Things We Believe
1) Visuals are important. People judge a book by its cover. Even you. 2) It’s not about you, your structure, or what you think you need. It’s about your audience. 3) An organizational website that drives no action is a wasted opportunity. 4) Small details can make big differences. 5) Search and social marketing are powerful, but much more so when part of an integrated content strategy. 6) Outcomes matter.... Read More
5 Weird Ways to Boost Your Social Media Presence
Keeping up with the Joneses is never easy — especially if the Joneses can outwork you, outspend you, and shout louder than you can. And if you’re vying for attention in a crowded online market, things aren’t getting any easier. Craig Newmark (who’s best known as the founder of Craigslist) and his CraigConnects staff recently completed a survey of the social media habits of nonprofits. They compiled their findings into a... Read More
Is Your Advertising Driving Away Potential Customers?
One of the dangers of inbound marketing is that it can drive people away from your brand just as easily as it can attract them to you. How? Easy. Read More Read More
9 Steps to an Awesome Website
We’re very excited to let you know of the publication of our first eBook, entitled, “Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail: 9 Ways to Save Money, Launch Sooner, and Dramatically Boost the Effectiveness of Your Website.” It focuses on nonprofits, but its lessons apply more broadly. Even if this isn’t of interest to you currently, perhaps you have friends that can benefit. It would be great if you’d send them a link. We wrote the... Read More
8 Ways To Convince Your Boss To Invest In Content Marketing
This post, slightly adapted, was first published on the blog of the American Marketing Association of Baltimore. Many of our readers are marketing professionals. As a professional, you’re likely at the forefront of marketing. Sure, you and I understand how effective marketing looks quite different in 2011 than it did in 2001 – a topic we cover at length on this blog. But what do you do if your pointy-hair boss just doesn’t get it? First,... Read More
King Kong vs. Content Marketing
Some rights reserved by Peter Kaminski (http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterkaminski/) Let’s say you’re driving to the mall and, while you’re stopped at a red light, something bright and colorful catches your eye. You look across the street and see a giant inflated gorilla balloon, surrounded by multicolored streamers, all billowing from the roof of a mattress outlet store. And, of course, you immediately think to yourself, “I... Read More
Why Isn’t Your Website Generating Leads?
Your business lives and dies by the number of qualified leads (or potential customers) you can find. Is your business already generating enough leads? If you’re anything like most of the business owners and executives I speak with, the answer is no. What would it do for your business growth if your website was providing you with a consistently increasing flow of qualified leads? Or with lead intelligence that can help you decide where to best... Read More
3 Little Things to Get Right in Social Marketing
Some rights reserved by Orin Zebest At Abstract Edge, we study all kinds of social marketing campaigns — from companies, non-profits, artists and more. While we’ve seen campaigns big and small, cast wide and extremely focused, there are some universal tips that apply to any strategy you’re planning for your new customer outreach. Often, it all boils down to getting the little things right. Here are three examples of common sense... Read More
Starting Somewhere: 10 Baby Steps to Launching Your Social Media Presence
Some rights reserved by pudgeefeet Maybe you can list a dozen reasons why your company should do more inbound marketing. But even though you know you should take action, you may still be paralyzed by one big question: “Where do we start?” If your brand doesn’t already have a social media presence, you might wonder where to start. Facebook? YouTube? Somewhere else? If you do have a digital presence, you might not be sure how... Read More
How Can Online Media Boost Your Offline Sales?
Earlier this week, we stumbled across this Facebook ad from Waldorf Ford and Dodge, a car dealership in Maryland that’s using Facebook and YouTube to attract new customers. But they’re not just using these channels to boost their page views and get more attention; they’re actively trying to solve their customers’ problems, reduce likely obstacles to a car purchase, and create a friendly bond between the brand and the potential... Read More
