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A tablet open to Google with the caption, "Search Marketing is the one marketing opportunity where you magically show your ad right when people are searching for your product."

Search marketing (SEM): when (and how) to use it… and when not to

We say it more than anything else: “you need search marketing”. You sell watches online? You need search marketing. You are a kid’s dentist? You need search marketing. Again and again, search marketing (SEM) is the top of the list of Things We Say You Should Do. First, let me quickly go over what search marketing is for those of you new to the term. Search Engine Marketing (specifically Google Ads or Bing Ads) is those ads that show up...
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Scrabble tiles that read "SEO"

SEO: a practical real-world guide

I’m gonna say it. SEO (Search Engine Marketing) isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. “Wait, WHAAAAT?” you gasp! “I thought SEO was a critical piece of my marketing, the most important thing for my website, the be-all, end-all of making sure my business is successful, the Alpha and Omega of my strategy…” Sorry. It’s not. I know what you’ve read. I know what all the marketing “experts” tell you before handing you a proposal to “fix” your site for...
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A blogger putting together a post with the caption, "Content marketing attracts three times the leads for about 62% less cost. Whoa is right."

What the heck is content marketing and why should I care: the small business guide

Hey! If you’re reading this, you’re interested in content marketing, one of the biggest trends in recent marketing history. So give yourself a pat on the back. Yes, content is king. Here are a few stats to support that statement: Content marketing generates about three times the leads that traditional marketing does (including paid search marketing), at about 62% less cost  Small businesses with blogs (i.e. content marketing) get 126% more lead growth than small businesses that don’t.  Websites with...
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A car engine, with the caption, "Good marketing, like a car, works pretty much all the time. If yours has broken down, don't assume that cars aren't for you - run a diagnostic instead."

Marketing not working? Six ways to troubleshoot

If you are a small business and you don’t feel like any of your marketing works… well, let’s just say you’re not alone. I hear this over and over, and often not just from small businesses. I’ve heard the infamous, “marketing doesn’t work for us” line from businesses ranging from one employee to fifty. And the reality is that they aren’t wrong. But they also aren’t right. Don’t worry, I haven’t lost it. The truth is that at the very...
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A video camera filming, with the caption, "Conventional wisdom would have us all believe that video is the greatest marketing thing since sliced bread. But we advise caution. Here's why."

Don’t make me watch your stupid marketing video

Marketing video fail: a few weeks ago, my mortgage company sent me an email regarding their annual audit of my escrow account. In the past, they’ve sent me a letter describing the change and letting me know when my payment will adjust. I read the letter, absorb the information, and I’m on to other things in under 10 seconds. Sounds good, right? No need to mess with that formula. This year, it appears the marketing department at my mortgage company...
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