Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have all beefed up their advertising offerings. Are small businesses jumping on the social media advertising bandwagon? That was one of topics we explored in this year’s internet marketing survey.
Marketing Predictions for 2016
Once a year I break out the old crystal ball and share a few marketing predictions on trends I think will be important for small businesses. Last year I correctly predicted the rise in social advertising, the expanded role of content as an SEO tool and the fact that mobile responsive design would no longer be optional. You can read all my 2015 marketing predictions and see how close I was. Then read on to see the top trends to watch in 2016. Content, Social Media and SEO Marketing Predictions Live social broadcasts: With apps
Worksheet: Inbound Marketing Made Simple
Just when you think you have a handle on this internet marketing stuff, a new buzz surfaces. Right now, Inbound Marketing is making the rounds. Everyone is talking about it, but what is it, how do you get started, and what tools do you need? Inbound marketing starts with free information, offered through social channels, search, or paid advertising. The objective is to spark the curiosity of a prospect and get them to trade their email, and possibly phone number, for your content. So where do you start? Find a question your prospective customer is
Social Media: A World of Possibilities for Small Business
Ten years ago, marketing options for small business owners were fairly limited. Traditional media like radio, Tv and even most print advertising were just too expensive for small business. Then along came the internet. Email marketing, social media, blogs and ad words offer small business owners a chance to get their message out. Suddenly, you could create the illusion, your company was much larger with the help of a great website and a strong social media program. But how are these companies really using these tools? Every year since 2010, we have been asking small business
Social Media Matures
Sixty years ago as television was emerging on the scene, TV ads resembled radio ads. They consisted primarily of a pitchman standing in front of a camera, describing a product, much the way he would on radio. The only difference was that you could see him holding the product. As TV matured, so did the advertising. As marketers learned the power of the visual medium they created ads to engage emotions, some were funny, others were sweet or sentimental and some serious and thought provoking. While the average viewer is more jaded today, we can