Reviews are a tough business for any company, especially when you run into the occasional unfavorable review from a customer you thought you served well only to find out you missed the mark. Or something that could’ve been dealt with by your company was never...
Remember those business resolutions you committed to in January? You were going to improve your marketing. Get your bookkeeping together. File that huge stack of papers on your desk. Okay, it’s mid-year, and now that you are more than 30 days into the new year, you’ve...
When it comes to their websites, most business owners want to know why they're not getting more calls or online submissions. A valid concern for a small business owner looking for ways to grow a business and establish a successful online marketing campaign. However,...
The short answer is yes. If you sell products or services, an e-commerce platform is an essential element to your online web presence. There's more than 191.1 million online shoppers in the United States alone and over $703 billion being spent online shopping. Your...
by Amy Bareham You and me? We’re visual people. (At least that’s what major social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have found.) Correct me if I’m wrong, but the social era has changed the rules of the marketing game. If your small business is...
As a small business owner, you want to own as many spots at the top of Google’s searches as possible. To accomplish this, you’ve set up three or more websites in hopes that you will take the top three advantage. But as you search for your business online you are...
When will I be on the 1st page of Google? Ahh, the age old question – and by age old, I mean, Google hasn’t even celebrated their 20th birthday yet (mark your calendars, ladies and gents). All that aside, as a business owner, I’m sure you’ve tossed and turned at night...
by Lo'Vonia Parks With most things in life, there is the power of three. The Trinity, the Three Amigos, a Children’s Meal with a toy and drink… you get the point. When thinking of the rule of three, people often think about something pop-culture related. However, it...
Have a website but not sure it's doing its job? As you know, your website is an important aspect of your business. It's your digital storefront that makes you visible and available 24/7 to current and potential customers. Here's how to make sure your website is...
by Katherine Genske So, you’ve invested in your company’s online presence and SEO services – congratulations! Your well on your way to growing your business. Now, the first question that pops in your head is, “When will I see results?” The complicated, frustrating...
by Jacob Robinson Ok – disclaimer, I don’t know Garth Brooks personally (I wish I did), but I did go to one of his concerts. I drove 4 hours from Charlotte NC to Charleston, SC and paid more than $100 for a ticket to a concert that was guaranteed to be AMAZING. At...
Here are a few common reasons your small business website isn't bringing in new business. Below we highlight a number of areas where your website (or overall web presence) may be falling short. Common Website Content Issues It's boring – Does your website sound like...
The word “usability” has many different connotations. However, the definition is simple and can be applied to almost anything. If something is “usable,” according to Steve Krug, author of “Don’t Make Me Think,” it means: “A person of average (or even below average)...
by SeQuoya Addison I think we can all agree that social media effects our day, everyday, in one way or another. We use it for personal reasons, business reasons, as a source for research and to get our daily news. With the power and reach social media has, it’s...
by Nadia Saar Are You Making These 5 Digital Marketing Mistakes With Your Small Business? Every small business needs a successful online presence to survive in today's digital world. Social networks and websites are dominating the market. Because of this, every...
When you think about the phrase “top-of-mind advertising,” what comes to mind? Billboards, radio commercials, flyers/postcards, and a wacky flailing inflatable arm tube man on the street corner? Great! Those are all great vehicles of advertising that have proven...
There's Opportunity in Every Online Review Are you listening to your customers? Really listening? Reviews are usually a touchy subject for businesses because of how critical they are to success. It’s common for businesses to shrug off great reviews and panic when a 1...
By: Nick Felton What to say when someone asks "what do you do?" We’ve all had that awkward moment, right? When someone asks, “So what do you do for a living?”….Pause...”Well, we uh,…I build things”. And that’s where the conversation starts to fizzle out…Right from...
by Chris Ireland & Jacob Robinson Think about the greatest leaders in history. Individuals like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and Margaret Thatcher might come to mind. Do you know what made them or for that matter any leaders in your life, great? No one is...
By: Amy Merrill We live in the digital age. Gone are the days where a business can simply rely on word of mouth. Did you know that 91% of adults have their mobile phone within arm’s reach 24/7 and 88% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal...
by Becky Giefer Facebook has over 1.4 billion monthly active users. More and more small businesses are becoming aware of the need to keep up with this lucrative facet of their online presence. Social media is not a fleeting trend, it continues to evolve and it’s...
by Nadia Saar Digital marketing and social media are all the rage in the marketing world. But, there are a full range of offline mediums at your disposal to help drive brand awareness. One of the oldest mediums around is print marketing. Nowadays, print marketing and...
by Doug Sewell Google My Business is one of the easiest ways to get your business found by potential customers. In fact, local listings will show up as the number one spot on Google 93% of the time in local search. From an SEO perspective, Google My Business is...
by Amy Merrill Have you ever searched for a business and found wrong or conflicting information? I bet you have. On average, 2 in 3 business listings contain incorrect information. Duplicate listings are a serious problem for businesses. They cause confusion and doubt...
by Amy Hoglund When you sign into your social accounts, are you eagerly waiting a sponsored ad or a sales pitch? Absolutely not. This is where you go to see how Jan is doing after her big move to Cali, or how Jack’s “Sunday Funday” is going at the local brewery....
by David Anders Make use of simple ways to better your content and increase your conversion. A potential customer has found your website. Awesome! Now you want to convert them from a browsing reader to an active customer. The best way to do that? Well-developed...
Our passion is for small business. We understand how much time and money goes into running a business and we want you to keep even more of the money you make. We have teamed up with WorldPlay, one of the largest global payments providers, to offer you a...
by Townsquare Interactive (Contributor: Danni Dichito) Social media is still very much misunderstood by many small business owners. Business owners are confused about the value of social media. And if they are using Facebook and Twitter, they don't always know the...
by Amy Hoglund Having a successful and productive team is extremely valuable to a business. If a team does not work well together, or has a lack of comradery, it will not flourish and can potentially cause the downfall of a business. There is one company that has...
by Laura Edington Elevate your lackluster content and bring in more business “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” - Benjamin Franklin Well worded websites that focus on understanding the customer have never been more important. The...
by Patrick Bogans Secondary pages can help pad your site with engaging information Blogs, SEO analysts and fellow businessmen recommend that your business’s homepage has a decent amount of relevant information about your company. Secondary pages are pages that you...
by Amy Hoglund We live in the ‘now’. With mobile devices always being within arms reach, we have the ability to learn, find, do, or buy something at any given point in time. It’s incredible to think about the information we have at our fingertips. To put it in...
By: Jacob Robinson Have you ever heard of the Golden Circle? Simon Sinek popularized this concept in a Ted Talk. If you haven’t, I’m about to show you. The Golden Circle gives a different perspective on the way you relate to your customers', business, and employees....
Updated on December 21, 2023 This holiday season, the greatest gift of all may be right in front of you. A strong social media presence does a lot for your business. It’s where customers are finding, engaging, and learning about you. It’s a place to share helpful...
by Amy Hoglund The holiday season has arrived and it’s the most wonderful time of the year for businesses to bring in sales and new customers. To understand the mindset of the holiday shopper, here's a list of helpful and interesting statistics. You'll see the growing...
by Amy Hoglund It’s no surprise that technology is moving at an exponential rate. Take a look to the right - everything from this 1991 Radio Shack Ad is now in your phone. Crazy, right!? Writer Steve Chichon, from The Huffington Post, pointed out “You'd have spent...
by Holly Czuba We still run into business owners who don't have and/or don't believe they need a website. In fact, 25% of small business owners don't have websites. Not sure your business needs a website? Well- there are PLENTY of reasons. Here are 15 to start with......
by Stephanie LaClair Angry customers. We've all seen them, heard them, served them, and occasionally (even if we don't want to admit it) been one ourselves. Let’s face it- as friendly as your staff might be, timely as your service might be, and low as your prices...
by Holly Czuba It happens all the time. We work with thousands of small and medium sized business owners (exactly who the calls target). You pick up the phone and hear either a real person or a machine, claiming they are affiliated with Google or XYZ search engine,...
By: Amy Merrill There’s always a thing or two to learn from your competition. This doesn't mean to copy what they’re doing, but rather to find areas of improvement. It’s a way to get inspired! Here are 5 effective ways to learn from (and get a leg up on) your...
You should Google your business once a quarter. You'll be surprised what you find. I always am. I spoke at a national conference several years ago to a room full of college students. My workshop was about preparing yourself as a job seeker. Lots of stuff like, "Be...
by Amy Hoglund Google My Business is hands down the most beneficial tool Google has to offer business owners. Start setting one up ASAP if you don’t currently have one (or we can do it for you, of course). Google My Business makes it easy for potential clients to get...
By: Jacob Robinson Have you ever heard of “First Principle thinking”? If not, I’ll soon make a formal introduction. Your ability to understand this simple concept will alter the way you think about your business. Elon Musk, one of the world’s most successful...
by Amy Hoglund So you’ve created fantastic content and your looking to share it via social media. Awesome! Utilizing social media is a great way to drive more traffic to your website, engage with your customers, and build your online presence. Now, to be successful,...
By: Jacob Robinson & Press Miller Mark Twain famously said "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it First Thing in the Morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the BIGGEST one first." Click to Tweet Any guesses on what this...
by Amy Hoglund With a zillion different digital marketing companies out there, it’s difficult to decide on the best partner for you and your business. Here are 9 questions you need to ask to ensure you make the right decision for your digital marketing partnership....
Updated on March 22, 2023 You’ve heard it a thousand times - “Work Smarter not Harder”. But what does that really mean? For small business owners it simply means “Cut the Fat”. Wait, but what does that mean?! Essentially it means, our goal as a small business owner is...
By: Jacob Robinson Decisions are a part of everyday life. But, have you ever thought about what influences your decisions? Any decision you have ever made, and will ever make, is determined by your perception of the situation at hand. The perception itself, is...
by Amy Hoglund What happens when a customer experience goes bad? Does it mean the customer is gone forever or is there a way to do some damage control and save them? We're taking a deeper look into the recent study conducted by SDL that explains: “When customer...
by Amy Hoglund With social media taking a strong presence in today’s marketing world, it’s important to make sure you’re at least on Facebook- the largest social media network with 1.44 billion monthly users. Like many other things in life- like building a house for...
by Amy Hoglund Want social media FAQs and stats all in one place? You’re in luck! I’ve created a “Social Media Cheat Sheet” for you to keep handy, giving you a deeper understanding of the industry. Let’s start with the FAQs. Frequently Asked Social Media Questions...
by Allie Papajohn Restaurant owners - it’s simple. Don’t hide from social media – embrace it! Being active on social media is crucial. Here’s the low-down. There’s a group of people widely known as "foodies" who, as restaurant owners, you want to tap into. They are...
By: Jacob Robinson You became an entrepreneur for a reason. Maybe it was for freedom, to pursue your passion, or for the ability to make a difference? No matter the reason, you’ve undoubtedly found that although owning your own business has many perks, there are still...
By: Joey Vachon A lot of times it's easy for me to find myself pushing an agenda, rather than acknowledging a trust-building conversation with a human being. Ultimately, your perception creates your reality - and the same goes for your prospect. When two perceptions...
by Amy Hoglund With businesses trying to connect with their customers on social media, it’s extremely important to understand the behavior behind social media sharing. We’ve got some interesting (and fun) stats to share! What People Share This is the most vital...
by Amy Hoglund The Social Media industry changes frequently. You have to keep yourself updated with industry news in order to keep up. This leaves busy small business owners scrambling to keep up. That’s where we come in! Here are a few common questions we receive...
by: Holly Czuba We live in a mobile world. Contractors spend 90%+ of their day on job sites. When they need something, they pull out their phone or tablet to get it done. We work with a number of contractors and have compiled a list of marketing tips, keeping in mind...
By: Jacob Robinson Do you have a website? Maybe you’re thinking about building a website for your business? Either way, you understand that as a general contractor, it's imperative to have a high functioning website that can first be found, and second convert visitors...
by Amy Hoglund Referrals, the go-to approach many small business owners rely on, exclusively, to earn business. If you aren’t looking to expand your business and bring in more revenue, referrals may be enough. But who doesn’t want to increase their sales and become...
by Amy Hoglund When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), you may hear industry jargon get tossed around, but have no idea what actually goes into it. We’re here to help clear the muddle. Today I’m focusing on the significance of Off-Page SEO- specifically...
By: Kala Halbert & Jacob Robinson What Is a Value Proposition? As a business, you must know and understand your value proposition. Not sure what that means? It’s just what it sounds like – a promise of value to be provided to a customer. It’s a critical aspect to...
by: Amy Hoglund Customer service (noun)- the assistance and advice provided by a company to those people who buy or use its products or services. As you’re reading this, think of the best customer service experience you’ve ever had. Was it great because the customer...
by Bill Reinhart The importance of team chemistry can never go overlooked. Having a rock star group of employees is great, but without the ability to come together as an elite team, you’re nothing but an assembly of individuals set out for your own pursuits. That is...
Your Homepage's Goal The homepage is the most important page on your website. It's where the battle for customers is won or lost. As a small business owner, you must make sure that your homepage is prepared to convert visitors into leads. Is your homepage built to...
by Brittany Keenan Is there such a thing as a perfect website? Well, honestly, that depends. Web trends are constantly changing. Working with a team of experts will help you better understand what works versus what doesn’t for your industry. Define Your Audience...
By Katie Sheldon “88% of consumers using the internet will look toward online reviews before making their purchasing decision.” – Trustpilot “I got an awful review on Facebook (or Google or anywhere else). What do I do?” Working with small- to medium-size businesses,...
By: Holly Czuba This is big news in our industry right now. Google is going to stop showing non-mobile-friendly websites in their mobile search results. Business owners stand to lose half of their visibility on the web if they're not ready. I say "half their...
by Bryce Tedeschi In an age where customers always have the last word, it’s important to keep a finger on the pulse of what people are saying about you online. Reviews influence buying decisions (90% of customers say buying decisions are influenced by online reviews....
By: Jacob Robinson Real World Statistics for the Modern Business As a business owner you are always working to outsmart and outperform your competition. Fact of the matter is, your competition is doing the exact same thing to you! Here are some stats that put the...
By: Kyle Mills One of the most important things for any business owner, big or small, is making sure you have a marketing plan in place to position yourself as an expert in your field. If you’re running a business by yourself, or even with a small team, it’s difficult...
by: Amy Hoglund If you haven’t noticed, the power of social media is growing. Its become a big part of our everyday lives! It’s where many get the news, the latest promotions for our favorite brands, find out the latest scandal in the entertainment world, and it’s the...
By: Jacob Robinson 71% of consumers have ended their relationship [with a business] due to poor customer service. Tweet This! The landscape of today’s business environment is as cut-throat and competitive as ever. With so much competition and a multitude of channels...
Updated April 12, 2017 With Google’s constant algorithm updates, local search has been taken to a whole new level. Basic SEO practices like keyword research, meta tags, indexing, and penalty recovery are still in place. However, content, directory listings, and mobile...
by Kala Halbert Are you making any of the the following errors with your small business website? You’ve spent the last year improving your search engine rankings, beating your competition and finally made it to the first page of Google. Congratulations! Unfortunately,...
By: Holly Czuba Getting to the Bottom of Great Customer Service Why I Believe It's the Best Marketing, Sales & Loyalty Strategy Do you know about Open Forum by American Express? It's a great resource for business owners. I receive their weekly article round-up via...
By: Jacob Robinson The principle of ‘value added’ is critical for every business owner to understand, no matter how small or large you are, or plan to be in the future. If you can focus on and implement this concept, you will set your business up for long-term...
And other musings about the commercials aired during the big game. by Holly Czuba As a marketer the biggest sporting event of the year is an exciting time to judge commercials. I came into work this past Monday and was asking everyone what they thought of the Super...
By: Katlin Botsford What if I told you, as a business owner, to stop going above and beyond for every customer that walks through your door? Are you kidding me? Of course I’m going to do everything I can for all of my customers! Let’s dig into what I’m saying. There...
By Ryan Dearth “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” -Albert Einstein Every SEO professional knows the tactics and strategies required to improve rankings and search visibility for a client's business or organization. We have a...
By: Jacob Robinson We put so much credence into the coveted first born of our website, the ‘Home Page’. This is where most of our effort is focused. And rightfully so! This is where customers make an initial judgment about us and our brand. But what happens next?!?...