When I asked my brainiacs’ circle if marketing automation was cheating, their responses ranged from: “Why would it be?” “It’s a non-issue.” “It’s smart marketing.” “Maybe it’s slightly creepy.” At the same time, the question does come up. A lot. So let’s see, when is marketing automation smart, and when do we run the risk of going too far... Read More

By far, the best online marketing strategy is being able to seize a new opportunity before any of your competitors have a clue what’s going on. But it’s not just about setting yourself up to be the early bird. You have to be ready to catch the worm and ride the wave of popularity at its peak. This will enable your blog, service, or product to enjoy ... Read More

“I don’t know how other people do it. I won’t work with non-profit clients ever again!” And so it begins: Another marketing pro frustrated by the way things work, and sometimes don’t, within the non-profit world. We all have work we love, and work that we…love less. I will never forget the woman who told me — not realizing I was the writer behind it — ... Read More

I’ve been doing this marketing and communications thing for a long time (don’t ask how long; I’ll lie to you) and have tried nearly every tactic possible. I’m here to tell you, the very best way, particularly for business-to-business organizations, to generate leads is through content…and it’s also the most fun. I want you to think about your content in two ways: Free and paid. The ... Read More

Are you ready for the one thing – the one trick – to get more engagement with your email marketing campaigns? Unlike Curly, I’m actually going to share it with you now. The one thing to boost email marketing engagement is to be human. At this point, it’s quite possible you are now standing up … shouting something like the following: “What? Really? That’s it? That’s ... Read More

The busy, digital lifestyles of Generation Y are forcing the web to become more visual. Visual content is processed in the brain 60,000 times faster than text, according to 3M Corporation. Social media, the driving force of the digital world, thrives on visuals because they are easy to share on major networks such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Catchy headlines, bulleted lists, and content written ... Read More

The other day, I was scrolling through my shiny, new Feedly (which I love and am so happy Google Reader forced me to try) and I saw website content that caught my eye. On Marcus Sheridan’s website there is an image of a gorgeous pool and the headline says, “Considering an Inground Pool? Get Started with Pool 101.” Right below that is a thumbnail of a ... Read More

Today’s guest post is by Laura Click. When developing marketing plans for clients, an overhaul of their corporate website often tops the list of recommended tactics. Why? Because so many websites do a poor job of telling the company’s story and, ultimately, driving leads and sales for their business. And no, I’m not just talking about aesthetics. There are plenty of sites that look good, yet ... Read More

A little more than three years ago, we announced we are no longer a PR firm. What that means externally is, when prospects call and say they’re looking for a PR firm, if all they want is media relations, we now have a business model that doesn’t support that kind of “strategy.” But, internally, it was a huge shift. Before we formally announced it, we spent ... Read More

Today’s guest post is by Lee Frederiksen. According to the Hinge Research Institute, 66 percent of professional services firms plan to increase spending on digital marketing within the next year. But with so many online marketing channels available today, where will that money go? Some firms will invest heavily in their social media presence, they’ll hire new young talent or contract the job to marketing companies. ... Read More