For what seems like ages, “Google” has been synonymous with “search.” Have a question? Google it. Looking for a product? Google it. But consumer search behavior has changed.
Consumer search behaviors are shifting, marketers — new data
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I tested the 7 best free social media monitoring tools — here’s how they stack up
If you’ve ever woken up to a trending hashtag about your brand — and not in a good way — you know how fast a small issue can become a full-blown PR crisis. Fortunately, I have not been there, done that, or got the t-shirt, but I know plenty of people who’ve been left holding the bag.
The end of “Hey {First_Name}”: AI personalization strategies that convert
Remember the last time you got an email that started with ‘Hey {First_Name}’ and immediately felt like deleting it? That visceral reaction isn’t just about poor execution — it signals a fundamental shift in buyer expectations.
HubSpot’s Transactional Email Pricing Guide — Essential Business Communication Add-On
HubSpot‘s Transactional Email add-on is a specialized email delivery solution that helps businesses send automated, relationship-based communications like order confirmations, password resets, and account updates through a dedicated IP address.
How to get more followers on your business Instagram
With more than 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram is one of the most essential social media platforms for marketers and business owners to connect with their audience.
Microsoft Excel: Easy guide for beginners with formulas and more
Microsoft Excel know-how is so expected that it hardly warrants a line on a resume anymore. But how well do you really know how to use it?
Content Syndication: What it is & how to do it successfully
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Content syndication is the secret to getting your excellent content in front of more people. Instead of posting your content on your site only, content syndication requires repurposing content across the web.
How to blend web analytics and digital marketing analytics to grow better
When I started in content marketing in 2013, my digital marketing analytics strategy was refreshing Google Analytics to check if page views were up. Traffic climbing meant we were winning; traffic dropping meant panic mode.
How HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work together in web design
Do you need to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in web design when you can easily create websites with AI-powered tools? That’s a question that stopped me in the tracks because there’s no easy answer.
Brand strategy 101: A marketing pro explains the important elements of a company branding plan
Whenever I work on branding with companies, I see everyone light up about the tactics. It’s fun to play with logo makers, brainstorm names with ChatGPT, or post their first updates on Instagram.
Why your AI-generated content sounds like everyone else’s (and 4 ways to fix it)
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There’s a challenge brewing for businesses everywhere.
Content is becoming virtually indistinguishable online, and it all boils down to the latest industry disruptor: AI.
Social media SEO: 14 social media strategies to boost SEO
Social media SEO is a hot topic right now, as it should be. Conversations around search engines and social media marketing have been happening for years, and it’s about time social media and SEO unite.
How to build an email list from scratch: 15 incredibly effective strategies
When I set out to build an email list from scratch for MarketingIdeas.com, I didn’t have a product. No pricing page. No polished brand. Just a one-liner and a waitlist.
“You can make money doing this?!”
A couple years ago, a YouTuber and artist known as Ten Hundred reached his $10k Kickstarter funding goal in 3 minutes.
I tried 8 AI project management tools to see if they’re worth it
Choosing the right AI project management tool for your team can help you save hundreds (even thousands) of dollars per year.
12 ebook templates for InDesign, PowerPoint, and Google Docs [free download]
I’m no designer. Sure, I dabble in Canva and can whip up a quick event invite when I need to. But when it comes to pulling together a full ebook design: layout, flow, and visuals, that’s not exactly my forte.
How to write an effective communication plan [+ templates]
An angry, influential customer tags your company in a LinkedIn rant about a buggy product release. You watch the impressions climb fast. Comments pile up as others vent their frustrations and feed the frenzy.
Spam trigger words: How to keep your emails out of the spam folder
Back in 2003, I was working with my first big consulting client, Hasbro. (Yes, that Hasbro. And yes, it was as fun as you’d imagine.) Sitting on my desk at the time — dog-eared, tea-stained, salsa-splotched — was a multi-page document I treated like sacred scripture: the spam trigger word list.
The future of marketing isn’t humans vs. AI — it’s humans with AI
Small business owners are all saying the same thing: “My website traffic is tanking, and the stuff that used to work just doesn‘t anymore.” And they’re right. Nearly 60% of searches don’t end in a click — people are getting answers from AI and never visiting your site.
I tested 8 AI tools for graphic design — here are my prompts, results, and recommendations
My graphic design journey started on Fiverr. I used to sell banners and background removal services for $5. I am not the best designer. Far from it. However, tools like Photoshop and Canva helped me create decent graphics by editing my way through their premium templates.
The top search engines other than Google [+ some you might not expect]
Google remains the top search engine, with a significant market share of more than 89%. This means that 89% of all searches take place on Google.
Why creator marketing works for any business [Tips from a creator consultant]
It’s time to drop the baggage around the word “influencer.”
What are brand identity elements? A marketing pro dives in
Picture the Starbucks siren logo. Now picture it in bright HubSpot orange. How wrong does that feel to you?
I tested the top 14 AI chatbots for marketers [data, prompts, use cases]
I remember when ChatGPT first launched. The entire marketing community was split on whether they should use AI chatbots or not. Posts about ChatGPT would get hundreds of comments, with one side debating the convenience of AI and the other arguing that AI can never match human creativity.
Don’t just grow to grow: Real talk from a serial founder
There are some lessons you only learn when life hits you hard. This week’s master stared down the loss of his business —
Voice is the new logo: Why your brand’s tone matters more than ever
A few years ago, I was in charge of presenting a big marketing strategy deck to a senior executive. My team and I prepared a script that went something like this:
4 types of emails that get the most engagement [+ 4 emails that fail]
My inbox is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get (with apologies to Forrest Gump).
Target audience: How to find yours [+ real-life examples]
Have you ever seen an online ad campaign that has absolutely nothing to do with you? I just saw one on Facebook — it was a brand I’ve never heard of promoting a product I’d never buy. I’m not the brand’s target audience, and that brand is missing out by not understanding who to market their product towards.
Signs it’s time to redesign your website [+ 15 steps to follow]
I never thought I needed a website redesign strategy until I lost search traffic and the revenue it brought. That was in 2022, when I had several websites generating earnings via affiliate commissions. Back then, you could have an “ugly” website and still rank well in search.
Why blog? The benefits of blogging for business and marketing
With 5.5 billion people online (and counting), the internet has never been busier — or had more opportunity. But, businesses keep asking if blogging benefits are still worth the effort.
WordPress essentials: Get started creating, managing, and optimizing your site
When you‘re just getting started with making a website, I know that the process of learning how to use WordPress can feel overwhelming. We’ve all been there, so you’re certainly not alone.
Craft your best brand voice: Expert tips, examples, and templates
Read this line from one of my favorite authors: “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”
Here’s why your next newsletter isn’t going to spam
At my last job I was tasked with launching a newsletter, and was suddenly faced with a bunch of unfamiliar acronyms: DKIM, DMARC, SPF. (Apparently that last one is not related to sun protection?)
Should you use AI logo generators for your business? Here’s my honest recommendation
Given how logos are such an essential part of brand identity, I was skeptical of using AI logo generators.
The easy formula to calculate true CAC across all your marketing channels
Most companies calculate their customer acquisition cost (CAC) incorrectly. They focus on individual channel metrics, such as $50 from paid ads, $30 from content marketing, and $75 from partnership, without understanding their true CAC across all channels. This incomplete picture leads to misallocated budgets, unrealistic growth projections, and investor presentations that don’t hold up under scrutiny.
How I do content research: Steps to follow (with examples)
With ChatGPT, anyone can create blog posts in seconds. But, just because you have copy doesn’t mean it’s valuable. You need content research to make a post that’s actually valuable. That’s especially true with Google’s Helpful Content Update, a shift that placed even more emphasis on expertise, knowledge, and credibility.