Alex Jasin says, “When it comes to connecting with potential customers, there are few things more valuable than trust. Trust is an essential factor in every business relationship.Imagine you’re headed to a jewelry store to purchase a Rolex watch. Maybe you can’t really afford one, but just imagine: On your way to the store, you see a man on the street. He sidles up to you, rolls up his sleeve and shows you his arm, strapped with watches up to his elbow.“Hey man, want to buy a Rolex?” he mutters.Unless you’re temporarily insane, you won’t bite. Why? Because you... [...]

Michael Cahill says, “Anyone who has ever registered a domain name can tell you that there is no shortage of people out there willing to sell you search engine optimization services (SEO). While I fully endorse a business’s decision to work with an SEO consultant (full disclosure: I am one), there is quite a lot that you can do on your own to help your website rank better in Google.If your budget isn’t quite there yet, or you would rather have more control over your website’s marketing, these seven do-it-yourself SEO tactics may help you. These tactics can also help you become a... [...]

Alfred Lua says, “A decade ago, the role of a social media manager might not have even existed. Today, however, almost every company is involved in social media one way or another.A quick look at Google Trends shows the rise in interest in the term “social media manager” over the years, and it seems that people have never been as interested in the term as they are today.What does it take to be a great social media manager? What are the skills to master and traits to have? How can you work on those areas?In this post, we’ll try our best to answer all those questions. We’ll share... [...]

Grant Cardone says, “Some people may be surprised to learn that I — at 58-years old — am super engaged on Snapchat. While most may see this platform as a hangout for people born post-1990, there are people of every age using Snapchat to grow their brand and business today. I don’t consider Snapchat a fringe social network that I rarely get on — I’m snapping daily. If you see me making a silly face in front of my phone, you know I’m probably snapping someone. I’m always looking for ways to stay relevant and in touch with younger generations. Using Snapchat is personable... [...]

Samuel Edwards says, “Over the past few years, marketers have become so inundated with the need to blog that we’re ignoring an exponentially more powerful medium: video. When you study the efficacy of video and the marketplace’s demand for visual content, it’s clear that video is the future of the industry. Making room for this new model in your existing content-marketing strategy makes good sense for a number of reasons.Video is here to stay.Content marketers familiar with blogging, SEO and similar tactics have watched the rise of video with considerable trepidation. It’s... [...]

Kimberly De Silva says, “A few decades ago, marketing and advertising meant putting up bill boards and buying radio or TV placement ads. A company’s marketing budget was dedicated to producing these awesome posters, pamphlets and jingles. Fast-forward a couple of years and a lot — if not all — has changed. Now, this marketing budget, regardless of size, should be focused on social, search, email and mobile.The statistics are proof of this shift in marketing budget: for nearly half a decade, investments in traditional advertising have consistently dropped by single digit... [...]

Susan Gunelius says, “Leveraging the power of content and social media marketing can help elevate your audience and customer base in a dramatic way. But getting started without any previous experience or insight could be challenging.It’s vital that you understand social media marketing fundamentals. From maximizing quality to increasing your online entry points, abiding by these 10 laws will help build a foundation that will serve your customers, your brand and — perhaps most importantly — your bottom line.1. The Law of ListeningSuccess with social media and content marketing... [...]

Eric Siu says, “One of the golden rules of marketing is that the first companies to hop on a new platform usually see the biggest returns on their investment.Back in the 1990s, it was normal to have email open rates over 90 percent. Back when AdWords first started, it was easy to get highly competitive keywords for rock bottom prices. When Facebook first let marketers run ads, the cost per lead was much lower than it is today.As platforms become more established, they also end up costing more. That’s why the best marketers usually take advantage of new platforms before everybody else.Today,... [...]

Adam Toren says, “The days of questioning whether Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms are legitimate marketing tools are way behind us.Those “in the know” are using social media to share their ideas, businesses, and day-to-day lives. Some of them are making millions from posting pictures online and uploading vlogs to YouTube, and others are using social media as a major strategy to scaling venture-backed startups.The following social media influencers are all contributors to a new book called 3 Billion Under 30, brought together by 21-year-old Jared... [...]

Susan Solovic says, “When I talk to small-business owners, they often tell me they’re “doing” social-media marketing. I’m always glad to hear this, but the way they describe their process reveals they’re unfocused in their efforts. They haven’t truly defined a social-media marketing campaign for their brand and company.Imagine a general sending his troops onto the battlefield willy-nilly, just striking out at whatever is close at hand. Generals who are serious about the stakes wage campaigns with clearly defined goals.Take aim.Without a goal, how can you ever... [...]