2 min read
Inbound 281: April 1, 2024 10:23:29 AM EDT
In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, understanding your competitors' strategies and tactics is essential for staying ahead of the curve. Gone are the days of operating in isolation; today, businesses must leverage every available tool to...
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3 min read
Inbound 281: February 26, 2024 9:20:00 AM EST
A marketing assistant is an entry-level position within a marketing team or department of a company. The role of a marketing assistant is to support...
3 min read
Inbound 281: February 19, 2024 8:19:00 AM EST
Marketing contingency plans are an essential component of a comprehensive marketing plan, providing a proactive approach to handling unforeseen...
3 min read
Inbound 281: February 12, 2024 8:38:47 AM EST
Marketing plans are not just about strategies and tactics; they also encompass the critical aspects of evaluation and control. Evaluation and control...
2 min read
Inbound 281: February 9, 2024 9:20:06 AM EST
Discover how fractional marketing services can revolutionize your marketing strategy and drive business growth.
4 min read
Inbound 281: October 31, 2023 8:41:00 AM EDT
A marketing implementation plan is a critical component of a comprehensive marketing plan, providing a clear roadmap for executing marketing...
3 min read
Inbound 281: October 24, 2023 8:34:00 AM EDT
In a well-structured marketing plan, budget and marketing resource allocation plays a vital role in determining how financial resources, personnel,...
3 min read
Inbound 281: October 17, 2023 4:11:39 PM EDT
Zombie pages. The term might sound intriguing, but in the world of SEO, it refers to something less exciting. Zombie pages are web pages that have...
4 min read
Inbound 281: October 17, 2023 8:33:00 AM EDT
Growth marketing tactics are the actionable steps that bring your marketing strategies to life. They are the specific activities and initiatives you...
4 min read
Inbound 281: October 10, 2023 8:32:00 AM EDT
Growth marketing strategies are the essential frameworks and approaches a marketing plan outlines to achieve specific marketing objectives. They...
3 min read
Inbound 281: September 12, 2023 8:34:00 AM EDT
Smart marketing objectives play a crucial role in shaping the direction and focus of a comprehensive marketing plan. They are specific, measurable,...
2 min read
Inbound 281: September 5, 2023 8:15:00 AM EDT
As marketers, we all know the importance of marketing to the right audience, but what is segmentation targeting and positioning in a marketing plan,...
3 min read
Inbound 281: August 29, 2023 8:47:00 AM EDT
A situation analysis plays a pivotal role in shaping a marketing plan by providing a comprehensive understanding of both internal and external...
3 min read
Inbound 281: August 16, 2023 9:32:00 AM EDT
A successful marketing plan requires an executive summary, which introduces the marketing plan at hand and provides a clear overview of the key...
3 min read
Inbound 281: June 16, 2023 11:43:21 AM EDT
In today's world, where countless companies are actively blogging, it can be quite challenging for individual bloggers to stand out and gain...
4 min read
Inbound 281: June 8, 2023 11:44:00 AM EDT
Digital marketing metrics are critical components of any successful marketing strategy. They provide a clear, quantifiable measure of your campaign's...
7 min read
Inbound 281: May 22, 2023 8:30:00 AM EDT
HubSpot Lifecycle Stages play a crucial role in managing your contacts and optimizing your marketing strategies. By diving into this guide, you'll...
4 min read
Inbound 281: May 17, 2023 8:30:00 AM EDT
As a marketing manager or specialist, you may find yourself in need of a B2B Marketing Consultant to elevate your business's marketing efforts. By...
4 min read
Inbound 281: April 21, 2023 4:54:16 PM EDT
As the demand for assisted living communities grows, the competition among providers becomes more intense. In this digital age, having a strong...
4 min read
Inbound 281: March 22, 2023 8:46:57 AM EDT
With today’s technology, having a website that performs well is imperative to the success of any online business or organization. Website...
4 min read
Inbound 281: February 20, 2023 8:37:00 AM EST
Are you looking to increase your marketing strategy's effectiveness? If so, you're not alone. With the vast array of marketing channels and...
![The Four Parts of a SWOT Analysis [With Template & Examples]](https://web.inbound281.com/hubfs/2022%20Inbound%20281%20Website/2023%20Blog/Inbound%20Blog%20Images%20%285%29.png)
6 min read
Inbound 281: February 17, 2023 8:54:56 AM EST
A SWOT analysis is part of a strategic planning process that companies use to assess their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. A SWOT...
7 min read
Inbound 281: January 23, 2023 10:12:20 AM EST
Every website owner wants to drive more traffic to their website. One great way to increase traffic on your website is to create engaging content for...
![The Best Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) Calculators [+ How to Improve CAC in 2023]](https://web.inbound281.com/hubfs/2022%20Inbound%20281%20Website/2023%20Blog/Calculator%20Category%20Page.png)
5 min read
Inbound 281: January 20, 2023 7:15:00 AM EST
Are you looking for the best way to calculate your customer acquisition costs (CAC)? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Our inbound specialists...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 12, 2022 7:15:00 AM EDT
When you publish a piece of content, you want your audience to not only read it, but also share it with their followers. While your words play a...
4 min read
Inbound 281: June 16, 2022 7:30:00 AM EDT
Your Website's Health is More Than Skin Deep A healthy website is more than just a good-looking site. Search engines like Google don’t index and rank...
3 min read
Inbound 281: November 23, 2021 7:45:00 AM EST
Table of Contents What is Marketing Automation? Why Marketing Automation Is Worth the Investment How Manufacturers Benefit from Marketing Automation
3 min read
Inbound 281: November 18, 2021 7:30:00 AM EST
The 4 Principles of Lean Inbound Sales Modern consumers are savvy, informed, and empowered. There’s a world of knowledge at their fingertips they can...
5 min read
Inbound 281: November 11, 2021 7:24:52 AM EST
The Lean Inbound Marketing Methodology Explained Lean inbound marketing is an approach to sales, marketing, and customer service that combines the...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 7, 2021 10:00:00 AM EDT
If you are like nearly 60 percent of global internet users, you probably access your favorite websites on your smartphone. Now imagine if you visited...
4 min read
Mark Parent: May 10, 2021 3:58:36 PM EDT
If you are a manufacturer, here’s a question: are your sales and marketing efforts as efficient as they could be? Chances are they’re not. Both teams...
2 min read
Mark Parent: April 13, 2021 9:34:53 AM EDT
Studies show that up to 90% of all work done in a business office is waste. Locating files, looking up data, manually generating reports, retyping...
2 min read
Mark Parent: March 22, 2021 2:30:00 PM EDT
Michigan manufacturing firms are eligible for grants to improve website, social media, digital advertising and more
3 min read
Stephen Michael: March 10, 2021 8:28:45 AM EST
My name is Stephen Michael. Like many of you reading this, I am in pursuit of excellence. I am an Inbound Sales Solutions Specialist with five years...
2 min read
Mark Parent: December 4, 2020 9:30:37 AM EST
Inbound 281 teams up with the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center to help manufacturing companies increase sales, enhance revenue and accelerate...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 17, 2020 6:42:00 AM EST
This year's holiday season is already in full swing, but you still have time to give your advertising efforts a boost and take advantage of...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 20, 2020 10:00:00 AM EDT
Ask a sales rep to name the most difficult part of their job, and many will say, “Closing.” Closing is hard. Getting a prospect to put their name on...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 14, 2020 7:30:00 AM EDT
If you are reading this article, it is because you work in manufacturing sales, marketing or leadership and want to learn how Inbound Marketing can...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 6, 2020 2:04:34 PM EDT
Sales managers are uniquely important to the success of their companies. Sales managers have the potential to unlock big returns that impact a...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 5, 2020 10:31:45 AM EDT
For years, companies have structured their business strategies around the linear sales funnel — and it worked. But recently, the funnel has begun to...
3 min read
Inbound 281: June 5, 2020 1:10:00 PM EDT
Let's get started and learn from an inbound marketing agency in Michigan, the 5 Best Tactics To Close More Deals by using personalization throughout...
3 min read
Mark Parent: April 9, 2020 8:45:09 AM EDT
With the economy on standby and purchasing at a standstill, the coronavirus crisis has put a strain on companies big and small. Businesses are...
3 min read
Mark Parent: January 22, 2020 10:33:53 AM EST
You might already know that organic traffic is important in your marketing strategy, but perhaps you didn't know how important. DID YOU KNOW THAT 94%...
4 min read
Mark Parent: January 21, 2020 9:27:26 AM EST
Your website is critical to your company’s success. From an inbound marketing perspective, a website is a company’s best sales tool, meant to attract...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 20, 2020 9:30:05 AM EST
Per-per-click advertising (PPC) is one of the surest ways for businesses to get their products and services in front of consumers. PPC is affordable,...
3 min read
Mark Parent: December 18, 2019 11:24:02 AM EST
When you Google a product or service your company sells, does your company's name appear near the top of the organic search results? Are you on the...
4 min read
Mark Parent: September 13, 2019 1:06:01 PM EDT
For years, marketing has been dominated by one concept -- the sales funnel. This methodology for managing prospective customers and identifying...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 27, 2019 5:47:34 PM EDT
HubSpot Certified Trainer 2019 PR Release
1 min read
Inbound 281: March 11, 2019 1:06:20 PM EDT
Today, Inbound 281 announced that it achieved Gold tier status as a HubSpot Certified Agency Partner.
4 min read
Mark Parent: March 4, 2019 11:37:51 AM EST
What is Growth-Driven Design? How does it work? Why is the traditional website design process broken?
1 min read
Inbound 281: February 20, 2019 10:38:59 AM EST
Digital marketers seeking to improve the effectiveness of their email marketing campaigns are invited to attend a free, live webinar on March 14...
5 min read
Mark Parent: February 13, 2019 9:38:35 AM EST
Customer relationship management systems (CRM) have come a long way. Today’s CRMs have evolved significantly from earlier versions, which were merely...
1 min read
Inbound 281: February 11, 2019 9:03:49 AM EST
Troy-based digital marketing agency Inbound 281 kicks off its 2019 Professional Development Series with a workshop on Feb. 28. The topic is...
1 min read
Inbound 281: January 30, 2019 2:03:09 PM EST
Marketing and sales leaders in southeast Michigan looking to improve their marketing and prioritize converting leads into customers have reason to...
6 min read
Inbound 281: October 29, 2018 1:41:23 PM EDT
Are you a marketer whose search engine optimization efforts have hit a wall? Have you been trying to improve your organic search positions, but your...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 15, 2018 12:27:56 PM EDT
Who doesn't want to make an impact on their target audience? With so many images being presented to each of us every day, it becomes ever-important...
6 min read
Mark Parent: August 14, 2018 3:08:43 PM EDT
An outside marketing agency is the ideal way to manage a hefty campaign, brainstorm when it's time to develop new campaigns, or head up a new...
9 min read
Mark Parent: August 14, 2018 1:41:12 PM EDT
Though B2B consumers continue to indicate a preference for inbound marketing over more traditional marketing methods, some B2B companies have been...
3 min read
Inbound 281: August 3, 2018 2:31:08 PM EDT
Southeast Michigan aficionados of the inbound marketing platform HubSpot have reason to rejoice: there is once again a local user’s group for...
1 min read
Mark Parent: June 21, 2018 11:44:48 AM EDT
Bloomfield Hills, MI: Today, Inbound 281 announced that it has renewed it’s certification for the 6th year as a HubSpot Certified Agency Partner....
2 min read
Mark Parent: April 10, 2018 7:00:00 AM EDT
EAM Consulting Group Founder/CEO & President of Sandler Training Erik Meier to Explain How Sales Teams Can Use Psychology to Achieve Greater Sales...
1 min read
Mark Parent: April 6, 2018 7:00:00 AM EDT
Certified EOS® Implementer Preston True to Explain How a Quantitative Scorecard-Based System Helps Businesses Overcome Marketing, Sales, & Operations...
1 min read
Mark Parent: April 3, 2018 4:06:41 PM EDT
“Fuel Your Inbound Marketing Engine” Series of Workshops to Feature Talented Local Experts Who Will Provide Tools to Help Companies Accelerate and...
3 min read
Mark Parent: March 8, 2018 2:54:00 PM EST
In an increasingly hyper-connected world, real-time marketing has an air of inevitability about it. Consumers in increasing numbers expect...
3 min read
Mark Parent: March 4, 2018 4:23:01 PM EST
Content is an integral part of any inbound marketing strategy. Without it, you can't win the game. Content isn't just the king of inbound marketing —...
2 min read
Mark Parent: March 1, 2018 3:02:00 PM EST
If you buy a Lego set for your child's birthday on Amazon, you are almost guaranteed to see other Lego-related items suggested for you to purchase...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 25, 2018 12:56:00 PM EST
A call-to-action (CTA) is like the RSVP line on a party invitation. Instead of asking guests to check yes or no, you're inviting customers to take...
3 min read
Mark Parent: February 22, 2018 5:52:43 PM EST
Rebranding can be a scary proposition. On the one hand, you come to a decision to rebrand because something is not working as well as it could, or...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 18, 2018 1:01:00 PM EST
You've learned how potent inbound marketing tools are for attracting high-quality leads, nurturing those leads, and converting them into paying...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 15, 2018 3:03:00 PM EST
No one likes losing a customer. It's the worst — you can almost hear the flushing away of all the time, effort, and money that was spent generating...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 11, 2018 1:01:00 PM EST
Are you the kind of person who rips a Band-Aid off all at once or the kind who slowly peels it away to avoid that painful transition? While you may...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 4, 2018 12:53:00 PM EST
A funny thing happened on the way to the future. The marketing and sales departments tripped. Some of the sales' ability to qualify a lead dropped...
5 min read
Mark Parent: February 1, 2018 3:04:00 PM EST
Content marketing is about credible engagement with your audience. Simply put, content marketing is designed to connect companies and brands with...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 28, 2018 1:03:00 PM EST
Inbound 281's blog often refers to inbound marketing as a type of marketing with many moving parts. Your website is, of necessity, one of the...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 25, 2018 3:43:59 PM EST
Benjamin Franklin once said: "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." How good...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 21, 2018 1:02:00 PM EST
Do you ever wish that your web visitors would just tell you what they want? As it turns out, they already do. How? Your web visitors tell you with...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 18, 2018 4:02:00 PM EST
If your inbound marketing is working, then you should be getting a good amount of inbound sales leads. This could mean inbound calls, emails, opt-ins...
3 min read
Mark Parent: January 14, 2018 12:56:00 PM EST
As a digital marketer, are you worried about the effect of ad blockers on your marketing campaigns? Here are some quick facts, according to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 11, 2018 4:40:29 PM EST
Marketing is not an exact science, and inbound marketing strategy involves a number of moving parts. This can be intimidating to businesses...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 7, 2018 1:01:00 PM EST
Video marketing definitely seems to be a trend that's not going away. With so much digital marketing success coming from social media interaction,...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 4, 2018 3:09:00 PM EST
Over the past couple years, there's been a lot of buzz about big data in marketing. What can you use it for? How do you get it? How do you put it to...
3 min read
Mark Parent: December 17, 2017 1:01:00 PM EST
Did you know Benjamin Franklin supports growth-driven design for your website? Benjamin Franklin was a pretty smart guy. Among his many pithy sayings...
4 min read
Mark Parent: December 14, 2017 3:03:00 PM EST
Here at Inbound 281, we're all looking forward to seeing "Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi" this weekend. — and we bet you are, too. But what...
4 min read
Mark Parent: December 10, 2017 1:07:00 PM EST
In the days before e-commerce, marketers could — to some extent — rely on physical cues to get into the minds of their customers. After all, humans...
2 min read
Mark Parent: December 7, 2017 4:42:37 PM EST
If SEO has not been your strong suit in the past, there is no need to worry. With a little bit of effort, you can improve your search engine rankings...
3 min read
Mark Parent: December 3, 2017 12:56:00 PM EST
We live in an era of incredible technological innovation and change. Just within the last 20 odd years, we've seen the rise of the Internet — a...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 30, 2017 2:57:00 PM EST
Be careful in your web form design. Poorly constructed web forms can cause a user to abandon the process. Web forms are the lifeblood of many inbound...
3 min read
Mark Parent: November 26, 2017 1:17:13 PM EST
If you have read more than three articles about inbound marketing, you have likely run across a reference to the concept of a "buyer persona."...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 23, 2017 2:57:00 PM EST
As a digital marketer, you have something to say. You also need someone to say it to. If you could use some help with building a better email...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 19, 2017 1:07:00 PM EST
Over the past several years, Google and marketers have experienced something of a love-hate relationship. While Google's advertising opportunities...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 16, 2017 3:10:00 PM EST
Don't jump into any new marketing endeavor without knowing how deep the water is first. Take time to research and understand best practices.
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 12, 2017 1:07:00 PM EST
If your blog is an empty wasteland and your email subscriber list has fewer entries than the guest list for your preschooler's birthday party, it's...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 9, 2017 3:00:00 PM EST
The Internet has made it easier to reach more customers — on a faster basis and more cheaply. But that doesn't make connecting with customers or...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 5, 2017 1:10:00 PM EST
When you receive notification that a prospect has unsubscribed from your email marketing list, you might feel like you've been on the receiving end...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 2, 2017 3:02:00 PM EDT
It can seem that B2B marketing doesn't get the accolades that are necessarily due. Senior management can fall into the mindset of viewing B2B...
3 min read
Mark Parent: October 29, 2017 3:02:00 PM EDT
Have you ever ended up on one of those awful highway interchanges where you get lost, going around and around a city with no clear direction about...
2 min read
Mark Parent: October 26, 2017 5:26:33 PM EDT
Digital marketing. By now, most people have heard the term. It can definitely sound imposing, but it doesn't need to be intimidating. Digital...
3 min read
Mark Parent: October 22, 2017 1:09:00 PM EDT
Michigan is winning, of course. It's no contest, really. Just look at the stats: 58-48-6, in favor of Michigan. Oh, you thought we were talking about...
2 min read
Mark Parent: October 19, 2017 3:01:00 PM EDT
Inbound marketing is not interruptive. It is perceived as finding good news. The difference between good inbound marketing and disruptive, annoying...
2 min read
Mark Parent: October 12, 2017 2:06:04 PM EDT
Asking for permission before marketing is foundational to the inbound approach. As children we learn the importance of being polite, raising our...
3 min read
Mark Parent: October 10, 2017 4:43:25 PM EDT
It is time to come clean. Every business blogger has, at one time or another, written a blog that was just ... well, boring. It happens. After all,...
2 min read
Mark Parent: October 3, 2017 5:17:14 PM EDT
Web design methods don't actually change as often as the technology used to design websites. It seems like the idea of doing all the work first,...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 28, 2017 5:18:00 PM EDT
Automated program management can help you manage all the moving parts of your business more effectively. Your business consists of an almost endless...
3 min read
Mark Parent: September 26, 2017 8:11:00 AM EDT
Your company strategy is like the steering wheel of a car. The steering wheel controls the car, but if the wheels get out of alignment, keeping...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 21, 2017 2:50:00 PM EDT
Starbucks' White Cup Contest is a classic example of user-generated content. In 2014, Starbucks launched the White Cup Contest. Fans were able to...
3 min read
Mark Parent: September 19, 2017 10:32:05 AM EDT
Quick! What are the things you think are most amazing about the great state of Michigan? It's hard to narrow down, right? Michigan is a state full of...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 12, 2017 5:22:00 PM EDT
Growth-driven design (GDD) is a method of website development similar to agile development. It is a method of redesigning the website using the...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 7, 2017 5:14:00 PM EDT
How do you measure the success of your marketing campaigns? The answer may vary depending on the goals of your marketing department, your...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 5, 2017 3:10:00 PM EDT
Does customer nurturing matter? In today's hypercompetitive, hyperconnective world, the answer is an emphatic: YES! Engaging customers after...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 29, 2017 8:05:00 AM EDT
If you've read about digital marketing or partnered with a digital marketing agency, you've likely come across the concept of buyer personas. As...
7 min read
Mark Parent: August 24, 2017 5:03:00 PM EDT
Remember the good old days of Internet commerce? If you owned a website for your business, you automatically found yourself ahead of the curve....
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 22, 2017 5:01:45 PM EDT
Digital marketers use a huge variety of marketing tools to ensure the effectiveness of their campaigns. One of the more powerful of these tools is...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 18, 2017 3:42:14 PM EDT
Socrates is quoted as saying: "Know thyself." However, for digital marketing purposes, an equally important goal is to know your customers. And when...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 15, 2017 5:33:00 PM EDT
When planning your marketing strategy, know the difference between your "is's and ought's" A wise old man once said that we need to know the...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 10, 2017 5:05:34 PM EDT
Modern web design has become stale. You've probably already noticed. Hundreds, if not thousands, of sites across the Internet give off a...
7 min read
Mark Parent: August 8, 2017 2:00:10 PM EDT
Modern marketing techniques are complex and sometimes difficult to understand, but they work. In most cases, the word "modern" translates to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 3, 2017 3:00:00 PM EDT
Just because you build it doesn't mean that prospects will come. In this case, we're not talking about a baseball diamond, but about your marketing...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 1, 2017 11:42:49 AM EDT
The first step to building your business is knowing who your customers are. Understanding your customers and creating buyer personas that outline...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 27, 2017 1:01:00 PM EDT
Marketing departments today don’t look anything like they did when the first ones were created back in the early 1960s, but that’s not an indication...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 20, 2017 1:00:00 PM EDT
Generating leads is all about finding potential customers whose attention you can capture, and who may be interested in the products or services you...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 18, 2017 9:27:00 AM EDT
Anybody involved in digital marketing will tell you how important inbound marketing is today. Inbound can generate an ROI that’s three times higher...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 11, 2017 8:05:00 AM EDT
Inbound marketing isn't easy, but there are lots of tools out there that can make your job easier. Whether you're focused on social marketing, email...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 4, 2017 8:03:00 AM EDT
Many organizations are reluctant to try out inbound marketing tactics because it’s a relatively new strategy and they're not entirely convinced it...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 29, 2017 1:02:00 PM EDT
Marketing is one of those fields that’s always changing, because best practices and consumer behavior is always changing, and companies are always...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 27, 2017 9:30:00 AM EDT
Inbound marketing is the marketing wave of the future, and it will hold a place of eminence right alongside traditional marketing before long. The...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 22, 2017 8:23:00 AM EDT
Selling is a tough job. It requires commitment, knowledge, charm, and the ability to think on your toes. Fortunately for the sales team, the...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 20, 2017 1:05:00 PM EDT
Websites are the flagship stores of modern ecommerce, and this means if your site isn't optimized and tailored to the demands of visitors, then your...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 15, 2017 2:36:18 PM EDT
The world of marketing is always changing, and not only are best practices constantly evolving but so too are marketing techniques overall. In fact,...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 13, 2017 8:33:00 AM EDT
A sales process is a repeatable and scalable set of steps a salesperson follows to transform a lead into a potential customer into a conversion. The...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 6, 2017 8:00:00 AM EDT
Whereas buyers once relied solely on salespeople to educate and inform them about different products, today’s buyers can simply check the internet to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 11, 2017 3:13:45 PM EDT
How does your website fare? Is adding valuable content part of your website design strategy? Search engines love fat websites, full of valuable,...
3 min read
Mark Parent: May 3, 2017 10:13:10 AM EDT
Growth-driven design (GDD) is like Christmas for digital marketers. How so? Just like all those letters sent to the North Pole around December, GDD...
2 min read
Mark Parent: April 5, 2017 3:53:08 PM EDT
Once upon a time, business owners could choose between responsive web design and dedicated mobile websites. Today, that approach is obsolete. In...
9 min read
Mark Parent: March 28, 2017 3:41:47 PM EDT
Are you tired of your website attracting meager amounts of traffic? Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to help create more buzz...
2 min read
Mark Parent: March 24, 2017 4:55:52 PM EDT
Google and other search engines take several factors into consideration when deciding where to rank a given website. If you've dipped your toe in the...
2 min read
Mark Parent: March 15, 2017 12:39:14 PM EDT
At one time, social media served as nothing more than a digital meeting place. Today, however, many people earn their living on Facebook and...
2 min read
Mark Parent: March 6, 2017 10:37:43 AM EST
One of the essential elements of running a business is interacting with customers. Unfortunately, many business owners miss out on sales because they...
3 min read
Mark Parent: February 24, 2017 10:26:33 AM EST
You know that an inbound marketing strategy can prove effective for generating leads, converting customers, and improving customer retention. But how...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 16, 2017 2:54:47 PM EST
Personalization and artificial intelligence have dominated conversations across multiple industries over the past few years. Businesses want to know...
2 min read
Mark Parent: February 9, 2017 10:03:27 AM EST
When business owners, executives and marketers think of search engine optimization (SEO), they tend to focus on text-based issues like keywords and...
1 min read
Mark Parent: January 31, 2017 4:55:37 PM EST
5 TIPS TO MEASURE YOUR BLOG Measuring the results of your business blogging efforts can save you time and make you more money – a true win-win....
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 25, 2017 1:06:23 PM EST
Inbound marketing has become one of the most essential elements of running a business. With the technology available today, it is no longer viable to...
3 min read
Mark Parent: January 18, 2017 10:00:39 AM EST
Daniel Keys Moran, American author and computer programmer, is quoted as saying: "You can have data without information, but you cannot have...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 13, 2017 10:01:23 AM EST
A long time ago in an internet far, far away, link building was a spammy activity. Fake guest blogging networks, sneaky 301 redirects, and links to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: January 5, 2017 2:19:14 PM EST
According to Fortune magazine, a 30-second Super Bowl ad sells for around $5 million. Why? The answer is simple: 114.4 million people tune in to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: December 30, 2016 11:59:55 AM EST
Search engine optimization (SEO) isn't dead -- in fact, it has a stronger heartbeat than most of the other strategies that your friendly neighborhood...
2 min read
Mark Parent: December 19, 2016 3:25:03 PM EST
Social media is a must-have tool for keeping up and communicating with customers. Never before has there been an opportunity for communication...
2 min read
Mark Parent: December 15, 2016 9:46:52 AM EST
Daniel White is the Founder and Lead Developer at 422 Studios, a Dallas web development company specializing in web-based software, SAAS, and search...
3 min read
Mark Parent: December 8, 2016 11:52:12 AM EST
For most B2B and B2C companies, social media marketing has become increasingly important in recent years. According to CMI's "B2B Content Marketing...
4 min read
Mark Parent: November 28, 2016 11:07:38 AM EST
Sarah Giffrow is the Creative Director and Benevolent Overlord of Upswept Creative, a small-but-fierce branding and web studio that builds strong,...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 15, 2016 12:19:26 PM EST
The Celts are well-known for their intricate and decorative knot work. Though individual Celtic knots have a variety of meanings, their symbolism...
5 min read
Mark Parent: November 10, 2016 9:44:27 AM EST
Kevin McGrath has spent the past 10 years helping businesses of all shapes and sizes improve their online presence. As the CEO of Beacon, his goal is...
2 min read
Mark Parent: November 3, 2016 11:09:12 AM EDT
When you built your organization’s website, you expected it to attract customers and deliver results. Just like Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella in Field...
3 min read
Mark Parent: October 26, 2016 10:14:58 AM EDT
Mike Sayenko is the CEO of Sayenko Design, where he oversees the company's strategy, creative, and development. We had a chance to sit down with Mike...
1 min read
Mark Parent: October 24, 2016 1:02:17 PM EDT
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN – Digital marketing agency Inbound 281 is bringing the best of HubSpot’s INBOUND 2016 conference to Metro Detroit. Inbound...
2 min read
Mark Parent: October 20, 2016 1:33:03 PM EDT
When you think of marketing automation, you might imagine a warehouse full of robots or a collection of algorithms that can click buttons and...
3 min read
Mark Parent: October 17, 2016 12:48:52 PM EDT
Kristina Pototska is the CMO at TriggMine, an email marketing automation service. We had a chance to sit down with Kristina to learn about email...
2 min read
Mark Parent: October 10, 2016 1:40:03 PM EDT
Think of inbound marketing as a river with a number of tributaries that contribute to the overall flow. Perhaps the most important tributary driving...
14 min read
Mark Parent: September 30, 2016 4:15:51 PM EDT
Julia Payne is an expert in tech growth through marketing and Founding Director of Incisive Edge, one of the leading inbound agencies in the UK.
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 26, 2016 2:21:30 PM EDT
There's one thing you can say about Pokémon Go: whether you love it or hate it - you can't ignore it. The location-based, augmented reality game is,...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 23, 2016 10:51:36 AM EDT
Jennifer Radke uses her expertise in professional education to bring a new passion to the National Institute for Social Media. Jennifer recently...
3 min read
Mark Parent: September 19, 2016 2:20:05 PM EDT
Josh Miles is a designer, author, speaker, and principal of Indianapolis-based national branding agency, MilesHerndon, where he leads brand strategy...
3 min read
Mark Parent: September 13, 2016 1:11:31 PM EDT
School is now in session. Is your content marketing strategy making the grade? If lead generation, conversions, and click-through rates are down, you...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 9, 2016 10:47:09 AM EDT
Chances are, you haven’t really given much thought to the idea of making your website “stickier.” A “sticky” website provides visitors with the...
3 min read
Mark Parent: September 7, 2016 4:21:43 PM EDT
A dead website can't convert leads or attract prospective customers. However, if you don't know that you have dead weight on your hands, you can't...
3 min read
Mark Parent: September 6, 2016 11:06:03 AM EDT
What is the single most significant advantage of adopting a growth-driven design (GDD) approach for your website? The answer is easy: You can play...
2 min read
Mark Parent: September 2, 2016 2:19:03 PM EDT
Small-business owners have a critical need to attract potential customers to their websites, keep them engaged and get them to commit to a...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 25, 2016 4:36:22 PM EDT
Effective inbound marketers yearn to be like insects ... specifically, like flies on the wall. In other words, effective inbound marketers seek to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 22, 2016 2:20:31 PM EDT
App developers are eager to see what will happen with Apple's June 2016 announcement to offer paid search in its app store. This new ad platform will...
2 min read
Mark Parent: August 19, 2016 11:30:23 AM EDT
If you have embraced digital marketing strategies for your business, you know how important website analytics are. Since your landing pages and...
3 min read
Mark Parent: August 16, 2016 11:24:43 AM EDT
Kids learn pretty quickly the art of good timing. Any 7-year-old can tell you that the time to ask Dad for a new toy is not the minute he walks in...
5 min read
Mark Parent: July 28, 2016 10:15:29 AM EDT
Sara Davis is the VP of Operations of Foxtail Marketing. When she isn't geeking out optimizing systems and processes, you can find her advocating for...
2 min read
Mark Parent: July 25, 2016 12:18:28 PM EDT
What is trust? Is it something you can measure? Is it something you can prove? Trust is the most important facet of any content marketing campaign....
3 min read
Mark Parent: July 15, 2016 12:16:28 PM EDT
Are you using paid search advertising to try to connect with new customers online? If so, there are a number of best practices to follow, as well as...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 29, 2016 11:05:09 AM EDT
Sometimes, the status quo needs an update. Web design began with the internet itself, and while traditional design might prove effective for some...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 24, 2016 2:00:18 PM EDT
Without a doubt, lead nurturing is a key to success for all businesses, especially small businesses. As a result, many business owners choose to...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 21, 2016 1:56:12 PM EDT
When you know your business needs an updated website, you have a myriad of decisions to make. As Internet users increasingly turn to smartphones and...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 17, 2016 11:58:08 AM EDT
Landing pages offer a time-tested way to funnel your prospects toward a sale. They're tightly focused, which eliminates distraction, and they help...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 16, 2016 1:30:34 PM EDT
Could your web design drag down your business? It's possible, especially if you use a traditional web design strategy. Your website is your most...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 15, 2016 9:36:49 AM EDT
How do you know which type of ice cream is your favorite? You try all of them and compare the taste. Otherwise, you might stick with coconut crunch...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 10, 2016 12:58:14 PM EDT
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (Well, it may not have...
3 min read
Mark Parent: June 9, 2016 10:03:09 AM EDT
Tom Smith is the principal consultant with Insights From Analytics, which solves business problems and informs marketing plans using analytics and...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 8, 2016 4:19:26 PM EDT
Imagine that you receive two event invitations for next weekend. One addresses you by name, mentions when the sender met you, and explains why you...
3 min read
Mark Parent: June 7, 2016 10:28:31 AM EDT
Here's a reality check. If you are not measuring the ROI of your inbound marketing strategy, you are misleading yourself about the effectiveness of...
2 min read
Mark Parent: June 3, 2016 3:10:18 PM EDT
Outbound marketing existed before inbound marketing, but the two don't really share the same approach. It was merely called marketing, and it took...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 27, 2016 11:21:49 AM EDT
It is likely that the term "growth driven design" is a buzzword you've been hearing a little bit more now. That could be because many changes and...
3 min read
Mark Parent: May 25, 2016 11:56:30 AM EDT
You have embraced the inbound marketing philosophy and you are ready to craft some killer campaigns on social media. You take a deep breath and ......
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 23, 2016 2:21:43 PM EDT
It's true: Anyone can throw together a website. You don't even need any cash if you're willing to settle for a bargain-basement blog. However, a free...
3 min read
Mark Parent: May 20, 2016 12:34:17 PM EDT
It is hard to deny the power of a well-done TED Talk. The concept is simple. TED Talks tap into the creativity and innovative thinking of people with...
3 min read
Mark Parent: May 19, 2016 10:38:01 AM EDT
If your website is to be the successful conversion vehicle you want it to be, there are two things that must happen: (1) Web visitors have to fall in...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 18, 2016 12:21:32 PM EDT
One of the most critical mistakes that businesses make when it comes to their websites is designing for the business owner instead of the end user....
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 17, 2016 3:28:18 PM EDT
You want your website to not only impress visitors with its beauty and style, but also to serve as a marketing machine for your business. Turning a...
3 min read
Mark Parent: May 13, 2016 10:51:56 AM EDT
According to an Adobe Digital Index report titled "The ROI from Marketing to Existing Customers," online retailers spend approximately 80 percent of...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 13, 2016 10:02:00 AM EDT
You know that you need to pay attention to conversations about your business on social media, but have you neglected the competition? Knowing how...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 11, 2016 5:02:14 PM EDT
One of the most challenging things about digital marketing is its sheer number of moving parts. Considering the myriad of tasks a digital marketer...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 10, 2016 12:37:10 PM EDT
If you've ever visited a car show or motorsport event (and since we're from the Detroit area, we imagine everyone has), you might have seen the...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 9, 2016 3:56:28 PM EDT
How many times do you read the words "click here" in a single day? Perhaps dozens. Overused words and phrases induce blindness in consumers because...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 6, 2016 4:23:42 PM EDT
Knowing that your website sucks is the first step toward remedying this particular problem. If you also know why it sucks, you can kick off a game...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 5, 2016 10:06:54 AM EDT
Stephan Vogel, Ogilvy & Mather Germany's chief creative officer, is quoted as saying: "Nothing is more efficient than creative advertising. Creative...
2 min read
Mark Parent: May 3, 2016 2:55:07 PM EDT
Online marketing has come of age. It's never been more precise, more analytical, or more exciting. However, that means many marketers are questioning...
