Category: Uncategorized
A free report can’t “live” in the virtual world by itself. To generate leads from any kind of offer (which includes content like a webinar, white paper, ebook, research report, etc.), you need to lay out a foundation for the offer, which is strategically designed to guide consumers down a specific path—a path to buying.
Do You Know What People Are Really Doing on Your Website?
Building a website without taking advantage of what analytics can tell you is like sending out a direct-mail campaign to everyone in town.
Get the Most Out of Each Blog Post
Writing blogs for your website takes time and effort that you feel you can't afford to lose. My argument is that you can't afford NOT to blog.
What social media sites will work for my business?
The buzz around social media is undeniable, but how do you know if social media will work for your business? And which social media platform is best suited for your business?
Content Marketing Gone Wrong: Duplicate Content
There is just one reason why businesses use duplicate content: It’s cheap. But there’s a big downside: It burns your SEO results.
Are You Measuring up With Content Marketing Trends for 2014?
Most businesses know that content marketing should comprise at least a portion of their strategy to market their business.
How to Use Landing Pages to Increase Conversions
You're in good shape if your website features static pages that describe your company, and give an overview of your products and services.
How Can Pinterest Marketing Work for Small Business?
Find out if Pinterest marketing is a good fit for your small business, and learn the perks it offers over other social media like Facebook and Twitter.
Effective Email Marketing: Case Study
Creative use of email marketing can put your business on the fast track.
Opt-in Forms: An Effective Way to Generate Leads
Even with an effective marketing plan to optimize your web pages and create a strategic paid search campaign, there’s a missing link here that can help businesses really capture quality leads: the opt-in form.
Organic Search Vs. Non-Organic Search: No, Marketing Has Not Become Like the Supermarket
Internet marketing isn’t like having the confused shopper experience, where you’re holding an organic and non-organic apple in your hand, wondering which one is truly better.
Here’s How to Create a Google+ Business Page
Creating a Google+ business page doesn’t require that you hold professional certification in social media. In fact, Google has made creating a business account a fairly simple process. Here’s a primer on setting up a Google+ page for your business.
If Your Business Doesn’t Sell Online, Does a Website Really Matter?
In the typical marketing funnel, only 3 percent of the people that visit your site are ready to buy. So, what are the rest of your website visitors doing there?
5 Must-Have Website Features to Increase Engagement
With these five website features, your website will promote a high level of engagement.
Why Your Small Business Should Be on Twitter
What if you could learn about one that had the potential to reach almost 10,000 people every second? Would you be interested?
Search Engine Optimization: How to Rank on Google’s Page 1
It might seem impossible to please both customers and Google. But it isn’t. You don’t need an advanced degree in business or marketing to figure it out. You don’t need a huge marketing budget, either.
The Plan to Multiply Your Sales
Being an entrepreneur, you always could use more sales driving up your numbers. We've prepared an easy-to-follow plan just for you to help dominate the market!
Merry Christmas from Your Friends at Spire!
Merry Christmas! Be sure to watch to the very end for a special treat...
Enhancing Facebook Results With Contests & Giveaways
If you’re developing a brand presence on Facebook but your strategy doesn’t include contests or giveaways, you’re probably missing the mark.
A How-To Guide for Local Search
Consumers are looking for what you have to offer, but can they find you on the web? They can if your website is optimized for local search.
How to Bring Your Website’s Design Into 2014
So, you want to update your website? Perhaps your old site was thrown together quickly. Perhaps it isn't serving your needs very well. It's also possible that what was once a well-designed website is now tired and out-of-date.
Meet 3 Small Businesses That Keep Growing with Content Marketing
As a business owner, you've probably already heard about the immense power of content marketing. That said, unless there's proof, it can be difficult for a small businesses to come up with the resources to invest in content marketing.
Why Google+ when everyone else is on Facebook?
Google+, the social media arm of the search engine giant, offers small businesses a social media resource--and more--like no other.
Choose a Website Domain Name That Gives Your Business an Edge
Choosing a website domain name is not for the fainthearted. The process will underpin your entire business and its digital marketing potential.
5 Practical Steps to Influence Gen Y
I finally got a chance to post the second half of my talk with Nate Bebout. In this video, Nate talks about what motivates the millennial generation, and 5 practical steps to make your marketing more effective.
7 Challenges of the Millennial Generation / Gen Y
What's the deal with young adults born from 1982-2000? Do we call them Generation Y? The Millenial Generation? How do I reach them? Is there any hope for our future?
How Often Should You Be Blogging?
The importance of putting fresh articles on your website is unquestionable. Here's how often you should be blogging to keep Google and your customers happy.
Avoiding Price Wars
What do you do when a potential buyer tells you your prices are too high? I've noticed that most sellers react in one of 3 ways. Most people GIVE IN, they GIVE UP, or they GET EVEN. Let me explain...
What does “Bounce Rate” mean in Google Analytics?
In Google Analytics, there is a metric titled "Bounce Rate", which tends to throw people off ;) . Thankfully, it's not too difficult to understand.
Should Your Blog Be Separate From Your Website?
When working with small businesses, we often talk to people who have both a website AND a blog. Here are 5 important reasons why the blog and the website should be combined into one online presence.
Do I have to pay to rank in Google?
I hear it all the time: "Do I have to pay to rank in Google? This article helps bring clarity to free AND paid listings in Google, and points to free, helpful resources for help.
Time is Running Out to Register for Our Breakfast Seminars
Does your website resonate with potential customers? Does your website get potential customers involved? Most importantly, does your website allow you to communicate with visitors AFTER they have left your website?
File Sizes Made Easy
Pop quiz! If I were to ask you what KB stood for could you tell me? What about MB and GB?
Are file extensions giving you file overload?
.jpg, .png, .txt, .pdf, .tiff, .doc, .ppt, .mp3, .wav, .wma, .avi, .swf, .xls. Looking at a list like this sure can make your head swim! Good thing I am here to help explain them!
Reinventing the Wheel
The idea was that if the wheel is round and smooth, then we just need to find a better road to spin it on. But today, if you aren’t reinventing the wheel, what are you doing? Round is outdated. We are improving things that haven’t even been un-proven!
Facebook Got Me…
I'm a victim. Actually, it's worse than that. I willingly gave in. Even though I swore I never would. For the first time in my 7 years of using Facebook, I did the unthinkable...
To He Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done…
Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But, he with a chuckle replied That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he tried."
Business Wisdom from the Farm: Planting Season
If I were forced to either forget everything I learned in college, OR forget everything I learned on the farm as a child, I wouldn't think twice. Early lessons on the farm were far more valuable.
Things that seemed like common sense as a kid now seem profound. Here's a simple example.
How Does Facebook Affect Your REAL LIFE Social Network?
I just had a revelation. I realized that my network of close personal friendships -- the people my wife and I spend time with in our local community -- has been altered over the years by our exposure on Facebook.
Spire Leads Branding Project for Catalyst Life Services
Over the past 18 months, we've had the great privilege of working with The Center For Individual and Family Services Catalyst Life Services.
2 Workshops in 2 Days
On Thursday and Friday, we offered two all-day workshops for some of our Spire customers.
Is the Firefox Update causing problems with PDFs? Here’s how to fix it!
Recently we have been getting some phone calls about the new version of Firefox not playing nice. One of the complaints has been that when you try to view a PDF file from
Two Customer Training Intensives are Better than One…
Our next Customer Training Intensive is scheduled for April. And as we were putting it together, we were inspired to offer two completely separate events, for two different groups of customers.
What’s Happening on Your Website?
Every day you have people looking at your website - but what are they doing? Here are some important questions you CAN and SHOULD answer. They will help you find out if you are connecting with your visitors