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Beyond Hummingbird: Staying Afloat with Google in 2014

The release of Google Hummingbird was one of the main tech updates of 2013, and has already required that businesses begin to rethink their SEO strategies to better target mobile and local consumers. Today, let’s take it a step further with some predictions for what 2014 will continue to bring, digging deep into what Google throws at those of us in the content marketing sphere. Increasing Influence of Knowledge Graph We are…

Google’s New Local Carousel Enhances Small Business Visibility

Internet marketing gurus have been abuzz about Hummingbird’s effect on local searches as more information and analytics data becomes available. It’s clear from the recent updates in Google Now and Google Maps that the search superpower is moving toward making local search results more intuitive, visible, and accessible from all devices. Google’s Local Carousel is an eye-catching slider bar that appears as the top result when certain keywords are searched and has…

How to Optimize Images for SEO

If the numbers are any indication, we are an increasingly visual culture these days. Engagement and click-through rates are consistently much higher for images (including infographics and other informational images, not just pictures of Miley Cyrus), and anecdotally it feels like an overarching trend: we want to see it in pictures. Text is hard to read on a small mobile screen. Show us a nice, organized graphic that we can scroll through,…

5 Content Marketing Trends for 2014

With the new year upon us once again, it is time to take a look at where the content marketing industry has landed, and where things are heading for 2014. 2013 saw a lot of big changes, including the Google Hummingbird update and a large upswing in mobile browsing. With the internet in constant flux, now is as good a time as any to try to pin down some trends likely to…

Web Design 101: Typography

One of the most overlooked elements of any website design is the typography. It’s such a simple site component that can make a huge impact, however, so it’s a good idea to spend some time thinking about the way type affects your website. Remember, if content is king, as the saying goes, then isn’t the way that the content is presented visually on the screen even more important than how flashy navigation…

5 Internet Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

Internet marketing has never been more important for small businesses than it is right now. Not only is internet marketing less expensive than traditional marketing, but it also yields a higher return on investment, or ROI. However, many small businesses are still struggling to hone in on the best internet marketing strategy that fits their needs. With the following five tips, your small business can improve its internet marketing strategy. 1. Scope…

Why Your Mobile Strategy Matters Most for 2014

Throughout 2013, one trend that we have seen is the vast rise in mobile use. Increased mobile use requires an increased need to specifically target mobile customers when it comes to your business’s marketing strategy. New data on the PC market provides further data to show the importance of revamping your company’s mobile marketing strategy for 2014. With PC sales on the decline and mobile sales on the rise, optimizing your customers’…

What the Google Hummingbird Update Means for You

In case you didn’t notice – and according to Google, you might not have – Google recently released a complete overhaul of their search algorithm. Referred to as Hummingbird, this differs from past updates because it is an entirely new search algorithm, not just a patch or a change. While it is similar to the previous algorithm, Hummingbird is intended to be both faster and more accurate for users. While Google has…

Marketing Strategies: What Do Customers Find Most Valuable?

As marketers, we find value in sharing our brands’ message across multiple channels, from social media and mobile to email and SMS. Unfortunately, our own opinions as marketers on what marketing channels are most valuable often do not line up with what our customers are saying. New data from eMarketer shows that in general, there is a huge divide between what advertising channels marketers believe are most important and how consumers actually…

4 Social Media Marketing Tips for the Holiday Season

As the holiday season begins to unfold, it is time for your brand to start thinking about your seasonal social media marketing campaign. With shoppers everywhere searching for the perfect gift, and more and more of that traffic coming online rather than in brick-and-mortar stores, it is important to really revamp your social media marketing campaign during this time of year. This means not only running holiday-themed ads, but also getting your…

Designing Your Checkout Page to Increase Conversion Rates

When it comes to conversion rates online, one area where these rates often drop is on checkout pages. Checkout pages and lost customers can be a major pain for many companies, as shopping cart abandonment rates are higher than ever and amounting to billions of dollars in lost profits. However, by optimizing your checkout page, you can ensure that more customers follow through with their purchases. Follow these tips to optimize your…

5 Ways to Build Brand Loyalty

In many ways, brand loyalty is the backbone of your business. By building brand loyalty, you can cultivate a trusted group of customers whom you can count on to bring you business. But how can your company successfully build brand loyalty? Essentially, brand loyalty is about connecting with your customers and developing a sense of trust amongst them. Through humanization, anticipating needs, consistency, personalization, and respecting customer time, your business can build…