If you own a business of any kind, you’ll inevitably be faced with the ever important question: should your business be on Google? Now, we’re not just talking about showing up in Google search results, because every business should be doing that, but rather, we’re talking about creating a Google My Business listing. While the…
Meet A Mom: Jess Meet A Mom HI! Im Jess Stoffel, owner of Epic Media Inc., an internet marketing company specializing in website design, SEO and social media marketing. I grew up in the Detroit area and moved to Evanston in 2006 after I graduated from Oakland University. In Evanston, I met my husband Chuck…
Nearly 3 of every 4 small businesses plans to invest in social media marketing this year. That finding stands out in a new survey from The Manifest. It’s called How Small Businesses Use Digital Marketing Channels in 2019. 2019 Social Media Statistics The study also found these interesting data points: Nearly all small businesses (95%)…
Social media marketing is now without a doubt one of the most powerful tools out there. Networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are up 13 percent on users when compared to 2017. The total number of people across all networks is estimated to be around 3.196 billion — yes, with a B. When it comes…
Local Businesses Will Need Websites More than Ever in 2019! As local brands and their marketers watch Google play Trojan horse, shifting from top benefactor to top competitor by replacing former “free” publicity with paid packs, Local Service Ads, zero-click SERPs, and related structures, it’s no surprise to see forum members asking, “Do I even…
When designing a website, it can be incredibly challenging, not only do you need to have sound technical knowledge, you also need creative skills. If you want to be successful in website design then you require much more than just having the right tools. Before we get into SEO, there are a few basic elements…
As we conduct more and more of our daily business interactions online, it’s never been more critical to offer users a seamless, frictionless digital experience that aligns with their daily lives. Users have come to expect an optimized user experience as a basic requirement, and it’s now become a prerequisite implementation strategy across all platforms…
There are so many fascinating stories and innovations when it comes to social media in 2019—and by “stories” we don’t just mean the mixed media, disappearing content that is sweeping the digital landscape. In 2018, artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) began to take off and major catastrophes caused online hesitation—think: data breaches by…
How Significant Is Social Media For A Business? If this is a question you’ve been asking, then prepare to be blown away. Social networking has permeated the very fabric of society — users’ posts can help dictate trends and influence consumers’ decisions. There were 3.3 billion active social media users as of July 2018, and…
Ask any seasoned marketer, and they’d agree: Understanding your customers is largely dependent on understanding how they think. Your digital marketing strategy should be guided by your answers to certain questions. What do your target customers need? What do they want? What can you do to influence their decision-making process? Take social media engagement, for…
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…
Every company has a brand, whether they make it a priority or not. Simply defined, a brand is what people think about you – the impressions they have when hearing or seeing your name. In most cases your brand is reflected initially in your logo mark, then supported by your messaging. These experiences influence attitudes…
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,…
While you hear the term more in relation to for-profit businesses, branding is an important element of success for nonprofit organizations too. Your brand is what people think about when they think of your nonprofit. This impacts your public image, your engagement, and your fundraising efforts. Brand management is the work you do to influence…
Three years ago, Scott Fitch couldn’t believe what he was hearing. A college coach recruiting two of his Fairport High School boys basketball players called to say how much he liked what he saw after watching them play an AAU game, and that he thought both were good enough to see court time on his…
I find it amusing that many in the inbound and content marketing space look down upon pay per click advertising almost as if it’s a black sheep in a world full of perfect marketing practices, never to be “fooled with” by such skillful (and altruistic) professionals. Let me be blunt for a second: If anyone…
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…
By now you know that social media is something you should be doing to grow your business and your brand. You also know that you can’t approach social media in a disorganized way, haphazardly or as an afterthought. Gone are the days when you could just tap the youngest member of your team on the…
The creation and distribution of content has become such a significant aspect of effective marketing that it requires a high place in the strategy conversation in most every business. Some might go as far as to suggest content marketing has become the most effective way to build a business. The word content is confusing enough…
Welcome to the digital age, where content marketing is a must for anyone starting a new venture. The idea of content marketing can be overwhelming for some, especially for those who have little or no experience with it. My advice has always been to read as much as you can before jumping into the field;…