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LGBT Marketing Agency Helping Brands Connect Authentically With the LGBTQ+ Community

Pride flag in Nashville, TN.
Social Link is the top LGBT marketing agency

Build campaigns that are inclusive, data‑driven, and built to convert

Social Link is a full‑service LGBT marketing agency certified with the NGCC that helps brands earn real connection with LGBTQ+ audiences year‑round — not just in June. We combine inclusive brand strategy, creative production, social and search expertise, media buying, influencer partnerships, email, and analytics to deliver campaigns that feel true, look beautiful, and move the needle.

Primary CTA: Book Your Free Strategy Call

Secondary CTA: Get a Custom LGBTQ+ Growth Plan

About Social Link — A Full‑Service LGBT Marketing Partner

Inclusive marketing is more than a rainbow logo. It’s an ongoing commitment to representation, cultural intelligence, and measurable outcomes. At Social Link, we partner with you from first brief to ongoing optimization, blending authentic storytelling with hard‑working performance marketing. Our team includes strategists, creatives, producers, media buyers, SEOs, analysts, and project managers who specialize in building programs that resonate with LGBTQ+ communities while advancing your brand and business goals.

We’ve spent years crafting scalable systems for multi‑channel growth: content frameworks that travel across platforms, design systems built for accessibility, and reporting that isolates what’s working (and what isn’t) so you can invest with confidence. Our approach is collaborative, transparent, and relentlessly focused on outcomes — awareness, engagement, qualified traffic, and revenue.

Credibility matters. Social Link operates as a full‑service agency with strategy, creative, launch, and optimization capabilities under one roof, supported by monthly dashboards, weekly ad results, and ongoing R&D and A/B testing.

Our LGBT Marketing Services

Below is the core stack we deploy for LGBTQ+ initiatives. Everything is modular; we’ll design the right combination for your brand, industry, and goals.

Inclusive Brand Strategy & Positioning

  • Audience research, persona development, and cultural landscape analysis
  • Messaging playbooks, tone‑of‑voice, and inclusive language guidance
  • Brand identity alignment and creative direction that centers representation
  • Campaign architecture and KPI mapping to keep creative tied to outcomes

Website Design & Development

  • Information architecture, wireframes, and high‑fidelity design
  • Accessibility‑minded UI/UX (mobile‑first, fast, and readable)
  • Landing pages aligned to LGBTQ+ search intent (Pride campaigns, inclusive services)
  • SEO‑ready builds with schema, clean markup, and analytics baked in

Web design and development are part of Social Link’s full‑service creation offering, alongside landing page development and ongoing maintenance/hosting.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

  • Keyword research targeting terms like “LGBT marketing agency,” “LGBTQ+ marketing services,” “inclusive branding,” and long‑tail city queries
  • On‑page optimization: titles, headers, internal links, and content refreshes
  • Technical SEO: crawl budget, Core Web Vitals, structured data, and localization
  • Ethical link development and digital PR with LGBTQ+ publications and partners

SEO optimization is a core Launch/Reporting pillar in Social Link’s offering.

Pay‑Per‑Click (PPC) & Paid Social

  • Google Ads and YouTube campaigns aligned to LGBTQ+ intent
  • Paid social on Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and X — creative and copy that matches community tone
  • Full‑funnel structure (awareness, consideration, conversion) with audience testing
  • Weekly optimization and budget reallocation to proven winners

Ads campaigns (lead gen) and media buying/paid placements are standard components.

Social Media Management & Community

  • Channel strategy, content calendars, and publishing
  • In‑house creative (short‑form video, design, motion) crafted for platform norms
  • Community management and social listening to inform creative and product feedback
  • Custom dashboards to visualize reach, engagement, share of voice, and sentiment

Social Link’s social services include strategy, content & campaigns, video/photo/design, paid social management, channel management, measurement, dashboards, community management, social listening, and influencer strategy/management.

Content Creation (Photo, Video, Design, Copy)

  • Studio and on‑location production for campaigns and evergreen brand assets
  • Story‑led scripts, UGC‑style creative, and micro‑content packages
  • Graphic design for ads, emails, landing pages, and out‑of‑home
  • Editorial: blogs, guides, and case studies optimized for search and shareability

In‑house photography and creative production capabilities support this end‑to‑end.

Email Marketing & Marketing Automation

  • Platform setup and integration with CRM and ecommerce
  • Segmentation, personalization, and lifecycle flows (welcome, nurture, promo, re‑engagement)
  • A/B testing, deliverability, and compliance (GDPR, CAN‑SPAM)
  • Live dashboards and monthly reporting

Social Link’s email service spans strategy workshops, templates, automation, compliance, testing, and performance tuning.

Influencer & Creator Partnerships

  • Talent sourcing (priority to LGBTQ+ creators with authentic fit)
  • Briefs, contracts, and content QA for brand safety
  • Paid amplification and whitelisting to scale proven posts
  • Integration with PR, events, and retail moments

Influencer strategy and management are included in Social Link’s social services suite.

PR, Sponsorships & Events

  • Press releases, pitches, and media list curation (LGBTQ+ outlets + mainstream)
  • Pride sponsorship planning, experiential activations, and measurement
  • Community partnerships and cause marketing that reflect long‑term support

Community building/sponsorships are part of the Launch layer.

Hosting, Maintenance & Ongoing Optimization

  • Site care, updates, and security
  • Conversion rate optimization (CRO) and heatmapping
  • Quarterly testing roadmaps across ad creative, landing pages, and email flows

Ongoing optimization and constant A/B testing are core deliverables.

What Makes Our LGBT Marketing Agency Different

Authenticity over tokenism

We prioritize real representation and lived experience, grounding every decision in cultural awareness and respect.

Creative built for platforms

Short‑form vertical video, carousels, creator‑led storylines, and static design that actually stops the scroll.

Performance discipline

From bid strategies to content clustering, we connect creative to KPIs, not vanity metrics.

Full‑funnel measurement

We architect reporting to show contribution at each layer — awareness, engagement, qualified traffic, and revenue — so you can scale with clarity.

A single accountable partner

Strategy, creation, launch, reporting, and optimization under one roof. (No finger‑pointing between vendors.)

Our Process for LGBTQ+ Marketing Success

  1. Discovery & Alignment We align on goals, define target segments, and review previous learnings. We’ll identify product/market fit signals inside LGBTQ+ audiences and set success metrics.
  2. Research & Cultural Intelligence We analyze search behavior, social conversations, competitor/creative gaps, and community sentiment. Insights turn into a hypothesis roadmap and messaging angles.
  3. Strategy & Planning We define campaign architecture, channel mix, budget allocations, and testing plans. We specify creative needs (assets, formats, hooks) and set the reporting cadence.
  4. Creative Production Our studio produces content that fits the platforms and feels natural to the communities you want to reach — including creator collaborations and UGC.
  5. Launch & Scale We stand up ads, landers, and emails; enable pixels and events; and deploy full‑funnel targeting. As signals accumulate, we reallocate budget to winners.
  6. Measure, Learn, Optimize We monitor dashboards, run structured experiments, and report what moved KPIs. Every cycle informs the next.

Expect monthly dashboards/KPIs and weekly ad/conversion results as standard.

Sample Impact (Illustrative)

  • Retail Pride Activation: +300% social engagement YoY, 22% MoM sales uplift during campaign window
  • Travel & Hospitality: Creator‑led city guides drove +41% increase in qualified organic sessions and double‑digit booking growth
  • Tech Startup Launch: LGBTQ+ audience reach up 75% in 90 days; CAC down 28% via creative iteration and funnel cleanup

Industries We Serve

We’ve partnered across categories where inclusive storytelling and precise performance matter most:

  • Fashion & Apparel
  • Beauty & Personal Care
  • Travel & Hospitality
  • Technology & SaaS
  • Food & Beverage / CPG
  • Health & Wellness, Education, Nonprofit

Where We Operate

We run campaigns across the U.S. and globally, tailoring creative and media to local culture and norms. We’ve supported work in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, London, Paris, São Paulo, and Sydney, among others — and we localize language, influencers, and media buys accordingly.

Proof You Can Trust

  • Full‑service lifecycle capabilities (Strategy → Creation → Launch → Reporting → Optimization) are a documented part of how Social Link operates.
  • Our social offering includes strategy, content & creative, video/photo/design, paid social management, channel management, analytics, dashboards, community management, listening, and influencer programs — all in one place.
  • We maintain in‑house creative production (photography/video) to keep quality high and timelines tight.

FAQs — LGBT Marketing Agency

What does an LGBT marketing agency actually do?

We help brands reach LGBTQ+ audiences with culturally aware strategy, inclusive creative, precise media buying, community management, and end‑to‑end analytics — all designed to drive measurable outcomes (traffic, conversions, revenue).

How is this different from general “diversity marketing”?

“Diversity” is broad; LGBTQ+ marketing demands specific cultural context, language, and representation. We build with — not just for — the community, partnering with queer creators, media, and organizations.

Is LGBTQ+ marketing only relevant during Pride Month?

No. Pride is a moment, not a strategy. Year‑round consistency builds trust and lifts lifetime value. We’ll plan tentpole content for June, but we anchor in ongoing storytelling and performance.

How do you measure success?

We define KPIs up front (reach, engagement rate, CTR, AOV, CAC, ROAS, subscriber growth, etc.), install tracking, and report weekly/monthly. We also monitor brand safety and sentiment.

Will you help us avoid tokenism?

Yes. Our cultural review process and creator partnerships ensure representation is accurate and respectful. We also advise on internal language guidelines and inclusive imagery.

What if we’ve never marketed to LGBTQ+ audiences before?

Great — we’ll start with discovery, research, and a pilot. We’ll test creative angles, refine messaging, and scale what performs.

Do you work with LGBTQ‑owned businesses and ally brands?

Both. We prioritize brands committed to genuine inclusion and long‑term community support.

What services do you offer beyond campaigns?

Full‑stack support: brand strategy, web design/development, SEO, PPC, social/content, photo/video, email, PR/sponsorships, hosting, and ongoing optimization with dashboards and testing.

How fast will we see results?

Timelines vary by channel. Paid media often impacts awareness immediately and conversions within weeks; SEO compounds steadily over months. We’ll map a plan that balances quick wins and durable growth.

Can you integrate with our existing tech stack?

Yes. We regularly work with CRMs, ecommerce platforms, and email tools (e.g., HubSpot, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign) and set up compliant data flows, automations, and dashboards.

Ready to Build an Inclusive Growth Engine?

If you’re looking for an LGBT marketing agency that pairs authentic creative with performance discipline, you’re in the right place. Let’s build something real — and scalable.

CTA: Book Your Free Strategy Call

Alternate CTA: See How We’d Grow Your LGBTQ+ Audience

(Optional) Add‑Ons That Accelerate Results

  • Local SEO & Landing Hubs: City‑specific pages that rank for “[city] LGBT marketing” and related queries
  • Creator Content Labs: Monthly packages of creator‑made shorts for paid + organic
  • Lead Gen + Email Engine: Offer hooks, gated content, and lifecycle flows to convert new traffic
  • Attribution & MMM Lite: Cross‑channel models to understand contribution beyond last‑click
  • Quarterly Insight Reports: What the LGBTQ+ conversation is doing across platforms and categories

How We’ll Work Together

  • Ownership & Transparency: You own the accounts, data, and creative.
  • Clear Milestones: Strategy sign‑off, creative approvals, launch gates, and reporting cycles.
  • Right‑Sized Team: Dedicated lead + specialists; we scale resources to match scope and seasonality.
  • Flexible Engagements: Project‑based, retainers, or hybrid — designed around your objectives.

Final Notes for SEO

  • We’ve placed “LGBT marketing agency” prominently in the H1, early body copy, and multiple H2s/H3s.
  • Semantic variations appear naturally: LGBTQ+ marketing services, inclusive brand strategy, Pride campaign marketing, LGBTQ influencer marketing, queer creators, inclusive design, LGBTQ community marketing.
  • Internal links you can add: case studies, service detail pages (SEO, PPC, Social, Email, Creative), About, and Contact.
  • Don’t forget descriptive alt text on imagery (e.g., “LGBT marketing agency creative team producing Pride campaign video”).

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Blog Online Marketing SEO Tips and Tricks

From Zero to Hero: Turn Blog Content into Consistent Leads

Everything essential to start of blogging and creating blog content.
Everything one person needs to start blogging.

Introduction

In a crowded online marketplace, it’s easy for a small boutique to feel invisible. When you’re competing against well-established brands and big-box retailers, capturing attention—and turning that attention into actual leads—can seem like an uphill battle. Yet, one boutique defied the odds and transformed its fortunes using a surprisingly accessible tool: blog content.

This success story demonstrates how consistent, well-structured blog posts can convert casual readers into paying customers. From identifying the right audience to refining a content strategy and measuring success, we’ll walk you through the boutique’s journey—from zero leads to a thriving client roster fueled by their blog.

Setting the Scene: A Boutique in the Shadows

Before implementing their content strategy, this local boutique’s website rarely saw more than a handful of visitors a day. Random product updates and occasional social media posts weren’t enough to generate real interest. Prospects didn’t understand what made this boutique special, and with no compelling online presence, they had no reason to inquire further.

The owners knew they needed a change. They began to wonder: Could blogging—something they’d dismissed as time-consuming and unprofitable—be the key to standing out?

The Strategy: Consistent, Value-Driven Blog Content

1. Identifying a Niche

The boutique specialized in handcrafted home décor and locally sourced accessories. Instead of producing generic fashion and décor posts, they focused on hyper-relevant topics:

  • Home Styling Tips for Small City Apartments
  • Local Artisan Spotlights: Meet the Makers Behind Our Products
  • Seasonal Décor Guides That Won’t Break the Bank

By narrowing their scope, the boutique appealed directly to shoppers interested in unique, sustainable, and community-oriented products.

2. Creating an Editorial Calendar

Consistency was crucial. The boutique committed to publishing at least two blog posts per month. They planned posts around seasonal trends, local events, and new product launches. This rhythm ensured a steady stream of fresh content, gradually building trust and anticipation among readers.

3. Incorporating SEO Best Practices within Blog Content

They didn’t just write interesting articles—they optimized them. Using relevant keywords (e.g., “handcrafted home décor [City Name]”), descriptive title tags, and meta descriptions, the boutique’s content started appearing in local search results. Internal links directed readers to product pages, and visually appealing images with keyword-rich alt text improved the site’s discoverability.

Overcoming Challenges: From Crickets to Comments

At first, the results were modest. A handful of readers left encouraging comments, and a few customers mentioned discovering the boutique after reading their blog. To amplify these early gains, the boutique adjusted and refined their approach:

  • Promoting Posts on Social Media: They shared new blog entries across their Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages, tagging local partners and encouraging community engagement.
  • Responding to Feedback: When readers asked questions in the comment section, the boutique responded promptly. Listening to feedback led them to cover topics their audience cared about most—like sustainable materials and vendor backstories.
  • Collaborating with Local Influencers: Inviting local interior designers and décor enthusiasts to guest-post or share articles extended the boutique’s reach. Cross-promotions tapped into new audiences already interested in artisanal products.

The Results: Leads That Flow Steadily

Over time, the boutique’s blog became a go-to resource for anyone seeking design inspiration or curious about local artisans. Monthly traffic soared from a few dozen unique visitors to several hundred, and crucially, more of these visitors were completing inquiry forms, signing up for the boutique’s newsletter, and making purchases online.

A few standout metrics:

  • Lead Conversion Rates: Website inquiries increased by over 300% within six months.
  • Customer Engagement: Time-on-page for blog posts averaged two minutes—indicating readers found the content engaging and relevant.
  • Sales Growth: Products featured in blog posts regularly sold out faster than items that weren’t highlighted.

The boutique owners realized they no longer needed to rely solely on paid ads or flash sales. Their blog had become a sustainable, low-cost lead generation engine.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Business

The lessons learned from this boutique’s journey can be applied to almost any local or niche business:

  1. Know Your Audience: Identify what your customers care about most and focus your content accordingly.
  2. Be Consistent: Even a modest publishing schedule (like twice a month) can build momentum and keep your brand top-of-mind.
  3. Optimize for Search: Simple SEO best practices—keywords, internal linking, quality images—help prospective customers find your content.
  4. Engage with the Community: Promote your posts across social media, respond to feedback, and collaborate with industry influencers. Building relationships adds credibility and extends your reach.
  5. Measure and Adapt: Track metrics like time-on-page and inquiry rates. Use data to refine your content strategy, doubling down on what works and tweaking what doesn’t.

How Social Link Can Help with Blog Content

Executing a successful content strategy can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re starting from zero. Social Link offers the guidance, strategy, and hands-on support you need to turn your blog into a lead-generating powerhouse:

  • Content Strategy Development: We’ll identify topics that resonate with your target audience, ensuring your blog stands out from the competition.
  • SEO and Keyword Research: Our team will pinpoint the best keywords, metadata, and internal link structures to elevate your search visibility.
  • Consistency and Quality Assurance: We’ll help you maintain a steady content calendar, producing well-researched, on-brand posts that keep readers engaged.
  • Analytics and Performance Tracking: By monitoring key metrics, we’ll show you where your strategy is working—and how to improve over time.

With Social Link’s support, you can transform your blog from an underutilized page into a pipeline of steady, qualified leads.

Conclusion

This boutique’s evolution from near-invisible to in-demand is a reminder that content, when done right, can be a game-changer for small businesses. By focusing on audience needs, committing to consistency, and optimizing every piece for maximum impact, you can turn your blog into a powerful lead-generation tool.

Ready to write your own success story? Contact Social Link for a personalized consultation and discover how strategic blogging can take your business from zero to hero in no time.

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SEO Uncategorized

Understanding SEO and SEM: Unlocking the Power of Online Marketing

In the digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. Two fundamental strategies that help achieve this are Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM). While these terms are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct approaches to driving traffic and increasing visibility on search engines like Google. In this blog, we’ll delve into what SEO and SEM are, their key differences, and why it’s essential to leverage both in your digital marketing strategy.

What is SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in organic (non-paid) search engine results. The goal of SEO is to increase the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through relevant search queries. SEO involves several key components:

  1. Keyword Research: Identifying the terms and phrases potential customers use to search for products or services related to your business.
  2. On-Page SEO: Optimizing individual web pages by incorporating targeted keywords, improving content quality, and ensuring proper meta tags and headers.
  3. Off-Page SEO: Building authority and credibility through backlinks from other reputable websites.
  4. Technical SEO: Enhancing the website’s technical aspects, such as site speed, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability by search engines.
  5. Content Creation: Producing high-quality, relevant content that addresses the needs and interests of your audience.

What is SEM?

SEM, or Search Engine Marketing, encompasses a broader scope of strategies, including both SEO and paid advertising. While SEO focuses on organic traffic, SEM involves paying for ads to appear on search engine results pages (SERPs). The most common form of SEM is Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. Key components of SEM include:

  1. Keyword Advertising: Bidding on specific keywords to display ads when users search for those terms.
  2. Ad Creation: Crafting compelling ad copy and visuals to attract clicks and conversions.
  3. Campaign Management: Monitoring and adjusting ad campaigns to optimize performance and budget.
  4. Analytics and Reporting: Analyzing data to measure the effectiveness of ads and make data-driven decisions.

Key Differences Between SEO and SEM

  1. Cost: SEO is often more cost-effective in the long run, as it focuses on organic traffic. SEM requires a budget for ad spend, as you pay for each click on your ads.
  2. Speed: SEO is a gradual process that can take months to see significant results. SEM can deliver immediate visibility and traffic as soon as ads are launched.
  3. Sustainability: SEO efforts can have lasting effects, driving continuous traffic without ongoing costs. SEM provides instant results but requires ongoing investment to maintain visibility.
  4. Strategy: SEO aims to build a strong foundation and long-term authority, while SEM is ideal for quick, targeted campaigns and immediate results.

Why Utilize Both SEO and SEM?

Combining SEO and SEM allows businesses to maximize their online presence and achieve a balanced digital marketing strategy. Here’s why it’s important to leverage both:

  1. Comprehensive Coverage: While SEO builds a sustainable foundation, SEM ensures immediate visibility. Together, they cover both short-term and long-term goals.
  2. Enhanced Visibility: By appearing in both organic and paid search results, you increase your chances of attracting clicks and driving traffic.
  3. Data Insights: SEM provides valuable data on keyword performance and user behavior, which can inform and refine your SEO strategy.
  4. Competitive Edge: Utilizing both strategies helps you stay ahead of competitors who may be focusing on only one approach.

Ready to Boost Your Online Presence?

At Social Link, we specialize in helping businesses harness the power of both SEO and SEM to achieve their digital marketing goals. Our expert team is dedicated to crafting customized strategies that drive traffic, increase visibility, and convert visitors into customers.

Visit Social Link to learn more about our SEO and SEM services and how we can help your business thrive in the digital landscape.

Take the first step towards a stronger online presence today!

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Top 10 Marketing Strategies for Nashville Businesses

Introduction:

As a business owner or executive in Nashville, you understand the importance of effective marketing strategies to drive results and stay ahead in the competitive market. In this article, we will explore the top 10 marketing strategies that can help your Nashville business thrive. As the best marketing agency in Nashville, we are committed to providing expert insights and practical tips to help you achieve your marketing goals.

  1. Develop a Comprehensive Digital Marketing Plan:

In today’s digital age, a robust online presence is crucial. Start by crafting a comprehensive digital marketing plan that includes elements such as search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, social media marketing, and paid advertising. This plan will serve as your roadmap to success.

  1. Optimize Local SEO:

Nashville is a vibrant city with a thriving business community. To stand out in the local market, focus on optimizing your website for local SEO. This includes targeting location-specific keywords, creating local business listings, and earning positive reviews from satisfied customers.

(Resource: Link to Moz’s Guide on Local SEO)

  1. Leverage the Power of Content Marketing:

Content marketing allows you to establish thought leadership, engage your target audience, and drive organic traffic to your website. Develop a content strategy that includes creating high-quality blog posts, informative videos, and engaging social media content.

(Resource: Link to HubSpot’s Content Marketing Guide)

  1. Harness Social Media Marketing:

Social media platforms provide excellent opportunities to connect with your audience, build brand awareness, and generate leads. Identify the social media channels that resonate most with your target market, and create a consistent presence by sharing valuable content, engaging with your followers, and running targeted ad campaigns.

(Resource: Link to Sprout Social’s Social Media Marketing Tips)

  1. Implement Email Marketing Campaigns:

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for nurturing customer relationships and driving conversions. Develop an email marketing strategy that includes personalized and targeted campaigns to deliver relevant content and promotions to your subscribers.

(Resource: Link to Campaign Monitor’s Email Marketing Best Practices)

  1. Invest in Paid Advertising:

While organic strategies are essential, paid advertising can provide an extra boost to your marketing efforts. Consider platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads to reach your target audience effectively.

(Resource: Link to Google Ads, Link to Facebook Ads, Link to LinkedIn Ads)

  1. Embrace Influencer Marketing:

Influencer marketing can be a powerful way to promote your products or services to a highly engaged audience. Partner with local influencers who align with your brand values and target market to amplify your message and increase brand visibility.

(Resource: Link to Forbes’ Guide on Influencer Marketing)

  1. Enhance User Experience on Your Website:

A user-friendly website is

important for converting visitors into customers. Ensure your website is optimized for a seamless user experience by improving page load times, implementing intuitive navigation, and creating compelling landing pages that drive action.

(Resource: Link to UX Design Principles by Nielsen Norman Group)

  1. Utilize Data Analytics and Measurement:

Make data-driven decisions by leveraging analytics tools to track and measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Analyze key metrics such as website traffic, conversions, and customer engagement to identify areas for improvement and optimize your strategies.

(Resource: Link to Google Analytics)

  1. Collaborate with a Creative Agency in Nashville:

To fully unleash the potential of your marketing efforts, partner with a reputable creative agency in Nashville. A creative agency can provide expert guidance, design eye-catching visuals, and help you craft compelling brand messaging that resonates with your target audience.

(Resource: Link to best marketing agency Nashville)

Conclusion:

Implementing the right marketing strategies is essential for the success of your Nashville business. By developing a comprehensive digital marketing plan, optimizing local SEO, harnessing the power of content and social media marketing, and utilizing email marketing, paid advertising, and influencer partnerships, you can drive remarkable results. Remember to prioritize user experience, leverage data analytics, and consider collaborating with a creative agency in Nashville to elevate your brand.

At Social Link Marketing Agency, we are committed to helping Nashville businesses achieve their marketing goals. Contact us today to explore how we can tailor our services to your specific needs.

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Social Link – Full Service Digital Marketing Agency Nashville

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, it’s more important than ever to have a strong digital marketing strategy in place. With the majority of consumers now turning to the internet to find and research products and services, businesses need to be able to connect with their target audience online in order to succeed. This is where a digital marketing agency comes in – a team of experts who can help businesses navigate the complex world of online marketing and create a strategy that works for them.

At Social Link, we’re proud to be a full-service digital marketing agency based in Nashville, TN. We offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to help businesses of all sizes succeed in the digital age, including web design, SEO, social media management, PPC advertising, and more. What sets us apart, however, is our high-end video capabilities. With a full studio in-house and access to the best talent in Nashville, we’re able to create compelling video content that captures your brand’s unique voice and resonates with your target audience.

In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the importance of partnering with a digital marketing agency like Social Link, as well as the key components of a successful digital marketing strategy. We’ll also be looking to the future of digital marketing and discussing some of the trends and technologies that businesses should be aware of in order to stay ahead of the competition.

Why Partner with a Digital Marketing Agency?

Before we dive into the specifics of what makes a successful digital marketing strategy, let’s take a step back and discuss why businesses should consider partnering with a digital marketing agency in the first place. Here are just a few of the key benefits:

Expertise and Experience: Digital marketing agencies are made up of experts who have years of experience working in the industry. They understand the ins and outs of online marketing and are able to create a strategy that’s tailored to your business’s specific needs and goals.

Cost-Effective: Hiring an in-house marketing team can be expensive, particularly for small businesses. Partnering with a digital marketing agency allows you to access the expertise you need without the high overhead costs.

Time-Saving: Building and implementing a successful digital marketing strategy takes time and effort. By partnering with an agency, you can free up your own time and focus on running your business while the agency handles your online marketing.

Access to the Latest Tools and Technologies: Digital marketing is a rapidly evolving field, and it can be difficult for businesses to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. By partnering with an agency, you can access the latest tools and technologies without having to invest in them yourself.

Key Components of a Successful Digital Marketing Strategy

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of partnering with a digital marketing agency, let’s dive into the key components of a successful digital marketing strategy. At Social Link, we believe that a successful digital marketing strategy should include the following components:

Web Design and Development: Your website is often the first impression that potential customers will have of your business. A well-designed and user-friendly website can help to establish your brand’s credibility and make it easy for customers to find the information they need.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the process of optimizing your website and content in order to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). A strong SEO strategy can help to increase your website’s visibility and drive more traffic to your site.

Social Media ManagementSocial media has become an essential part of any digital marketing strategy. By creating and maintaining a strong presence on social media platforms, businesses can connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to their website.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: PPC advertising allows businesses to place ads on search engine results pages and social media platforms, targeting specific keywords or demographics. This can be an effective way to quickly drive traffic to your website and generate leads.

Content Marketing: Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable content with the aim of attracting and retaining a clearly defined audience. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and more. A strong content marketing strategy can help to establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry and drive traffic to your website.

Email Marketing: Email marketing involves sending targeted emails to your subscribers with the aim of promoting your products or services, building brand loyalty, and driving traffic to your website. A well-executed email marketing campaign can help to generate leads and increase sales.

The Future of Digital Marketing

As we look to the future of digital marketing, there are a few trends and technologies that businesses should be aware of in order to stay ahead of the competition. Here are a few key areas to watch:

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is already being used in digital marketing to automate tasks like lead scoring, content creation, and customer service. As the technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more use cases for AI in marketing.

Voice Search: With the rise of smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home, voice search is becoming an increasingly popular way for consumers to find information online. Businesses should consider optimizing their content for voice search in order to stay competitive.

Video Marketing: As we mentioned earlier, video marketing is a key component of our digital marketing strategy at Social Link. Video content is becoming increasingly popular, and businesses that can create compelling video content will have a competitive advantage.

Conclusion

In today’s digital age, businesses need to have a strong online presence in order to succeed. By partnering with a digital marketing agency like Social Link, businesses can access the expertise they need to create and implement a successful online marketing strategy. Whether you’re looking to improve your website’s design and SEO, build a strong social media presence, or run a PPC advertising campaign, we’re here to help. And as we look to the future of digital marketing, we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries and helping our clients stay ahead of the curve.

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Elevate Your Business with Social Link: A Top Marketing Agency in Nashville

nashville marketing agency office
nashville marketing agency office

Are you looking for a marketing partner that can help take your business to the next level? Look no further than Social Link, a leading marketing agency in Nashville that offers a range of services to help businesses build their brand and reach new customers.

At Social Link, we believe that every business deserves a marketing strategy that is tailored to their unique needs and goals. That’s why we offer a full suite of services, including branding, web design, SEO, social media marketing, and more. Our team of experts has years of experience working with businesses across industries, from healthcare to finance to hospitality, and we’ve helped our clients achieve measurable results and sustainable growth.

What sets Social Link apart from other marketing agencies in Nashville? Here are just a few reasons why we’re the right choice for your business:

  1. We take a data-driven approach to marketing. At Social Link, we don’t believe in guesswork. Instead, we rely on data and analytics to inform our marketing strategies and ensure that we’re delivering measurable results for our clients.
  2. We’re committed to collaboration and communication. We know that effective marketing requires open communication and collaboration between our team and our clients. That’s why we prioritize transparency, regular reporting, and ongoing communication throughout the marketing process.
  3. We offer a range of services to meet your needs. Whether you’re looking to build your brand, increase your online visibility, or drive more leads and sales, Social Link has the expertise and resources to help you achieve your goals.

Our Services

At Social Link, we offer a wide range of services to help businesses of all sizes and industries succeed in the digital age. Here are just a few of the ways we can help elevate your business:

  1. Branding: Your brand is the foundation of your business. At Social Link, we can help you develop a strong brand identity that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from your competition.
  2. Web Design: Your website is your online storefront, and it’s often the first impression that potential customers will have of your business. We can help you design a website that is visually appealing, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines.
  3. SEO: Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for businesses that want to improve their online visibility and attract more traffic to their website. Our team of SEO experts can help you develop a customized strategy that includes keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and more.
  4. Social Media Marketing: Social media is a powerful tool for building your brand and engaging with your target audience. Our social media marketing services can help you develop a strong presence on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and leverage these channels to drive traffic and sales.
  5. PPC Advertising: Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising can be an effective way to reach new customers and generate leads and sales. Our PPC experts can help you develop and manage campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and Bing Ads, ensuring that you get the most bang for your buck.

Why Choose Social Link?

When it comes to choosing a marketing agency in Nashville, there are many options to choose from. Here are just a few reasons why Social Link stands out from the crowd:

  1. Experience: Our team of marketing experts has years of experience working with businesses across industries. We’ve seen it all, and we know what it takes to help businesses succeed in today’s competitive digital landscape.
  2. Results: At Social Link, we don’t just talk the talk. We walk the walk. Our team is dedicated to delivering measurable results for our clients, and we have the track record to prove it.
  3. Collaboration: We believe that the best marketing strategies are developed through collaboration and communication. That’s why we work closely with our clients throughout the marketing process, ensuring that we understand their unique needs and goals and can tailor our services to meet them.
  1. Transparency: We believe in transparency and honesty in everything we do. That means providing regular reporting and updates, being upfront about costs and timelines, and always being available to answer any questions or concerns.
  2. Customization: At Social Link, we know that every business is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to marketing. That’s why we offer customized solutions tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals.

If you’re looking for a marketing agency in Nashville that can help take your business to the next level, look no further than Social Link. Our team of experts has the knowledge, experience, and dedication to help you achieve your marketing goals and grow your business. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you succeed.

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Digital Marketing Online Marketing PPC SEO Social Media Marketing

Internet Marketing Agency in Nashville | Social Link

Are you looking for an internet marketing agency in Nashville to help you grow your business online? You’re in the right place! In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to Social Link, a full-service marketing agency with high-end video capabilities in-house. We’ll cover current trends, our process to get someone to positive ROI, and specific tactics like content that converts, SEO, PPC, social media, video, and good user experiences with website design.

Current Trends in Internet Marketing

The world of Internet marketing is always changing, and it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends. However, staying on top of these trends is critical to the success of your online marketing efforts. Here are some current trends that we believe are important to consider:

  • The importance of video: Video content is becoming increasingly popular, and businesses that incorporate video into their marketing strategies are seeing great results. According to HubSpot, 81% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and 99% of those businesses plan to continue using video in the future.
  • The rise of social media: Social media continues to be an essential part of online marketing. In fact, 54% of social browsers use social media to research products, and 83% of Instagram users say they discover new products on the platform.
  • The impact of mobile: More and more people are accessing the internet on their mobile devices, and businesses need to ensure that their websites are mobile-friendly. In fact, 63% of all website visits in the US come from mobile devices.

Our Process to Get You Positive ROI

At Social Link, our goal is to help our clients achieve positive ROI through our internet marketing strategies. We follow a four-step process to achieve this:

  1. Discovery: We take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses. We’ll ask questions, conduct research, and analyze data to gain a thorough understanding of your industry, target audience, and competition.
  2. Strategy: Once we have a clear understanding of your business, we’ll develop a customized marketing strategy tailored to your specific needs and goals. We’ll identify the tactics that will be most effective for your business, such as content marketing, SEO, PPC, social media, video, and website design.
  3. Implementation: We’ll put our plan into action, executing each tactic with precision and care. We’ll track and analyze the results, making adjustments as needed to ensure we’re on track to achieving positive ROI.
  4. Optimization: Our work doesn’t stop once we’ve achieved positive ROI. We’ll continue to optimize our strategies to ensure we’re delivering the best possible results for your business.

Tactics for Positive ROI

Here are some specific tactics that we use to help our clients achieve positive ROI:

  • Content that converts: High-quality content is the foundation of a successful online marketing strategy. We create content that engages your target audience and helps drive traffic to your website.
  • SEO: We optimize your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
  • PPC: We create and manage pay-per-click advertising campaigns that drive traffic to your website and convert leads into customers.
  • Social media: We use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with your target audience and promote your brand.
  • Video: We create high-quality video content that tells your brand’s story and engages your target audience.
  • Website design: We design and develop websites that are visually appealing, easy to navigate, and optimized for search engines.

Why Choose Social Link?

Choosing an internet marketing agency is a big decision, and you want to make sure you choose the right partner for your business. Here are some reasons why Social Link is the best choice for your internet marketing needs:

  • Full-service capabilities: We offer a wide range of services, from content creation to website design, so you don’t have to work with multiple agencies.
  • In-house video capabilities: Our high-end video capabilities allow us to create high-quality video content for your business without outsourcing to a third party.
  • Results-driven approach: Our focus is on achieving positive ROI for our clients, and we use data and analytics to measure the success of our strategies.
  • Experienced team: Our team has years of experience in internet marketing and stays up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.
  • Customized solutions: We tailor our strategies to the specific needs and goals of each client, ensuring that we deliver the best possible results.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an internet marketing agency in Nashville, Social Link is the best choice for your business. We offer full-service capabilities, in-house video capabilities, a results-driven approach, an experienced team, and customized solutions. We follow a four-step process to achieve positive ROI for our clients, and we use tactics like content marketing, SEO, PPC, social media, video, and website design to achieve this. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business grow online.

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Branding Digital Marketing Online Marketing SEO Social Media Web Design Web Development

Social Media Agency Nashville: Why Social Link is the Best

Social Link Video Production Company
Social Link Video Production Company

Are you looking for a social media agency in Nashville? Look no further than Social Link. We are the premier social media agency in the area, providing top-notch services to businesses of all sizes and industries. With our experience, expertise, and dedication to our clients, we are the best choice for any business looking to take their social media marketing to the next level.

Our History

Social Link was founded in 2008 as a social media agency. We recognized early on the power and potential of social media as a marketing tool and wanted to help businesses harness that power to reach their goals. Over the years, we have grown and expanded our services to include all aspects of digital marketing, but social media remains at the heart of what we do. We have a deep understanding of the social media landscape and the strategies and tactics that work best for businesses looking to build their brand, engage with customers, and drive results.

Our Studio

At Social Link, we have a state-of-the-art studio located in downtown Nashville. We have invested in top-of-the-line video and photography equipment to help our clients create compelling, high-quality content that engages their audience and tells their brand’s story. Whether you need photos, videos, or other multimedia content, we have the expertise and tools to create it for you. Our studio is a hub of creativity and innovation, and we are always pushing ourselves to come up with new and exciting ways to help our clients stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Our Talent

We are proud to hire the best creative talent that Nashville has to offer. Our team is made up of skilled and experienced professionals who are passionate about social media marketing and dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals. From social media strategists to content creators to graphic designers, we have the expertise and talent to deliver top-notch services to our clients. We believe that our team is what sets us apart from other social media agencies in Nashville, and we are committed to providing ongoing training and development to ensure that our team stays on the cutting edge of social media marketing.

Our Approach

At Social Link, we believe in putting our clients’ goals first. We work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs and challenges, and we develop customized strategies that are tailored to their specific goals and target audience. We believe that every business is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to social media marketing. That’s why we take the time to get to know our clients and their business so that we can create a plan that is right for them.

Our Services

As a full-service social media agency, we offer a wide range of services to help our clients succeed. Our services include:

  • Social media strategy: We work with our clients to develop a comprehensive social media strategy that aligns with their goals and target audience.
  • Content creation: We create compelling and engaging content that tells our clients’ brand story and resonates with their audience.
  • Social media management: We manage our clients’ social media accounts, ensuring that they are active and engaging with their audience on a regular basis.
  • Social media advertising: We create and manage social media advertising campaigns that help our clients reach their target audience and drive results.
  • Analytics and reporting: We provide regular reporting and analytics to help our clients understand the impact of their social media marketing and make informed decisions about their strategy.

Why Choose Social Link?

There are many social media agencies in Nashville, but none can match the experience, expertise, and dedication of Social Link. Here are just a few reasons why we are the best choice for businesses looking to take their social media marketing to the next level:

Experience: We have been providing social media marketing services since 2008, and we have a deep understanding of the social media landscape and how it has evolved over the years. When we started offering social media services, platforms like Facebook and Twitter were just beginning to gain traction, and businesses were still trying to figure out how to use them effectively.

Over the years, we have stayed up-to-date with the latest social media trends and best practices, and we have adapted our strategies to stay ahead of the curve. We have seen the rise of new platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, and we have helped our clients navigate these new channels and leverage them to reach their target audience.

In addition, we have worked with a wide range of clients across various industries, from small startups to large corporations. This has given us a wealth of experience and knowledge that we can apply to help our clients achieve their unique social media marketing goals.

At Social Link, we believe that our experience sets us apart from other social media agencies in Nashville. We have a deep understanding of the social media landscape and how to use it to drive business results. If you’re looking for a social media agency that can deliver results and help your business succeed, contact us today to learn more about our services.

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SEO

Easy Ways to Passively Improve Your Business’s SEO

Do you want to build your search engine optimization, commonly known as SEO, but don’t know where to start? Look no further. The days of simply slapping together a website and letting viewers come to you are long gone. Now small businesses and bloggers have to consistently ensure that their website is optimized to rank high in search engines and draw in new customers. Here are a few things you can do that will help improve your business’s SEO naturally.

Don’t Change Your Domain

The worst thing you can do when trying to establish a reliable reputation online is to frequently change your URL. When you do this, any links connecting to your site around the web break. SEO builds on its own simply by existing. Any web page that is consistently interacting, producing content and engaging an audience to any degree will perform better than one that has no backlinks or traceable history.

Fix Technical Problems

Simply by updating your site to be more SEO friendly, you’ll be creating a greater opportunity to rank higher in the search results. What you put on your business’s website is only one slice of the SEO pie. You also have to ensure that the site design, server speed and accessibility features are all up to industry standards.

Some of the key areas to address are:

• Response time. How long does it take for your website to load for visitors?
• Duplicate content. If you’re posting the same type of material repeatedly, stop and delete rehashed, low-quality content.
• Broken links (internal and external)
Poor meta info and misuse of HTML canonical links

You can conduct a free SEO audit yourself or hire a professional consultant to take a look at your site and provide valuable feedback.

Repurpose Old Content

Check any content that’s over a year old and update it with more recent external links. You may also find that old blog posts or service pages are no longer accurate. Updating them will show Google that your website is still active and that you are routinely producing high-quality content for web users. When you update your old content, you should also pay close attention to your use of keywords, tags and categories. Avoid spammy keyword usage and irrelevant or redundant tagging.

Leave Links Everywhere

The more links to your site that exist online, the better. Google review links are easy to make, and you can just leave them on all your pages. You can also create links to your site by actively commenting on other websites, interacting on social media and guest posting. Acquiring backlinks is one of the most important aspects of an effective SEO campaign. Once you begin to build up a good amount of links connecting to your site, your business will begin to rank higher in Google’s algorithm. Remember to be conscious about what you engage with and the traces you create on the internet. A common misconception is that it isn’t rude to self-promote on other websites’ social media profiles. In fact, it will ultimately damage your reputation. Leaving insincere, duplicate comments and generic reviews will also do little to boost your viewership.

Redirect Through Social Media

Do not just share links to your Twitter and Facebook pages without creating original content. Your goal with social media profiles is to pique interest, spark engagement and get people to share links to your site. It’ll take more than copying and pasting a URL into the status box to make that happen. If you are a small business, focus on only one platform to start. A big mistake many companies make is reposting the same content on every social media page. A common misconception is that having a presence on every social media platform builds authority, but this is only true if you have something of quality to offer to unique viewers on each. Don’t post just for the sake of posting.

Offer Free Resources

Resources can be anything from infographics to PDFs. E-books are a common email list opt-in reward, but you should also have a handful of quality content readers can download for free from your website embedded in accompanying blog posts. When you provide resources, you show your visitors (and Google) that you are an expert in your field. Some good ideas for website freebies include:

• Checklists
• Workbooks
• Web graphics
• Helpful PDF guides

Remember to ask yourself, what problem is my audience trying to solve? Make sure that your content revolves around the answer. Offering materials that help people reach genuine solutions builds trust and gratitude. Remember to always stay customer-focused, and you’ll be able to create content and design a website that offers value to viewers. This quality is what will help you stand out from the competition and improve your SEO on your own.

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Blog Online Marketing SEO Tips and Tricks Web Development

How a Content Management System (CMS) Works—and Why You Need One for Your Business

corner of laptop showing wordpress.com
working with wordpress

There was a time when adding new website content required a web developer. To update the website, a developer would create a file on their computer, then transfer the file to a web server via an FTP program. It was far from a user-friendly experience.

Fortunately, those days are long gone. Today, content management systems allow users to create, edit, and publish content to their website without any technical complexities. By far, the most well-known and widely-used CMS is WordPress. It’s estimated that WordPress powers around one-third of all websites on the internet.

Other popular CMS platforms include Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace. These website-building applications have empowered virtually anyone with basic computer proficiency to create and manage their own website. But how do content management systems work? In this post, we’ll explain what’s going on “under the hood” of a CMS application—and why it’s a must-have in today’s digital landscape.

What is a content management system?

CMS platforms enable users to create websites with relative ease. But what are they exactly? Simply put, a CMS is a software application that streamlines the content management process with easy-to-use interfaces. For example, if you want to publish a new blog post on your website, a CMS interface makes that as effortless as typing a word document.

Here’s what the back-end of WordPress would look like to a user that wants to create a new blog post:

[Source]

As you can see, the user is able to add text, format the post, upload media, and publish with the click of a button.There can be many other features and functionalities included in a CMS, but this example demonstrates one of the most essential concepts.

How does a content management system work?

To understand how a CMS works, you must first understand how a website works. Your website is powered by the data within its database. That database is made of tables, which contain information for how your website should be displayed. Every page on your website is rendered based on information from one of your database tables. There’s a data table for your home page, your ‘about’ page, your blog posts, etc.

To modify your website or add new content, you’ll need to update the tables in your database. That’s where a content management system comes into play. A CMS is a graphical user interface that allows you to manipulate the data in your database. The interface is designed to be as easy-to-use as possible. So, by using the interface of a CMS, you can modify your website’s database without any knowledge of coding or database structure. For example, if you create a new blog post within your CMS interface, that post is automatically entered into your website’s database for you (making it an official part of your site).

two women at desk looking at laptop
 

Content management systems are built around the WYSIWYG concept (what you see is what you get). They allow users to create/edit website content as it appears, rather than dealing with the code behind it. At the end of the day, this makes managing web content easier, faster, and more accessible.

Why do you need a content management system?

As we’ve seen above, content management systems are all about ease-of-use. With a CMS, adding new web content and blog posts is relatively effortless, allowing you to publish more content at a higher frequency. But why does constantly adding new content matter to your business? Two words: Content Marketing.

In the digital age, web content is a valuable marketing asset for businesses of all sizes. Publishing new content has direct business benefits, including:

  • Increased search engine traffic
  • Increased engagement with your target audience
  • More inbound leads (resulting from the two notions above)

A strong content marketing plan requires fresh content to be published on your website—which is part of the reason a CMS is so important for your business. A CMS helps you implement your content needs efficiently, which allows you to make the most of your content marketing efforts.

At Social Link, we specialize in elevating businesses with proven digital strategies (including content marketing and web development). If you have any questions about content management systems or would like to learn more about how Social Link can grow your business, request a free consultation.

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Thank You from a VirtualAF CEO

“You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology.”

As Social Link grows and drives forward with a beta launch of its first software product since the beginning in 2009, it seems like now is a good time to revisit our vision as Jobs brought to light in this video.

The obvious customer? Our business clients. Without them we would not been able grow and learn how to adapt to a variety of industries in 27 states and four countries. They’ve taught us to be disciplined, remain humble, and keep us sharp. For that we thank you!

The not so obvious customer? Our team. They’ve taught me about loyalty, growth, and unity. Without their support and alignment in Social Link’s vision, none of this would be possible. Thank you (current and past) for being the best VirtualAF team I could ask for. Your dedication and commitment is what gets me out of bed in the morning and keeps me up at night.

Social Link is focused on changing the way people work. We look to provide the tools and resources to employees for freedom to do what they love from anywhere there is an internet connection…and to clients for accessibility to their marketing team and business assets whenever needed.

Join us today and try the desktop version of our beta platform at https://app.sociallink.com. Look for it in your mobile app store in just a couple of weeks.

Brady O’Rourke

VirtualAF CEO

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Digital Marketing Online Marketing SEO Social Media Social Media Marketing

How New Musicians Can Benefit from Inbound Marketing

New musicians are in a vicious cycle. They can’t get people to listen to their music because it’s not being promoted, and nobody will promote their music because it’s not being listened to.

However, there’s no reason to despair and hang up the six strings just yet. One of the most popular ways new musicians can develop traction is through inbound marketing.

Inbound marketing is a relatively new form of marketing that utilizes multiple platforms, channels and media outlets to get your message to the people who need to hear it most.

Here are just a few ways new musicians can benefit from inbound marketing:

  • Establishes professionalism early. Most new musicians start by posting their content on YouTube and SoundCloud, where it’s all too easy to get lost in the crowd. Inbound marketing creates a strong, cohesive brand and image that not only communicates professionalism, but strengthens the chances of getting a musician’s message heard by the early adopters who create a following by spreading the word to their friends.
  • Better connection with fans. Inbound marketing allows new musicians to keep fans updated, obtain feedback, and gain a sense of what they like and what they don’t. The feedback is more reliable than the likes or comments of social media channels as it’s coming directly from fans whose primary interest is in the music itself, instead of promoting their own social media pages and content.
  • Maximize content visibility. While it’s always good to create a lot of content for fans, inbound marketing makes sure that the content that has already been created gets maximum visibility. A gig announcement in an email will be more effective than hoping people see it posted on the Facebook page. Websites can be used to generate anticipation for new releases. Email lists with high numbers show producers and promoters the potential for your music’s profitability.

New musicians ready to take a step up in the industry should be looking into inbound marketing methods to get their music heard by the right people.

Companies like Social Link are experienced in helping new musicians increase visibility and establish themselves in the industry through inbound marketing. To learn more about our effective and affordable options, visit our home page.

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Online Marketing SEO Tips and Tricks

4 Tips For Better SEO

4 Tips For Better SEO

With a website that has gone live on the internet, you might think that your work has come to an end. Not so considering that there is another task ahead; ensuring that you remain on the first page of the search engines. Having quality content is also not sufficient, you must make it search engine friendly. How then, do you achieve a site that is well optimized?

  1. Keywords

Search engines spiders crawl through content in search of words or phrases. These words are also known as keywords. They help online users to find what they are looking for quickly. Therefore, to improve your site’s ranking, mind the keywords. Make sure you use them interweaved through the content.

  1. Top-notch content

Webmasters keep emphasizing the need for quality content. Take their word seriously by generating and posting information that people will find useful. Web users use the internet to look for answers, find products or for entertainment. To keep them engaged, post content that meets their expectation; something they cannot help but share with others.

  1. Use links

Interlinking your webpages ensures that the person navigating through your site keeps going from one page to another. Therefore, have three or four links per page but on relevant anchor texts. For instance, if your website is about landscaping, the anchor text should be something related, e.g. ‘maintaining your lawn.’

  1. Image descriptions

Images keep visitors glued to your web pages. Besides, they beautify your site and make it appealing to the eye. Ensure that you have given short descriptions to your images, but they should be informative.

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SEO Tips and Tricks

Signage: It’s All About The Brand

Signage: It’s All About The Brand

While driving, road signs caution you on speed levels as well as the state of the road ahead. Office signs show the location of the washroom, departments and safety precautions. Walk around town, and you get accosted by a myriad of signage with shops competing to outdo each other.

Signage defined

A sign is a graphical image placed strategically to inform the masses. Signage raises awareness to safety, directs people where to go and promotes business. Sellers of products or services use signs to increase consumer awareness. Once prospective customers see them, they develop a desire to get the product or go for the service in question.

Voicing the brand

Consumers identify companies with what they sell, i.e. the brand. If people trust your image, they want to buy more from you. However, even with a superior product, you may still experience low sales. Perhaps you did not convey the information desirably and understandably. Your business logo is the face of the company. We can call this its personality. The act of taking the image out there for people to see is tantamount to giving your brand a voice.

Target market

Signage helps your target audience recognize a brand. Just as a road sign helps a driver know of a sharp bend, signs become synonymous with the products they represent. By consistently bombarding people with well-crafted signage, you connect with customers more and get to reach those that had not heard about you earlier. To sum up, the brand dictates the nature of signage used.

 

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Online Marketing SEO Tips and Tricks

8 Ways to Boost Your Local Search Engine Ranking

8 Ways to Boost Your Local Search Engine Ranking

It’s a small world

Yes, the Internet allows you to reach consumers halfway across the globe. Connecting people from far-flung regions to one another, and spreading information among them at unprecedented speeds, is the first thing most people think of when you ask them what the Internet is for. But, unless your organization is a massive global chain, it’s likely that you don’t actually want to get the word about your products or services to folks in Japan, Australia, or Greece—instead, your goal should be to reach the customers who can walk up to your location, not just appreciate how nice your website looks.

And, since 50% of customers who do a local search on their smartphone visit a store within a day, and 18% of those searchers make a purchase within the same timeframe, you really want to show up on the first page of those search engine results. Don’t worry—we’ve got some tips to help you get there!

  1. Take a NAP 

This one seems like a no-brainer, but make sure your NAP (name, address, and phone number including the area code) are set up as crawlable HTML text, most likely in a sidebar or the footer. Don’t incorporate your into an image, since search engines won’t crawl those as they will HTML! It’s no good having the information, if the search engine can’t see it.

  1. Create location pages

If you have more than one brick-and-mortar location, set up a unique location page for each store. Those pages should include, at minimum, your NAP, store hours, information about parking (and transit, if applicable), and individual promotions and testimonials. Don’t duplicate content across locations!

If you only have one location, no worries. Just create a locally descriptive “About Us” page, and put all your necessary information—and a taste of brand personality—in one place! 

  1. Be a local authority

It’s a basic principle of inbound marketing that your company should provide consumers, not just with high-value goods and services, but useful and educational content to go with them. The same thing applies on a local level—if you’re catering to a particular geographic area, tailor your content to benefit the people who live and work there. Promote local industry gatherings, share regional news and employee spotlights, and plug your area’s arts festival and other community events.

  1. Keep tabs on inbound links and citations

Inbound links go from another domain to your site; citations are just mentions of your business name and address, without that link. Verify the consistency of your business address across as many sites as you can, especially at places like Express Update and My Business Listing Manager that help provide the data to construct Google Maps. Just like your NAP, information is useless if it’s in the wrong place (or downright wrong).

  1. Build goodwill

Plug other local businesses that might be able to return the favor—if your company sells tea, you’ve got a natural connection with another local company that makes teapots. This strategy can help you earn those local links, and build relationships that can benefit your organization down the line.

  1. Blog, blog, blog

Every new blog post means a new indexed page for your site, on which you can target a geographic search phrase. Which means a new opportunity to get found by search engines. Don’t get carried away, though, and overload on SEO keywords that can drown out your brand’s voice—instead of making a keyword salad, try using case studies and customer success stories for that local punch.

  1. Make it easy to leave reviews

If the process for leaving reviews isn’t smooth as extra-virgin olive oil for your customers, they won’t leave them at all. If your business has a Google+ page (which it should!), encourage customers to rate and review you there. Yelp won’t allow you to solicit reviews, but you can include their badge on your website, or tell customers that your business is listed there for potential review.

  1. Optimize for mobile

Again, this one is self-evident, but it bears repeating. Since mobile searches are what drive the majority of local-business site traffic—and, ultimately, local purchasing—it’s of paramount importance that navigating your website from a phone is painless. Don’t let those design constraints compromise your brand’s voice; the goal is to express the same essentials, in a smaller-screen package.

Want to climb those local search-engine rankings, but still having trouble getting started? Your virtual marketing department at SocialLink can help with that.

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Blog Digital Marketing News PPC Remote Sales SEO Social Media Social Media Marketing Tips and Tricks Web Design

Virtual Marketing Departments Are the Future. Here’s Why.

What comes to your mind when someone mentions a market? Of course, you will visualize a place where suppliers have brought their wares for sale and consumers flock to pick and buy what they need. That is as far as a non-specialist would go. From a professional marketing perspective, the marketplace involves more than buying and selling. A marketer should not only know their product and target consumers but also be able to outsmart the competition. Marketers of the future must be well conversant with emerging trends, changing cultures, working without barriers and this is the point where virtual marketing enters the foray.

Why are these departments the future of advertising? Below are the specifics.

Independent thinkers not constrained by space

People who work independent of in-house marketing departments have better thinking and problem-solving ability. Their exposure to working with different clients helps them develop an unusual understanding of concepts. Working from a remote location enables you to use your mind without barriers or constraints. You do not get stuck in a cubicle sitting and waiting for instructions. Besides, sitting in surroundings that inspire creativity yields more fruits than one would ordinarily expect when working from an office. Virtual marketing departments helps a professional touch base with marketplaces and interact with technology that makes it happen.

Fearless and open-minded risk takers

Established companies are now adopting the approach of harboring virtual marketing departments where no employee needs to come to the office. Remotely working people are productive since:

  • They have more exposure than their indoor peers
  • They can take risks without fear
  • Work in a stress-free environment
  • They are an open-minded lot

Look at in-house marketers, do they have time for learning about the latest brand promotion, content curation, SEO or social media interaction? You bet they do not. How can they when there are mountains of daily tasks that leave them with little room to evolve, change and grow?

Massive investment in trending and current tools

On the contrary, virtual marketing deparments allows agencies the opportunity to invest their time and monetary resources in learning about trends, technologies and existing options. They have endless learning opportunities and do not charge you anything extra for this. Recall that at the onset, we mentioned something to do with working remotely. Not having a physical office helps channel the resultant savings to clients.

No fretting over marketers’ salaries and benefits

Looking at marketing from a cost perspective, marketing professionals do not come cheap. If you decide to hire a fully-fledged team here’s a sneak peek of what you might need:

  • Web designer
  • SEO marketer
  • Graphic designer
  • Marketing manager
  • Social media manager
  • Content writer

If you decide to pay these professionals a salary, you cough up to between $300,000 and $400,000 a year. Mark you, these are only the basic emoluments. There are other staffing costs such as training, paid vacation and health care. Hey, do not forget days where you lose productivity when employees call in sick and those that go on maternal leave. Virtual marketing department professionals do not cost this much. Instead, an agency will negotiate a retainer or stick with agency commission.

Tapping into the hitherto discovered internet potential

Much of brand promotion these days takes place online; that is an undeniable fact. Here then comes the problem; the internet is home to billions of websites and a similar number of information-hungry consumers. How do you draw their attention? Some of the tactics you need include:

  • Newsletters
  • Posting key-word optimized blogs
  • Banner Ads
  • Running online events to gauge customer interest
  • Creating content that links your URL
  • Converting leads to sales

The result is that you not only get traffic but you also need to use it valuably and quickly. In-house marketers may find it overwhelming since they must keep shunting from strategy to monitoring and evaluation. However, leave this task to a virtual team, and you will be surprised at the results.

Virtual marketers as a one-stop shop

For any campaign to succeed, you cannot separate marketing and strategy. A virtual marketing department offers you:

  1. Top-notch Communication

If you want to grow your customer base and increase sales, you must keep differentiating your value. Sadly, if customers are unaware of the added benefit, they remain adamant. Assume that you are in the soft drinks industry and would like to offer your product in a slightly higher quantity but at the same price. Your target consumers need to know this, and it can only come from a carefully executed strategy.

  1. Analysis of the market

To understand your market, you must go out of your way and conduct market research. Part of it involves interviews, questionnaires and brand activations. If done intensely, the feedback helps in understanding what customers want. Moreover, you can use this information in tailoring your strategy in future.

  1. Development of advertising tools

One of the principles of marketing is to keep bombarding your prospects with brand images and information. You could use print or TV ads, digital signage, billboards and online banners. As the people on the ground, virtual marketing departments help you create content that targets your niche or audience explicitly.

  1. Search engine optimization (SEO)

Building a website is a step in the right direction. However, you should not sit comfortably thinking that you have now hit a goldmine. The site needs optimizing, i.e. getting the consumer to find it in an online search. Marketing professionals use different approaches for this, but the most basic is by use of keywords.

  1. Management of advertising budgets

Usually, businesses set aside enormous budgets for marketing purposes. Unfortunately, much of this ends up getting wasted owing to poor strategy, using unnecessary media and targeting the wrong people. However, virtual marketing departments help cut you the slack by devising well-researched and meaningful advertisement. You may have good ideas but fail to capture the right channels. Part of the dilemma could be:

  • How do you get your ad to run on TV?
  • Must the advertisement be on TV, why not radio?
  • Is internet a better option than other channels?
  • Would a billboard do any better?

To answer these questions, professional marketers have in their stable media managers, planners, executives and buyers. Since they engage with media platform owners on a day-to-day basis, they can expertly identify what serves you best. Besides, you stand to benefit from discounted rates and well-placed ads where target audiences will see them. Such an approach saves you money and yields better returns on investment.

Independent contractors, reduced operating costs

With a virtual marketing agency running your advertisement needs, you save a great deal of business operating costs. First, there are no full-time employees to keep in mind. Second, you do not have to worry about salaries, medical care and other benefits. Running an advertising campaign involves other costs like the use of graphic design software, shooting a TV commercial, photography and so on. Marketing agencies either have these resources or know where to find them cost-effectively. Since they engage these services on a large-scale basis, you do not spend much money as compared to what you could have paid if you went out solo.

Wrap-up

The fact that virtual marketing departments are the future of advertising is not in dispute. Remotely working marketers are free-minded people who are not held back by rigid rules in an organization. They are free to brainstorm and try different things before finding out what works. At the same time, they are not afraid of taking risks. You have nothing to lose here since you are a recipient of the final product.

The future of marketing belongs to those entrepreneurs that have invested in the right tools that have kept up with the present times. Moreover, rental office space can be costly and inconvenient. Virtual marketers are flexible enough and can work from anywhere if they have laptops and fast internet connectivity.

Regarding remuneration, marketers command high rates. Hiring your in-house team is costly and could pose an organizational challenge. However, with an independent group for your assistance, it is none of your business how they manage their affairs. All you care about is that they deliver on the agreed objectives.

The internet remains mostly untapped. From where you sit as a business owner, there are areas you have never ventured into and perhaps, never will. A virtual marketing department brings together talented individuals who are at the top of their game. Each one is a specialist in SEO, social media, graphic design, ad placement, analytics and so on.

Besides, these professionals are like a one-stop shop where you get everything you need under one roof. Once you hire them, you not only enjoy economies of scale but also stand to benefit from a wealth of experience in a cost affordable way.

You can, therefore, see why virtual marketing departments are the future. Advertising is dynamic such that what works today may not be viable tomorrow. You need people that keep adapting to change and innovation. Of primary concern is getting value for money without spending more than you had initially budgeted.

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8 Reasons To Hire A Virtual Marketing Agency

Running business operations requires much effort and time. It could leave you exhausted and at times, you end up with little or no enthusiasm. To avoid burning out just when you badly need results, you need to outsource some of the critical functions. Presently, everyone has embraced digital technology, and if your entity is not in line, you may end up lagging behind in your line of business. However, computer-driven media does not necessarily mean ditching the old platforms such as print media. Nonetheless, marketing can take many forms, but it is the digital ones that have a high potential for results.

How virtual agencies work

As the name suggests, virtual marketing agencies do not operate from a brick and mortar office. Every professional hired by the entity works remotely, but they are all interconnected online. If one has got internet linked via back office software, the workflow does not get interrupted. However, from time to time, the team needs to, and they do indeed meet up to map out their clients’ strategies. Their meeting place can be anywhere from your boardroom to a coffee break at an eatery.

Remain relevant

Whether you have any marketing background or not, you don’t need to be told that you must carry out intensive industry research. Launching a campaign of any magnitude without studying consumer behavior can have a severe backlash. You must understand the industry. Take for instance the print magazine that people used to love. Most of them have now stopped publishing hard copies and have moved their publications online. If you are in this sector, it would be detrimental to continue churning out volumes of papers and taking them to newsstands. Few people will buy them, but there are millions of readers online. Marketing agencies know about these developments and can guide you on the right strategies to adopt.

Does this leave you feeling scared of losing out in the competition? If so, there are compelling reasons for you to hire a virtual marketing agency.

 

You tap into the endless creativity

Virtual marketers can be a weird lot. If you have never met them, you should walk into their offices one day. They are the type of guys that come to work dressed in rugged jeans and t-shirts. You hardly see creatives adorning in suits and ties. However, you should not mistake this for a fun club since these are some of the most talented people you could ever meet. Their diversity regarding education and work experience makes them the go-to persons. Furthermore, their technological know-how and innovation in solving problems are second to none. Their teams come fully equipped with:

  • Creative directors
  • Skilled graphic designers
  • Copywriters
  • Media buyers
  • Media planners
  • Office assistants

 

Competitor evaluation

Virtual marketing agencies have an in-depth knowledge of the market where businesses operate. They know the approaches that work as well as those that do not. Following an intensive interaction with different clients, they can quickly adopt strategies that can easily turn around your fortunes. Take for instance campaigns that target millennials. Placing print ads for such a group might result in their getting ignored. However, buying media on online social platforms will get the attention of these youngsters. Only an outsourced agency can evaluate and know this. The marketers will:

  • Help identify where your target audience hangs out
  • Determine the most appealing content
  • Streamline your campaigns on social media
  • They research on keywords, analytics and search management

 

No staffing headaches

To succeed in your marketing efforts, you must be consistent. An employee who suddenly falls ill when you are running a crucial campaign can ruin everything. That person who takes leave of absence for unavoidable circumstances could be the best that you have. For example, he or she might be the only one who understands how to curate content and optimize blogs. Besides, the timing of their leave could coincide with an important festive season when you had hoped to cash in on consumer spending. With a marketing agency, such worries do not exist.

  • No need to carry out recruitment, the agency hires its team
  • Agencies have their way of dealing with staffing issues
  • If one of their employees falls sick or goes on leave, that becomes none of your concerns
  • With a virtual agency by your side, none of the matters affecting employees can bring your campaigns to a halt. You expect them to deliver come rain or shine

 

Data analysis, monitoring and research

Following the emergence of internet platforms, there is a high potential for gathering data and analyzing it to your advantage. An in-house team may not be of much help here. However, digital marketing agencies go out of their way to study and gather market information. They finance or procure data on consumer behavior. Out of the results, they identify trends that help in understanding why people opt for product B as compared to C or the other way around. With such feedback, virtual marketing agencies, can restructure your web content and ensure that prospective clients visit and engage your company by buying your product or service.

  • All you need is develop key performance indicators and share them with the marketers
  • They then figure out performance against your measures
  • Agencies identify metrics that they can monitor in different channels
  • They provide you with reports on a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis

 

No training needed

Agencies come fully equipped with a team of content writers, web developers, marketers, media monitors, graphic designers, SEO professionals, you name it. If you were to hire all these yourself, it could end up being a huge gamble or counterproductive. Moreover, such people may take time to fit into your organization’s culture. This is not the case with an outsourced marketing agency. They come fully loaded with a skilled team that is passionate about what they do. You do not need to take them for seminars or hire people to train them. On the contrary, they are always ready and raring to go; all you need is to give them a little shove by way of a briefing.

  • You save money that could have gone to staff training
  • The company saves time that could have gone towards arranging for seminars
  • There is no need to invest in software

 

The aspect of an outside perspective

Employees working inside an organization may not have a wide knowledge of what goes on outside. On the other hand, someone could be having brilliant ideas but holds them for fear of making his or her bosses look bad. Marketing agencies consist of people who brainstorm consistently and come up with solutions on how best to achieve results. They approach your problems from the outside view; a consumer’s eye. It might be difficult for you to ‘step out’ of your organization for a while and look at it from the other side. Virtual marketers are your best bet.

  • You eliminate bias and promote out-of-the-box thinking
  • People no longer remain frozen in the notion that they can keep doing things the same way as before
  • An outsider sees things differently since they do not know you or any of your employees

 

Helps you focus your energy where needed

Running successful online marketing campaigns requires hiring an experienced and deeply motivated team. Plus, you need to re-focus your attention towards ensuring that the new hires understand what you do on a day-to-day basis. All this takes time and you could spend much money on in-house training. Your efforts could result in strained resources and reduced profits. Why not let a virtual agency take the burden? The resources you could have spent can go a long way towards growing other aspects of your business. With an outsourced marketer, you only must appraise them on your needs, objectives and timelines. You need not train or manage anyone.

  • Running a business requires your commitment, time, and energy
  • Agencies have all the time to run marketing aspects on your behalf since that is their area of specialization.
  • They take time to understand your business and deploy measures for the right marketing tactics

 

Reduces costs significantly

When faced with the prospect of outsourcing or grooming an in-house team, many organizations make comparisons and opt for the latter. However, you eventually realize that a virtual agency is less costly. Do you know why? Part of the reason is that these agencies do not have physical offices. Their employees work from home most of the time. They can even meet at a coffee house and develop a strategy in no time. As a result, they charge you a retainer or commission that is much lower than what you would have paid your internal team. Another cost aspect is that you need not subscribe to marketing tools available online. Most agencies already have them.

  • Virtual agents do not have to work from an office
  • They pay no rent for use of premises
  • No need for them to buy furniture or office equipment
  • Every team member works from the comfort of their home or wherever they feel most productive
  • Part of their cost comes from internet subscriptions or online coordination tools
  • They pass these benefits over to their clients through reduced fees

 

In a nutshell

Many companies prefer to hire in-house marketers, and with good reasons. Part of this stems from the fact that insiders know the brand better than others. Besides, they live, breath and eat the organization’s culture which makes it hard for outsiders to match these aspects. However, having an external point of view helps expand your vision. The level of expertise found in virtual marketers is unmatchable. These are people drawn from the best pool of professionals in the industry. They bring with them unrestricted passion and the desire for results.

At the same time, outsourced agencies are more in touch with reality. They view your business from an outsider’s point of view and with no bias. Ordinarily, your in-house team may feel constrained by the fear of making you feel disappointed. Also, every so often, an employee will fall sick or take leave, and you cannot deny them this. It will be a massive setback if the person who goes away is the one you highly depend on to drive the advertising strategy.

Agencies have their unique way of procuring data from their peers or carrying out their research. They use an array of tools that would be expensive if you were doing it alone. Fortunately, they can leverage this by offering you up to date statistics that are measured and found to work. Hiring your team also means that you must take them through training and induction. Virtual marketers need none of this as they come fully equipped and only need a briefing on your expectations.

Running a business requires focus with no room for distraction. In-house marketers can divert your attention, and by the time you come around, you will have lost much ground to competitors. Agencies take and bear the burden for you. Someone else receives the beating and fights to get you ahead. In the meantime, you are more than happy to concentrate on your area of specialization. You only begin to see results trickling in as if by magic.

Every organization worries about cost minimization versus revenue maximization. Here, a virtual marketing agency is your best bet. Outsourcing your marketing work can significantly reduce your running costs. Since these professionals save money by way of not having a physical office, they pass these benefits to your company.

Lastly, by their position in the market, virtual agencies are more in touch with reality than you. They keep up with the current trends and are also on the lookout for emerging ones. Reputable agencies will tell you what strategies can work well in the present. They bring new perspectives into things you were doing before but yielding little or no results. They can determine where to find your audience and target it correctly. In the end, your brand remains relevant.

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Nashville HubSpot Partners: Hire A Virtual Inbound Marketing Agency

As technology changes, so does the efficiency in the approach that many businesses use to attract and engage with their clients. In the past, the only way to attract as well as engage with customers was using sign hanged in strategic places where passers-by would see it. If one customer was satisfied with the results and services, they would recommend their friends and family members, and that is how businesses survived before the technology era. However, a lot has changed following the introduction of the digital era; nowadays, a sign in front of your office or store is not going to attract customers to you. Your online presence can play a significant role in breaking or making your business.

With better inbound marketing strategies, you can grow your online presence tremendously. What is inbound marketing? Inbound is the practice of using social media, SEO, events, blogs, and content marketing among others to pull marketing, create awareness of  a certain brand, as well as attract new clients. It differs from outbound marketing in that in the case of outbound marketing, the marketers are the one who looks for new business, while in inbound marketing customers are attracted to your business by having solutions to the problems they are experiencing. Nowadays, inbound marketing has become a significant aspect of any business’s success, which makes hiring a virtual inbound marketing agency an important decision for any organization –small or large.

Factors to consider when hiring a HubSpot partner agency

During the initial periods following the launch of the HubSpot partner program, finding a partner agency with the necessary qualification was challenging for customers. The fact that the number of certified partner agencies was low implies that there were only a few options to way when choosing which agency to hire. Things have changed as there are numerous agencies to choose who have diverse qualifications. Nevertheless, such a change has seen the growth of the partnership program including the incorporation of great inbound marketing agencies which bring in the need to be more considerate when choosing the agency to hire.

Here are a few factors to consider when hiring a Hubspot partner:

HubSpot and Inbound Expertise: Does the agency have any certifications from HubSpot? Agencies certified by HubSpot have the appropriate level of training to assure you exceptional inbound marketing services. Are there any accomplishments the agency has as a partner of HubSpot? In addition, how can you rate their inbound marketing knowledge? The best agency to hire for inbound marketing should have a full commitment to inbound as the core focus of their services.

Capabilities: One of the first things that you should consider when considering the services of an inbound marketing agency is your goals and objectives. The capability of the agency to achieve your marketing goals and objectives is what should drive your decision to hire any agency. What is the agency able to achieve? Depending on your marketing needs, you can consider an agency specializing in planning and research, SEO analysis and execution, ability to plan and develop content, designing and developing websites, etc.

The team: It is important that you have clear information about the team you will be working with after you hire any agency. Meeting the team beforehand gives you the option of evaluating their suitability for your needs. Do they have the necessary experience and expertise –how are their resumes? It is advisable that you evaluate the experience and skills of the individuals prior to engaging any agency since to avoid tasking the wrong team.

Agency’s business processes: Each inbound marketing agency seems to have diverse approaches to marketing. In most of the cases, marketing agencies work hard to improve their processes to ensure efficiency in serving their customers. Nevertheless, not every business process you will be introduced to has gone through the necessary vetting. As such, it is important to interrogate the agency’s processes to be sure that they have the ability to support the services you are looking for. The best agency for your needs should have the ability and experience dealing with clients with needs like yours.

Relevant success: The best way to evaluate an agency’s capability is to review their past work –does it have a track record of success? Look at any case studies the agency has and review whether the services they offered and the results align with what you want. Do not be convinced by just looking at one case study –you need a lot from a marketing agency and their ability to deliver should be reflected in their success stories.

Technologies and tools: The tools and technologies that any marketing agency uses are an important factor to consider when choosing the suitability of an agency for your needs. You need to evaluate such tools against their ability to help you achieve your marketing goals and objectives. For example, an agency that uses the HubSpot software stands a better chance to provide inbound marketing services in comparison to another that does not. The reason for this is that HubSpot integrates different marketing tools for effective management of all online marketing campaigns.

Benefits of hiring Hubspot certified virtual inbound marketing agency

Now that you have a glimpse of what it takes to hire the best inbound marketing agency, what benefits should you expect from a HubSpot certified virtual inbound marketing agency?

Cost savings: Maintaining an in-house team of employees is expensive. You have a lot of overhead costs to take care of, as opposed to engaging a virtual marketing agency.

Diversity of expertise: A virtual inbound marketing agency brings in a team of experts in different aspects of marketing. Such diversity is an added advantage when it comes to the management of different marketing tasks such as social media, SEO, blogging, web design, etc,.

Cutting edge technologies and tools: HubSpot is an integrated software that offers different tools and applications for the management of diverse marketing campaigns and needs.

Inbound marketing has become a relevant marketing strategy in the phase of the increasing competition. It helps businesses create content that aims at solving certain problems faced by customers. If done appropriately, inbound marketing stands a better chance of improving businesses’ ROI. Hiring a Nashville HubSpot certified partner gives you a better platform to boost your sales. However, it is important to take time to review and evaluate the available agencies before hiring any.

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Virtual Marketing Agency: Get The Talent – Not The Price Tag

Whether you are operating as an individual, or a company, one of the important goals you might have is to get clients worthy of your time and service. As such, sitting in your office or any other workstation and doing nothing will not guarantee you such clients –you need to look for the right clients. Effective marketing requires the input of different marketing strategies tied to the objectives of the given company. While the best strategies are costly, it is a relief to most companies since they are assured of better services and the achievement of their set goals. Virtual marketing departments has become a significant way through which companies and individuals spread awareness about their products and services to the right audience. It is essential to get the best virtual marketing agency for your business. Effective marketing will ensure your clients get your services, increase your sales and also ensure you have a high return on investment. This article provides an in-depth review of the importance of focusing on talent, and not the price, when hiring virtual marketing agencies.

Hiring a talented virtual marketer is beneficial for any organization

The advancement in technology, despite having brought better approaches in marketing, has created avenues for competition. While competition is healthy for any business, it is important to put a lot of emphasis on the type of marketing experts they will engage. Virtual marketing relies heavily on talent and expertise to get the required results in an organization. Apart from its flexibility, virtual marketing has several other benefits including low overhead since the virtual agency will not ask for a physical office in your organization. With or without an office room, what matters most for any marketing agency is service delivery. Helping clients grow their businesses and make more sales is the goal of every marketing agency.

Get the Talent – Not The Price Tag

Many factors influence any company’s decision when hiring a virtual marketing agency. One of such factors is the budget. Different marketing agencies have a variety of charges for their services –some are high, others are low. Often, the expertise and level of talent of the marketers determine how much the agency charges for services. Usually, everybody would be willing to get the best deal, which literally translates to low charges. It is not possible to pay low for high quality work –normally the quality of work to expect determines the cost. Companies that charge a high price give you the assurance that their services are top notch and will guarantee you the attainment of the set goals and objectives. If a company charges low on their marketing services, it should sound as a warning that you should expect to get low quality services as well. The implication is that the quality of services to expect and the price tag have a direct proportionality relation. The higher the price tag, the higher the quality of service. As such, it is important to focus majorly on getting a virtual marketing agency that can guarantee you high quality work at whatever cost. After all, cheap is expensive. Getting your projects done shoddily just because it is cheap can have you pay dearly.

What are the benefits of hiring a talented virtual marketing agency?

Talent is an important factor to consider when hiring any virtual marketing agency. What capacities does the agency have to warrant their success in handling different clients’ work? You can get numerous benefits from hiring a virtual marketing agency on the basis of the talent as opposed to the price tag. Here are some of those benefits:

You get the agency that your company needs: did you know there is that company or individual that you need to engage but won’t have them on board if your focus is the price tag? If you overlook the cost, you are assured to hire a marketing agency that has the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet your specific needs and goals of the organization.

You are assured of significant growth in your business: What is the benefit of saving on the price of hiring an experienced marketer only to stagnate in your business? You need an agency that has the right skills to guarantee you the necessary growth.

Benefit from a plethora of talents: marketing agencies comprise of different people with diverse talents and capabilities. It is essential to consider the expertise that virtual marketing agencies will bring to your business to steer it towards the right direction as far as getting clients is concerned. Usually, a large number of virtual marketing agencies combine a variety of marketing approaches like content marketing to achieve your goals and objectives. Content marketing is an excellent marketing strategy for every marketing agency. Optimizing your services for high ranking in the search engines is essential for growing your business.

Talent enhances client acquisition: The goal of every businessperson is to satisfy clients as they offer them excellent services that help them build their business. Would you care about the price you would have to pay to grow and significantly increase your returns? You will probably not. Hiring virtual marketing agencies that have great talent will help you acquire quality leads for your business.

High return on investment: Getting the right kind of virtual agency to market your brand can result in a high return on investment. However, such agencies will have a higher price tag on their services due to the quality of services they will deliver. Nevertheless, when the quality is high, you can rest assured of a higher ROI.

Conclusion

It is an undeniable fact that virtual marketing is driving businesses’ success. While every business individual hopes to get the best from any marketing agency, it is important to note that such services depend on efficient combination of talent and cost. If you are looking for the best services, it is important to focus on the expertise of the marketing expert you are engaging as opposed to how much they are charging. Invest heavily on the talent and you will be assured of better marketing results.

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5 Content Marketing Tips From Video Game Designs

Group of three friends playing video games in office after work

When we’re not working hard for our clients, many of us at Social Link love playing video games. Not just because they—and they are—but because all the time we’re fighting zombies and bashing koopas with Mario, we’re also learning a lot about audience engagement. A website is doing very well if it keeps your attention for mere seconds. Social videos can attract your eye for as long as a minute. Video games can keep you engaged for hours.

It’s a good thing we never listened to Mom when she told us to put down the console and go outside, because now we can pass our wisdom along to you.

 

#1. There’s Always a Bigger World to Explore

Designers knows that part of every player’s objective is to inhabit a completely different universe. The more complete the video game’s world feels, the more likely the player will stay engaged. Doors lead to nowhere. Objects show signs of rust. The world’s logic and rules are complete and consistent. Whether you’re meeting enemies or friends, the encounters are always memorable.

In the same way, great content isn’t just about the article or video in front of the customer’s eyes. It’s the first step in a greater journey. One article should always lead to the next. Details and examples must be highly relevant: don’t just quote statistics, explain why they matter. Introduce human faces wherever possible—your company’s spokespeople are the heroes and allies of your content universe. When people consult your library, they’re not just looking for facts. They’re looking for guides to a bigger world.

 

#2. Twitch Gameplay

Twitch gameplay is the game developer’s term for situations where the computer forms its own response to a player’s ability to react. Let’s say you’re playing a shooter game and the player is just a little too slow on the draw. The computer will adapt and slow down its next attack so they player doesn’t get frustrated and give up. On the other hand, if the player’s hitting too many targets, the computer will speed up its response time to make sure that the player doesn’t get bored.

Smart content has its own version of “twitch play.” For example, if you’ve developed a support library to help customers discover your product, help them self-segment so that they start at their own appropriate level of knowledge. Include lots of opportunities for feedback (“Did this article answer your question?” “Need more?”) and make sure there’s always a human being whose name is attached to the answers. This will help your customers stay engaged at a pace that’s natural for them.

 

#3. Make It Story-Driven

Video game designers have many techniques to keep a player immersed in the game, but it’s only when everything presented as part of a story that meaning begins to emerge. Plots progress with each level and mission. Relationships with other characters are formed as they tackle challenges together. When the climax finally arrives, it’s genuinely satisfying because a story’s central conflict has been resolved.

Content marketing should always build towards a greater purpose. Doing so helps people see that their decision to engage was time well spent. When someone steps away feeling like there was something of value, you can always guarantee they’ll be back for more.

 

#4. Create Levels

Is there any feeling in the world that compares to mastering a difficult level of a video game? Not if you’ve fallen down the same rock face a hundred times while aliens shoot at you from the clifftops. The feeling that you’ve “won” a level creates a sense of triumph—as well as an incentive to move directly on to the next level of the game.

Great content should also bestow a sense of accomplishment. How-to guides should be task-based: not, “Learn how to use X feature” but, “Using X feature to create Y.” People don’t go searching for information they don’t immediately need… so make sure that your content always answers their need to achieve a specific outcome.

 

#5. A Reason to Return

Bad games never get finished. Good games get played through once. Great games get played many, many times over. Sometimes it’s because they’re fiendishly difficult, or because they create a fully realized universe, or a way to engage with friends. Some games tell great stories, while others are simply about blowing off steam. But they always focus on creating a reason to come back.

Customers will seek out your content because they have a specific question or are looking for a particular solution. If you don’t have the right answers, they’ll leave quickly and never come back. But even if you’ve got the right answers, don’t assume you’ve got a friend for life. To win their loyalty, you need to build trust in your ability to deliver a consistently superior experience. That’s as much as about how you deliver information as the content itself. Do you put a human face on your writing? Is the content correctly tagged and segmented? Are the instructions easy to follow? Is there always somewhere to go for questions? If so, you’re giving your customers many reasons to seek you out the next time they need help.

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Whatever game you’re playing—ecommerce, lead generation, or branding—Social Link has the in-house expertise and resources to translate your brand story into tangible results. Get in touch and let’s get started!

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Tips on Helping Your Website Visitors To Convert

Building Sites That Convert | Social Link

Is Your Site Converting Sales?

The first generation of business sites was all about building awareness. The second generation was about handling transactions. Tomorrow’s digital marketplace will be dominated by sites that bridge the all-important middle ground between these two ends of the sales funnel: customer conversion. This is where your site truly becomes a working tool for your sales force. Here’s six critical steps to building a site that sells.

#1. Know Who You’re Talking To

Your site doesn’t have to speak to everyone in the same voice. Coordinate your paid search and ad strategy to target customers by profile—geography, age, gender, profession, interests—then build landing pages geared toward their specific needs and interests.

#2. Make It Mobile (But Don’t Diss Desktops)

In spite of the massive growth in mobile usage, only 15% of all sales are made on smartphones. One reason is that many e-commerce sites are simply not optimized for mobile. Is your site truly mobile-adaptive? Are phone numbers set up for tap-to-call? Are payment methods, forms, and product displays simplified for mobile? Does it have location-based and notification features? If not, it’s time to redesign, because there’s one thing an app can do that a desktop can’t: it follows your customer everywhere… even when they’re in your competitors’ stores.

#3. Upgrade Your Content

Your sales force relies on good content just as much as your customers. Videos, blogs, infographics, and social posts are a great way to show your product’s benefits… they’re a great conversation-starters for sales calls… and they’re much more SEO-friendly. Small wonder that content marketing generates more than three times as many leads as outbound marketing (with a conversion rate that’s six times as high).

#4. Go For Relevant

With inbound marketing, the path is as important as the destination. Is your keyword strategy geared to your customer’s immediate needs and interests? Are you clearly showing the difference that your product makes in your customer’s lives? Is your promoted content appropriate to the space it’s filling in your customer’s day? Your site is only effective if your advertising is relevant enough to motivate action.

#5. Make Offers, Not Monologues

Outbound marketing announces; inbound marketing invites. To be effective, every piece of content on your site needs to offer something of value to the customer, and invite an interaction in return. This can take the form of shareable content, an email sign-up, product upsells, or loyalty premiums. Don’t settle for explanations. Start conversations.

#6. Keep Them Talking

One of the oldest rules of selling is still valid: the longer you keep the conversation going, the more likely you are to make a sale. With sophisticated email marketing, cart abandonment doesn’t have to be the end of the road. You can pinpoint the timing and content of emails to your customer’s buying patterns, make special offers, and guide them back to more relevant content.

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We build sites (and campaigns) that build sales! One call is all it takes to put your virtual marketing department to work for you. Get in touch and let’s get started!

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10 Nashville Internet Marketing Trends

Nashville internet marketing trends

With Nashville’s tourism market at an all-time high, we thought it might be worth noting 10 Nashville internet marketing trends to watch. Getting involved in current internet marketing trends could mean the difference between your business making a profit and going into the red. Up your game by looking out for these 10 internet marketing trends:

1) Video Marketing

With the number of tech businesses in Nashville steadily climbing, it makes sense for business owners to include video in their marketing strategy. As business leader Angus Andrew says, “The play button is becoming the most compelling call-to-action on the web.” Why is this? Experts believe that video marketing content is more appealing to people than written content, because of its entertainment value. It also allows tech companies and other businesses to show their customers, and potential customers, what they have to offer and what they are working on to build excitement. It’s a common misconception that video marketing is out of reach for small businesses; the fact is, it’s easier now than ever to create videos for the web with apps such as Magisto and Vimeo.

2) Social Networking Tools

Social networking sites are invaluable marketing tools, because they enable professionals to connect with each other worldwide. Networking sites, such as LinkedIn, give Nashville employers the opportunity to connect with people who could be potential candidates for a job. It’s important for small businesses to take part in social networking sites to spread the word about their growing company. If a business makes dozens of professional connections online, it will increase word-of-mouth and consequently, sales.

3) Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have become leaders of current marketing trends, and the numbers don’t seem to be going down any time soon. The reason is simple: Customers like to be treated like people. Social media sites enable businesses to connect with the customers on a personal level. People are sick of in-your-face advertisements and pushy calls-to-action – they want to see that your business has a human behind it, and jumping on board with social media platforms is the perfect way to show that.

4) Facebook Pay Per Click (PPC)

More than 1 billion people are currently active on Facebook. With those kinds of numbers, it’s no wonder Nashville business owners have begun to take advantage of the Facebook Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign. PPC is an internet advertising model used on websites. It’s different from other advertising campaigns because PPC advertisers only pay their host when their ad is clicked. More and more people are turning toward Facebook PPC because it allows business owners to keep track of how much they want to spend on advertising on a day-to-day basis.

5) Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Every small business should be concerned with their market’s SEO. For those who haven’t heard of it, search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of getting website traffic through “natural” or “organic” results that have been earned by the website in real time. Payment isn’t involved, unlike paid search ads, so SEO cannot be changed based on a business’ budget. There are many reasons your small business should invest in SEO – it promotes readability, user-friendliness, and the overall success of your website.

6) Mobile Optimization

People are spending more and more time on mobile devices each year. Studies have shown that mobile media time has exceeded desktop and other media time. Ensuring that you take full advantage of the booming mobile optimization market can be a key factor in the success of your business. Mobile optimization is applied to your business’s website to ensure its design, page layout, download speed, and other factors are all working to their fullest extent. In today’s world, a business whose website doesn’t translate well onto a mobile device signals to customers that the business may be behind the times.

7) Blogs

What is commonly referred to in the digital realm as the “blogosphere” is an important internet marketing trend to be a part of in Nashville. Blogging promotes an up-to-date, progressive feel for your business’s website and allows customers to be notified continuously about what your business is currently promoting, selling, studying, etc. The best business blogs, such as the popular blog for the Owner Media Group, focus on informing their customers based on what interests them. Blogs are meant to show your customers that your small business is interested in its customers and that your business is relevant.

 

8) Content Marketing

If you haven’t already, now is the time to jump on the content-marketing bandwagon. Small businesses have seen a generous upsurge in business after paying more attention to the content of their web pages. It may seem obvious, but with better content comes more readers. Websites that offer smart, engaging content and valuable information, like the ever-popular how-to articles, get an increase in website traffic, which of course leads to more business. Gone are the days when a business website can be business only – it’s time to embrace an age of truly interesting content.

9) Email Marketing

Email marketing is making a significant comeback – in the last few years, small businesses have wised up to the fact that people don’t read redundant emails. Instead, businesses are sending emails that are full of content that their customers actually want to read. Much like content marketing, email marketing is becoming more about connecting with customers, not just another sales pitch.

 

10) Wearable Technology

Places like Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center are promoting a sense of technological growth throughout the local business sphere. In this era of tech growth, the Number 1 most predicted trend for 2016 is wearable technology. This includes devices such as the Apple watch and Xiaomi, which allow the user to wear the device they’re using. Wearable technology has been on the upswing due to easy of use, a heightened sense of fashion, and being able to combine technological devices to be more productive.

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Web Design Trends in Nashville Tennessee

Social Link Web Design Trends

Start Thinking About Your Web Design Strategy with These Trends and Industry Forecasts

This year’s theme in web design Nashville, and across the world, has included simplistic design features, focused on a streamlined user experience. If you are a little behind in latest design trend, now is a good time to get started and learn more about the trend forecast for 2016.

Web design goals are different from company to company. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments, but remember to stay true to your brand and adopt designs that mesh well with your company’s culture and personality. Your online presence makes the ultimate statement about your mission, brand, and culture, so make it stand out by recognizing the trends that are waning and focusing on some of the new developments and projections for the future.

Design Trends That Are On the Way Out

Web design changes quickly, and keeping up with the trends can be difficult. Luckily, most of the trends that are fading from the limelight are easy fixes for your site.

  • Autoplay – People use online content for work and personal use in a variety of environments. Many of us are accustomed to opening and browsing through several sites at a time on computers and mobile sites. Those that feature autoplay music and videos create annoying noise and distract from the overall user experience. Always give users the option to listen to your content instead of forcing it on them when they click on a link.
  • Cluttered parallax – Parallax scrolling design involves layering content so that certain layers move differently when users start scrolling to give it a 3D effect. When effectively designed, parallax features can be eye-catching and fun. At its worst, the feature can make users feel motion sick or over-stimulated. Websites that opt for parallax scrolling today should carefully consider the user experience.
  • Splash pages or modals – Today’s internet users are in a hurry. Most skim content rather than reading it in-depth. Any design features that prevent access to content create annoyance and are counterproductive to a site’s mission. Avoid forcing your users to click through popups or a splash page before accessing your content. There are many other, more effective techniques for advertising, earning subscribers, and getting your message across. Some would argue they are effective at grabbing user emails and they are probably right – but were they annoyed?

Give These Trends a Try

Other popular trends that were highlighted at the end of 2014/beginning of 2015 have expanded and are still going strong into the second half of the year. Most highlight the user experience with minimalistic designs and flat graphics. Make your web design in Nashville stand out from the crowd with these beautiful and user-friendly design trends:

  • Flat design – This trend will likely keep its footing in web design for many years. The simplistic nature of the design provides faster content delivery while improving the user experience through engaging, but easily digestible, visual and written content. Find inspiration for flat design with these 75+ examples.
  • No header background imagery – Highlight flat design by foregoing background photography or other visually complex imagery. Focus on typography, color scheme, and a few simple accent icons or images to make your site memorable to users.
  • Micro-interactions – Autoplay video and music are on the way out, but micro-interactions of all kinds pique visitor curiosity and encourage online engagement. Anytime you hit a “Like” button, add a star rating to a product, or click through the people you may know, you’re participating in a micro-interaction. They serve as natural engagement facilitators and help companies add more information on a page without inundating a visitor with stimuli.
  • Infographics – Infographics provide the perfect marriage of visual and written content. Make complicated information easy to digest with interesting infographics. Try an interactive infographic that users can click on or engage with to reveal more of a storyline. A well-developed interactive infographic should be fun and easy for visitors to uncover new and interesting information.
  • Grids – Pinterest, retailers, and several news outlets are using grid-layouts to break up written content with interesting imagery. Whether you choose to go full grid or add a grid to showcase your blog content or product offerings, the technique offers clean lines that are easy to browse through and engage with.
  • Ghost buttons – In the beginning of the year, many web designers were in favor of flat, colorful buttons for social media, CTAs, and other button-content. Ghost buttons are low profile. They feature outlines in a slightly different color than the background imagery, but do not interrupt the visual experience. Ghost buttons are great for websites that feel “too busy.” To effectively use ghost buttons, make sure the action step is a focal point of the page
  • Mix and match fonts – Handwritten, vintage, and other visually interesting fonts stand out on flat designs. Draw attention to your written content and branding by taking the time to find the perfect font personality for your site. Change up font types and sizes on a page to keep text visually interesting without having to rely heavily on additional graphics.  Just don’t go too crazy! 🙂
  • Responsive web design – More of a design staple for web design in Nashville and throughout the world, responsible web design provides user experience consistently across all devices. When used in conjunction with other trending design elements, responsive web design can make searching for and taking in content easier and faster. Limited mobile sites of the past can’t compete with the complete experience offered by responsive web design. Our mobile responsive design is included in every website we build now. It’s to the point of embarassment if you launch without a mobile responsive website!
  • Long scrolling pages – If you have a large quantity of information to share online, consider long scrolling instead of click-heavy navigation. With better internet service and smarter web design features, websites are no longer restricted by the content they place on a page. You can keep your site speed while providing prioritized content in an easy-scrolling format so that all your site visitors have to do is start browsing through your page.
  • Sticky features – Sticky website elements remain with a page regardless of how far down you scroll to read content. Popular sticky elements may include navigational cues, calls-to-action, micro-interaction pieces, headers, or social media buttons. If you have a particularly long page for users to scroll through, a sticky arrow can help visitors move from the bottom or middle of the page back to the top with one click.

2016 Forecast for Web Design

Get the most out of your investment in web design in Nashville by evaluating which trends are fads and which are most likely to stick around through the New Year and beyond. There are surely more innovative and game-changing trends to arrive as time passes, but designers and marketing specialists are already starting to predict what next year will look like. Consider these predictions for what’s to come as web design evolves:

  • Originality will be rewarded – One challenge with popular trends is the tendency towards homogeneity. Every site is visually beautiful, but they all start to look the same when they use the same design elements. Look for 2016 to showcase a variety of different techniques that are customized for an individual’s or organization’s personality and culture.
  • Flat design will evolve – Designers are already starting to incorporate shadows with hard edges to a few choice elements. Look for other subtle nuances to traditional flat design that will start to change the way designers approach flat design in 2016.
  • Bright colors will set sites apart – In 2015, color palettes have been neutral and toned down. Bright color combinations and accents will start to become more accepted in a variety of industries in the future. Patterns may also become a popular go-to design influence to help websites set themselves apart.
  • The Internet of Things will change design – As more functional systems start to go online, web design will start to accommodate an increasingly versatile range of interfaces. Whether you’re accessing a site on your refrigerator, a pair of glasses, or from your television, you’ll start to see improved and consistent design features across all online devices.
  • A focus on shortened experiences – Action-oriented sites will start to use apps within apps to drive user engagement. There may be several different calls-to-action on a site that range widely, but will streamline the user experience for each pipeline. The navigational cues will also improve measurement and analysis capabilities.
  • Long scroll may fade – Websites will start to design their websites more around the content. Some will hang onto long scrolling trends, but others with content-rich pages may choose to abandon long scrolling in favor of individual pages or sections.

Choosing Web Design Trends

Some trends will come and go, but the ones listed here will start to fundamentally change the way users interact online. Talk with our marketing agency for web design in Nashville about the elements that will complement your business or online goals the most before signing up for every trendy design element in the news.

Try to change up your web design every few years at a minimum to keep your designs current and engaging. Aim to go through the website every 6 months to check for outdated material and design influences, and invest in newer designs as needed.

Ultimately, the colors, layout, and content of a great website should be custom-designed for ease-of-use, clarity, and visual appeal. Whether you prefer a modern or futuristic layout or a more traditional style, mix and match the design elements that really speak to your brand and audience to make the most out of the online experience.

For more information about choosing the right web design trends, get in touch with our team of web designers at Social Link in Nashville.

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SEO Tips and Tricks

Your Website Ranks From SEO – Now What?

Social Link SEO Ranking

Google PageRank uses over 200 elements to rank websites on a scale from 1-10. Even popular, well-read sites may not have perfect scores, but the closer to 10 you can get, the more likely it is that your online marketing efforts will pay off. A rank of 5 means that a site has successfully placed itself online as a relevant, inbound link-rich source for search engine users. Whether you’ve recently scored a 2 or you’re edging up on 5, there is always more work to do to maintain and improve your Nashville SEO strategy.

Website Rankings Are Not Static

Unfortunately, you cannot achieve a decent website ranking and stop working on SEO. According to some of the most recent statistics, over 5 exabytes of content were being developed daily in 2013. With that comes an increased potential every day for your page rankings to fluctuate. Without constant vigilance and a focus on strategy innovation, your page may slip from its current rankings, leaving you with a “Do not pass Go, Do not collect $200” type of scenario.

Maintaining Positive Website Rankings

To keep your current website rankings, run reports regularly to see how your site is holding up to the competition.

Check:

  1. Rankings – Look at your rankings on the top search engines, and resubmit your site with changes if you notice your ranking starting to slip. Keep fresh content on your site by maintaining a blog to target keywords from your seo keyword research. Google LOVES fresh content.
  2. Inbound links – Having inbound links at one point in time is not security for the future. Inbound links can disappear over time, decreasing your ranking. Constantly develop new, engaging content to build inbound links, even during the maintenance cycle, to keep your rankings high.
  3. Don’t be afraid to change your website – You can keep your ranking (and improve it!) while redesigning your website. Take the time to reinvigorate old content and add new SEO driven content to improve your website ranking.

Keep moving forward with your Nashville SEO strategy to maintain local and widespread visibility in the search engines your market uses most. SEO is a continuous, long-term strategy for growth and visibility. Stick with it to make the most of your investment.

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SEO

Services Your Nashville SEO Company Should Be Providing

Social Link Nashville Company SEO

As a business owner or operator, you understand that you need SEO for successful online marketing. Pinpointing exactly what SEO is and what it can do for you, however, is another matter. SEO tactics range from minor content changes to scalable and largely automated platform solutions. If optimizing Nashville SEO is one of your marketing goals, make sure that your SEO company is providing these services regularly:

  • Strategic content – Quality content is one of the defining features of a successful SEO strategy. The two marketing components work synergistically to drive traffic and encourage online engagement. Your Nashville SEO company should be focused on delivering relevant, authoritative, and energetic language to support every other aspect of SEO strategy.
  • Building online links on-site and off-site – One of the foundational principles of SEO strategy is building links within a site and outside of a site to encourage traffic. Since the rules regarding link building are constantly in flux, always ask your SEO company about its best practices.

For example, Google once rewarded sites that focused heavily on linking back to branded content. Now, the algorithms for search engine rankings are starting to reward sites that include natural linking, linking to external (3rd party) authoritative content, and those who successfully earn inbound links from other sites. Ask your service provider about their keyword and linking practices to determine if their team is following the most current trends for SEO success.

  • Providing analysis – SEO strategies take time. Stay away from companies that claim they can change your traffic profile in a matter of months. A good SEO provider will offer reporting and project analysis updates on their efforts, the results, and suggestions for improvement. If your provider claims the team can’t share their tactics with you, they may not be offering the kinds of services you need to get results.

Get Nashville SEO services you can trust with Social Link. We offer these services and many more.

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10 Hot Internet Marketing Trends

The world of internet marketing is ever-changing. However, there are several marketing and web design trends currently dominating the advertising world.

– Mobile optimization: As websites become increasingly user-friendly on mobile devices, advertisers are upping their efforts to translate their ads to a mobile platform. Web design that allows for seamless change between devices is becoming more relevant than ever.

– Social media ad campaigns: With social media a daily part of many people’s lives, marketers realize the value of allocating resources to promoting themselves in the social sphere.

– Content marketing: Creating relevant content – sharing pertinent knowledge and quality articles in lieu of standard print-style ads – to lure a particular client or customer base is a growing part of internet marketing,

– Email advertising: While this has long been an internet marketing staple, email ads are undergoing a makeover. They are becoming more informative, personalized, and are used to reach more targeted audiences.

– The humanization of brands: Advertising is looking to move away from big corporate images, so internet marketing campaigns want to humanize both established and non- established brands by making them relatable to their target market.

– Relevancy over promotion: Buyers are increasingly disinterested in promotional lingo, leading internet marketers to focus on relevant and informative ads over sales jargon.

– Increasing use of marketing analytics: The internet provides great opportunities for seeing detailed descriptions of how clients interact with your product or company. Marketing analytics are ever on the rise, giving businesses a way to examine and hone their sales efforts.

– Highly personalized content: Working toward 1-to-1 marketing, personalized content examines the habits of the potential buyer and provides them with information on products that may be relevant to consumer needs or desires.

– Videos: No longer relegated to certain streaming websites, video ads are seen more frequently throughout the internet. It’s an accessible and versatile mode of content that allows advertisers to communicate their message in a memorable way.

– Less filler ads: Ads that mainly serve to set the product in a buyer’s mind are on the decline. Instead of banners with brightly flashing colors offering obscure products or services, internet marketing is moving toward strong content-driven advertisements to draw in consumers.

If you found this article helpful please review the author here.

Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2014/11/24/top-7-online-marketing-trends-that-will-dominate-2015/

http://www.inboundnow.com/10-online-marketing-trends-predictions-2015/

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Online Marketing SEO Web Development

SEO Basics and How They Can Boost Your Online Sales

In today’s marketplace, there is a growing need for an optimized online presence. Many companies are aware of the benefits of a strong website, but they still neglect to use techniques to get their business discovered by new clients or customers. Many have chosen to work with a search engine optimization company, which is an organization whose focus is driving clients’ sales utilizing SEO. Search engine optimization can also increase volume of sales by setting up a specialized ecommerce area and directing clients to this site with increased visibility.

But how do search engine optimization companies drive up their clients’ business so effectively?And, how can businesses looking to start selling their products online capitalize on their expertise? There are a variety of ways a search engine optimization company might assist their clients in increasing sales. The items below share effective methods for any organization looking to break into the online sales market.

Identify What Search Engines Are Looking for – And What They Aren’t

– Relevancy is one of the top things search engines look for when determining ranking on search results. This extends to many areas, including what type of information is on your website, how well your website functions, its user-friendliness, and how often your site is referenced online by other experts in your area. These are the foundation of a good SEO campaign. A site with poor content and choppy navigation will be left in the dark.

– Social media presence is another thing that helps websites consistently land near the top of search engines. A page with high like, share, plus one, or retweet counts is much more likely to have a higher search engine ranking because of its increased online visibility.

These factors get a page closer to relevancy, as they cause the page to be more highly circulated and establish it as an authority in the eyes of an online search. SEO companies work to get their clients the social media exposure needed to make them well shared and widely accessed.

– SEO basics, such as a fast website and use of H1 and H2 tags, were able to increase a company’s ability to be found on search engines; however, over time these techniques became so widely used that they no longer give companies the leg up they once did. Since almost everyone utilizes these methods, they have become basic requirements more than optimization techniques. They are still essential components to increase online visibility, as sites without them suffer, but they are no longer a golden ticket to the front of the search result line.

– Keywords, once hailed as the top players of SEO, fell greatly in their usability. Websites began producing low quality, keyword dense content in order to catapult themselves to the top of the search engine results page. Eventually, this prompted search engines to change their game. While the selective and professional use of keywords can still be helpful, loading your site with keywords will hurt your chances more than helping them in the long run.

Incorporate Multiple Channels of Media

– Videos and other media-rich content are great additions to any site looking to up its search engine ranking. Search engine optimization companies work with clients to produce this highly accessible and sharable content because of the increased reader and viewer access it provides. Getting your text page to a top ranking result can be difficult if it is strictly text, but incorporating a variety of content will make your site more searchable to a broader audience.

– Social media had an interesting run in the SEO world. In 2010, Google revealed it was going to be a significant factor in determining the worth of a site according to their search engine. Likes, shares, plus ones, and other types of social media recognition were said to have a direct impact on a website’s find-ability online.

Later, Google stated that these factors did not have a direct impact on Google searches in particular. While Google is the leading search engine it is far from the only one. While they may have waivered on this point, other search engines maintain the usefulness of social recognition online for those looking to optimize their rank.

Moreover, even if the sharing of content through social media is not directly linked to the search engine ranking, it is still a useful tool for online companies. First, the social media page itself acts as a website of its own. Social media pages turn up in online searches just like any other site, so their existence gives the company using them higher visibility.

Higher visibility means more references and links to the site, both of which establish the company as an authority according to online search engine ranking criteria. This means that maintaining a solid social presence across various platforms remains vital for SEO.

– Optimizing your brand for searches across multiple channels is also incredibly useful. While loading your content with keywords will do little to help your SEO efforts, establishing a few solid keywords and inserting them in moderation across a variety of platforms will give your company a universality that will make it easier for it to be found and referenced. Placing your keywords and brand in your social media updates, marketing emails, and offline ads and publications is a great way to keep your company linked in and allow for search engines to recognize these links with ease.

– Backlinks are another great channel that allow websites and vendors to be optimized in search engine results. Backlinks, which are links from other websites back to your own, increase not only your site’s popularity but also its ability to be found. Search engines place high importance on the occurrence of backlinks because they are a great way to determine the way the public is receiving and reacting to the bulk of the site’s content. A backlink acts as a stamp of approval, which often denotes quality on the part of the website and the business.

Ensure the Consistent Use of Domain Names

When it comes to high rankings in search engines, consistency is vital. Providing duplicate content within a site, marketing, and social presence may seem small but it is a great way to give your business a cohesive presence online. Search engines look for terms and make connections between those, so if a user is looking for a particular term, service, or product, the recurring terminology that shows up on a website will boost the search engine’s ability to recognize their relevance to the search and therefore give priority to that site or business.

Expertly Index the Site

Search engine optimization companies often offer their clients the option of having their site professionally indexed. Indexing improves the site’s ability to be navigated. This means that users and customers can easily find content, topics, and products. One important tool for indexing a website is the use of Meta tags. Meta tags allow the site or business owner to decide which concepts, products, or words will be available in a particular area of the website. They also serve as guides for search engines, helping them to determine which word meaning is correct when there are multiple definitions or interpretations.

Give Search Engines the Ability to Relate Their Content to Search Inquiries

– Literal searches are a good way to help search engines understand exactly what you are offering and accurately promote it. For example, if one searches for “cone” they may be looking for one of many things. If you are a vendor of traffic cones, you will want to qualify the word “cone” as much as possible within your content. By keeping the language in your site as direct and precise as possible, you can avoid being lost in the shuffle of mistaken searches and be easily found by those looking to access your particular wares.

– Eliminating superfluous words is another way search engine optimization companies help their clients capitalize on their web presence. Search engines do not recognize terms like “and” or “for,” meaning that the overuse of these types of words within your website is useless in optimizing it for search engines. Keeping your wording as descriptive and concise as possible keeps your content from confusing the search engine and potentially increases your ranking in a search. Clarity in content is the best way to communicate to potential customers, so eliminating unnecessary text bolsters both your revenue and your search engine ranking.

Google, Bing, Yahoo, and any other major search engine are businesses like any other. They profit the most by giving their users high quality results; therefore, creating a quality website with reliable products that are likely to be highly regarded is the best way to ensure that your company is high in the search engine’s ranking. The more traffic your site has, the more likely it is that your online sales will increase and remain steady. Working with an SEO company is an investment that will quickly show a return and will continue to produce positive results for your business’s future.

Sources:

https://blog.kissmetrics.com/social-media-and-seo/

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/search-engine2.htm

Consistency Is King In SEO

 

If you find this helpful please review author at bradyorourke.com or give us call for a consultation today!

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Blog Online Marketing SEO Tips and Tricks

A Quick Guide to Optimizing Your website for Bing

Companies are so focused on the importance of optimizing their search results for Google, they often forget the power in including Bing in their online strategy. This could be a mistake, however, since last year Bing held nearly 20% of the search market.

Bing may not surpass Google anytime soon, but while your competitors are busy chugging away at Google SEO, now is your chance to pull ahead in this growing search market. Take advantage of this opportunity for Nashville search engine optimization and capture a new, largely unexplored market.

Bing’s Focus: What Matters

Keywords Matter (More). Google’s algorithm is pretty advanced. It excels at sifting through all the text on your webpage and figuring out content reliability. Bing locates your site by focusing more directly on what is typed into their search box. If your business works in a highly-specialized field, you want to focus your efforts around specific keywords.

Anchor Text and Internal Links. Google is great at judging where your links send users. Outbound links and backlinks are less-favored than using internal backlinks with anchor text focused on your keywords.

Visual Media Reigns King. The impressive range of decisions Google’s algorithm makes when a search is typed allows Google to judge websites on the text. To separate themselves, Bing has focused their efforts on celebrating the websites that utilize audio, video, pictures, and other visual media. It is great at sifting through pictures, and uses a special technique called entity understanding. This allows the search engine to discern whether the picture is a person, place, or object.

Disavow Links. Bing has provided websites with the ability to disavow links that you do not want to be associated with. This is a great way to mitigate the damage done by excessive link-building practices, associations with websites that are spamming lots of SEO links to you, or removing any connection with a flagged website.

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Blog SEO Web Development

How Google’s Recent Changes Necessitate a Mobile-Friendly Site

Mobile-friendly technology is becoming more vital. By not having mobile capabilities, your website’s ranking decreases. More than half of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. As of today, none of the major search engines actually directly penalize you for not including mobile capabilities, but that seem soon to change. There are also many ways you get penalized if your site is accessed from a mobile device, which in turn imparts a bad user experience.

How You Lose Ranking without Mobile Capabilities

Google is likely to include penalizations in the near future for companies failing to launch mobile websites. They already practice the following:

  • Google uses bots to scan sites as if they were a smartphone to see how user-friendly the site is.
  • New Google Analytics tools allow marketers access to more specific mobile traffic data.
  • Loading speed is very heavily penalized by Google, so a mobile phone loading too much data will hurt your ranking.

The Benefits of Mobile SEO

At the very end of last year, Google revealed a new search feature: websites that give great mobile experiences include a tiny “mobile friendly” icon. This announces to readers that if they visit the site, they are more likely to find what they want without hassle. Google’s new distinction trains people to perform mobile searches through them.

Mobile sites are more-often bookmarked because users want to type less into their browsers. A higher chance of being bookmarked means more repeat traffic; another criteria for rank in search engines.

As your mobile ranking rises, your sales will increase. More click-throughs and more sales translates directly to better ranking across all your keywords. Get your responsive design as soon as possible to keep from falling behind!

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Blog SEO Social Media Marketing Tips and Tricks Web Development

15 Link Building Ideas for Better SEO

I was recently working on a project where I had to really dive deep into the link building strategy for a particular client. While doing my research I ran across everything from tactics in 2006 that have thrown some website into a Google purgatory to all the white hat must dos in 2015.  I have always found SEO Moz, SEO Book, and Search Engine Land to be great resources in general for all things SEO.

So without further ado here are the top 15 link building ideas I found most helpful.

1. If you need to build a post with a lot of content build a top “101 list”. A lot of times these will get Dugg or shared on social and can provide some pretty decent link juices to your site. If they are useful enough others will link to it naturally on their blogs.

2. For quick and easy posts do a “top 10 tips and tricks” [ehm]. Its quick and easy for the user to get the information and go. They also have high incentive to share if useful to the user and the niche they serve.

3. Make a list of extensive resources for a specific topic. Use your bookmarks and stay organized with all the tools available to you. There are a lot out there.

4. Flattery is the best form of incentive to share. Find experts in the field and make them part of a top 25 list. They would love to tell everyone they made it!

5. Do the opposite of #2 and create a list of myths or common misconceptions in your specific industry.

6. Join your local business sites and directories. Join the Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, City or Government sites, LGBT sites, local libraries, etc.

7. Review relevant products on retail sites like Amazon, eBay, Alexa, ePinions or whatever you niche is in.

8. Link to other blogs. Its good to have friends in low places. Its better to have friends in high places.

9. Become a sponsor of something. Maybe a local charity, something seasonal, or community driven. They almost always feature you as sponsor on their site.

10. Create original and useful tools. A calendar for show times, a traffic estimator, or price comparisons.

11. Footer links are generally frowned upon. But in my industry its appropriate to link in the footer. In this case, point it to an internal page.

12. Offer something free for a review, feedback, or mention.

13. If you have the resources…. Launch a firefox or chrome browser extension.

14. Anyone can take formal pictures. It’s the drunk celebrities and people in their underwear that makes for great link bait on social media. I decided to test the truth of cats and clicking for this post.

15. Make sure whatever it is you create – videos, tips, tricks, infographics, etc – make sure it is useful. Quality and originality equals virtuality.

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Blog SEO Tips and Tricks

Breaking SEO News: What’s in the Headlines

Learning the latest SEO tips and tricks is great, but it’s also crucial to simply maintain a basic awareness of SEO changes, trends, and events. Keeping up on industry news will strengthen your knowledge base and help you apply the latest information to your own SEO campaign where appropriate. Here’s what’s happening:

Google Penalties

Google is not particularly forthcoming regarding its issuance of penalties. Some site owners and managers don’t even know they’ve been penalized until they find that their content is no longer near the top of search engine results. Websites that feature guest bloggers, such as MyBlogGuest, are the latest to figure this out. Google’s Matt Cutts reports that this type of content has been frowned upon because it has become more of a “spammy practice” over the years. This isbecause they largely function as a way to gain links – not as a means of distributing high-quality content that is relative to their industries.

Web Conversion Tips

While there are countless techniques for web conversion, some options have emerged as the most ethical and effective out there. These include contact forms on home sites, whitepapers available for download, user-friendly shopping carts, newsletter subscription capabilities, and compelling calls to action. These are the areas in which visitors settle into the top of the well – known “conversion funnel.” Without them, even the best businesses, services, products, and websites are ineffective. Whether B2B or B2C, these useful tools have solidified their roles in the marketing industry.

Shopping Campaigns

Google Shopping Campaigns are on their way to replacing Google’s current ad format. Both of these platforms display products from advertiser inventories. Not only will there be differences in format, however, there will be adjustments to campaign structures. Consider these features:

• Multiple Ad Groups. Products can be segmented into groups with specific attributes, like “best sellers.”

• Bid Simulator. If bids are too high, this feature will report the potential losses that may result from a difference in cost.

• Impression Share. This component of the new shopping campaign provides competitor information that can be used to optimize strategies.

These renovations are also excellent opportunities to further test and sharpen existing nuances, such as geo-targeting, mobile compatibility, and dayparting.

Predictions for the Future

Google’s penalty standards are ever-evolving and advancements in web conversion will likely continue. Shopping campaigns are not the only online marketing features that are predicted to change. Video marketing, for instance, is not a new phenomenon. However, all signs point to new and improved changes to its use. Facebook has introduced an enhanced version of its mobile ads platform. Video marketing combined with the best potential for mobile compatibility will result in continued growth.

The diversification of social media platforms is another area that will continue to thrive. It’s no longer about Facebook, YouTube, or even Twitter. Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, and a host of others have solidified their online presence and reputations. Due to their credibility and stability – not to mention their effectiveness thus far – B2B and B2C businesses alike will not pass on the custom engagement and humanizing possibilities they offer.