It's genuinely depressing to think about the totality of words we've wasted whining about Google's pay-to-play model. Not because we regret the time spent educating our readers, but because we wish this weren't the reality of digital marketing in 2020. Especially during a crippling pandemic. And we know this situation is just as depressing for all of the small, local service providers out there who feel like they don't have a fighting chance. But we're done with despair. It won't do … [Read more...] about How to Undercut Google’s Pay-to-Play Model and Advertise on a Budget
Facebook Costs Less Than AdWords, But Is It Better?
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 people get stuck. If you're struggling to decide between Google AdWords and Facebook Ads, there are two things you need to know: Facebook costs less than Google AdWords by a … [Read more...] about Facebook Costs Less Than AdWords, But Is It Better?
How to Run a Holiday Facebook Ad That Drives Results
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 with these goals in mind. But have no fear! Follow our recommendations below to run a holiday Facebook ad that's effective and successful. Choose an … [Read more...] about How to Run a Holiday Facebook Ad That Drives Results
Why You Must Market to Millennials (and How to Do It)
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 million millennials right now, compared to 75.4 million baby boomers. That's a lot of purchasing power! And thanks to rapid changes in technology, we're seeing … [Read more...] about Why You Must Market to Millennials (and How to Do It)
Warning: Your Social Media Strategy Could Make or Break Your SEO
When it comes to SEO, how important is your social media strategy? It's an ongoing debate. In 2014, Google's Matt Cutts proclaimed that "social signals," like posts on Facebook and Twitter, have nothing to do with Google's search algorithm. This directly opposed what many industry specialists believed at the time. In fact, numerous SEO experts still argue that social media influences search rankings, even if "social signals" aren't really a thing. Jasmine Sandler, an experienced digital … [Read more...] about Warning: Your Social Media Strategy Could Make or Break Your SEO
The Only Checklist You Need for a Winning Facebook Page
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 a Facebook page is, we also need to explain what an effective Facebook page looks like. To that end, we put together a handy checklist of what you need on your page. This will … [Read more...] about The Only Checklist You Need for a Winning Facebook Page
Are You Doing Enough to Get Noticed on Facebook?
Today, Facebook essentially doubles as a business directory. It provides businesses with their own pages to display contact information, details about products and services, photos, and more. In this sense, Facebook pages aren't much different from Google My Business listings. That's why a growing number of people aren't even using Google for local business searches anymore. Of course, Google is still dominating local searches, but Facebook is increasing in prominence. Most small business owners … [Read more...] about Are You Doing Enough to Get Noticed on Facebook?
How to Compete on Social Media Without Spending a Dime
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 referrals for whatever service they need. ("Can anyone recommend a good plumber in the Albany area?") For most people, it's easier to poll their friends and … [Read more...] about How to Compete on Social Media Without Spending a Dime
Which of These Online Marketing Strategies Will Be Your Next Step?
"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 to keep climbing the ladder, if that's what you want. Of course, what you do next depends largely on what you've already done. You can't just start hiking … [Read more...] about Which of These Online Marketing Strategies Will Be Your Next Step?
Why Do Rewarding SEO Campaigns Demand Your Patience?
Wouldn’t SEO campaigns be so much easier if you could just flip a switch and watch them go? Alas, the Internet simply doesn't work that way. Launching an online marketing campaign takes a lot of time. To ensure extended success, Prospect Genius—and many standup companies like us—must run through an exhaustive, time-consuming process when setting up any new campaign. If you’ve been asking yourself why your Core campaign took so long to get off the ground, then this blog post is for you. Here, … [Read more...] about Why Do Rewarding SEO Campaigns Demand Your Patience?