tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76003907957080605362024-03-16T14:52:49.322-04:00Visionary Voiceskathleen sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00133350654687583669noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-88648288857706469462017-01-24T20:40:00.001-05:002017-01-24T20:41:32.597-05:00How the Internet Came to Be, Where It’s Been, and Where it’s Going<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/177267839?byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/177267839">What Comes Next Is the Future (2016)</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/bearded">Bearded Studio</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-24428374851901583042016-11-14T09:09:00.002-05:002016-11-14T09:09:19.718-05:00Keeping Up with SEO in 2017<iframe src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/od0LV41lrXAPQ2" width="595" height="485" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border:1px solid #CCC; border-width:1px; margin-bottom:5px; max-width: 100%;" allowfullscreen> </iframe> <div style="margin-bottom:5px"> <strong> <a href="//www.slideshare.net/randfish/keepng-up-wth-seo-n-2017-beyond" title="Keeping Up With SEO in 2017 & Beyond" target="_blank">Keeping Up With SEO in 2017 & Beyond</a> </strong> from <strong><a target="_blank" href="//www.slideshare.net/randfish">Rand Fishkin</a></strong> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-31475661538586677312016-08-24T10:23:00.001-04:002016-08-24T10:23:13.424-04:0010 Laws of Social Media Marketing<a href="http://entm.ag/1S0HF3C">10 Laws of Social Media Marketing</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-48282504814817444132016-08-23T08:56:00.003-04:002016-08-23T08:58:47.895-04:00Build a Powerful Social Media Strategy<iframe width="700" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GIku6vzCkDs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-87969263867908653892016-02-28T13:10:00.001-05:002016-02-28T13:10:07.610-05:00How Important are Tags in 2016 for SEO?<a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/important-tags-2016-seo/156440/?utm_source=share-back-traffic">How Important are Tags in 2016 for SEO?</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-43325779850762147032015-12-13T11:48:00.002-05:002015-12-13T11:48:56.598-05:00Periodic Table of SEO Success Factor<a href="http://searchengineland.com/seotable/?utm_source=embed&medium=md&campaign=table"><img src="http://searchengineland.com/download/seotable/SearchEngineLand-Periodic-Table-of-SEO-2015-medium.png" alt="Search Engine Land Periodic Table of SEO Success Factors" width="750" height="563" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-2432000450409296372015-10-03T21:37:00.001-04:002015-10-03T21:37:07.232-04:008 Free Tools to Boost Your Blog<a href="http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2015/10/tools-boost-blog/#.VhCCvBhcgqo.blogger">8 Free Tools to Boost Your Blog</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-45898181275394803982015-10-03T21:28:00.001-04:002015-11-25T12:14:31.470-05:00Image Formats Cheat Sheet<!----- Copy and Paste This Code Into Your Post ----><br />
<h3>
Image Formats Mega Cheat Sheet</h3>
<a href="http://makeawebsitehub.com/image-formats-mega-cheat-sheets"><img alt="Image Formats Cheat Sheet" src="http://makeawebsitehub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/jpg-png-gif-bmp-tiff-mega-cheat-sheet.jpg" width="100%" /></a>
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<a href="http://makeawebsitehub.com/">Make A Website</a><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-48960187096635035292015-08-26T15:49:00.000-04:002015-08-26T15:49:01.522-04:00Why We Can't Do Keyword Research Like It's 2010<iframe class="wistia_embed" name="wistia_embed" src="http://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/f480p1kftm" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="480" height="298"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-85474681094853452132015-08-05T09:31:00.001-04:002015-08-05T09:31:49.422-04:00Importance of Directory Submissions<a href="http://www.woblogger.com/importance-of-directory-submission-list/#.VcIQOvKxn4Y.blogger">Importance of Directory Submissions</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-55957310220671755892015-05-20T06:59:00.002-04:002015-05-20T06:59:27.527-04:00Website Best Practices<iframe src="https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/Mgf7JsLTHqiFIr" width="476" height="400" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-74096446782609307072015-04-10T20:20:00.002-04:002015-04-10T20:20:31.500-04:00Mobile-Friendly Websites: A Google Mandate <b>Website owners, get ready for Mobilegeddon!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBBDo2Dl9sEus6gc4xnvNQYhfBe3LQ9oDBkc00nOYP9bPKri3aywsj4zL7SVIE-fguks-KuQmxy2RuIg16Rvknkll4zAGa_stnpwKldaKaUF5wuMJ0ruQcBdrV9G18f7dRcJN-sj0uSHM/s1600/MobileDevices.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBBDo2Dl9sEus6gc4xnvNQYhfBe3LQ9oDBkc00nOYP9bPKri3aywsj4zL7SVIE-fguks-KuQmxy2RuIg16Rvknkll4zAGa_stnpwKldaKaUF5wuMJ0ruQcBdrV9G18f7dRcJN-sj0uSHM/s1600/MobileDevices.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
On April 21, Google will affirm the significance of mobile in our online search behaviors when it enacts a new policy aimed at rewarding mobile-friendly websites by ranking the sites more favorably. The change will result in the “demotion” of websites that are not mobile-friendly.<br />
<br />
We announced this in our blog weeks ago, but activity has reached a fevered pitch as business owners realize that this adjustment from Google could be a game-changer for website ranking.<br />
<br />
Google, which rarely sets a timetable or announces algorithm adjustments, has been transparent about its intentions, an indication of the significance of this change. Here’s an excerpt from the Google Web Master Central blog:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
….we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results.</blockquote>
<br />
Another change Google announced in February is that apps indexed through Google App Indexing would immediately begin ranking more favorably in mobile search. For example, if you are signed into your Google account, content within the apps on your mobile device will rank more favorably on SERPs than previously.<br />
<br />
To verify that your website is mobile-friendly, <a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?utm_source=wmc-blog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=mobile-friendly" target="_blank">visit Google’s test page</a>, enter your URL, and check for results. Google will tally website results and indicate if your website is deemed mobile-friendly – or not.<br />
<br />
If you find that your website doesn’t meet Google’s definition for mobile-friendliness, plan a redesign - with mobile in mind.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-1821591106673986322015-03-26T14:02:00.000-04:002015-03-26T14:02:15.987-04:00Presentation: Leveraging the Cloud for Your Business<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/46297477" style="border-width: 1px; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="425"> </iframe> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/hbram/cloud-prodforbusinesses" target="_blank" title="Cloud prod-for-businesses">Cloud prod-for-businesses</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/hbram" target="_blank">Henry Bramwell</a></strong> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-9578381677961713142015-03-04T10:16:00.000-05:002015-03-04T10:16:09.341-05:00Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly? Just Ask Google.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprl4Ue6bejxKhQNoUvWjUzvbocEFeq8DCC05Ez7NhGviTIHZlA4477OfdBBSyMPsn9XMkyrETSRPcRPVboyoz9XKbaRDq-ex2fMKnW9poaQcGc_tIUmwcg-TQvUfsNrbd3BdFJQHCJSq5/s1600/Mobile-Friendly.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprl4Ue6bejxKhQNoUvWjUzvbocEFeq8DCC05Ez7NhGviTIHZlA4477OfdBBSyMPsn9XMkyrETSRPcRPVboyoz9XKbaRDq-ex2fMKnW9poaQcGc_tIUmwcg-TQvUfsNrbd3BdFJQHCJSq5/s1600/Mobile-Friendly.png" /></a></div>
Google’s opinion of a website’s search engine optimization is crucial to most website owners. And it should be. An attentive and thorough SEO strategy helps Google rank your website for relevance.<br />
<br />
But among the reasons why Google might reduce your website’s SEO score is that it may not be “mobile-friendly”.<br />
<br />
Google’s mandate for mobile-friendly websites is in step with the galloping pace of mobile’s advancement in 2015. Here are some statistics that spell out mobile’s prevalence:<br />
<ul>
<li>57% of mobile users reported that they would not recommend businesses with poor mobile websites</li>
<li>1 in 4 searches are performed on mobile devices</li>
<li>Mobile marketing in 2015 will generate $400 billion</li>
<li>4 out of 5 consumers use smartphones to make purchases</li>
<li>70% of mobile searches resulted in online action within an hour</li>
<li>More than 75% of Americans admit to bringing their smartphones to the bathroom </li>
</ul>
<br />
With statistics as compelling as these, you’ll want your website to be mobile-friendly.<br />
<br />
To determine your website’s status with regard to Google’s “mobile-friendly” definition, access the link below and enter your URL. You’ll receive a short analysis of whether or not your website is mobile-friendly and other details about Google tools.<br />
<br />
Find out if your website is mobile-friendly: <a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/" target="_blank">CLICK-HERE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-59381045179720428292015-02-26T15:38:00.003-05:002015-02-26T15:38:42.008-05:00Six Signs Your Business Vendor Is Really A Business Partner<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pjcwefenoOOp9hOenSiV8vYd91dKKNQbNXKJXEeGvOtHCSUczSgxHh670DqA9Bp8X1LOpYFBLBbSWk6idzARFtNKS9-Gsl4UJeffxSOMZAthMK7aWIJkbEyV2UQ14iHgmn-vcs6akyM5/s1600/shutterstock_114863683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pjcwefenoOOp9hOenSiV8vYd91dKKNQbNXKJXEeGvOtHCSUczSgxHh670DqA9Bp8X1LOpYFBLBbSWk6idzARFtNKS9-Gsl4UJeffxSOMZAthMK7aWIJkbEyV2UQ14iHgmn-vcs6akyM5/s1600/shutterstock_114863683.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PHOTO CREDIT: Shutterstock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some business owners believe that their relationship with a vendor ends after an invoice is paid. Other business owners recognize the value of integral vendors and partner with them for mutual benefit. But how can you tell when a vendor will make a good partner? Here are six signs.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Interested in your success. </b><br />
If your vendor indicates a genuine interest in the condition of your business or industry, it’s clear that he or she recognizes the importance of your ongoing success beyond the value of a pending contract or project.<br />
<br /><br />
<b>2. Saves you money.</b><br />
Vendors who work with their customers to make business more affordable understand the challenges businesses face. Savvy vendors may offer discounts for early payment of invoices, quantity discounts, or may suggest other options for less expensive materials or services.<br />
<br /><br />
<b>3. Shares competitive intelligence.</b><br />
Loyal vendors engaged in serving your industry can be excellent sources of confirmed competitive intelligence.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Advocates for you. </b><br />
Chances are good that you work directly with a vendor’s salesperson, an account manager or a representative. Good reps will go to the mat for you when it comes to a pressing deadline, a quality issue, pricing, or other concerns.<br />
<br /><br />
<b>5. Brokers relationships with others. </b><br />
Good vendors recognize and suggest when your business would benefit from an introduction to another vendor, an industry colleague or a possible strategic partner.<br />
<br /><br />
<b>6. Continually earns you business. </b><br />
A vendor who deserves your business continually earns it. He or she remains in touch, understands your schedule and your concerns, and responds to your inquiries.<br />
<br /><br />
In short, vendors who want to partner with you make clear that they are engaged in business with you for the long haul, not for short-term gains.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-43170204045362921732015-02-24T20:00:00.002-05:002015-02-24T20:03:05.431-05:00WordPress Stats<div style="height: auto; min-height: 1745px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;">
<iframe frameborder="no" src="http://wpengine.com/wordpress-stats" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;"></iframe></div>
<br />
<small>via <a href="http://www.wpengine.com/">wpengine.com</a> - Having trouble viewing this? Click <a href="http://www.wpengine.com/">here</a>.</small><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-49962753093947158242015-02-21T20:05:00.002-05:002015-02-21T20:05:58.454-05:005 Reasons Why You Need A Marketing Communications Agency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR8uFoJBRqn4PcwoSNXi7SaBFJAH3GGS5mPYAbDat9JI3WnYAUcAo9IkZabARnNIpREPs3BQao6LaILXFGPhnSgJOjUxRyw328mR0moS-JycSHyJy5dkxvHHP_zK_-bBIQc5fEgLFbPGq/s1600/Market-Comm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR8uFoJBRqn4PcwoSNXi7SaBFJAH3GGS5mPYAbDat9JI3WnYAUcAo9IkZabARnNIpREPs3BQao6LaILXFGPhnSgJOjUxRyw328mR0moS-JycSHyJy5dkxvHHP_zK_-bBIQc5fEgLFbPGq/s1600/Market-Comm.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
If your B2B firm is like other organizations, you periodically re-evaluate whether or not specific arrangements and initiatives are working for your business. And chances are good that your marketing is on that list. But before you discount the use of an outside agency – with excuses like “We have an in-house department” or “We have an IT guy that can re-design our website”, or “Our sales department is doing a great job without a dedicated program” – take a moment to consider that even the largest B2B corporations work with external MarCom firms from time to time.<br />
<br />
Here are 5 reasons to hire outside marketing agency assistance:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Creative that resonates with your target audience. </b><br />I know, you think that’s counterintuitive, since no one knows your customer better than you. That may be true, but your close proximity to the subject limits your objectivity, and consequently, your messaging. So while an agency will depend on your guidance, they’ll bring a fresh perspective on creative ideas. Outside opinions are always worth considering, even if they are declined.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Development of professional branding and marketing materials.</b><br />Your business productivity should be second to nothing on your to-do list. So why slow it down with marketing if it’s not in your skill set? Sure, it’s fun to choose logo colors, or to help write website copy. And it probably would be fun to replace your car engine too, but your mechanic might suggest you let him take that project on. A good agency team knows when input is needed to fill in the blanks or help make decisions, and they won’t hesitate to call on the right client contact.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Experience with the right tools.</b><br />
An outside marketing agency has one job: to market others effectively and favorably. The marketing tools needed for projects do change over time – a trend that fatigues all in-house marketing departments. An outside agency will keep pace with contemporary digital tools and suggest ideas that maximize exposure, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and the like.<br />
<br />
And when it comes to updated software and hardware – crucial tools of the trade – reputable outside agencies must keep pace in order to create high quality work, and to remain compliant with industry standards.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Your in-house marketing team needs help!</b><br />
There may be projects in your company that are low priority, or could take a longer period of time, or might require outside assistance. These are the best ways to utilize an outside agency, while your in-house team manages more crucial tasks.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Access to staff with variable disciplines.</b><br />
Full service agency teams have a range of professional creative staff members who can assist with diverse marketing projects, including website or print design, social media, video production, copywriting, media skills, and more. <br />
<br />
For organizations with in-house marketing staff, a successful relationship with an outside marketing agency allows internal staff the freedom to work on strategic and high profile projects while agency staff offers support on other tasks and even provides second opinions. Companies with no internal staff can benefit from an agency’s services on an ad hoc basis or with a more structured commitment for continuity.<br />
<br />
Every advertising agency relationship is custom built on client need, so maintain an open dialogue that conforms to your firm’s individual requirements.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-69165508814630266422015-02-18T10:27:00.001-05:002015-02-18T10:28:09.758-05:00Top social media tools for every B2B Marketer's toolkit<a href="http://www.leadforensics.com/resources/blog/top-social-media-tools-for-every-b2b-marketers-toolkit/#.VOSvR-NtdJE.blogger">Top social media tools for every B2B Marketer's toolkit</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-30907946687683648472015-02-18T09:01:00.003-05:002015-02-18T09:02:35.983-05:0010 Must-Haves For Small Business MarketingSmall businesses often focus their resources on meeting customer needs, which is a reasonable endeavor. But how much of a business owner’s time and energy considers a necessary and worthwhile activity like marketing?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiOS98QCVX4eN3Blv4-dXok_VlR-dt23Yh-iGubZLRCtypA0PIHIx1tDKvunuOD5LT4sYmoq_zQ_JT9n1CFpVrEbchE7iX3KbaJS_La-I6qftb3L0ta1YX0Ek20l6ChQSPE7mC1iDOXX7/s1600/Marketing+Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiOS98QCVX4eN3Blv4-dXok_VlR-dt23Yh-iGubZLRCtypA0PIHIx1tDKvunuOD5LT4sYmoq_zQ_JT9n1CFpVrEbchE7iX3KbaJS_La-I6qftb3L0ta1YX0Ek20l6ChQSPE7mC1iDOXX7/s1600/Marketing+Meeting.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div>
Not enough, according to some accounts. For example, one survey found that 25% of small business survey respondents did not consider marketing in their annual budgets. Another recent study found that 53% of small business owners interviewed admitted that they limited their marketing because they struggled in selecting the right marketing tools. <br />
<br />
There are a few “must-have” marketing tools and practices in a small business owner’s toolbox. A short list follows below.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Logo.</b> Create a visual representation of your business and make sure it can translate well in both print and digital media. Use it consistently to represent your business as a visual symbol and make sure it’s readily identifiable, even if it’s an icon.<br /></li>
<li><b>A well designed website. </b>The mistake made by some small businesses is that they think their website must be “Louvre-ready.” A website that waits for perfection will never be launched. But a “well designed” website simply means that the site is constructed well, is rich in meaningful content, is visually appealing, and points visitors in a clear direction. It does not have to spell out every detail about services, products or about the firm, but content should be current and revised as often as needed for updates. (Bonus points for websites that are designed “responsively” – that is, they adjust their orientation/dimensions based on the device viewing them, such as mobile phone or a laptop.)<br /></li>
<li><b>Social media presence.</b> Many small businesses suggest that their products or services are not “social media worthy”. But the beauty of social media is that it’s an opportunity to engage customers, prospects or interested visitors in a blog, a Facebook post or a tweet that starts a conversation with no sales pressure. Think of it as a cocktail party with a creative edge. Sure, there’s some soft selling going on, but it’s in this environment that people often decide whether or not to engage with your company. Costco has the right idea: encourage them to sample before they commit. (Don’t forget to share company initiatives and good deeds on social media outlets.<br /></li>
<li><b>Web listings.</b> Make sure you complete listings for directories and data aggregators so that your company data and website URL appear in directories, maps and other listings. Alternately, you can hire a firm that will ensure your listings are current and well represented.<br /></li>
<li><b>Editorial opportunities. </b>Offer content-rich articles and ideas to local media by calling or e-mailing editors (for print) or assignment editors (for radio or television). Media outlets are often open to ideas that fill space or time and offer good information for their target audience. Be persistent, because chances are good that they will follow up with you after your repeated attempts.<br /></li>
<li><b>Consider search engine marketing.</b> If you’re competing against larger competitors or those with deeper pockets, consider investing in search engine marketing. When prospects search for products or services, your firm’s website can be listed among the first seen.</li>
<li><b>Stay in touch. </b>While you search out new prospects, it’s crucial to use marketing to maintain a dialogue with those who do business with you already or have in the past. Use e-mail or regular mail to send them special opportunities, invite them to events, or share details that will keep them engaged. But take care not to overwhelm them with contacts that are too frequent or offer meaningless content.<br /></li>
<li><b>Offer customer referral programs.</b> Make sure your customers are incentivized to recommend your products or services to others. Reward referral sources with a gift card or a discount on future purchases through your business.<br /></li>
<li><b>Ask for customer feedback.</b> You may think you’re doing everything right, but perhaps your customers see things differently. Ask for feedback so that you can improve upon your business practices, services or products. And since customers are more likely to be honest through anonymity, create a form that can be completed and mailed back to your business, or even from your website.<br /></li>
<li><b>Measure your marketing results.</b> The easiest – but not always the most accurate - way to measure results is to ask your customers where they heard about your business. You can also use a dedicated phone number to track results for targeted marketing activities, like direct mail, a website promotion, social media, search engine marketing, and so on. Small businesses can also install Google Analytics on their websites to track visitor activity. Partnering with other businesses (like data listing and search engine marketing providers) delivers reports that can show you specific details on website visitors. </li>
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Many of these ideas are low-cost options for marketing a small business, but it’s important to establish a budget and adhere to it. Plan ahead, since you may not be able to accomplish all of the ideas in a single year.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-32547411992231226362015-02-04T21:39:00.005-05:002015-02-04T21:39:59.579-05:00Evernote Presentation<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/44286879" style="border-width: 1px; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%;" width="425"> </iframe> <br />
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<strong> <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/hbram/evernote-visionary-presentation" target="_blank" title="Evernote visionary presentation">Evernote visionary presentation</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/hbram" target="_blank">Henry Bramwell</a></strong> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-72250398748041931962015-01-27T18:16:00.003-05:002015-01-27T18:17:36.515-05:00Looking for a Content Management System, WordPress is the Word!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvDfQxdwWWq9hbGYvZBA0TAUV4-AZ8Azo4OZ4Tv45DJpX33SN7L6Y7VoaiiVwV1wvrsncpQsuzkgexMZ5lr-6Y2XjXG1YbU25mx88cfZq83-a1GC3HlF0BYHHG3_HVw8vHQhAQgSjvkWD/s1600/shutterstock_227074108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvDfQxdwWWq9hbGYvZBA0TAUV4-AZ8Azo4OZ4Tv45DJpX33SN7L6Y7VoaiiVwV1wvrsncpQsuzkgexMZ5lr-6Y2XjXG1YbU25mx88cfZq83-a1GC3HlF0BYHHG3_HVw8vHQhAQgSjvkWD/s1600/shutterstock_227074108.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Shutterstock</td></tr>
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Check out websites, blogs, and articles on web platforms these days and you can’t help but notice that the industry’s content management darling appears to be WordPress - and with good reason.<br />
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WordPress was originally designed as a blogging platform, but it has quickly grown in popularity as a content management system among firms seeking a powerful but friendly web development solution. And while it can seem daunting to create a website using WordPress, there are many reasons why you just might want to consider its use.<br />
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<li><b>Open Source:</b> First and perhaps foremost, WordPress is Open Source software. It’s free (yes, free), and you can use it to build to any sort of personal or commercial website. For the record, WordPress uses PHP/MySQL (again, Open Source scripting language and database, respectively). And did we mention it’s free?<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>User friendly for easy revisions: </b>WordPress makes website administration easy – no need to know HTML or any other programming language to edit pages, add or delete content or change layout. Initial website setup is easier than most other website development tools, but many clients call us to eliminate any learning curve they may face.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Best Blog:</b> WordPress originated as a blog platform, and still retains its claim to fame as a great, simple, feature-rich blogging tool. It’s still the web’s most popular blogging system, with more than 60 million sites to its credit.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Themes:</b> If you’re concerned about the limited themes offered on many web templates, fear not. WordPress has more than 1,000 themes from which to choose, and there are also options to select “premium” themes.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Go SEO: </b>WordPress constructs its platform with simple layouts, permalinks and easy linking – all attractive features that make it search-engine friendly. Additionally, WordPress has available plugins that support Google’s effort to catalogue and rank content.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>More Plugins:</b> And speaking of plugins, WordPress offers a plethora of plugins that can do just about anything you need.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Documentation: </b>WordPress has a comprehensive library of documents available for user education. It also is well represented by tutorials on YouTube and other websites that offer tips.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Scalability:</b> Perhaps the most attractive feature of the WordPress platform is its flexibility. It’s completely scalable, because it is robust, offers the option to add almost any plugin to meet your growing needs, and even provides a library of themes for a periodic website update. </li>
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WordPress embodies the best of a CMS: completely free, simple to use, robust in design, SEO friendly, generous library of available website themes, ample plugins for scalability…the list goes on.<br />
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If you’re still not sure that WordPress is right for you, <a href="mailto:hb@vgl.com" target="_blank">email us</a> and we’ll be happy to share our experiences and offer guidance.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-49430996684603858322015-01-17T22:15:00.001-05:002015-01-17T22:16:55.740-05:00The Path to Purchase: The Evolution of How We Buy [Infographic]<p><strong>Courtesy of Hubspot.com.</strong><br /><br /><a href='http://blog.hubspot.com/sales/how-people-buy-evolution-of-consumer-purchasing-infographic'><img src='http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/53/file-1603351987-jpg/Blog-Related_Images/Purchase-Decisions-Infographic.jpg?t=1410529004606' alt='How People Buy: Evolution of Consumer Purchasing' width='621px' border='0' /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-53939356265600896592014-12-31T10:57:00.000-05:002014-12-31T11:03:20.013-05:00The Impossible Dream: Good, Fast AND Cheap MarketingThere’s an old adage about the proverbial “project management triangle”. Even if you’re not familiar with the triangle, you probably understand the concept.
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The triangle refers to the “good – cheap – fast” dilemma. Too often, clients ask a marketing agency for a job of excellent quality, at an economical price, at a pace that requires warp speed. So the adage goes like this: <i>“You can have two out of three - good, fast or cheap – but you can’t have all three.” </i><br />
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But more often that not, there’s truly one primary component that takes precedence, and the others follow.<br />
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Let’s say for example, that a client accurately defines his budget and his expectations for quality, but also demands a tight timeframe. The first thing to consider might be deadline. It’s usually the least sensitive subject, and clients often build in a “cushion” of at least a few days. When faced with the reality that a marketing project’s quality or budget may be compromised, clients with a more generous schedule will be quick to surrender to a more realistic “drop dead” date.<br />
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Now let’s assume that the marketing project’s timing is critical. Budget is next, so one may suggest that the target date is attainable with more support, longer hours, or expedited service.<br />
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The client may or may not stick to the budget. But one way to suggest a budget increase is to offer a quality upgrade or additional features on the project so that a client can gain a new perspective.
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Consider the plight of the poor sap shopping on Amazon.com on December 20, ordering a late Christmas gift. He knows the December 20th date means that his 5-year-old son’s gift will arrive late, or else he’ll have to pay an exorbitant two-day shipping fee, or else he can order another item that isn’t what his son had on his Christmas list, but it’s still a gift that could appease everyone – including his wife (who reminded him to order the gift a week ago!).<br />
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He can’t call the manufacturer and plead his case. He can’t call Amazon and appeal to their Christmas spirit. And he knows his wife and son may not be happy with his purchase of a less-coveted gift.<br />
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Then he notes that he can get the gift delivered with two-day shipping at the standard shipping rate if he spends just $25 more with Amazon. Suddenly his predicament seems less bleak. He realizes that the toy requires six batteries to run, and hey, his son would really love some Ninja Turtles action figures. So he adds them to his cart, and with his grand total at $54.99 (half of which is his “concession” price), he is guaranteed to get what he wants, when he wants it, for the budget he wants.
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But not really. He increased his budget, but the introduction of a concession from Amazon made spending more money palatable. He wouldn’t consider spending an additional $21 for two-day shipping, but willingly spent $25 to get other items and secure expedited shipping.<br />
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So – sometimes the budget becomes a moving target, especially when you can offer a concession to a client.
But there’s also the possibility that the budget is truly inflexible. In that case, the only variable left is the quality, or the scope of the job.<br />
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No client or consumer wants to consider the purchase of a product or service that is below expectations. But there are times when an marketing agency will need to restrict a feature or limit the scope of a job to meet a deadline or a budget.<br />
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One approach that used to help clients through a dilemma like this is to offer a “phased” solution (if possible).<br />
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For example, one client needed a “budget” website designed for a trade show. The agency explained that the approaching deadline and tight budget jeopardized project completion, but asked a crucial question: could the client attend the show and present a website with most of its functionality intact? After some discussion, the resounding answer was “yes”.<br />
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For <i>Phase 1</i>, a navigable website was designed, featuring pertinent client content and products, and an upgraded the client web presence.<br />
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<i>Phase 2</i> – e-commerce functionality – was scheduled to launch immediately after the show. The old e-commerce system remained intact until that time.<br />
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In the end, the client was happy that he hit the deadline, got the price he had stipulated, and with a little creativity, launched the website he wanted.<br />
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In terms of project management, the thought may not be “You can have two out of three”, but instead, “Are you open to exploring other options?” Once clients identify their own biases and blind spots, and once they understand the challenges of satisfying all of the project management goals, they are more willing to consider creative options that both parties can live with.<br />
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So once in awhile, the marketing agency is actually right. Just don’t tell the client that.
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-21865571458451061042014-11-15T21:08:00.004-05:002014-11-15T21:08:41.874-05:00Be Intentional about Your Content & SEO Goals<iframe allowtransparency="true" class="wistia_embed" frameborder="0" height="298" name="wistia_embed" scrolling="no" src="http://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/036b9s9y00" width="480"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600390795708060536.post-61704581342748285972014-10-29T10:20:00.005-04:002014-10-29T10:23:15.571-04:00White Papers That Work <div class="MsoNormal">
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How many times have you researched a topic online and shared your e-mail address in exchange for a “white paper”, only to receive a cleverly re-packaged promotional piece that offers little value? </div>
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For many B2B marketing teams, a “white paper” is an opportunity to thinly disguise a product promotion as “information”, “data”, “case studies” or “solutions”. </div>
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To paraphrase the old Wendy’s commercial, “Where’s the beef?” </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMqA15CtPEniu1JG3r3yiSeerkLwcZ3YQ6SRWSHGVTap7geFaDawqNAQmeBZFUVfCfLmVdFFQOvrhTL_HmGbBUOuxFRHf_xXSmU1Gs9yVkOBp_8M2tlWvG6WYrPNur96wksWpW-3O5tcN/s1600/WhitePaper_Art.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMqA15CtPEniu1JG3r3yiSeerkLwcZ3YQ6SRWSHGVTap7geFaDawqNAQmeBZFUVfCfLmVdFFQOvrhTL_HmGbBUOuxFRHf_xXSmU1Gs9yVkOBp_8M2tlWvG6WYrPNur96wksWpW-3O5tcN/s1600/WhitePaper_Art.png" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
The original intent of white papers (yes, even before the Internet) was to help customers or prospects make a decision, explore technology or learn more about a subject. </div>
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And that should still be the intent of marketers who embrace permission marketing; for what they lack in lead quantity, they will recoup in quality.</div>
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I spoke with an in-house marketing colleague recently who bemoaned the lack of viable leads, despite the fact that he had an appreciable database of contacts. He admitted that his white papers “might be” thin on useful information, “but”, he defended, “we still offer the best product out there.” </div>
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The point is this: once prospects or customers recognize that a downloaded or e-mailed white paper is more or less shameless self-promotion, they may downgrade your firm’s credibility ranking. </div>
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And if that’s too much for you to consider, here are 8 tried-and-true tips for keeping a white paper balanced with content and meaning:</div>
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<li><b>Content is King.</b> Good content is absolutely vital. If your marketing department is used to peering at your products through a microscope, turn that around and make it a telescope. Take a wider view of an industry topic and explore the challenges that gave birth to your technology or product and talk in terms of process rather than product.</li>
<li><b>Remember Your Audience.</b> If your white paper addresses an IT issue, there’s a good chance that it will become a finance issue, a management issue – and more – down the line. But you have the best opportunity to reach a single disciple within an organization and educate that one person – rather than talking to several people and hoping the message resonates. Also, ask yourself, “Who will read this? What would they want to know? How can this white paper help them research this topic?”</li>
<li><b>Visual Appeal. </b>Nobody wants a white paper that is wall-to-wall type. Design your white paper to include pull quotes and graphics that share crucial bits of information easily. Most readers absorb detail more readily when it’s presented in two or more visual formats. In addition, consider ways to depict details and facts as visual graphics, since they offer relief for the eye on type-heavy pages.</li>
<li><b>Size Matters.</b> Aim for a length of between eight and ten pages, inclusive of graphics, pull quotes and photos. Even readers who request detailed studies start to lose focus after about eight pages.</li>
<li><b>Practice Restraint.</b> It may tempting to include phrases like, “Our company offers just such a solution”, but that qualifies as editorializing – an inappropriate and ineffective practice that can distance a reader from the material and reduce the credibility of the message.</li>
<li><b>Include case studies as appropriate to the message. </b>Case studies are most effective when profiled firms have a genuine opportunity to deliver real content through challenges faced and conclusions reached - without a testimonial-like endorsement of your firm.</li>
<li><b>Flag the White Paper As Exclusive Content.</b> If you include your white paper as part of general navigation, you may receive greater interest from casual browsers. But if your white paper is developed as a landing page and shared through social media or even includes a search engine results page (SERP) summary, it’s more likely to benefit from the attention of qualified visitors.</li>
<li><b>Consider budgeting for paid search through a cost-per-click (or CPC) campaign.</b> This will ensure that interested parties who view your landing page are actively interested in a topic, the first step in a well-constructed marketing funnel. </li>
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As marketers, we all recognize that white papers offer a unique opportunity to capture data, generate leads and help nurture prospects in a buying process. But let’s not forget that a white paper should be content-rich, audience-directed information, with a nearly “sales-be-damned” attitude. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Visionary</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04328595034334901472noreply@blogger.com1