Inbound Marketing Blog

The Importance Of SEO As An Element of A Well Designed Blog Marketing Campaign.

A vigorous inbound marketing strategy is critical if you want your company to compete in today’s world of business. But in order for your business to gain the full benefits of such a lucrative resource, you must employ multiple resources to compound the impact of your marketing efforts.

There are 5 key elements to a successful inbound marketing strategy:

1. Search engine optimization (SEO)
2. Blog development
3. Social media
4. Real-time analytics
5. A well defined conversion strategy

The term “blog marketing” is rapidly becoming a more commonplace phrase in the internet marketing community. SEO blog marketing takes this one step further, combining the leverage of community interaction with search-engine friendly web content.

Here are just a few of the biggest benefits of the SEO blog marketing approach:

1. Blog marketing provides potent results at very low cost
Most blog software can be easily integrated with your current company web site at no cost. Even if you hire a web designer to install the blog and customize the initial look & feel to your liking, today’s blogging platforms make it very easy for you to then maintain your own blog without further need for outside assistance.
2. Frequently-updated content for your web site : If you’ve done your research, you’ve no doubt discovered that adding new content and pages to your web site is essential, not only for search engine placement (SEO), but also to keep your visitors coming back consistently for new information. A blog enables you to update your site on a regular basis, without need for special software or expertise.
3. More opportunities to use essential keywords: 
Utilizing keywords for SEO is nothing new – but it’s not always easy to find way to incorporate hundreds of keywords into a standard web site with limited pages. SEO blog marketing enables you to build dozens – even hundreds - of pages for your web site, each one containing an article that features one or more of your important keywords. When you take full advantage of this blog marketing strategy, the possibilities are endless.
4. Increased number of inbound links : When other websites provide links to your blog, the result is immeasurable visibility for your company. Not only will web users click through those links into your site, but also you gain perceived relevance with search engines, who reward you in turn with higher search engine rankings. Blog marketing furnishes valuable content that other web site owners will want to share with their own visitors (by linking to YOU), in their own effort to provide new and updated material for their readers.
5. Your target market will know, like and trust you: 
Historically, consumers prefer to buy products or services from a business they recognize as reputable, knowledgeable and friendly. Blog marketing affords unlimited opportunities to demonstrate all of these qualities through articles, free information and useful tips. When you write about topics relevant to your business, you position yourself as an expert in your field of industry, instilling a level of confidence in your professional abilities. Your readers (potential customers) get to know you better, and appreciate the knowledge they gain as a result of their interaction with your content. When the time comes to buy, they’re far more likely to turn to your business than one who hasn’t gained this level of familiarity with them beforehand.
6. Blog marketing makes it easy for others to share YOUR content : It’s not just “if you build it, they will come”... with SEO blog marketing, they will not only come to you, but they will tell others about you! Today’s blog software makes it ridiculously simple for people to disseminate your blog’s content on a moment’s impulse, using share buttons, re-tweets, like buttons and more. Post valuable blog content, and let others spread the word for you. 

The list of SEO blog marketing benefits can stretch far longer than this single article permits. Suffice it to say, this is a powerful tool that no serious business should overlook for increased exposure and community interaction at little or no cost.

In closing, make note of another side of the blog marketing coin: guest blogging. Be sure to take time to actively comment on other people’s blogs featuring content that is related to your own blog’s topics. This is a great way to further get your name out there, to interact with online communities, and to make more contacts with potential future customers!

Dr. Lynn Fassy, Sarasota Pain Medicine Associates:

This blog post may appear as a complete departure from our usual inbound marketing educational articles and in part, it is. The objective with this specific blog post is two fold. One is to recognize & praise to a truly compassionate and skilled local Sarasota pain medicine physician, Dr. Lynn Fassy. The second is to illustrate the power and effects of a well constructed blog post.

If a blog post is developed as an element of your overall strategic fabric. It will behave as one of many strategic threads and accomplish at least these 3 goals:

1. Add a new page that will be indexed by Google, Yahoo & MSN.
2. Create a new and targeted set of keywords that provide new opportunities on a (SERP) search engine results page.
3. Attract additional inbound links from other related and credible websites.

Whatever your blog article topic may be, these are the goals and objectives and can & should be measured.

The second objective of this blog post is simply to share an important experience here in Sarasota Florida and recognize the skills of Dr. Lynn Fassy of Pain Medicine Associates.

Whether you have personal experience or not, the truth is that pain medicine and pain management is a very tricky and yes abused area of medicine. I know this from first hand experience. My girlfriend has managed a pain medicine facility in Sarasota for more than 5 years here in Sarasota Florida, it is an area of medicine under much scrutiny. The obvious danger is that narcotics/opiates are, in many case, a part of a patient's options and recommended solution.

My own experience with Dr. Lynn Fassy of Pain Medicine Associates: 8 weeks ago I awoke with significant neck & shoulder pain. After a few days I realized the pain was not going away and it needed attention. My first step was to see a local Sarasota and well respected chiropractor but experienced no results or relief. It was at this point I selected to consult with Dr. Lynn Fassy to evaluate and treat this condition. To relieve the pain as quickly as possible without the use of narcotics, Dr. Fassy gave me a "trigger point" steroid injection and then  ordered an immediate MRI.

The MRI showed 2 "contained disc protrusions" or 2 herniated cervical (neck) discs. Dr. Fassy recommended a series of epidural injections over a 3 week period.

Not only did this pain medicine physician carefully evaluate and prescribe the appropriate course of action but because he was so thorough, during the initial epidural procedure, he discovered an unrelated issue with my carotid arteries. It was determined later that I had no serious issues and all is well but even the cardiologist expressed how impressed he was that this was picked up by Dr. Fassy.

I know that my blog has a focus on inbound marketing and there is a lesson to be learned here but all that aside I would personally like to praise and recommend Dr. Lynn Fassy of Pain Medicine Associates for a job well done, compassionate care and for creating a practice that I can, and all other Sarasota residence can trust and call on for quality care.

Lead Generation Software: What is it? How do I use it?

In today's new world of Inbound Marketing, lead generation is the process of getting your business message in front of your target market at the time they are looking for your specific information, data or offer.

To be clear, other terms that can be used in conjunction with the term inbound marketing are:

1. Internet Marketing
2. Pull Marketing
3. Attraction Marketing
   
4. Online Marketing
5. SEO - Search Engine Optimization
6. SEM - Search Engine Marketing
   

When I use the term lead generation throughout this blog, I am referring to an application or software component that helps manage the Inbound marketing or Internet marketing process in full. The 4 main Inbound marketing or Internet marketing elements that can be namged through the application of lead generation software are as follow:

1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The process of making all your website pages search engine friendly through on-page optimization techniques. This includes keyword development and the development of landing pages focused on additional and related keywords. 
2. Blog Development: The creation, development and management of regular blog posts that add new pages, new keywords and new inbound link's a result of each new blog post.
3. Social Media Development: The process of making your messages more accessible for a group or groups of people (or businesses) through social media networks, like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
4. Complete Analytics: This element should allow you to analyze and evaluate every element inside your Inbound marketing or Internet marketing system.
   

Finding and using the most appropriate lead generation software should give you the ability to manage all of these elements more efficiently and effectively.

The truth is that marketing online, not unlike traditional marketing, demands strategy, time, effort and budget. No matter what some ill informed, so called professionals may tell you, there is no quick, catch all solution. Inbound marketing is like anything else worth while, it takes a commitment and patience. The other truth is that Inbound marketing or Internet marketing must be done correctly, consistently and measured with regularity.

Virtual Support Systems has partnered with HubSpot and is implementing HubSpot lead generation software. Through our own usage and testing over time, we have determined that this specific lead generation software is the most complete with a built in philosophy that matches our own. Simply put, we believe and have experienced that this is the best lead generation software and Inbound marketing software available. One important idea to understand is that this Internet marketing or lead generation software was mostly developed for Inbound marketing agencies and Internet marketing professionals like Virtual Support Systems. This means that although this lead generation software solution is available to any end user or small business, it is absolutely recommended to partner with highly skilled and certified professionals to implement this lead generation system for your Inbound marketing campaign.

Virtual Support Systems is a certified HubSpot Inbound Marketing Partner. The objective of this new partnership is to provide inbound marketing clients (small & medium businesses) the powerful and comprehensive Internet marketing & search engine optimization software (HubSpot) coupled with the experienced services to expertly implement all marketing and lead generation software modules.

This is a very exciting partnership for all small businesses that are ready to get involved with the new age of Inbound marketing and move away from the expensive, 40 year old methods of "interruption" marketing.

Good lead generation software should address the following:

    •    Complete marketing software solutions under one umbrella
    •    A cutting edge CMS (content management system)
    •    On page optimization tools
    •    Keyword research tools
    •    Keyword management tools
    •    Blog creation tools
    •    Blog management tools
    •    Social media strategy support
    •    Synchronized blog, Facebook, Linked IN and Twitter posting
    •    Lead management systems
    •    Lead generation software
    •    Lead tracking software
    •    Lead nurturing software
    •    Prospect communication systems
    •    Advanced analytics
    •    100% support in launching and managing your Inbound marketing projects.

This lead generation software is a major advancement in the development, and management of inbound marketing. Inbound marketing has come a long way from the simple days of search engine submission. Everywhere you look, you can see the older marketing methods and lead generation methods loosing steam and effectiveness. As consumers and businesses, we have learned how to filter all of the "interruption" marketing techniques that have been used by the big companies over the last 40 years. Spam filters, DVRs, remotes, satellite radio subscriptions have all given us the power to filter and even stop the old school marketing and advertising and rendering old lead generation methods less useful.

Don't be left behind because you don't understand all these marketing developments or because you think, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Marketing is such an important component of any business and lead generation has always been a main element, but lead generation software is somewhat new. The marketing methods have changed and become more powerful as well as more efficient. Use it to your advantage.

Internet Marketing/Inbound Marketing Is Growing At Record Pace

Are you finding it difficult to keep pace and keep current with Inbound marketing? It used to be a simple as executing a solid search engine optimization plan (SEO). Internet marketing has changed tremendously since those days. I know because I am in the business.

As recently as one year ago, my clients would generate leads and substantial other activity as a result of a carefully constructed search engine optimization program combined with some supportive content development.

Inbound or Internet marketing has expanded and in order to be successful, must include other components. Blog development and social media development are now critical elements of a complete Internet marketing plan.

Many organizations are having a difficult time understanding the need to refocus some (or most) of their marketing efforts in this newer direction. The transition and evolution from traditional or outbound marketing to inbound marketing can be confusing to many. Businesses understand the old marketing methods even if they admit they have become less effective. 

We are at an important crossroads for many businesses even if they don't notice. They must get involved in their marketing more than was demanded in the past.

An Overview:

• Outbound marketing is also considered "interruption" marketing.
• Outbound marketing is 40 year old technology.
  
• Outbound marketing is using a hammer to deliver your message.
• Inbound marketing is using a magnet to attract those sincerely interested in your message.
• Inbound marketing produces more quality leads at a lower cost per lead.

What should be included in your inbound marketing strategy?

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
2. Blog development - regular blog posts
3. Social Media Strategies
4. Strong & accurate analytics or measurement

Developing and administering a strong Internet marketing plan takes the same effort and patience as developing a comprehensive traditional marketing plan. In most cases the budget won't have to be as extensive but the time commitment and ability to partner with highly skilled professionals is similar. Remember that in spite of what you read or what may appear in your inbox (or spam filter), a good inbound marketing strategy takes time, effort and a budget. There is no quick fix. Show me a keyword on page one of google and I will show you an organization that applied effort and had patience.

Internet marketing, at it's most basic level is about:

1. Lead Generation
2. Lead Tracking
3. Lead Nurturing
4. Lead Conversion
   

For a free inbound marketing white paper, click on this image:

Blogging For Dummies... even if you're no dummy.

In my circles (inbound marketing), there has been a lot of discussion lately about the optimum frequency of a web site's blog posts. What are the best practices for blog creation and development?

Even though I consider myself an expert in the world of inbound marketing, I must admit I don't know all there is to know about blogging. I am not extremely familiar with the technological options when setting up or creating a blog that include all the bells and whistles. But, I can tell you that most of the productive inbound marketing components revolve around the creation and development of content and your blog may be the most powerful way to do so.

As I have explained in the video above, a well crafted blog accomplishes many inbound marketing (SEO) objectives all at one time. For more visual assistance, you can use this blogging for dummies equation I have created. It is a great illustration of what can happen when you post a well written blog. I realize that this is a skill that must be developed over time and a subject for another blog but understand this formula.

Blogging For Dummies Formula:

New Blog Post
= New Web Page
+ New Twitter Tweet
+ New LinkedIn Update
+ New Facebook Update
= New Keyword Ranking Opportunity
+ New Inbound Linking Opportunities

These are a significant amount of birds that can be targeted (don't care for the word killed) with only one stone.

As an inbound marketing professional, I have a task list that never ends and this kind of productivity proves to be extremely attractive. If you are managing your own site or just your own blog, this weaponry shouldn't be ignored.

I am more of an old school marketing professional and I can relate to all of you who have a difficult time starting the blogging process or can't understand the benefits or even ask yourself, "why will people care to read my blog about pluming supplies"?

Although I will detail the answer to these and other questions in more detail, I leave you with this simple fact:

Blogging works and you will find interesting subject matter for your target market and audience.