to teach us all about what we can accomplish when we stand up for the most marginalized in our communities.

THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS WITH DR. SAMANTHA BOARDMAN, SESSION 3, 11:50-1PM

Dr. Samantha Boardman is a positive psychiatrist, founder of Positive Prescription, and author of Everyday Vitality. After beginning her practice, she had a client come to her that said, “Dr. Boardman, I hate coming to our weekly sessions,” she confessed. “All we do is talk about the bad stuff in my life. Even if I am having a good day, coming here makes me think about all the negative things. I’m done.”

That’s when Dr. Boardman decided to go back to school and focus on treating patients through a positive mindset, teaching resilience, optimism, and post-traumatic growth. She says, “I explored the role of lifestyle and psychosocial factors that impact mental health and learned about evidence-based interventions that promote well-being. I have been practicing Positive Psychiatry ever since.”

NO ROADBLOCKS, SESSION IV, 2:15-3:20PM

Aisha Khan is a brain tumor survivor and also a disability awareness advocate. Her story is especially intriguing - after undergoing a surgical procedure to remove a benign brain tumor on May 13th, 2014, Khan initially developed complete paralysis of her right/ dominant side hence, "The Right Side of Perfect".

As she began her recovery, she started documenting her journey with the hopes that perhaps she’s learned some things that can help others. Topics include living with a disability (right-sided hemiparesis) and adapting to a “new normal”, especially at work.

The Perfect Salmon Recipe

Image Courtesy of LeCremeDeLaCrumb

We’ve heard it a thousand times - fill your diet with omega 3’s and healthy, lean meat. But let’s be real: sometimes fish is just not tasty. I love salmon but hadn’t found a way to cook it without becoming dry until now. We finally found the perfect, easy recipe for baked salmon. It’s juicy, flavorful, and doesn’t have any added fat except for a little olive oil. Be sure to pin this recipe or memorize it for the future! Recipe adapted from LeCremedelacrumb.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets - about 6 ounces each

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• ½ teaspoon salt - or to taste

• ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper - just a pinch if using finely ground black pepper

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning blend - OR herbs de provence, or ¼ teaspoon each dried thyme, parsley, oregano, and basil

• 1 medium lemon

RECIPE

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a large baking pan. Arrange salmon fillets on the baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper.

• Stir together olive oil, garlic, herbs, and juice of 1/2 lemon. Spoon over salmon fillets being sure to rub all over the tops and sides of the salmon so it has no dry spots. Thinly slice remaining 1/2 of lemon and top each piece of salmon with a slice of lemon.

• Bake for 12-15 minutes until salmon is opaque and flaky when pulled apart with a fork. You can broil the last 1-2 minutes if desired.

• Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley if desired and serve.

Flavor tip: swap out the lemon for lime and add a sprinkle of cilantro at the end!

Nutrition

Calories: 306 kcal, Carbohydrates: 1 g, Protein: 34 g, Fat: 18 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 94 mg, Sodium: 366 mg, Potassium: 839 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 68 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 23 mg, Iron: 1 mg

A Stroll Through Leesburg's Historic Garden Tour

This first appeared in Leesburg Lifestyle magazine.

This year, the Leesburg Garden Club and Fauquier-Loudoun Garden Club will be hosting Historic Garden Week in Leesburg’s old town region on Sunday, April 24 from 1-5 pm and Monday April 25, 10 am-5 pm. This year’s tour is especially exciting as many private homes will open their doors to visitors for the first time since 2020. With so much to see, we’ve broken down the Leesburg walking tour for you, which begins at St. James Episcopal Church and ends on Cornwall St. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at https://www.vagardenweek.org/tours/leesburg/.

St. James’ Episcopal Church -- 14 Cornwall Street, NW

St. James was built in 1897 by DC architect Leon E. Dessez. The church is a Richardsonian Romanesque structure and includes a sanctuary illuminated by two signed Tiffany windows, in addition to several windows built by the Heaton Firm. The building was damaged by fire in 1929 and was rebuilt in 1931, according to its original design. The grounds include a variety of exotic and native trees.

21 Wirt Street, NW

This 1894 home is an excellent example of a Queen Anne-style house that has been modernized over the years. The home features multiple porches, unique interior décor, and a blending of old and new furniture and art. The gardens are filled with abundant spring bulbs and perennials, including mature tree peonies and weigelia. Mature American boxwood and viburnum frames the rear yard, creating a hedge for privacy. The site features flowering fruit trees, a vegetable garden, a small fishpond garden, statues, and beautiful arbors.

209 Cornwall Street, NW

The Colonial Revival home, designed by Joanne Tiffany, was built in 1950. The property was previously owned by the Harrison family, who were active with the Garden Club of Virginia and other local organizations. The current owners completed an extensive renovation in 2015. The half-acre lot features Japanese holly, Chinese snowball viburnum and climbing roses. Two Japanese lilac trees provide fragrant blooms and shade on the rear patio. A row of 165-year-old boxwoods anchors the back of the property. Dogwoods, Amelanchier, hellebores, daffodils, and tulips are just a few springtime blooms featured on the property.

211 Cornwall Street, NW (Garden Only) 

211 Cornwall is a Federal-style home, with the original 2-1/2 story brick section constructed in 1788. The yard is organized in four distinct areas which are marked by small ornamental trees, boxwoods, and yew hedges. The side yard is framed with hellebores, star magnolia, dogwoods, and hydrangeas. The central formal garden, surrounding the focal sculpture of Diana the Huntress, follows a tranquil white and green color palette with peonies, hydrangea, white lavender, and roses. 

215 Cornwall Street, NW

215 Cornwall is a federal-style brick home built in 1824. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the home underwent several expansions to include a dining room connecting the main house to the kitchen, a wing with a family room and bedrooms, and a guest cottage at the rear of the 3/4-acre property. The current owners converted a rear porch into a breakfast room adjacent to the original kitchen and restored the brick patio designed by acclaimed landscape architect M. Meade Palmer. The gardens include boxwood, spring bulbs, and flowering trees.

Other Places of Interest

The Leesburg garden tour will take place near some of the best shops, restaurants, and art galleries our town has to offer. Be sure to check out Global Local on 103 Loudoun Street Southwest, which features a variety of fair-trade products and local artisan-made goods to find the perfect keepsake. If you need a break from walking, stop by Trinity House Café on 101 E. Market Street, a lovely café and market occupying the George Head House, a late 18th century Federal-style home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here are a few more landmarks which have been maintained by the Garden Club of Virginia over the years:

Oatlands Plantation and Gardens – 5.5 miles south of Leesburg on Rt.15.

This Greek Revival mansion was built around 1805 and once the center of a thriving 3,400-acre plantation. It includes terraced gardens, a portion of which was restored by the Garden Club of Virginia with funding from Historic Garden Week tours.

George C. Marshall International Center – 217 Edwards Ferry Rd.

Formerly called Dodona Manor, this was the home of General George C. Marshall and his wife, Katherine. He was the architect of the European Recovery Plan and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953. The 3.8 acres of grounds and gardens were restored with support from the Garden Club of Virginia. The property is on the Virginia Landmarks Register and is designated a National Historic Landmark.

Leesburg Garden Club Centennial Tree Walk at Ida Lee Park – 60 Ida Lee Dr., NW.

A native tree walk was installed by the Leesburg Garden Club in honor of its 100-year anniversary. The walk begins behind the Rust Library and follows Old Waterford Road to the northwest end of the park.