When looking to redesign their corporate websites, most business owners are concerned primarily over the look and design of their websites . When I ask Indianapolis area companies about what they want in a new website, the comments I often get are similar to these: "Our site just looks outdated" or "I want the site to look just like XYZ company's website" or "I definitely want to have the picture … [Read more...]
10 Signs You Need to Outsource Your Marketing
I thought I'd have a little humor with this post, which I feel needs little introduction. Here are 10 signs that your business needs to outsource its marketing efforts: Your latest WordPress blog post still says, "Hello World!" You have 10 Facebook "Likes" on your Fan Page (and they are all your friends and family). You still pay $30/month for your email marketing software but … [Read more...]
Traditional Versus Online Advertising: What’s Your Share?
Wanted to share with you an article I wrote this month, which was featured in an e-newsletter of a colleague of mine, Janet Falkenberg of ExecuStrive, an Indianapolis virtual assistant firm. Thanks, Janet, for letting me share this article with my Indianapolis business colleagues. Do you consider yourself a “traditional marketer”? Are you spending a majority of your marketing and advertising … [Read more...]
The Pros and Cons of Technology
In many ways, technology (and particularly computers and the Internet) has made our lives better. But with everything, there are pros and cons. So for fun, I thought I'd list some of my favorite pros and cons in my life as they relate to technology and marketing. PRO: We no longer have to go to the library or our volume of encyclopedias or dictionary to look up information. Everything is at a … [Read more...]
Why You Should Consider Outsourcing Your Web Content Development
Having been involved in many website projects, I have worked with many Indianapolis graphic design and web development firms over the last five years. We often work together on projects: I handle the copy and SEO and they do the design and back end work. Do you want to know one of the most common reasons these designers and developers tell me that their website projects stall? Because they are … [Read more...]
Your Brand: Does it Need a Refresh?
I have been in the process of redesigning my logo / brand to make it more modern and appealing. It's been five years and I am ready for a new look. Old Logo: 2005 New Logo: 2010 I've noticed other national brands doing the same thing. Take the old Holiday Inn logo, for example: There's nothing wrong with this logo, but they have refreshed it to … [Read more...]
Where Could you Be…If you Had Worked with Me?
Many of you read my marketing articles faithfully (okay, maybe you skim some of them or just look at the pictures). But how many of you ever really knew what it was that I did for my clients? Well, I am looking to clarify that and do a better job of communicating some of the things that I can do to help you promote your business. Here are some of the activities, products and results I've … [Read more...]
Why Consistent Marketing is a Key to Success
Have you ever gone to the gym on a Monday and quit going on Friday because you hadn't seen the results on the scale? You need to give it more time, right? It's the same with our marketing activities. PR: If you get one media placement, you might get more. Or, if you haven't yet landed that front page story, keep on pitching, and someday you will. Email: People save/read my email newsletters … [Read more...]
How the Internet can make your small business a “big business”
Warning: Companies on the Web may appear Larger than they Are One thing I love about the Web is how easily the "little guys" can compete with the "big guys." With a good business presence online, you can commute down the hall in your house slippers to your home office, and no one is the wiser. Here are some ways your business can "look bigger" online: 1. A professional-looking website: It … [Read more...]
How Good PR Can Help Your SEO Results
Have you exhausted all of your search engine optimization strategies and you're looking for a way to boost your website's popularity and drive additional traffic? You may not have thought about it before, but actually public relations (PR) is a great way to increase your natural/organic search engine results. And even better news - you don't have to be a Fortune 500 company to benefit from PR … [Read more...]