Sales Renewal’s insight:

We’ve read it before, but it’s worth repeating: Inbound marketing starts and ends with quality content. And although it may seem simple, there is a lot of hard work that goes into this equation.
It’s worth reviewing the five basic tips:

1. Understand that the goal of content is provide value to your reader. If your message isn’t informing or educating, readers most likely are looking elsewhere. And the content should fit the channel. For example, news release content should be objective, newsworthy, clear and to-the-point.
2. Keep conversions in mind. The end result of the equation is, of course, more customers. So while creating content of value for readers is important, creating content that helps in the path to prospects becoming customers is just as important. (“Conversion optimization” to be technical.)
3. Always use SEO best practices. In order for the content to be visible within the search engines, it must be optimized.
4. Integrate varying forms of media, with options like Video, images, podcasts, recorded webinars, downloads and presentations.
5. Go mobile. Enough said.

Sales Renewal’s insight:

Finding, following and most importantly getting influential people (aka, influencers) to quote, republish or link to your content seems like a natural way to build an audience, but it’s really quite hard. After all, by definition influencers are popular and therefore busy so getting their attention to make them aware of your content is challenging.
This MOZ Whiteboard Friday can help. Also check out Getting Started with Influencer Marketing.

Sales Renewal’s insight:

Did your local listing make the cut?
As you can see from the example in the image (and yes, both our local florists made the cut!), Google has made some pretty big changes to the map and listings that show up for local searches. SEO experts say this is the biggest change to SERPs (search engine results pages) since the Pigeon update in July 2014.
If you’ve ever searched for a local business, chances are you’re familiar with what is often called the “Map Pack” results, or the businesses and map results Google shows when someone does a local search – “florist mendon ma” for example. These recent “Snack Pack” changes include a reduction in the number of Map Pack results from 5-7 to 3. And, much of the previously visible information, like business address and phone number, has been removed.
As with most changes Google makes, speculation abounds as to why, but a streamlined view, better alignment between the desktop and mobile experience, and – the biggie – positioning to become a money maker are three well-founded explanations.
Staying in or Moving into the Top 3 Positions
While the impact of these changes are still unknown and a clear “how to” has yet to be determined, local businesses are advised to continue to optimize for local search as they had been doing: website optimized for search; good quality link building; citations and directories; and focusing on customer reviews.

Sales Renewal’s insight:

We recommend a full Facebook marketing strategy for any business, and there are a number of things to keep in mind while using Facebook as a means of promotion. This article provides a checklist to go through to make sure you are effectively using Facebook to achieve results.

Though some of these tips are obvious, others tend to be overlooked when it comes to Facebook marketing. For instance, many people do not understand the importance of engaging with followers. Facebook provides a quick and easy way for customers to ask questions and connect with businesses in a way that was not previously possible. By engaging with your followers on Facebook, you can provide answers, as well as make your audience feel important by replying directly to comments/concerns. This added connection increases public image and can leave an excellent impression on your audience.

Other great tips from this post include posting relevant, thoughtful news/information, using advertising to reach a larger audience, rewarding followers with deals or campaigns, and measuring insights to follow up on success.