3 Valuable Posts to Help You Tune Up Your Marketing

3 Valuable Posts to Help You Tune Up Your Marketing – McBreen Marketing Fort Collins, COEvery other week, I publish a post highlighting some of my favorite recent articles.

Even though I’m based in the humble little burg of Fort Collins, Colorado, today’s post is an “All United Kingdom” feature list, Aberdeen, London, and Brighton to be exact.

As usual, I’m featuring these articles because the authors provide thoughtful, helpful, and actionable steps to help you improve your small business marketing.

1. The really stupidly simple rules of digital marketing

By Bob Gentle
@bobgentle

I like Bob’s article for several reasons…

1. He is a marketing guy who, like me, is concerned about small business owners being overwhelmed by marketing and possibly being taken advantage of.

2. He wants to make marketing accessible to the small business owner, so as usual, his post is perfectly buzzword free. (Thank you, Bob.)

3. He presents a simple formula that is basically about opening the door to your ideal customers. Presenting the fact that the conversion is about the relationship.

But this sentence really stood out because it clarifies things so well…

“Using a simple blend of technology, tactics and simple psychology you can quickly bring the conversion side of the equation into balance.”

If you come from a traditional marketing background you should take a look. (it’s about a two minute read. ;))

If you’re a small business owner working to get a handle on marketing, you should definitely take a look. Like Bob, I want to demystify marketing by breaking it down into manageable components. This is exactly what he is doing in this post.

2. What Is A Lead Generation Website?
By Red Evolution
@RedEvo

Speaking of simple formulas and acquiring new customers, here’s another solid article that presents and easy-to-consume case for lead generation.

I agree with Bob Gentle’s approach (see #1) and I also agree with RedEvo’s “Start With Strategy” approach.

And if you carry out the basic steps they present here, you will “be doing more than most of your competitors, and you’ll be rewarded accordingly.”

The post is about generating leads via Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Blogging. Something I consult with people on every day, because it still works extremely well, if done right.

Like me, they agree that nobody cares about awards you’ve won, your new hire, or your history. Sorry, but it’s true.

Potential customers want to get answers to their problems. And if you provide these answers through quality blog posts, crafted with your customers (and Google) in mind, you’ve dramatically improved your chances of them finding you.

A big win there!

As they explain, doing this is a long game but it’s well worth the investment. If nothing else, use their simple formula based on strategy…

• Establish who are your ideal customers.
• Develop an understanding of the problems these people need to solve.
• Research to understand the search terms they type into Google.
• Decide which search terms you want to rank for – more on this later.
• Create a content plan that will use the search terms you decide you want to rank for.
• Publish and share your content.
• Keep doing it.

As they write “It’s Not Hard, But It Is Hard Work.” True that. And I’m completely onboard.

3. Google My Business Photos: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Good Online

By Jamie Pitman via BrightLocal
@JamieCPitman
@BrightLocal

“60% of consumers say local search results with good images capture their attention and push them towards a decision.”

I spend a lot of time with small business owners who want to learn more about how to use Google My Business (GMB).

If you have a GMB page you may have been focused on reviews and/or simply optimizing keywords on the page.

But if you’ve done so, you may have overlooked the importance of GMB images. As the pull quote above proves, people are visual beings and photos are mighty when it comes to attracting eyeballs, influencing, and a key essential to your business looking good online.

And you might not know that GMB has a wealth of visual features you can take advantage of.

Check out Jamie’s ultimate guide to learn how to take advantage of GMB’s photo options.