We all saw it happen this summer. It started with a video of one of your friends dumping a bucket of ice water over his or her head. Then it was two videos. Then it was five. And suddenly, celebrities, politicians, and thought leaders alike were participating in the the ALS Ice Bucket challenge. After…
A high-quality, well-functioning website is an absolute must in today’s business world. It can market your company, draw in new leads and, in most cases, bring in more sales and revenues in the long term. And for small businesses, it’s even more crucial. With a limited budget and not much cash for marketing and advertising,…
You already know that having an online presence impacts the success of your business operation. One point that you may not be particularly clear on is the role that search engine optimization (SEO) plays in that process. Even though the major search engines are constantly updating the algorithms they use to prioritize searches, SEO is…
Any good marketer knows to keep an eye on the future to stay ahead of the curve on new trends, emerging marketing channels, and other fresh ideas to deliver brand messages. With 2016 in the rear-view mirror and 2017 flying down the pipeline, now is the time to start examining what the New Year is…
To some entrepreneurs, social media marketing is the “next big thing,” a temporary yet powerful fad that must be taken advantage of while it’s still in the spotlight. To others, it’s a buzzword with no practical advantages and a steep, complicated learning curve. Because it appeared quickly, social media has developed a reputation by some…
As a former CMO, I often consult with small business owners and startup founders regarding their marketing strategies. Usually these conversations start with the question, “Do I really need to invest in marketing?” It’s a valid query; startups are often short-staffed and have a laundry list of important tasks. The short answer, however? Yes! It…
LinkedIn is my absolute favorite social media platform. Not only does LinkedIn enable me to connect with my audience, but it’s also one of the fastest growing networks among small business owners and entrepreneurs – and I’ll tell you why. With all the social media sites coming up and trying to take over your day, there’s not one…
For small business owners, keeping up with the latest and greatest strategies can be a daunting task – and digital marketing for one, is often rife with confusion and missed opportunities for local businesses. A recent study we conducted found that 75 percent of local businesses say they are investing in local search marketing, yet…
Do you own a local small business, such as a retail store, hotel, or restaurant? Would you like internet marketing tips that are tailored specifically to local businesses?In this article, we cover six internet marketing ideas to get new customers and clients for your local small business. Some of these tips you will probably not…
Every year, I make predictions about what the coming year’s potential developments in the world of social media marketing. And every year, I have to think back and chuckle at all the people who claimed social marketing was just a fad—as little as a few years ago. It’s clear now that social media marketing is…
I’ve heard the excuses a million times: “I’m just a tiny business… Why would I need to build a website?” “Designing a website sounds like so much work… Would it be worth it?” “Why bother? My customers probably won’t even look at it.” The truth is, many small businesses should have a website. This isn’t…
Did you know that social media marketing has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing? Or that 84% of B2B marketers use social media in some form? No matter what you sell and who you sell it to, using social media as a marketing tool can help you grow your brand and pad your…
Constantly clamoring to grab the attention of prospective customers, small businesses are competing with a lot of noise. Consumers are cutting through clutter by fast-forwarding television shows, subscribing to ad-free digital radio, installing ad-blockers to browse their favorite websites sans-ads and customizing what’s in their social media feeds. To avoid getting skipped over or ignored, savvy digital…
By now, most local business owners are aware of how crucial it is to incorporate social media into their digital marketing efforts. But what many don’t know is which social media platforms and review sites are best suited for their unique industry and type of business. When it comes to developing a digital marketing strategy,…
Local LOCM +% businesses today are in a unique position. On the one hand, they are no longer the “only” shop in town, as customers have more options than ever before thanks to the ubiquity of e-commerce. On the other hand, local businesses can now compete with the big box retailers without having to match…
By now, you’ve heard about content marketing, but if you haven’t invested in it yet, it might be because you’re skeptical of the long-term benefits; reluctant to invest heavily in what might turn out to be a fad. You might be intimidated by your perceived complexity of the strategy, afraid to dive in if you…
Did you know that Facebook now has more active users than China’s entire population – which is estimated to be 1.4 billion? With 1.5 billion users, Facebook is certainly a force to contend with and it goes without saying that if you are not marketing on Facebook for business then you are losing out…
Responsive web design is a relatively new standard in how modern websites are designed; it allows web page content to move around on a screen automatically to adjust for just about any screen size. This makes websites more accessible for a wide range of internet-connected devices. In other words –no one is left out. When…
My website is fine! Why would I want to waste the money on a new one? Have you heard someone say this recently? Worse, have you said it yourself? Now may be the best time to invest in a new website. Here are eight more reasons why you should probably pull the trigger: 1. Site is…
One of the hardest things for business owners to measure is the ROI of social media marketing. Often times, we hear complaints about all of the time wasted posting pictures and updates on social media channels only to gather one or two likes and maybe a comment. It makes business owners feel like they are throwing…