You’re trying to get your website off the ground, and you’ve heard your traffic will improve if you fill your pages with lots of valuable content. But there’s the problem—you want to create interesting blog posts and page content for your audience, but you’re totally stumped on what to write about! This is an all-too-familiar […]
If you’re confused by the way Google bills you for AdWords, you’re not alone. Not even a little. We have countless clients who feel like the Google AdWords billing system is overly complicated. We don’t blame them. Why can’t it just be a bill for the same amount on the same date every month—you know, […]
It’s no secret that paid ads are a great way to inject some power into your online marketing efforts. But whether it’s a PPC (pay-per-click) campaign from Google AdWords or a social media campaign from Facebook Ads, you need to be using the platform that best aligns with your business’s needs. This is where most […]
For new businesses, there’s a lot to do when you first set out on your venture. Unfortunately, there’s no book or step-by-step guide that tells you everything you need. Sure, there are countless articles and e-books about the fundamentals, but the nitty-gritty stuff you have to do for your web presence often remains a guessing game. […]
So, you want to run a holiday Facebook ad this year. Holiday and winter-themed promotions are different from ads you’d normally run on Facebook, given their specific and temporary nature. You want people to make an immediate purchase or hire you for a particular, seasonal service. Therefore, you’ll have to create your holiday Facebook ad […]
Another day, another article about millennials, right? We get it. You’re sick of hearing about them. However, we ask you to bear with us this time—because this is directly related to your small business’s marketing efforts. Millennials are the largest living generation today. According to the 2015 U.S. Census, our country has more than 83 […]
Raise your hand if you wish Google would stop making secret updates already! Just when you think you’ve mastered local search, Google launches a change that turns everything on its head. This time, it’s the Hawk update. This latest update has serious, wide-reaching consequences for small, local businesses like yours. It’s crucial you understand the […]
Let us paint a picture for you. It’s Saturday morning at the local supermarket. You’re in the meat section deciding between porterhouse and rib eye when you spot a familiar figure. You immediately recognize the person in front of you as the girl with the blue hair from high school. You haven’t seen her in […]
If you’re one of our clients, then you’ve heard us talk about the advantages of paid advertising. In fact, you’re almost certainly sick of hearing about how advertising on Google AdWords and Facebook can be super-effective ways to reach a wider audience. However, in all our talk about these two platforms, we rarely get into […]
Curious about how your PPC ads look? Googling yourself to check on your pay-per-click campaigns is understandable. However, it’s also ill-advised. That’s because frequently googling your company can sabotage your AdWords campaign. Don’t believe us? Keep reading. How Googling Yourself Tanks Your CTR Your cost per click is substantially related to your ad’s click through […]
Sick of hearing about how important Facebook is for your local business? Sorry, but you’ll have to get used to it! We can’t stop talking about Facebook—that’s how critical it is to your overall web presence. With more than 2 billion active monthly users, Facebook is indispensable. However, in all our talk of how important […]
You’ve heard that social media—particularly Facebook—is vital for small, local business owners. But why? In many ways, social media has become its own form of search. Many people today search on Facebook before ever turning to Google when they’re looking for a local business. They turn to their social network and ask for recommendations or […]
Have you gotten this phone call? Caller: “Hi, this is Alan from Vandelay Web Services. We scanned Google for your business and, according to our report, your business is not currently on Google.” You: “Uh… That’s weird because I work with an online marketing company that manages my Google listing for me.” Caller: “Well, your […]
What’s your goal for your small business’s online marketing? This is an essential question to ask yourself before you embark on any particular campaign. Why? Because, without establishing what you want out of it, you may end up going with the wrong strategy, and ultimately wasting your money. This is especially true for your PPC […]
Want more add-on options for your Prospect Genius campaign? Looking for ways to get more bang for your buck? Then, keep reading—because we have some great options for you. As you know, we’re committed to growing with our clients. We aren’t interested in quick fixes. Instead, we want long-term visibility and lead generation for you. […]
We repeat: Your website’s ranking is not important. That probably goes against everything you previously thought about SEO. However, as Ryan Shelley points out in a recent article on Search Engine Land, there are much more accurate measures of success: The problem with putting too much emphasis on [ranking] is that the search results aren’t always […]
Do you even notice your phone buzzing in your pocket or ringing on your desk anymore? Many business owners find themselves tuning out their ringing phones for the sake of their own time, energy, and sanity. After all, an endless stream of phone calls comes with the territory of owning a small business—and a good chunk […]
As a small business owner, do you find it hard to balance work and life? Do you feel like you’re never able to turn off your work phone or throw a ball around with your kids? It may not surprise you to hear that many small business owners have the same difficulties. In fact, according […]
“What are the best next steps for my marketing?” This is a question we hear a lot from our clients. As your small business’s online marketing campaign flourishes, it’s natural to wonder what you can do to multiply your success. Regardless of which online marketing strategy from Prospect Genius you’re currently using, there’s a way for you […]
Does it feel like David vs. Goliath out there for your small business? Big companies may be able to outspend you on ad campaigns and merchandising, but there are areas where ad spend has no power. One such area is word of mouth. Glowing reviews and personal referrals are just as good as—if not better than—any […]
When you change your business address in real life, what do you do? You probably start by submitting an address change to the post office. Then, you update any accounts you have with banks, credit card companies, insurance agencies, and so on. You also have to go down the list and notify all of your vendors, marketers, […]
Your business can’t have an effective online presence if it doesn’t have any customer reviews. Why? Because when people are hiring a new business, they want to be sure they’re making the right choice. Reading about other people’s experiences helps them decide which business will best align with their needs. They’ll be able to see […]
It’s no secret that most of us stretch our budgets a little thin over the holiday season. With parties to host and gifts to buy, money disappears quickly. And for many small business owners, the slightly blurred line between personal and business finances means the holidays can impact some of your company’s operations—like online marketing. […]
Your goal for online marketing should be to get more money out of it than you put into it. Simple, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out this way. See, you typically want to limit upfront expenses on your new online marketing so you can ensure you get a profitable return. However, when starting a new online […]
If you’re at all familiar with what it takes to increase your business’s visibility online, then you know two things: Informative content matters. High-quality images matter. What if we told you there’s an easy way to make content and images work together for your benefit? Combining the value of an informational blog post and the instant appeal […]
If you’re handling your own PPC with AdWords or Bing Ads, hats off to you! It’s not an easy undertaking. However, it’s certainly doable once you become more familiar with industry vocabulary and best practices. Learning the right terminology and approach can take time, though. One common stumbling block, even for experienced DIYers, has to do with metrics. […]
Here’s a word of advice you may not hear from other marketing teams: Own a custom domain for your small business. We’ve seen too many small business owners get burned by not having one. The best way to preserve your web ranking, presence, and overall marketing efforts is to purchase your own, custom domain that contains your exact […]