small business owners

8 Reasons Why You Need a Business Blog [INFOGRAPHIC]

why you need a business blog

why you need a business blog Every successful social media marketing plan starts with one key ingredient: a business blog. Why? You can share those blog articles across different social media channels such as Facebook or Twitter. And you can repurpose blog articles into videos or audios for a podcast. Sharing that content enables your blog to become a powerful lead generator for your business.

Lead generation is just one of the reasons why 81 percent of small business owners believe blogging is a critical business process, according to Hubspot’s Inbound Marketing Report. Blogging has many other benefits for your business. An infographic from CJG Digital Marketing highlights several reasons why you should blog including:

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Google’s Mobilegeddon: Much Ado about Nothing?

mobilegeddon

mobilegeddonGoogle changed its search algorithm on April 21 to reward mobile-friendly sites with better ranking on mobile devices. This so-called “Mobilegeddon” threatened to change the landscape of mobile search by penalizing websites that weren’t mobile ready.

But did it really?

According to a recent article in Website Magazine, “the scale of this radical change by Google is… minimal at best.” The article went on to quote Google spokeswoman Krisztina Radosavljevic-Szilagyi who said, “The intent of the search query is still a very strong signal – so if a page with high quality content is not mobile-friendly, it could still rank high if it has great content for the query. The ranking update will not make it rank below lower quality pages that are mobile friendly.”

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12 Step Guide to Content Writing [INFOGRAPHIC]

content writing guide

content writing guideAre you struggling to write an article for your company’s blog? I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there. Some days, it’s just not easy to get in a writing groove. That’s why you need a system (or a professional copywriter!) to help with the content writing process.

MarketingProfs Chief Content Officer Ann Handley has put together a terrific infographic that illustrates a clear, 12 step guide to writing content. The first step Ann recommends is the same advice I give small business owners when they start a blog: You need to have an end-goal in mind before you ever start writing. Ask yourself, “What is my objective for this content?” Is it to educate my prospect? or… Is it to sell my product or service?

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Free Tools to Make YouTube Videos More Engaging [INFOGRAPHIC]

YouTube tools

YouTube tools Video marketing is hot. Small business owners can create YouTube videos that are just as effective at lead generation as those made by larger corporations.

It’s important to note that even though recording and uploading a video may be simple, that doesn’t mean creating a video is easy. Your videos need to engage your audience and prospects. You have to grab a viewer’s attention quickly and hold it. For instance, if you’re doing a video blog, you need to be aware of lighting and sound too.

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The One Social Media Management Tool Every Busy Entrepreneur Needs

social media mgmt toolI think most of us will agree that social media has a reputation for being a time-suck. For many people, it’s real easy to lose precious minutes out of your day, reading Facebook posts, or pinning images to Pinterest. Those minutes are especially critical if you’re using social media for business. You don’t have time to waste. That’s why it’s critical that you use a social media management tool.

I’ve tried several management tools over the years, but the one I keep coming back to is Hootsuite. It’s easy to use and inexpensive too. You don’t have to pay a thing if you only want to manage 3 social profiles. For example, your Facebook page, Twitter account and LinkedIn profile.

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How to Protect Your Privacy on Social Media – New Webinar

Social Media Privacy Social media is a great marketing tool for small business owners. But it can also be a risky place when it comes to protecting your privacy.

Did you know that 81 percent of Internet-initiated crime involves social networking sites, in particular Facebook and Twitter? There is a way to use social media and be safe about it. You can learn how in my new webinar called Social Media Safety: Avoid the 3 Common Mistakes that Put You and Your Loved Ones at Risk.

During this free webinar on Thursday, February 12th, you’ll discover…

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Time Management Tips for Social Media [INFOGRAPHIC]

time management tips

time management tips When it comes to social media marketing, one thing small business owners struggle with is time management. Tips and strategies are what people ask me for the most. I understand the struggle There are so many options for social networking today. Social media was hard enough to manage when it was just Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to worry about. But now, there’s Google+, Pinterest, Instagram… not to mention YouTube, SnapChat, etc.

Here’s my first piece of advice: Pick one social media platform to start. Then, make sure it’s a platform that your prospects and customers use! For instance, LinkedIn is great for B2B companies. But if your business is more visual, like a travel agency, then by all means, use Pinterest or Instagram.

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Understanding Google Analytics [INFOGRAPHIC]

Google analytics

google analyticsDo you have trouble understanding Google Analytics? You’re not alone! I’ve spoken with many small business owners over the years who don’t have a clue how this powerful and FREE tool can help them improve their web traffic and generate more leads and sales for their products/services.

Here are a few key metrics to look for when reviewing Google Analytics.

#1) Bounce Rate – This is the percentage of single page visits to your website. If you have a high bounce rate, that means people are leaving your website after just visiting one page. The goal, then, is to have a low bounce rate, since that means people are staying on your site and viewing more of your content.

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8 Business Books to Add to Your Holiday Gift List

holiday gift ideasStill looking for that last-minute holiday gift? Here are some of my favorite business books that would make a worthy present for your favorite small business owner or entrepreneur. The selections offer marketing advice, and tips on how to grow your business, make it profitable, and become financially successful.

I’ve read each one of these books, and can attest to their value. If you have any other suggestions, please add them in the comments below! Happy Holidays!

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