January 2012
1 post
Link Exchanges: 4 Tips for Jumpstarting your Link...
Today I got another link exchange request from a former client. You know those requests; she asked me if I would link my company’s website to her company’s site. Maybe I shouldn’t announce this to the world but I am usually happy to do this.
So what’s the point? How important are these exchanges?
To understand the why, we’ll start with understanding what a link actually is. Google (as well as Bing...
November 2011
1 post
3 tags
5 Tips for Overcoming Blog Block
I am becoming increasingly convinced that the toughest part of digital marketing is blogging. It’s not tough to start a blog. In fact, Wordpress, Blogger and Tumblr make it incredibly easy (and free!). It’s really easy to write your first few posts – you’ll feel like they almost write themselves.
The toughest thing about blogging is what I call Blog Block.
Blog Block is the challenge that every...
October 2011
2 posts
12 tags
The B2B Question: Is Social for Me?
Not since the Internet itself, have we seen a boom like social media. Even the hype is getting hyped. In fact, in the past week I heard a speaker say if you aren’t masters of social media, then you’ve failed. On the other hand, a major publication wrote that social media was dead. Once you get through the hyperbole, The Question persists: does social media have a role in business-to-business...
5 tags
Technology Bandwagons: When's the right time to...
On Tuesday, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 5. Like all of Apple’s announcements, it will be carried in all of the media. Some pundits will immediately dismiss the device, some will praise it, people will get in line to buy it and Samsung will copy it.
We know all of this because we’ve seen it before. New must-have technologies come out and the early adopters clamor to get...
September 2011
5 posts
7 tags
Gray Hat SEO: SERP Flooding
My strategy with SEO is to always wear the white hat. I think in the end, Google will crush everyone who tries to outsmart the search. Like I wrote in a previous post, it’s my theory that even though not many click on it, Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button is everything to them. It’s a source of pride and ego. If Google gets a whiff that you’re trying to work an angle and get that link, they will...
9 tags
You Can't Trick Google
SEO is in my job description and right now occupies three places on my to-do list. I think every business owner right now understands at least the value of effective SEO but few understand the black magic that is SEO. I think I can shed some light as to just what is SEO.
On a fundamental level, Google (I’ve heard rumor of other search engines but for ease of use, I just reference Google) is...
5 tags
Another Day at the Mission
(This is the second part of yesterday’s post on the difference between vision and mission statements)
Once you have your vision statement, it’s time to get down to your mission. Imagine you’ve stated the vision that you want to be a great employer. What are the steps to achieving that?
As an exercise, think about this for a second. Imagine you chose the vision to be a better...
8 tags
Is it Your Vision or Your Mission?
(This is the first part of a two-part post on vision and mission statements)
Do you know the difference between a vision statement and a mission statement? Did you know that you’ve been writing these things your whole life?
Some time ago, I worked with a manufacturing company who was working on their vision statement. The General Manager had just read Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits...
It's a Conversation, People!
The most common misperception of marketing communications is that it’s a one-way street. You design an ad - you’re done. Design a brochure - that’s it. Now this article isn’t about analytics. Any marketer worth anything measures the effectiveness of their programs. No, I’m talking about the communication itself.
If I go up to someone and say hi, I expect some visual...