Online Marketing Guys

Today we know that a vast majority of consumers use the internet to find the products or services they need.   With people searching for that information, you should want your business website to be easily found.  If it isn't, you're losing out on sales. Sp that means you need to engage in Search Engine Optimization, or SEO.  It's a pretty wide field and in this episode, co-hosts Bob Turner and Liz Jostes tell you the top 6 things you need to know about it. In fact, there is a lot to know when it comes to SEO. So much so that it can feel overwhelming. But the good thing is that there's a lot that small business owners can implement themselves that will make a big difference. The hard part with SEO is that it continues to evolve and change because Google constantly tweaks its search algorithm.  So we wanted to share with you the top 6 things that either work...or that DON'T work and you should avoid.

Not all websites are created equal.  But to be effective, business websites should all have certain things.  This week co-hosts Bob Turner and Liz Jostes take a look at those essentials that every business site needs on this episode of Online Marketing Guys. To be effective, websites have to be more than just online brochures. You have to view them as marketing tools and when designed properly, they can help you connect with potential customers. But that means they need to include certain items or functionality to make them easy to use by your visitors. Here's a quick list of some of the items we think all business sites need: The basics: A home, about, Products or Services and Contact pages Information about your business Contextual information about your business on your services pages Links between your other pages where appropriate. Photos and videos Phone and email displayed prominently in the upper right-hand corner Social media icons that are actually linked to your social pages Differentiat

Some websites just seem to have a better feel: A better flow or are more attractive than others.  That's because they are designed using concepts derived from brain science. Our brains want things a certain way, and, from a marketing point of view, if we present information in those ways, then a website will be more pleasing and more effective to visitors.  It also has a higher probability of converting sales. The science behind web design involves four areas of the brain: The Frontal Lobe, the Temproal Lobe, The Occipital Lobe and the Amygdala.  Co-hosts Bob Turner and Dino Pelle tell you how each of these areas gets involved when we visit a website.  

Are you up on what's working in social media?  do you know how other marketers are using it? The 9th Annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report was released in May. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Christina Kettman go over the numbers and reveal the trends on this episode of Online Marketing Guys. Ninety-two percent of marketers reported that social media has become an important part of their marketing.  But 91% admit they have confusion over how to use it effectively.  This is the state of social.  marketers recognize its importance but aren't sure how to use it. The one constant in social media is change, and as it continues to evolve, keeping up on the current trends will be necessary if it is to be effective.  

User Generated Content (UGC) is content that is generated by your customers and posted online.  It could include photos, video or text.  But the fact that it was posted by customers showing them having fun lends credibility to your brand. Ideally the UGC will contain a hashtag that the business pushes.  It's the hashtag that allows a company to track how successful the campaign is. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Ronda van Buren talk about this growing form of marketing. Businesses are becoming more and more savvy in how they are moving customers toward posting UGC.  Zoos, amusement parks or other entertainment venues have cut outs on the premises where people can stick their heads and upper bodies through and take a photo.  The cut out, of course, has the name of the business. Other locations are actually creating "selfie spots"with some type of branded signage where customers go to take a beautiful photo.  Some post signs asking customers to use a particular hashtag.   

Have you been noticing more and more video when you're online?  That's because video has taken off!  It is not only a great way to connect with your customers, it's use is also strategic! Hosts Bob Turner and Liz Jostes tell you why. Let's consider Facebook.  Right now, the social site's algorithm rewards video with more reach than any other kind of content.  Live video receives more reach than a pre-recorded, which is still really good. Video on YouTube is also valuable.  After all, the video site is the No. 2 search engine on the internet.  If you search optimize your descriptions and tag your videos correctly, chances are, they'll get found. If you're not using video, maybe you should.

Have you ever encouraged a potential customer to look for you on the internet, only to hear back that they found a negative review or news story about your company?  It happens more than you might think. Negative reviews can take place without your knowledge.  Once they are posted, you need to take action to overcomer them. Reputation management is the practice of shaping public perception about a person or organization by influencing online information or content about them. It involves content, SEO and social media. It isn't possible to take down reviews or news stories about your business.  Instead, create new content that replaces and pushes the offending content down in the search rankings. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Dino Pelle talk with Digital Marketing Director Allison Chaney about reputation management practices on this week's episode of Online Marketing Guys.

Knowing what to post online can be one of the biggest challenges for small businesses.  When you're not sure, that's when you might stray and end up posting about things that have nothing to do with your business.  That won't attract customers. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Dino Pelle talk about being relevant on this week's episode of Online Marketing Guys. Your content needs to be intentional. Plan out topics that are relevant to what you do.  Provide helpful information that potential customers are looking for and can use.  Then, you become a resource to customers and they will think of you when it's time to buy.  

It's our 50th episode!  To celebrate, co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff take a look at what the future of online marketing might look like down the road.  It's all part of this episode of Online Marketing Guys. Bob and Jason take a look at the coming shift in social media toward narrowcasting and personal communication.  They also discuss how SEO will evolve to match how we access the internet for information.  As content continues to grow on the web, how will it be valued, and what form will it take? Marketers will have to aim their messages more narrowly if they hope to have any connection with future consumers.

Can social media help you and your business website get found online? That's the question that co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff tackle on this week's episode of Online Marketing Guys. By having a search optimized bio on your social profiles, you, as an individual can be found.  Most social sites have search functions, and optimizing your profile will make sure you come up during relevant searches. When it comes to your website, social media is a great way to move traffic to your site.  Certain sites are also indexed by search engines. Google, for example, indexes Google+, LinkedIn and Slideshare. So make sure you business has active company pages on those sites and Google will reward your website with a ranking bump.    

Social media sites are owned and controlled by companies.  They have no responsibility to be open platforms for free speech.  They can, in fact, censor posts and do so regularly. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff discuss social media censorship on this episode of Online Marketing Guys. Most social sites have rules about the type of content that can be posted.  Typically, these rules prohibit posts that are hurtful, threatening or hateful.  However, the application of these rules is not always uniform.  This can be seen with the example of ISIS.   We've known since 2014 that this group uses social media to promote their ideology and recruit members.  There is, perhaps, no larger purveyor of hatful speech and deeds than ISIS.  How is this group able to continue its activities on social channels, then? Businesses need to be aware that the potential downsides of social media.  If one of the social sites you are posting to deems your content inappropriate, you could be

There is a practice inside of marketing that talks about making your customers the heroes of your content marketing stories.  That way, they feel emotion and loyalty toward you.  It played out recently when the Cleveland Cavaliers marketed to their fan base as they played for a NBA Title. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff talk about the ingenious marketing behind the Cavs championship on this episode of Online Marketing Guys.  The team not only won a title, but through their marketing that made the fans the heroes, won the loyalty of their followers for a generation to come.

It is the most successful mobile-app in US history!  Within 24 hours of its release, it had 21 million active users and Nintendo's shares shot up by more than 50 percent!  The estimated revenue for this game is $1.6 million per day! We're talking, of course, about Pokemon Go.  It's a form of augmented reality.  Your smartphone's camera sees the world as it is, but then the app overlays Pokemon characters.  The game requires players to collect them. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff take a look at this game on this week's episode of Online Marketing Guys.

With all the social media sites out there, how can small businesses keep up?  Trying to can be overwhelming for organizations with small teams.   Well, the good news is, you don't have to try, that is, as long as you know who your target market is.  Co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff discuss this topic on this week's podcast episode of Online Marketing Guys. A crucial step for any business is to identify their target market: Who is going to buy your product or service? Who makes the buying decisions? Does your offer really solve a problem they have? If so, how does it do that? These answers will help you position your product or service so it resonates with your target. From that determination, everything else flows. Once you know who your target market is, you can make sound, logical decisions about how and where to market to them. This applies to your choice of social media channel, as well.

Instagram is adding business profiles to its service.  Businesses will soon be able to add a business account to this app and be able to have insights into how their posts are performing.  Stay tuned, more on Instagram coming soon. This is a special 4th of July episode of Online Marketing Guys.  

Video, video everywhere.  At least, it seemed that way last week when an amazing thing happened that demonstrated the maturity of social media.  House Democrats decided to have a sit-in on the House floor.  They were protesting the Republican majority's in-activity on passing additional gun legislation after the shootings at the Orlando nightclub. What's interesting about this is the fact that traditional media could not report the event.  Unless the House is gavelled into session, cameras and reporters aren't allowed to report on anything happening from inside the House chamber. So, to get the word out, they took to social media.  They used the hashtag #NoBillNoBreak and by late Wednesday afternoon, that hashtag was trending high.  Not only were Democrats on the House floor using it, but so did other political activists to show their support.  So did Republicans to show their disapproval.  So did reporters to show their frustration at not being able to cover

Last week, Microsoft purchased LinkedIn for $26.2 billion!  This is big news in the online marketing and social media space!  What does it mean for the business site?  What does it mean for the software giant? Co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff take a look at the purchase and share their insights as to what it all means and how things might shake out on this week's episode of Online Marketing Guys! AND...The Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Championship!  Go Cavs!

Are you looking for Facebook strategies to help you reach more of your target audience? Facebook has changed the rules for businesses on their site a number of times over the years. Yet, we keep coming back, despite how difficult they make it for us to reach our fans. The most recent change reduced the reach of a company's post to just 1%. How are businesses supposed to use the platform to market themselves? Co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff talk about strategies to reach more Facebook users on this week's podcast episode of Online Marketing Guys. 

Having a strategy to follow when working your social media marketing makes the practice easier. Ons strategy you can use is thinking about your social media as if it were a news room. On this week's podcast episode of Online Marketing Guys, co-hosts Bob Turner and Jason Goff discuss the similarities between a news operation and your social media marketing.

Have you tried to share a photo or video on Twitter and witnesses your character count get reduced?  We all have.  It's pretty frustrating but those days are coming to an end. Last week, the micro-blogging site announced that it will be making changes to its 140-character-limit.  Bob Turner and Jason Goff discuss it on this week's podcast episode of Online Marketing Guys. In an attempt to reinvigorate a social site that has been under fire, Twitter decided to make some changes.  It used to be that adding a photo, video or a poll to a tweet reduced the numbers of characters you could use for actual message.  Now, the social site has to decided to remove those reductions. Users can now share images and videos and still have the full 140-characters in tact.  Polls will no longer reduce the character count either, nor will another user's handle. While some die-hard Twitter users may see these changes as blasphemy, Both Bob and Jason agree that the move actually shores-up the 140-char