We always push the importance of content marketing to businesses. Having articles and relevant content on your areas of expertise that you can link back to your website is a great asset. While we’re working hard to churn out new and relevant content on a weekly basis, it’s easy to overlook the great content that we’ve already produced. If you’re writing a blog (weekly, monthly, yearly, whatever) and/or publishing content online, your previous articles are still a great resource for your marketing campaign!

Hootsuite recently launched a new feature they are referring to as "Suggestions".   This new feature gives users the ability to get a weeks worth of content suggestions tailored to each specific social media account that users have tied in to their Hootsuite account.  It was advertised within Hootsuite as a new feature designed to save time and to find the best articles possible to share at the best times possible.  Those of us who have been poking around with it here or there over the past few weeks have learned that the Suggestions' beta period is now closing.  The new rules following that beta period are that users can share 10 articles per week or upgrade their accounts for unlimited shares.  So, is it worth upgrading to unlimited?  And, what has my experience with Suggestions been?

Social media management can turn into a total time suck if you let it.  Now, I'm not saying that you should stop spending time on your social media marketing, I'm saying that you should plan your time to work more efficiently.  Work smarter, not harder. We've all been sucked into the abyss that is Twitter.  We scroll, then click and read, click and read, click and read, look up and found that 4 hours have gone by and you're still sitting there in your pajamas.  That was a waste of time...

Next week is Black Friday and while everyone is scrambling to decide where they're going to spend their money, on what, and how long ahead of time they have to get in line to get it -you should be checking off the boxes to make sure you're up and running for those customers to burst in.  Or click in, if they're just visiting your site...

Infographics have been huge for awhile now. It’s not difficult to tell why –they are great visuals that usually pack a lot of easy to read statistics or facts. Infographics are a great visual cue for the content that you’re providing to your readers. Many times, the infographics themselves are substantial enough to work as relevant content of their own. 

I feel like there are a lot of people these days that jump into things a little quickly –especially when it comes to anything that has to do with the internet.  I would give you the “back in my day” speech; but, I’m only 23 so that would be both ridiculous and irrelevant.  When it comes to your business; however, you should take a bit of time to make sure all your ducks are in a row.  I’m all for taking risks and trying new things.  Just make sure you’re prepared is all I’m saying.

Here are 5 things you must consider before making – or remaking your website. 

These are some important points folks, read up.

My extensive experience and qualifications [insert lol] have taught me that there are a few things that are, without a doubt, website killers. I’ve ranted randomly here and there about updating your content.  Today, I’m not just slipping it slyly in.  I’m getting out my rusty trusty step stool (I’m only 5’1) to get on eye level with you and I’m making sure that you really understand what I’m saying.  If you do nothing else, keep these 4 things updated on your site.  Not one or two of them; all 4 if it’s all the same to you.

This article has been updated on 8/08/2019 with the article entitled "The Truth About SEO: Can't Buy Google's Love".

So you wanna be at the top of the search engines you say?  How much is it going to cost you, you ask?  Nothing. Nada. Zip.  Google’s love is not for sale folks.  You’re going to have to wine and dine her; you’re going to have to work for it a bit.  So, if you can’t buy a higher ranking, how does it work then?  And what, exactly, do you have to do to make it to the top?

I wanted to take some time today to talk to everyone about my challenges with anything computer oriented.  I know, it’s crazy; I work on a computer all day long.  You should know this about me: from time to time I will google: [insert techy concept here] for dummies.  It goes without being said, I have several face palm moments a week.  A few weeks ago, I was asked to help develop a blog about User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX).  For those of you out there going, “Yes, go on.  Everyone knows what UI/UX is.” … just hold your horses.  And for the rest of you, “Isn’t UI a urinary infection?” people; this one is for you.

That time of year has rolled around again.  The holidays are in full swing.  We’ve stuffed ourselves to the gills over and over the past two months and now, as we loosen another belt notch and try to squeeze into our new clothes that just fit last week, we make a couple resolutions.  We start each year with high hopes for the changes that we believe we can make in ourselves.  We resolve for more dieting, more exercise, working harder, studying more, spending more quality time with family, etc. etc. etc.  What about your business resolutions?  What are you going to do this year that’s going to help your business get that little extra boost it needs?  I’ve got a few ideas if you’re not quite sold yet on what your business resolution should be: