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Author: Search Influence Alumni

Get More Views on Your Company’s #Facebook Page

The term “pound sign” has become obsolete and even deserving of ironic quotes these days. The “#,” now the almighty hashtag, is generally associated with where it originated: Twitter. The hashtag’s aim was to unify groups of individuals discussing similar topics across the social media platform. However, hashtag usage has now expanded to Facebook, and using them properly can guide more traffic to your business’s page.

How Do Hashtags Work?

The popularity of hashtags is still on the rise, and more and more Facebook users are typing in “#[insert topic]” to seek common ground with others online. Want to promote your nonprofit organization? When typed into a Facebook search bar, hashtags such as #nonprofit and #donate will lead to news articles, Instagram posts, and more that discuss these topics. Used appropriately, your hashtag can generate engagement among social media users who are browsing for a service that your company offers.

#Don’t #Get #Carried #Away

When deciding what hashtag seems the most appropriate, using a trending topic just for the sake of site traffic is a bad idea. If you’re looking to promote your law firm, adding #KanyeWest to a post would probably generate views, but ultimately would make your page look spammy —and desperate. Plus, doing so could result in ruining your online reputation. It’s also important to keep it short and sweet. Will Facebook users be typing in “#IneedatriallawyerinNewJersey”? Probably not. But #NewJersey and #TrialLawyer could certainly yield some positive engagement while sounding natural.

Facebook as a Search Engine?

With Facebook generating around 1.5 billion searches per day, it’s easy to say that the platform is getting used as a search engine. With the proper use, hashtags can be excellent in online promotions and business news. However, too many hashtags can generate less traffic, so choose no more than two relevant tags per post. Once you’ve gotten a couple of trial runs with your hashtags, watch your analytics and see where the strengths lie. If a post’s views are going down as a result of your tags, try different ones!

Being clever with Facebook hashtags can enhance your business’s discoverability. Try inserting them into posts and let the results speak for themselves.

January 11, 2017
Top 10 Search Influence Blogs of 2016

The year 2016 was filled with memes, the Olympics, superhero movies, and the election. You can bet, with over 46% of people now online worldwide, there were plenty of changes to online marketing, too. If you haven’t kept up, here are the top 10 blogs of 2016 to make sure your business is poised for the #bestyearever.

1. What Happened to Facebook’s 20% Text Grid Tool?

Our Internet Marketing Team Lead, Michelle Neuhoff Boyd, created this informative blog post that eased the confusion of Facebook’s 20% text grid tool. Find out how this new rule may affect your business.

2. An Update: How to Get Rich (Answers, That Is) with Google

Not rich with money, but with Google. Over the years, Google has changed their algorithm, and our team at Search Influence is making sure to stay on top of every change. Read this post from 2015 to learn more about rich answers.

3. Getting Hands on With the New Google My Business

Having a hard time understanding the new Google My Business? This engaging blog post can clear up any confusion on listings, editing, and more.

4. Three Top Picks for The Big Idea at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week

During New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, The Big Idea picked 10 entrepreneurs’ ideas in front of a large crowd, and everyone got to vote their favorite. See the top three picks that Paula Keller, our director of sales and marketing, enjoyed the most by reading this post.

5. Email Marketing for Small Business: 9 Things Not to Do

Find out how not to email your customers when just starting your business. Originally published in 2010 by a Search Influence Alumni, read all about effective email marketing.

6. A Dentist’s Guide for Choosing Target Audiences on Facebook

Ever wondered how to market your dentistry on Facebook? This guide will help you understand the most successful dental campaigns in the industry. You’ll know what age group and interests to target.

7. Should You Be Using Google’s URL Shortener in Your Social Media Campaigns?

Are you still unsure if you should use Google’s URL shortener? This blog post talks about the benefits of using their shortener, such as the URL analytics, redirects, ease-of-use, and more.

8. Barnacle SEO – Local Search Engine Optimization for the Sam’s Club Crowd

Will Scott, CEO and co-founder at Search Influence, published this post back in 2011. Learn more about the term Barnacle SEO and which sites to trust for small businesses.

9. Nix the Wix SEO Challenge: Tips & Tricks

This post from 2015 helps you make the most out of your Wix website by guiding you on the meta tags updates, sharing your site on social media, making your site visual, and more.

10. 10 SEO Blogs You Should Be Following

Do you want to read reliable SEO blogs? Here’s a list of the most informative SEO blogs that Monica Shariffskul put together. Many of these are on my top list, too.

Be sure to subscribe to our Search Influence blog, and you’ll be the first to know when a new blog has been posted. Also, Happy New Year!

January 3, 2017
Google’s Ascent With User Experience

Being found on the internet is essential to any business. We all know it, but few understand what it takes to be found. Luckily, there is an easy approach to beginning your own online marketing journey.

Start by looking at Google, not as a search engine where businesses tirelessly compete to appear at the top spot, but as a user tool. Back in the ancient times of the internet, Yahoo had a $125 billion market cap, and Google was hoping to be acquired for $1 million. As time marched on, Google surpassed Yahoo as the number one search engine because of one key difference between them: the user experience. Google didn’t provide results promoting Google brands or its own material. Instead, it happily delivered the most relevant search results to the user. Results that took the user to a different website.

While this may seem counter-intuitive—helping users leave your site and go to another—it has proved successful. Sure, users temporarily left Google by clicking on a third party’s link; it also guaranteed their return. Such a great user experience will entice anyone to return time and again for a similar experience. This is how Google surpassed Yahoo as the leading search engine, and it’s the best way for you to start your online marketing process.

The lesson for you to take away as you embark on your journey is to put user experience first. When creating your website or content, don’t try to be overly fancy or technical. Start by making it simple and convenient. Websites become popular when users can easily navigate and find content that is relevant to their search. Don’t try to force your consumer into a Corvette when they are really looking for a minivan. Your customers will thank you when they can easily access your website, it loads quickly, and the information they are searching for is plain for them to see and understand.

Going forward, as you build out your website, keep the consumer in mind each step of the way. How would you want to interact with the website of a business like yours? If you don’t know where to start, talk to the friend who doesn’t quite understand what you do. They can be your guide, explaining how they would want to navigate your site and their desired outcome. Use this to cater each step of the user experience to your actual users.

December 29, 2016
The Do’s and Don’ts of Content Syndication for SEO

A few weeks ago, I received a question about the value of content syndication in marketing strategies. Because it’s one that I also asked when I first started at Search Influence and began learning about SEO, I wanted to actually address this question in a full blog post.

What Is Content Syndication?

Content syndication is the process by which a piece of content (blog, news article, graphic, video, etc.) is pushed out to other sources. You see this, for example, when online news outlets pick up press releases or other articles and repost them verbatim to their own sites.

From a UX point of view, this can be a great way to increase your reach to potential customers. From an SEO point of view, content syndication can garner valuable backlinks and help to increase website authority. And from an overall marketing point of view, the efforts spent on syndicating content can also build great relationships with other websites and organizations.

Backlink and Authority Building

The process for syndicating content is similar to that of general link outreach and is for a similar purpose as well: to generate authoritative backlinks that, down the line, contribute to your own site’s authority. Coupled with the opportunity of increasing reach to your business’s original content, this can be a worthwhile tool in your marketing arsenal.

The Caveats of Content Syndication

That said, there is a right and a wrong way to syndicate content when it comes to SEO. Here are some things to think about when considering it for your marketing strategy:

1. Duplicate Content

Syndication is inherently creating duplicate versions of your content and putting them on other websites. In the case of written content, this can actually detract from your SEO efforts if done incorrectly. It’s important to understand the policies and practices of the websites you’re syndicating to and ensure they are declaring yours the primary version.

This can be done a number of ways but the primary ones are:

– Rel=canonical – This is a meta attribute that basically tells search engines that the page they are on is the same as another page. In this scenario, syndicated versions of your content will set your original URL as the canonical. For more information, check out Google’s own post on the rel=canonical attribute.

– Noindex – This is a robots meta tag that tells search engines not to index a page at all so that it won’t appear in search results. Ideally, in this case, syndicated versions of your content will be set to noindex so your original post isn’t competing for rankings with them.

2. Backlinks

Remember to include an actual backlink to your content when syndicating. This can be forgotten when you get caught up in pushing your content out there or when syndicating images and videos. Ideally, this would go to the original content’s URL, rather than another page on your website.

3. Site Authority

This is an oft forgotten consideration when choosing a syndication site. Quality and quantity both have their place when creating your syndication strategy.

In an ideal situation, if you were to get one backlink from content syndication, you’d want it to be from a site with the authority equivalent of Google itself, and you’d want it to have a follow link back to your website.

But, we don’t live in an ideal world, so it’s important to keep in mind the actual authority of syndicating websites and find out if the links you’re getting are follow or nofollow. Check out this resource to learn a little more about the importance of follow and nofollow links.

With all this in mind, content syndication can be a great opportunity for websites. But, like I said in my last post “The Importance of Content Marketing to Your SEO Strategy,” it doesn’t matter if you don’t have great content to start with.

December 28, 2016
Search Influence’s Top 5 November Blogs

Check out our top 5 blogs from last month. And be sure to subscribe to our blog to keep up on all the happenings at Search Influence and in the online advertising world.

#1: 4 Tips to Start Your Black Friday Social Media Strategy

It’s that time of the year again! Amanda Ball gave us some pointers on how companies can take advantage of online advertising at the busiest shopping time of the year.

#2: What Happened to Facebook’s 20% Text Grid Tool?

Our tech gurus at Search Influence have been keeping an eye on Facebook’s 20% Text Grid Tool updates. Meanwhile, Michelle Neuhoff Boyd’s blog, originally published in March 2016, is back on our top 5 list this month with some enlightening updates.

#3: 3 Things Leonard Cohen Taught Me About Content Marketing

The great Leonard Cohen left the world an extraordinary body of work when he passed away in November. Search Influence’s Joel Willson wrote about some of the lessons he learned about creating quality content from the great singer-songwriter.

#4: 8 Most Fun Jobs in New Orleans

We all know that there’s no place on Earth quite like New Orleans. Rachel Marsh shared her take on the 8 most fun jobs in the city.

#5: 5 Things to Know About Online Marketing Before Starting Your Own Business

Don’t let your small business get left in the dust. Mary Silva imparted some valuable tips on how to succeed in marketing your small business.

Don’t miss out on the latest news from Search Influence. Follow our blog!

December 19, 2016
Search Influence Hires Two New Employees

The holiday season is off to a great start, and it’s been pretty chilly the past couple of weeks in New Orleans. However, this didn’t stop people searching for Search Influence jobs. We’ve hired two new employees to add to our team! Meet Marcus Carter and Bradley Thompson.

Marcus Carter

Marcus joined Search Influence as a Junior Technical Internet Marketing Associate. Marcus is an INTP, according to the Myer-Briggs test, a New Orleans native, and a photographer/designer. He and his friends started a business a couple of years ago called Nolagrown (@nola.grown). They produce apparel and accessories. Marcus enjoys gadgets and learning about the latest tech. He loves to eat at La Boca, drink Blueberry Mojitos from St. Joe’s Bar, watch Narcos on Netflix, and he enjoys getting a grape snoball from Hansen’s Sno-Bliz.

Bradley Thompson

Brad is our new Public Relations and Marketing Associate. He is tasked with supporting the Marketing Department as they promote and manage the Search Influence brand. He is from Knoxville, TN and is a recent transfer student from the University of Tennessee. When he’s not busy learning and growing as a marketing student, he has a predilection for the outdoors, good food, and good company.

Welcome to the Search Influence team, Marcus and Bradley!

If you believe that you represent our core values, there are still Search Influence jobs available at the moment. Submit your application today.

December 14, 2016
5 Things To Know About Online Marketing Before Starting Your Own Business
With 2017 quickly approaching, there are many people who are dreaming about starting their own businesses. Before jumping in, here are five things you should know about online marketing as an entrepreneur just getting started. Three tips are from guests Mike Blumenthal, David Mihm, and Greg Sorenson, and two are from yours truly.

1: Scale Is Everything

Mike Blumenthal runs an amazing blog that keeps up with the most recent changes in online marketing and Google in particular. As a founding partner of GetFiveStars.com (a reputation management platform), Mike is known by many as “Professor Maps” due to his wealth of knowledge around the local search ecosystem. He was one of the first people I thought to interview for this blog.

According to Mike, he doesn’t necessarily consider himself an “entrepreneur,” but “rather, someone that is trying to find their way through life by helping others be and do better AND not have to work for someone else. That ethos, which evolved over a number of years in business, helped me be clear about what I am doing and why.”

I asked Mike what’s something he wish he knew before getting started in our industry, and he had the following to say:
- I grew up in a family business and all I knew was family as partners. That was true well into my career. I wish I knew that family doesn’t always make the best partners as they may not be flexible enough in this new age of constant change.
- Find and work with partners that not only share your core values but also have skills you don’t yet have. You can help each other out and make the enterprise more effective for all.
- Recognize that we are in a market economy and, as such, any company is at the mercy of that economy. It takes thoughtfulness and hard work to succeed but never for a moment delude yourself that your success is controllable or fully due to that hard work and thinking. It is just as easy to fail as succeed in today’s world, and often, you are but a passenger (victor or victim) in a much bigger exercise that is not of your own making.
- Scale is everything. You can scale with people or you can scale with software. But realize that if it is just you, there are concrete limits to what you can do and can continue to do in a given period of time. But scaling, while easy to say, is not as easy to do. It has taken me several tries to even get close.
- In the end, there is nothing special about being an “entrepreneur.” It is just a different way of moving through the world, putting food on your table for the ones you love and hopefully helping others.
2: Address Online Reviews, Good and Bad

Responding to reviews online is crucial when it comes to showing that you’re engaged and active with your community and customers. As I mentioned in my blog on “4 Tips To Manage The Reputation Of Your Online Business,” it is often assumed that large franchises and multi-location businesses are too big to handle the relatively large amount of feedback they receive. While it’s much easier to respond to positive reviews, responding to negative reviews gracefully and respectfully can also lead to an improved reputation for your business.

3: Pay Close Attention to Google Updates

David Mihm is a co-founder of GetListed.org (now Moz Local) and a leader in Local search engine marketing. When asked what he wish he knew before going into online marketing, he said:

For one thing, Google’s a huge company with many different departments, not to mention a crazily complex algorithm, and it’s unlikely that the statements made by the webmaster team are infallibly correct. More importantly, statements that come from Googlers are not designed to serve webmasters’ interests; they’re designed to serve Google’s interests. So, take every comment Google makes with a grain of salt, and to the extent that you can, test their statements (and your hypotheses) with what you actually see happening in business decisions on a big scale, and in search results on a small one.

4: Your Website Needs to Load Quickly

In my presentation on “10 Ways To Improve Traffic To Your Site,” I mentioned the importance of good site speed. Site speed is the amount of time a page on your website needs to completely load. This matters not just for search engine visibility and ranking users and search engines, as users are less likely to stay on a website that takes a long time to load and search engines will penalize your website for being too slow. Google’s PageSpeed Insights Tool is great for analyzing your site for ways to improve your site speed and it will provide you with detailed information on how to fix each issue.

5: Start with Concrete Marketing Goals

Greg Sorensen, vice president at Baker Maid Products, Inc., works with retail customers to help conceptualize new products and bring them to market. He works with a production staff to ensure they are producing quality products efficiently by trying to improve our production infrastructure. Greg also manages all of their accounts directly and seeks out new retail customers such as grocery chains, specialty food stores, and online food retailers. Last but not least, he helps steer the direction of their marketing efforts with the help of their social media associate and their operations manager.

When asked what he wish he knew about online marketing before going into his current field, Greg said the following:

Anything. Honestly, I knew nothing about online marketing when I was starting out. Partly because we had no budget, but also, at the time, online marketing seemed somewhat mystifying. I wish I had known more about crafting a strategy as opposed to just doing a hodgepodge of ideas and hoping it worked out. It is easy to waste money that way. You must have concrete goals and a well-researched plan to achieve them.

Hopefully, these five tips will help you in starting your own endeavor with a few less roadblocks or missed opportunities.
December 1, 2016
3 Things Leonard Cohen Taught Me About Content Marketing

On Thursday, November 7, the legendary singer/songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen passed away. Being a fan of his music, I reflected on the impact of his art and remarkable career.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that there’s a wealth of writing wisdom in his life that can be applied to content marketing. Here are three things that stood out to me:

1: Persistence Is Important

Cohen famously said, “If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often.”

The best content is perfected over time. Remember, if you’re just starting out, commit to a long-term strategy. Many content campaigns are abandoned too soon. Others are neglected. Make sure to test reactions, and stay the course. The payout is worth it.

2: Focus on the Process

In sales, the best way to solve an activity problem is by generating more activity. Content marketing is very similar. You have to feed the monster. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is to create a catalog of valuable content that over time will give your site authority and boost your search.

3: Quality Over Quantity

Leonard Cohen was a famously slow writer. He once said, “I wish I were one of those people who wrote songs quickly. But I’m not.”

According to an Orbitz Media Studios study, the average blog in 2016 took three hours and 16 minutes to write, and twice as many bloggers spent six hours per post than in 2015.

With the proliferation of bad content, it’s important that your small business stands out. Quality content that is timeless and can be recycled will be more effective than the generic vanilla stuff everyone forgets.

November 22, 2016
Search Influence Reviews the 8 MOST Fun Jobs in New Orleans!

We all know it’s great to work at Search Influence, but some NOLA professionals are headed a little farther off the beaten path. Check out the eight most interesting jobs in the Crescent City.

1: Ghost Tour Guide

Source: www.flickr.com/photos/the-o/

New Orleans is one of America’s most haunted cities—if not THE most haunted. With moss-draped oak trees and cobblestone alleys providing ambiance and a history including pirate battles, voodoo queens, and over 27 yellow fever epidemics, the city is perfect for supernatural lore. Ghost tour guides love sharing their knowledge with travelers from all over the world, and who knows—they might just spot a few ghosts of their own! (Try New Orleans Ghost Tours, Haunted History Tours or Ghost City Tours.)

2: Roman Candy Man

Roman Candy, sold from a hand-painted, mule-drawn wagon, has been a New Orleans tradition since 1915. The Italian taffy is made fresh in the wagon each week, and the recipe has been passed down through the same family for generations. The best part of the job? “It’s fun!” said current owner Ron Kotteman in an interview with Thrillist. “I love making the kids happy—that’s why I got into the business in the first place.”

3: Mardi Gras Parade Designer

Most people participate in Mardi Gras for fun, but a few lucky New Orleanians have made Carnival into a career. The most coveted positions are at Kern Studios, the self-proclaimed “world’s best float builders.” These include niche jobs like parade float lettering specialists. However, another option is to start your own krewe! A prime example is Ryan S. Ballard, who turned a realization about Mardi Gras’ lack of sci-fi cosplay into a career as the designer/creator of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus.

4: Craft Brewer

Craft breweries are taking off! According to Brewer’s Association, 2015 saw the most craft breweries in US history, and “one of the fastest growing regions was the South.” New Orleans boasts five breweries within the city, including NOLA Brewing Company, and the acclaimed Abita Brewery on the Northshore. The job’s main perk is obviously the delicious beer, but brewers also report loving the math and science involved, as well as the status of having a “cool” job.

5: Calliope Player

The age of steam gave New Orleans some of its most classic attractions: the steamboat and the calliope. The instrument is similar to a pipe organ, but powered by steam or compressed air. Debbie Fagnano plays the calliope three times a day on the Steamboat Natchez, one of the last operational, fully steam-powered paddlewheel boats in America. In an interview with New Orleans Magazine, she said her favorite part of the job is “watching passengers from all over the world thoroughly enjoy what they’re experiencing.”

6: Penguin Breeder

Source: www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/

His official title is Aviculturist at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas’ Husbandry Department, but Darwin Long breeds penguins for a living. He also develops and runs the Backstage Penguin Pass program, raises penguin chicks, and cares for the aquarium’s other birds, like the free-flying Amazonian bird collection. According to New Orleans Magazine, Long’s favorite part of the job is “being able to share with and excite kids and adults about penguins and other birds, while educating them about penguin biology and their natural environment.”

7: Jazz Fest Organizer

If helping to run Jazz Fest is your dream job, you just might be in luck! Wikipedia lists over 65 positions on the Board of Directors alone. In case you need a reminder of why Jazz Fest is awesome, performers have ranged from Mahalia Jackson to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and food vendors offer delicious Louisiana classics from fried green tomatoes to Crawfish Monica. Large spaces are also dedicated to celebrating cultural and historical practices, from Cajuns to Mardi Gras Indians. Who wouldn’t want to organize this great event?

8: French Quarter Buggy Driver

New Orleans buggy drivers love their job! As Jake Jones wrote for myNewOrleans.com, “How cool—to be in the middle of the French Quarter, where all the fun and action take place?” Similarly, Jim Farrell told Nola.com, “It is a lot of fun. You entertain people.” In addition to meeting visitors from around the world and serving as ambassadors for the city, drivers also mention bonding with their mules as a great part of the job. They’re a little jealous of the vacation time though—mules get three months off every year to unwind in green pastures.

Of course, these are only eight of the many interesting jobs New Orleans has to offer. With a growing film industry, some of the nation’s best restaurants and bars, a thriving arts scene, and more, there’s an occupation for almost every form of creativity.

November 17, 2016
Freelance Friday: 10 Tips to Make Working From Home Work for You

This blog is part of our Freelance Friday series, where we discuss everything and anything related to freelancing. If you are a freelance writer and are looking for additional work, consider applying at Search Influence.

1: Create a Great Working Environment

Setting up a designated work area is crucial to your productivity. Try to situate yourself in a space with a lot of natural light. This will help you stay awake and focused. Make sure you have ample desk space for your arms and that your monitor is at a slight distance. Pick a room or space that is quiet and out of high traffic areas.

2: Stay Organized

Staying organized is one of the most important skills you can develop as a freelancer. Make sure you have everything you need to get your work done. Keep notebooks, pens, and flash drives handy. Make sure your computer is organized as well. Using bookmarks and categorizing folders can help you store and find important things easier.

3: Stick to a Work Schedule

Developing your own work schedule will help you sharpen your time management skills. You can set your working hours according to your lifestyle, but make sure you stick to it—and don’t forget to factor in time for breaks and lunch. The best thing to do is model your workday after a typical workday at the office. Don’t forget to mentally clock out at the end of the day. You will run the risk of feeling burnt out if you are constantly working.

4: Get Dressed

It’s tempting to stay in your pajamas when you are working from home, but don’t let the “no one is going to see me” rationalization fool you. Dressing up as you would for a regular day of work will put you in the mindset of getting work done. Don’t worry— you don’t have to put on a three-piece suit, but a clean set of jeans and a t-shirt should do the trick.

5: Refrain From Social Media

Social media is a great way to stay connected and get updates on current affairs; however, it can also be a big waste of time. There are some apps that can temporarily block Facebook or allow you to set time limits for phone usage.

6: Know Your Limits

Some people need white noise or music to help them concentrate. However, these things can also be distracting. It’s important to know your limits. If a fast beat makes you want to dance, then opt for something mellower to listen to while you work. If you can’t tear yourself away from the TV, then switch the channel to the news.

7: Let People Know You Are Working

If you live with other people, it is important to let them know when you are working. This will minimize interruptions so you can efficiently power through your work. It will also let them know the best times to reach you should they need to speak with you.

8: Change Scenery Every Now and Then

Working in the same place can be monotonous, so try to change scenery whenever possible. This can help you open your mind and induce creativity. It could be as simple as moving to a different room or taking a walk to your nearest coffee shop (as long as they have Wi-Fi).

9: Meal Prep for Lunch and Snack

One of the great things about working from home is that you are next to your kitchen, which makes it impossible to forget your lunch. However, working next to your kitchen can leave you making countless trips to the refrigerator to see if something tasty has magically appeared. To avoid this, prepare your meal and snack beforehand so you are not aimlessly scavenging for food.

10: Buy a Plant

A little random? Yes! But there are many benefits to having a little plant in your work area. Plants filter air naturally, boost mood, and can ultimately increase productivity. Not to mention an office plant will bring a little bit of the great outdoors to your workspace.

Working from home can be a liberating experience, so try to make the most out of it. With these tips (plus our happy and healthy tips from last month), you can step up your freelance game to ensure you never miss a deadline.

November 11, 2016