One of the benefits of keyword research is, you can learn plenty about the phrases and words people actually use while searching online. In fact, your keyword assumption may be quite different. You may also believe that search engines no longer place importance on keywords. However, this is not the case. The reality is, keyword research is still vital for SEO. Here are some reasons why keyword research is still important:

Keywords You Choose May Be Wrong

One of the first steps in SEO is keyword research. If you decide to skip this step or get this wrong, you are setting yourself up for a letdown. Keyword research ensures the right keywords for your business are used.  A few examples of using the wrong keywords include:

1. Incorrect usage

2. Low search volume

If you choose keywords with no significance to your web content, visitors who click through search results are likely to leave your page. The bounce rate for your web page will increase, negatively impacting SEO.

Keywords with low search volume have almost no individuals searching for them. Web content related to these forms of keywords will likely not be seen. The reason being, nobody is searching for those types of keywords.

Keywords Provide Information about Your Webpage

After you’ve finished keyword research, you’ll start assigning the best keywords for each page of your site. Keep in mind, you must ensure the keywords are relevant to your webpage. You’ll also want to ensure that the chosen keywords are used properly.

Keywords help to communicate with search engines making them a necessity for SEO. However, for your webpage to tell a story to various search engines, there must be a foundation that you’ll do with keyword research.

Keyword Clustering Requires Keyword Research

Keyword clustering helps with optimizing a single webpage for several keywords. It also helps to improve ranking. Still, keyword research is needed before you can begin clustering.

Keyword Research is Still Vital for SEO

Keyword research is still vital for both your search engine rankings and SEO. If you don’t do keyword research, the chances of choosing the wrong words are increased. This results in little to no traffic to your webpage. However, with keyword research, you can start to drive more traffic to your site, engage more individuals, secure conversion as well as revenue.

The post Keyword Research is Still Vital for SEO appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

Generally, creating additional content is a good thing; however, as any successful marketer knows, it takes more than just creating content to gain results. It takes great content. Great content requires careful planning to deliver the variety and value your audience craves.

The following tips can help you plan for better content for your audience:

Begin with Goals

Compelling your audience to take action is the goal of content marketing. You miss the “marketing” part of the equation when there is no action. So, do not begin with what you want your audience to know. Begin with what you want your audience to do.

The wanted action may be attending a webinar, signing up for your blog, scheduling a demo, etc. Whatever you decide, each piece must be connected to a desirable result.

Allow Your Audience to Lead the Topic Selection

Listen to your audience through their questions they are asking through emails to your sales department, forums such as Quora, search engine queries, and tools like Bloomberry and BuzzSumo then continue the conversation as your topic selection.

Change Up Your Content

Fill holes in your editorial calendar and ensure your content is fresh by changing up your content type. Sure, save room for sharable listicles, however, balance those with thought-provoking pieces that establish the point of view of your brand. Include how-to articles that are 100 percent utility.

Have a plan, write it out, and make it actionable.

Include Interactive Content

Other content is not your main competitor for your audience’s attention. Your main competitor is everything else in the world. With our content, we are asking that people stop what they were doing, ignore any distraction that may come their way, and engage. Earning that level of attention is far easier with interactive content.

Have Some Fun

It is okay to let loose once in a while when you have plenty of useful and practical content. In general, people enjoy being entertained and enjoy laughing. Provided that you stay consistent with your brand voice, there is nothing wrong with experimenting with a little comedy.

Start a Dialog

Does your calendar still have a few blank spaces? If so, allow your audience to fill them in. User-generated content builds enthusiasm, helps foster community, allows your customers to view real-world examples of what your brand can do, and much more.

The ideal way to promote user-generated content is to ask for it. Ask your customers for product photos, reviews, customer stories. Manage a contest and recognize the top submissions.

Better yet, ask your most valued client if you could feature them. They get extra visibility while you receive a compelling testimony. Make sure you know what content planning to do for your unique situation.

The post Tips for Better Content Planning appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

Grow Brand Awareness

Through your content, more awareness and leads for your business is generated. You are able to demonstrate your skill and expertise over and over with your content.

Content Marketing Builds Consumer Trust

The more content you create for your business to share with your target audience, the more obvious it becomes that you’re an expert in your desired industry. To help people resolve problems, they trust and hire experts.

Improves SEO Efforts and Expands Your Reach

Your reach is naturally expanding with content. Relevant blog content published on your site or guest sites attract consumers who have an interest in the services and/or products your business offers.

Moreover, your site search engine ranking can also significantly improve when content is published regularly. The reasoning for this is when your content and website are linked to the to them on the internet, these search engines are informed that your site offers value.

Cost-Effective Way to Gain New Leads

Here is another reason why content marketing is important, all the new leads your business has gained through the content. A small business that requires consistent traffic to their website to expand their brand and increase sales will find how vital lead generation is to them. In addition to the content being excellent for lead generation, it is also highly affordable.

Helps Influence Conversions

Conversion statistics provide an excellent look at why content marketing is important. The following are only a few of these stats that show the importance of this marketing tool in regard to enhancing website conversions:

• According to the Content Marketing Institute, 61 percent of online consumers in the United States, decided to make a purchase after reading a recommendation on a website blog.
• ABG Essentials states this marketing tool provides 6 times higher conversion rates than other online marketing tools.
• As reported from HubSpot, partly because of their content marketing efforts, inbound marketers have the ability to double the average website conversion rates – from 6 percent to 12 percent.
• From CrazyEgg – Video content provides an excellent return on investment (ROI) and considerably increases conversions.

Consumers Want Great Content

The fact is that consumers want great content.

• Internet users spent 20 percent of their time on content.
• 68 percent of individuals devote time to read about brands that they’re interested in.
• At least once a month 57 percent read content marketing titles.
• 80 percent of individuals value learning about a company through online custom content.

Content marketing grabs the attention of the consumer which in turn builds your business in today’s digital age. This is the reason why content marketing is important to your business. By investing now in correct content marketing, you and your business will be rewarded for years to come.

The post Why Content Marketing is Important appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

So many big companies have come up with pretty clever ways to not only market themselves, but capture (and hold) their audience’s attention. By being able to strategically put themselves out there, they are taking a front row seat at grabbing the audience before anyone else is able to do so.

Without further ado, here are some of the best tips for better social media marketing, regardless of who you are or what you do. Make your presence known!

6 Tips for Better Social Media Marketing

1.Social Media Analytics Platform

Analytics apps and programs help to know your percentages, click through rates and other attributions of the social media channel. This information can be analyzed and then used to work on a new social media plan that might work better. Owlmetrics is one that is highly recommended for those using Instagram.

2. Influencer Marketing Strategies Can Work

Over 90% of marketers that use an influencer marketing strategy, such as Harley Davidson or KitchenAid state that this form of marketing works. Marketers have their own ways of doing things, but if they are all agreeing on this, then you have to try it too. Influencer marketing can even gain the attention of those that are skeptical of those traditional marketing means.

3. Learn New Trends

The internet and social media world is always changing. Due to this, it is important that you stay in the know. By visiting networking events, webinars, seminars and more that have to do with the ever-changing world of social media, you can stay one step ahead of the game.

4. Have Clear, Stated Opinions

There are always important topics within every business model. When you have a heated discussion on one of these topics, make sure everyone knows where your business stands. Don’t hide behind something, especially if your company doesn’t believe in that. Make sure everyone knows what you stand for.

5. Measure Your Success

It is important that you know how you’re doing based on the plan that you have. You can use a multi-touch attribution model that can help you determine what is and is not working for you and your social media channels. This way, trial and error will not just turn into error for your social media marketing plan.

6. Use a Plan and Be Consistent

This cannot be said enough, but if you don’t have a plan and post consistently, for each and every social media channel that you use, then this is going to backfire. You need a way to show the world that you are here, you are for them and you are committed to gaining and holding their attention. If they reply, respond back. Always be one step ahead.

Whatever it is that you do, by being able to have a great social media marketing plan that works with the social media goals you have, you will soon find that this produces a better overall social media presence. Of course, you can do a little trial and error run of your own by mixing and matching those awesome ideas out there to find out what works. You just want to stay away from mistakes that might happen.

The social media marketing world is made up of a number of ingredients. With your business, you just have to find the right ingredients that really make your soup stand out. Make sure to grab my marketing plan to help you out a bit more!

The post Top 6 Tips for Better Social Media Marketing appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

I made a video (link below) that outlines some of the sections that you should definitely make sure to have on your marketing plan. I also am giving away a FREE copy of a marketing plan template that I use.

You don’t have to use all of it, but it will give you a good idea of what you should have laid out for your business to have a successful marketing campaign. This will also help you stay on track better since you can see the goals and really break them down.

Sections of the Marketing Plan 

You need to make sure that your marketing plan has all of the specific sections that will lay everything out for you.

• Who are you? What is your business? Why is this valuable to the customer or client?
• Who is your audience or target audience? – what person would use your service or product and why?
• Who is your competition? Why are you better to use than them?
• What kind of marketing do you want to do or think is the most effective when thinking about your target audience?
• Overall goals – main goal and then broken up into different goals

Remember to keep track of everything – you want to know how many followers you start with, how many jobs you get or things you sell to make sure you’re moving up and not down. If you are moving up, keep up the good work! If down, re-evaluate your marketing and do something else that works.

Tips for a Marketing Plan

These tips can help you create the best marketing plan and also make sure that you have actionable, attainable goals that you are able to reach when considering your marketing efforts.

• Use the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based)
• Set up a strategy to reach the marketing goal you set up whether you are going to send out 10 letters a day or 20 emails to get 2 new clients, do it!
• Assess your resources. Are you using qualified people to help? Do you have a budget to do something bigger? Something better?
• Always establish time frames and stick with them. Know what you want to accomplish and when.
• Remember! Try everything! You never know what might work and what might not!

When putting together a marketing plan, create goals that are easily attainable and something that can help you grow. Even if your business is growing slowly, it is still growing! Of course, if you need help, make sure to contact me today and I’d be more than happy to help with marketing plans and making them actionable!

If you missed out on the video where I talked about what the marketing plan was and what it does, check it out here on Facebook!

Make sure to CLICK HERE for your FREE Marketing Plan Template!

The post Creating a Marketing Plan: Tips for Small Businesses & FREE Plan! appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

However, not everything is good when it comes to social media. You can actually do a lot of bad thing in your quest to do good for your company. Some businesses have botched the social media scene with mistakes that they probably should have thought about before doing them. Learn what these mistakes are so you don’t have to worry about making the same mistakes and facing the same consequences.

Social Media Mistakes You Can Make as a Business

These mistakes are made by businesses everywhere. Make sure to keep your social media game strong by watching out for them and not repeating history.

Not Having a Specific Strategy for Social Media

Having a marketing strategy is one thing, but you should always have a strategy for social media, too. You want to make sure that you have a clear idea of what you need to do, when you need to post, what you’re going to post and more. Setting a schedule and being regular can help you make the best of the social media that you use.

Engaging Your Audience Ineffectively 

Building your brand means engaging your audience and making them feel like they are valued. Having a clear idea of how people want to see you is important. When you don’t engage with them effectively, you’re actually harming your chances of being effective at marketing through social media.

Incorrectly Using Hashtags

Hashtags are important when posting on any social media. If you’re not using them correctly, then you will find that it can actually harm, not help you. Always make sure that you are using a hashtag correctly and that you are using it to go along with the same meaning that you are using it for.

Incorporating too Much Politics

This is a hot and heavy subject and while it is important to stick to your beliefs and what you stand for, it is also important that you don’t push them on other people. Don’t stick with politics too much because you might actually make more enemies than followers. It is a tough subject and there are many opinions and thoughts.

Forbes has even more tips for using your social media accounts correctly. You don’t want to overdo it, but you want to make sure that you’re set to go when it comes to engaging and connecting with your audience.

Of course, you can also find out more right here with some of the other blogs that I have written! You can learn more about how you can balance your work and personal life, the top marketing changes and even the mistakes that kill startup businesses – if this might be you!

The post The Worst Social Media Mistakes You Can Make appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

With a group behind you, you know you’re spreading the right message. Do something great and do something you wouldn’t normally do that is going to make a positive impact on someone else.

Outlaw Clothing Brands Promotes a Happier, Friendlier World

The brand itself is a way of life, a way to change how the world views each other. It is a way for someone to actually show that they are ready to make a change and be a part of something bigger.

I wanted to add in some of his own comments so that you could get a feel for the owner of the company and know more about what they stand for and what types of changes they are looking to make, as this can be a big part of why you choose to use their brand over others.

Max Outlaw –

“Outlaw Clothing Brands promotes a lifestyle in which small changes made every day help us work toward a better life and a better world. Selfless acts, intentional kindness and going against the grain aren’t the societal norm. BE THE CHANGE | BE AN OUTLAW. I’ve been told that I was meant for more in this world. And one thing that I’ve always done is help the ones around me. The end of the day I believe everyone is capable of being the right needed in the world. The change. And because it isn’t the majority rules that’s what makes you an Outlaw.”

“The biggest reason for individuals to look more into our brand is that we give to the causes that help create a better world. One recently is the convoy of hope. Another we are reaching to is the boys and girls club. I’ve always known my heart was different. I’ve always wanted to use myself and personality to bridge everyone together.”

“This brand is a start of multiple ventures. So through this business and brand, I will create new jobs and inspire others. As well as I’m certain this is needed, I’m excited to call out greatness amongst everyone. My biggest success thus far is knowing the culture of change is needed. My brand is the answer to familiarize everyone it’s ok.”

I’ve spoken about them in my video, so if you want to take a look and see all that they stand for and learn a bit more about the company and what they do, then check them out. Of course, you can go straight to the source and check out Outlaw Clothing Brands website for yourself and make a difference and be the change, be an Outlaw.

The post Outlaw Clothing Brands – Small Business Spotlight appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

Retainers are harder to get then one-off jobs, so it is important to think about perhaps offering this service to clients that you speak with. They can really save you in the long run. This agreement brings employment and freelancing together to hold hands and make the freelancer happier with the outcome.

What is a Retainer?

Many freelancers might not even know what a retainer is. However, with the right information, being a freelancer is going to get much easier for you overall. A retainer is much like an agreement. The freelancer submits a specific set amount of work every month and the employer pays a specific amount for the work.

Retainers Do Not Come Right Away

Hoping it is easy to get a retainer is something that can be easy to do. You have stars in your eyes and hopes and dreams to reach. You might have to work with the client on one-off projects until you feel comfortable enough to pitch a retainer idea. This is especially helpful if they continue to use you for these one-off projects.

However, it is also important to note that not all clients are the “retainer” types. They need to be a long-term client that needs steady work throughout the year for this to work out. Plus, you have to feel comfortable enough to trust them and for them to trust you.

Offer All Services They Might Need

You don’t have to run out and learn to code right away, but knowing how to build a simple website to go with your content writing, or marketing or whatever you do is helpful. Getting an employer to work with you on retainer is ideal in many ways, but not having more than the one thing to offer them might make them think harder about this agreement than they really need too when you pitch the idea to them.

Writing Up Your Retainer 

Your retainer is going to work much like a contract, so you need to write one up so that everyone is in agreement on the terms. Just make sure to add these important tidbits so that everyone has what they need from the deal.

• How much work is being delivered every month
• The amount it will cost, as well as your payment information
• Include any expenses or other things the client has to cover
• The length of time the retainer is good for, usually, it is a year to two years
• Revisions and if they are included, if they are, how many?
• A sign off stating that the client owns the content once it is completed
• Having an under or over usage of the content – when a client skips a month, they still need to pay and some freelancers provide a credit to recoup some articles missed during the next month, though not all
• Cancellation policies of the retainer, which usually means the client needs to give 30 days notice of their intent to do so

Making a retainer last a while is important. When the working relationship is a strong one, then retainers can work smoothly between the client and the freelancer. They can even provide a strong recommendation for others that they know looking for the same type of services. A retainer is thandeal way to work as a freelancer and it provides more stability in times of need.

The post The Best Thing in Freelancing: Retainers appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

Make sure that you’re ready to grow these skills, because come 2019, you’re going to need them to hang onto. You’re going to want to wish you built them up before the big boom comes. While this sounds scary, it’s really not. I am just being theatrical and trying to get my point across.

Moving onto the skills needed, here are the four biggest and best skills to have that can actually help you grow your freelance career.

1. Have a Diverse Portfolio

While one particular area might suit you best, which it does for many, there are many benefits to having a large, all-inclusive portfolio that lists many of your strong suits. You might be great at writing landing pages or sales emails, but you’re also good at putting together decent websites – show these skills off! There is no right or wrong way to showcase yourself, even if you do more than one thing!

2. Have a Personal Website for Your Freelance Career

Having a personal website means you mean business. However, you have to keep it up-to-date. If you have old news on there, no one is going to look at it. If it looks like it was made 20 years ago, again, no one will be impressed. Change with the times, just like they are going to want to change with the times. Impress!

3. Always Deliver More Than Whats Expected

Delivering more than what is expected to the client is always going to go over well. If you impress them, they’re going to send more people your way. Not only that, but they’re going to want to keep using you for all of the work that they have. You will become a regular and have a strong working relationship. Hey, you might even get a bit of a raise out of it! Do well, do more, and impress!

4. Maintain and Use Social Media

Having social media means a lot for those that have internet-related jobs. If this is your profession, then you need social media. This allows you to network, get your name out there, get seen, get known and then get hired! Without the World Wide Web behind you, you might find that reaching those goals of actually making a living is harder than you originally thought.

It is important to do what is best for your freelance career. If you’re able to do this, you won’t have to worry about what comes next. You will make a name for yourself and allow yourself to have a comfortable profession doing something that is rewarding and enriching. The best part is that as a freelancer, you choose who to work for!

The post 4 Skills to Help You Grow Your Freelance Career appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

Your audience is constantly changing. Not only is the world we live in constantly on the move, but those in the world that you sell too, that you speak with, that you need to convince all have different views that change.

Your company changes.

Regardless of what you think about change, it happens. It happens more than we even realize.

Learning is essential to any professional because they need to stay on top of this change. You wouldn’t want a doctor that couldn’t keep up on the sanitation changes that were updated, so why would your audience, your client base, your customers want to work with a company that doesn’t adapt, revolve and change themselves to fit the needs of those that they work with?

To provide the best for your audience, you have to change with them

Just like a caterpillar changes to a butterfly, you have to change into something that is needed or wanted.

These top changes are currently taking place in the marketing world and you can be on top of the change.

People are shying away from traditional ads

No one could have expected traditional ads to go out of style, but it is true. More and more people are putting their trust in people that they know or that can show value to them personally, not those that have ads that do well. Close to 30% of all people that use the internet are using ad blockers. That means you’re not even being seen!

Social media will continue to grow

If you’re not into the whole social media scene and you’re a marketer, then you might want to think about changing that. You cannot be a game changer in this world if you don’t have the right connections, the right friends, the right profile. Social media is one of the biggest and best ways to market any company, big or small because everyone uses them. Millions upon millions of users sign up every year for social media websites, even older generations are starting to use them. It is expected that by 2020, almost everyone is going to have a profile. That means you want to have a way to reach them.

Be a game changer in the market

While you might think that one thing works better than another because everyone is doing it. This isn’t the case. The more creative you are, the more you think out of the box and do things differently from everyone else, the more you’re going to be recognized for it. Use being a marketer to do something different, something bold, something creative. You’ll really be a game changer and get noticed that way.

Video is the new thing

Pictures, videos and everything visual is the new way to send your message. Usually, this attracts attention when before words would do the same thing. However, it has been shown that videos account for over 80% of internet traffic today. This means that if you have video, you’re more likely to be noticed, to be looked into and of course, to be used. Video is the new wave of the future and soon, it might just be the only way. YouTube and Instagram are hitting the ground running with video, but there are many other outlets that can be used, as well.

It is vital that you know how your clients and customers communicate

You don’t want to disappoint, that’s not why you’re here. However, it is important to note how your customers and clients communicate. If they work with you, they will expect you to provide them with a form of communication that they feel the most comfortable with – via, email, phone, instant messaging, whatever. You can conference the day away with them if that is what makes them comfortable. They want one-on-one time and they want it in a way they feel comfortable communicating. This means that more and more marketers have to be flexible and open.

Learn more about the changes that are expected this year to stay on top of the trends. Be the business that is always one step ahead of those that are relying on you to deliver. If you can do this, your business is sure to make it to the top. If it is something that is going to help you, then why not do it?

Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, it can be a good one – for everyone involved. 2019 is set to be the change that the marketing and small business world needs.

The post Top Marketing Changes to Expect This Year appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.