Bandicoot,

From what you have written I am assuming your "Site-wide 301 redirects" means you did it from url to url and not from home page to home page or root to root, etc. 
We made the mistake of assuming on a site a few months ago and could not understand what happened. Mozzers pointed out we did not go url to url and we made the change. Most were cautious suggesting it would take 4 to 6 weeks, but we actually saw about 90% within 3 weeks of the change. This was a change from NamedLawfirm.com to City-Bankruptcy-Attorneys.com so I was impressed with the rapidity.

Good luck

Good answer Dan, thanks. I have used the screenshot of where their business ranks on that name as well and it is good. One thing I avoid is ever using their computer to show them rankings for anything so as to not pull rankings influenced by their searches.

Thanks

Thanks James, all three are good points.

In sales training, we called the first one the moment of need. When a person sees your business at the moment that is an issue, they are likely to explore and buy from you. So sales people should be forever knocking as that need is not static. 
The second one is great as well, especially for those who don't like to think of "Selling" their services. Based on research, more people by far and those with higher education by far choose organic placements versus  paid search. (last I saw was 7.5 to 1 better CTR).

Actually, I saw a couple of those monkeys at a recent MMA event.... again, its a joke.

Typically, our SEO questions are around "how to's" and etc. So, to change it up I will ask a business question: What is your biggest selling point when presenting your SEO services to a new client?

In a spirit of transparency, I will tell you mine ahead of time. With PPC, TV, Radio, and Print at some point in time that ad comes to an end. When it ends, that is it. There is no residual from that advertisement - or very minimal at best. With SEO, once you are ranked well and well optimized you continue to get clients for a much longer period of time.

With clients who TV and print, this rings especially true and is easily provable. I can't wait to hear yours.

Having dealt with photographers for many years I would say that it is, but does not have to be. Obviously, there are more Spring and Summer marriages, school pics during school year, etc. Many photographers put their businesses in too narrow a niche and by virtue of that limit themselves to other opportunities. If a photographer is to build a name for themselves it will typically start in one city. They have to become known to a level that someone will say, "This family photo was shot by Bill Photo." But, there are many other areas to be explored: If a photographer is digitally savvy, the real estate market loves a person who understands what parallax is and how to best display a home for sale. They pay very well (Maybe a low of $150 for the lower end real estate up to $1,000's for high end homes). Be willing to set up drop boxes, etc. and teach agents and mls' how to retrieve photos and be prepared to assist them early in the process. Seasoned realtors are good at this, but new ones need help. You never know which new one will become a top producer.

Industrial/Commercial photography is another area where they can make money and reduce seasonality. Make it easy on them to get what they want and then have it available when they need a copy, etc. (Get away from the "I own the copyright and a copy is $500 BS - charge a fee, but make the money on the schedule time, difficulty of shoot and setting, etc. - no one likes to feel nickel and dimed).

Like any other business, you must be telling people you are there and constantly working the sales pipeline. If you are an "artist" and cannot be bothered with the mundane....good luck.

Best

Subdomains and Root domains are treated somewhat similarly. So, monkey-fights.mfl.com should receive a similar exact match domain "bonus." But, it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the exact match as to whether or not it is a good idea. SubDomains do not usually get the benefit (or at least not the full benefit) of the various ranking metrics acquired by the root domain. 
If this would otherwise simply be a single page on your main site, you are better off in my opinion to go with mfl.com/monkey-fights.com. You get the benefit of the URL having a keyword match without giving up the acquired rank of the root domain. Also, many in SEO believe the amount of "bonus" afforded with an exact match domain is weakening.

Lastly, my response in no way signifies my endorsement of Monkey Fights, I find the practice abhorrent.

Hello Rick,

First caveat is I am not sure what you want to accomplish: You want it so that once the app is done, the person is no longer in https:// ?? If that is it, then while I am not sure I will be able to help, I want to clarify the issue.

Currently, you have one page that is https: and that is your loan app page with url of https://startuploans.org/secure/site/step1 (I did not get a step two on my test, but the next page was https://startuploans.org/secure/step3.) You want a person to finish the app, and then not be in https when they return to the site?

I am not a coder per se, but I am wondering if y ou change the target on the menu link to the secure pages to open in a new window there would be no option to go back. once finished, page 3 have an option to close to secure my information. Then, they are left at the page they were on before going to application.

Now, if none of this was what you wanted, I owe you a beer.