3 Reasons SMBs Don't Actively Use Marketing
When we meet with new potential clients we always ask what primary business objectives they are trying to achieve through web marketing. Nine times out of ten, the answer is increase leads or sales. Often, the a lack of new leads or sales is what they define as one of their primary challenges. When we dig a little deeper on what their current efforts look like, it doesn't take much time at all to see that they have no true marketing of their brand, products or services. So we ask, why is that? Here are the common reasons: 1 - We Don't Have The Expertise In-House Remember, I'm talking about small-medium sized businesses. Not large enterprises. Small to medium sized businesses. Most of the prospects we meet with do not have a full time marketing person, let alone department. It's usually a task thrown on the sales person or sales people, or a random person in the organization, like the HR Manager. The obvious issue is that none of those titles are the best solution for a marketing ...
Read moreA High Level Google Analytics Dashboard We Think You'll Like
Google Analytics is great...we've covered this topic before. Not only does it give you great insights into what's happening on your website, but it's FREE. What small business doesn't love a great product that is free?
Read moreA Guide to Creating Your Google+ Local Page
Google Plus Local pages can be a confusing topic when you first find out that there are Google+ brand pages and they aren't the same thing. Don't worry, you aren't alone.
Read moreIs Your Website On a Desolate Island? How's That Going?
Repeat after me... "I don't need a website, I need web marketing." Say it again. Again. Again... You get the point? The difference may not be clear to you yet. The difference between a website and web marketing, is like the difference between tactics and strategy. Your web marketing efforts should entail a strategy of some kind, with your website being one of the tactics you are employing as part of the overall strategy. Confused? That's ok! Let's get unconfused... Think of it this way. A website is one tool in the web marketing toolbox. Unfortunately, that tool is no longer enough to do the job on it's own. It needs some complimentary tools to be effective. At minimum, you need prospects to find your website when they are looking for the solution you offer to their problems. At minimum, you need to be available in the main "feeding grounds" for solutions that your prospects use. SEO - Search Engine Optimization Guess what. People use Google a lot. So much so, that you had better ...
Read moreA Guide to Creating Your Bing Places for Business Listing
Every business wants to make connect more to its customers and increase its chances of gaining new customers. “Bing Places for Business is a free service that allows you to add or claim your business listing on Bing and be found by millions of Bing users searching online” Bing. It is simply another outlet for businesses to connect with Internet users and is an excellent opportunity to gain more customers.
Read moreMemorial Day 2014
In honor of Memorial Day, the protocol 80, Inc. offices will be closed on May 26, 2014. Enjoy the weekend with your friends and family and remember to honor our fallen veterans.
Read moreUsing Content Marketing For A Powdered Metal Company
We all want to generate more leads, prospects and sales, right? Whether you are a manufacturer, rural tourism promoter, service provider or non-profit, you are all looking for more leads, prospects and sales. Your sale may be a donation or an actual exchange of money for goods/services. The bottom line is, you want to generate more leads and prospects that convert to sales.
Read moreDo You Want To Know More About the Visitors to Your Website?
We cannot stress enough the importance of data to any marketing initiative. The more data you have the more you understand where your efforts succeeded and failed and you have amazing data to build your future strategies on what you know instead of just shooting from the hip. We're going to assume that you already have Google Analytics installed on your website, which is good, but now you have the power to know more. It's now time for anyone with a website to get started with Google Universal Analytics and Google Tag Manager.
Read moreYour Old Friend Email Still Has a Few Tricks Left!
A common rumor in marketing and on the Internet is that email is on the way out and will surely be replaced by social media. This is not surprising considering the fact that at the beginning of 2014, 72% of all internet users were on social media. Most Internet users know just how easily and quickly information spreads over social media. In fact, sharing content can be done with the click of a button on various social media sites and that content has the potential to reach millions of people at astonishingly low costs.
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