Have you ever visited a website only to find that the content hadn’t been updated since your last visit?  Did you feel let down?  Google feels the same way.  If you want your website to be important to Google and other search engines you have to regularly update the content. What does content development mean? Content marketing (also called content development) is the process of consistently adding value to your website by sharing information that your visitors, customers (and website search engines) will find interesting.  More than just updating your specials or switching some text, effective content marketing means expanding your website …more

Video content is vital in today’s marketing environment.  As more consumers choose video as their preferred method of online information consumption, businesses that don’t provide it will be overlooked.  Video marketing is no longer an option, it’s a necessity. Why Should I Use Video to Market My Business? 52% of consumers say that watching video makes them more confident in their purchasing decision.  While images, great content and a well-executed website all impact buying choices, video provides an opportunity to cultivate personal connections that no other medium can match. First contact with your potential customers often happens digitally.  One way …more

Why do your customers come to you?  Why should they choose you over your competition?  How can you see better results from your marketing? These questions can be easily answered when you arm yourself with competitive intelligence. Using the information you find, you can create a competitive analysis and develop an effective marketing strategy for your business based on the results. There are more ways to compete than on price alone.  By taking time to do a competitive analysis you’ll clearly show consumers why they should choose you over your competition.  It rarely has to do with pricing alone. What Is …more

Once you’re happy with your company website, it’s unlikely the first thing you’re thinking about is making changes.  What if you knew that making small changes would make you money?  If you knew that you could improve sales by 27% (like this mobile phone retailer) the idea would be too appealing to walk away from! A great website is the backbone of your online presence. Optimizing your website for maximum conversion is the way to make it work for you.  Often, what a majority of visitors find appealing is very different than a business owner’s personal preference. Determining which minor …more

85% of customers expect businesses to be available on social media.  When you’re marketing your business in Austin it can be an overwhelming prospect.  Every day there are new opportunities competing for your attention.  Social media marketing should be one part of your marketing plan, without it you’ll be missing opportunities to connect with your customers which will impact your bottom line. Why is social media marketing important for my business? As a business owner you want your business to be exposed to as many people as possible.  An active social media presence will provide opportunities to engage with your target …more

Did you know that Facebook has over 1 billion active monthly users?  Yes, that’s billion.  With a ‘b’.  If your business isn’t leveraging social media marketing, you’re pushing customers right to your competitor’s door. Most business owners understand that social media is an important part of digital marketing, but many are overwhelmed by the idea. The good news is that social media marketing isn’t as hard as you think.  By answering three basic questions, you’ll have a good idea where to start. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lau Tzu (Click to Tweet) 3 …more

Austin, Texas marketing directors know that if you’re not analyzing your competition, you’re at a disadvantage.  Chances are they’re watching you.  To level the playing field you have to return the favor by performing a competitor analysis. Why Do I Need to Perform a Competitor Analysis? Many businesses are content to settle for second place, copying ideas from their competitors because it’s easier than doing the legwork required to be on top.  Since you’re here, that’s obviously not you! “While most are dreaming of success, winners wake-up and work hard to achieve it.” – Unknown Click to Tweet To be …more

If you spied on your business, what would you see? Do all the parts of your business work together to enhance your brand image? Being clear about the market niche you fill and why you do it better than anyone else is the first step on the fast-track to success. When Walt Disney created Disneyland, there wasn’t a doubt what to expect if you went to his park. Whether you heard about a friend’s experience, saw a commercial or received a promotion from a travel agent the message was the same: fun and fantasy. After almost 60 years the business …more

Social Media Marketing is pushing out marketing messages or promotions through social media connections, profiles, and ads. This is frequently interpreted by your customers as spam, and the response rate suffers considerably. Social media optimization is a promotional tactic that focuses on growing brand visibility, brand affinity, and consumer engagement through the use of interactive media channels, profiles, and tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs, YouTube, Flickr, Pinterest and more. SMO should be thought of as a combination of word-of-mouth advertising, customer relations, relationship networking, and public relations. Notice the heavy emphasis on disciplines related to relationships. This space …more

Outsourcing your social media efforts might not make sense to some people- you could be thinking to yourself, “Social networks are free, so why would I pay someone to do something that I can do myself at no charge.” Well there are lots of reasons to seriously consider social media outsourcing. Here are the top 3 reasons why it’s important to outsource your social media campaign: 1. You aren’t an expert – just like any other business related activity, you can’t be an expert in everything. Social media experts however are just that, the expert. They know the most crucial …more