More Than A Few Words

The sales process may begin when a customer calls, but it doesn't end there.  In many industries you need to have a follow up process to nurture the lead till the customer is ready to buy.  Do you? 

This week we are talking about Pigeon.  No, not the annoying bird which leaves a deposit on your window.  We are talking about the latest Google update focused on making reviews of your busienss easier to find. Now more than ever small business owners need to be collecting reviews. 

No one tries to create a website customers and search engines hate, but let's face it, we know it happens all the time.    Don't let this happen to you!  Download our FREE web design guide.   

More and more companies are jumping into the content game, cluttering in-boxes and news feeds. How do you compete to be sure your content is seen, read, liked and shared? One approach is to to simply write more, but at some point there is a diminishing rate of return. The other approach is to write smarter. Here are a few things you can do with your content strategy to rise above the clutter Need help getting your content program started?  Download our FREE tools: .   Content Calendar Blogging Workbook  Inbound budget workbook 

While you may never be able to compete with large national brands, if you only serve a local community you don't have too. Instead focus your energy on winning local search.   For more on this topic check out : http://www.roundpeg.biz/2014/08/tapping-local-seo/

Some people say that a picture is worth 1,000 words.  Every wonder why?  It is because our brains process images significantly faster than we can process words. In an instant, they convey a range of emotions and ideas.     With the ability to quickly impact your audience, it is no wonder than more and more businesses are relying on images as part of their online strategy. 

Many business experts agree one of the best ways to grow a business is with “OPM” (Other people’s money). The idea is to reduce your risk and multiply the impact of your capital with loans from banks or resources from investors. The influx of capital helps accelerate the growth of a business. In a way, this same strategy can apply to your online marketing. To accelerate the expansion of your brand you need “OPC” (Other people’s content). In marketing circles the technical term is user generated content (UGC). Want to learn more on this topic?  Check out my presentation from Mixwest 2014.    Let others work for you - How Small Businesses Can Grow with User Generated Content from Roundpeg

LinkedIn continues to evolve and improve. This week we take a look at two exciting new additions to the platform. 

Sometimes video can do more in 30 seconds than you can do in five or six pages.  Today we talk about some of the how and why of small business video. 

When it comes to content marketing it takes more than just great words and ideas.  It isn't just what you say, but where you say it that makes the difference.    With more and more companies developing content, the company with the best distribution strategy will will. 

It isn't enough to get people to come to your site.  You need to welcome them, engage them and keep them coming back.  Inbound marketing strategies can help you do just that. 

When people repeat themselves too often, you tune out. And it isn't just a semi senile grandmother people are ignoring, it is messages from companies just like yours. And it isn't just customers, prospects and potential employees who are zoning out on your messages.  Search engines get bored, too. When you duplicate information on  multiple pages within your website or copy information from other sites it does more harm than good.    This week we talk about ways to avoid the pitfalls of duplicate content. 

Content marketing makes sense for almost any business.  This short program describes how a bean company used content marketing to drive sales.     

There are lots of successful companies which have been around 20, 25 or even 30 years without a website.  Do they need one now?  

Lorraine tends to fly by the seat of her pants, and Jarred loves process and systems.  This week we talk about why a more organized approach is the right choice for most businesses. 

Did you ever wonder what other businesses are really doing online?  How much time are they spending and where they are spending it? Well we were curious so we decided to ask and share the answers with you.    This week we will share some of the results from our small business survey. If the show is interesting, and you want to learn more your can always download the full report here.   

Google has made another round of changes to their search algorithm.  These changes are revisions to both their Panda and Payday Loan updates. Does all that sound like too much SEO Speak? That's ok, this week we break it down and talk about why you should care.     

Customers will always have complaints and inquiries about your services or products- it's all part of doing business. In the modern age of smartphones and the Internet, your clients are only a few mouse clicks away from asking you questions or blasting your brand on Facebook and LinkedIn.   Do you have a strategy in place to engage with your audience and help solve their issues using new media?

A guide to using your web analytics to drive your marketing strategy.  If you aren't happy with the total amount of traffic coming to your website then dive in to the analytics and look at your traffic sources.     This week we will break down the different types of web traffic and what you can do with your marketing to support you web efforts. 

Trade shows and conferences can be tedious and time consuming, but they can also been profitable if you do a little bit of proper planning. This week we talk about some of our  trade show experiences- both good and bad- to explain how businesses can make shows profitable.     Want to learn more?  Download our trade show success guide.