Category: Digital Marketing

Want to know how I doubled my sales? I finally started tracking them. Not just hoping and guessing and scribbling notes during Zoom calls. I[more...]

Here’s why I use Zoho websites to make money for my business. Your website isn’t broken—it’s just not doing its job. It’s collecting dust, not[more...]

You can have the best product, the slickest logo, the catchiest tagline—and still hear crickets. That’s not a marketing problem. That’s a customer trust problem.[more...]

Ever wonder why some emails get clicks — and others get crickets? Here’s how to analyze ads and get the same results. If you’ve ever[more...]

A handwritten sign at a local deli reads: “Cash is king. Credit cards cost us 3%.” You’ve probably seen something like it. At cafes, salons,[more...]

If you’re a small business owner using AI to write emails, handle content, or improve customer service, you’ve probably asked yourself this: Is my data[more...]

Remember being in school and spending hours and hours studying, getting tutoring for that ONE class that you just couldn’t seem to ace? It’s not[more...]

Here’s something that might surprise you: if you want to reach more people, you don’t go broader—you go narrower. It’s totally counterintuitive, but the more[more...]

This isn’t a cute story with a happy ending. It’s a red-alert wake-up call wrapped in a confession. Because if you’re an overwhelmed marketer juggling[more...]

My Lead Generation System Meltdown (And Why It Matters) Well, I just deleted more than 2,500 emails from my lists—and I’m really pissed about it.[more...]

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing marketing” but nothing is actually happening. *raises own hand* You’re posting on social. You’re writing[more...]

Let me guess. You were getting solid email open rates — 20%, maybe more — and then overnight, they tanked. Now you’re lucky if 6%[more...]

Nobody tells you this when you start a business: your biggest growth strategy isn’t a sales and marketing funnel. It’s your relationships. That’s right. Not[more...]

Every couple years, everything goes to hell—and your marketing system takes the hit. Sales stall. Campaigns flop. Ads burn cash like wildfire. What worked before[more...]

Most business owners treat referrals like a bonus. A happy accident. A pleasant surprise when a client says, “Oh, I told my friend about you.”[more...]

Building a referral network is a lot easier with the right automation tools You already know referrals are gold. But let’s be honest—getting consistent, high-quality[more...]

AI is moving fast, and as an entrepreneur, keeping up isn’t just a good idea—it’s a necessity. But let’s be honest, trying to stay ahead[more...]

Collecting customer feedback can feel like pulling teeth. You know you need it to grow your business, but the process? Exhausting. Traditional surveys are too[more...]

Running a local business today is like trying to host a party in a crowded marketplace. There’s competition everywhere, consumer preferences shift constantly, and customers[more...]

Choosing a online course builders feels like picking the perfect avocado. You think you’ve found “the one,” but then, surprise! It’s either rock-hard or mushy[more...]

There’s a reason coffee shops are packed with entrepreneurs tapping away on their laptops—caffeine and creativity go hand in hand. The right cup of coffee[more...]

You’re the boss, the marketer, the salesperson, and the janitor (because who else is gonna take out the trash?). But let’s be real—hunting for leads[more...]

Let’s talk about networking groups. If you’ve ever felt like running a business is a little too much like shouting into the void, you’re not[more...]

Running a small business is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—you’ve got to keep everything moving, avoid disaster, and somehow make it look[more...]

What if we’ve been doing strategic planning all wrong? It’s a bold question, but hear me out. As entrepreneurs, we’re wired to be problem solvers—it’s[more...]

Nailing down your brand feels a little like trying to describe yourself on a dating app: You want to be clear, compelling, and memorable. But[more...]

Remember a long, long time ago when business owners were asking “Do I need a website?” or remember when you were wondering if social media[more...]

Let’s get one thing straight—your business isn’t suffering because you don’t post enough on Instagram or because your website isn’t “perfect.” It’s not even the[more...]

I’ve been a happy Zoho One user for more than 5 years.  While I’ve moved marketing, meetings, calendars, and more – my accounting software has[more...]

Do you want leads? Of course you do. In fact, I’ll bet that 80% of your thoughts are consumed with getting and keeping customers. That’s[more...]

Social Proof is a thing.  Call it testimonials, call it people talking about how awesome your business is.  Call it whatever you want.  But if[more...]

You want holiday sales tips, but you don’t want to sell. Listen, I get it. You’re sitting there watching everyone else blast their lists with[more...]

If there’s one conversation that makes small business owners break out in a cold sweat, it’s the “how much should I spend on marketing” conversation.[more...]

If you’re like most small business owners I talk to, you’re probably torn between TikTok and YouTube Shorts. And I get it – with limited[more...]

Remember when email marketing was as simple as “spray and pray”? Well, 2025 is shaking things up in ways that would make your old marketing[more...]

The holidays are a magical time of year for businesses and shoppers alike. But in 2024, things feel a bit different. Budgets are tighter, and[more...]

Small business owners are no strangers to tight budgets, especially when it comes to deciding how much to spend on marketing. In our recent DIYMarketers[more...]

One of the best ways to save time and money on marketing is to set a marketing theme. Great idea! But how do you actually[more...]

Entrepreneurs with ADHD are more common than you think. But a lot of entrepreneurs see ADHD as a disability, but here’s the thing—I actually think[more...]

Bet you’ve got at least one of these in your town – a location where restaurants come and go.  For whatever reason, no one can[more...]

When you’ve been managing websites for as long as I have, you instinctively know which hosting platforms are worthwhile and which ones will likely give[more...]

You’re probably not thinking about how to choose a web host, but you should. Web hosting is an often ignored element of a business website.[more...]

As a seasoned entrepreneur, you know staying ahead of the curve is everything in today’s digital age, especially when it comes to marketing automation. This[more...]

If there’s one thing that has always fascinated me, it’s the idea of personalized customer strategy. I remember walking into a small boutique years ago[more...]

It’s time we have an honest conversation about Twitter and marketing. So many small business owners ask if they should be on Twitter, if it’s[more...]

Twitter analytics. This phrase might make you think of confusing spreadsheets or feel intimidating if you’re not a data expert. But here’s the thing: Twitter[more...]

What does small business branding have to do with business growth? Everything. Many small businesses think branding is only for larger businesses like Nike or[more...]

You need this buyer persona generator to create a buyer persona and get your marketing juices flowing. Do you have a buyer persona? I’m sure[more...]

You might be thinking, “Do I really need a graphic designer when I can just use Canva or Visme?” Well, let me tell you—graphic designers[more...]

Let’s be real. Most business owners today understand the importance of keeping a finger on the pulse of customer sentiment. If customers aren’t happy, you[more...]

Imagine transforming your business simply by telling captivating stories. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, we’re here to introduce you to the powerful[more...]

Let’s talk about perceived value. It’s something that might seem obvious at first, but many business owners find it difficult to actually get their customers[more...]

I get it. You need someone to handle your content marketing – but figuring out what kind of content marketing consultant to hire these days[more...]

Remarketing can be an extremely effective digital marketing tool for small businesses to recapture lost customers by targeting your ads specifically to people who have[more...]

Let’s be honest: most solopreneurs didn’t get into business to spend hours sifting through spreadsheets and analyzing data. I know I didn’t.  One of my[more...]

Let’s face it.  Advertising is expensive. But for certain businesses—think financial planners, lawyers, restaurants, salons, or service providers—it can be a really good marketing strategy.[more...]

Before you can avoid marketing scams, you need to recognize that not every flashy tool or pitch with bold promises is worth your time—or your[more...]

Let’s be real. Most business owners today understand the importance of keeping a finger on the pulse of customer sentiment. If customers aren’t happy, you[more...]

Are you confused between a mission statement and a manifesto? They seem like the same thing, but used in completely different ways. Aren’t they just[more...]

Guess what your customers want to do on their birthday? They want to treat themselves! Translation? They want to spend more on themselves. This is[more...]

Ready to uplevel your networking skills? Here are some conversation starters for your next trade show. It’s conference season and that means that many of you[more...]

Marketing frustration is real; it’s normal and pervasive. Ultimately, when you’re frustrated by marketing that means you’ve somehow lost focus — even if you think[more...]

I’m always on the lookout for SEO AI writing tools to streamline my content creation process and help my content rank higher in search.  I’ve[more...]

Have you seen the Constant Contact commercial where business owners crowd around the computer to watch their email results come in and are blown away[more...]

In the fast-paced world of marketing, capturing the attention of your audience is more important than ever. Your brand story is the key to unlocking[more...]

When you collect customer feedback, what’s the deal with testimonials vs reviews? Which should you use where and when? When you or your customers are[more...]

Introduction to Digital Storytelling In the digital era, digital storytelling has emerged as a powerful tool that blends traditional storytelling techniques with modern digital media.[more...]

I’ve been using both Buffer and CoSchedule since both platforms were babies for different aspects of social media management. Each one has its strength, but[more...]

Imagine having a lineup of customers who already love what you do—raving about your services to their friends, family, and colleagues, and virtually eliminating the[more...]

Caught between Buffer and CoSchedule? For small businesses juggling it all, picking the right social media tool could be the secret to saving time—and your[more...]

Personalized marketing works. But I’m not talking about the lame basic stuff like addressing someone by name in an email or wishing them a happy[more...]

Why is it that some entrepreneurs are so much more successful than others? Is their product? Maybe they have a huge marketing budget? All of[more...]

Have you ever wondered how to search and find words in videos — without having to watch and listen to the whole video? Of course[more...]

When was the last time you took a fresh look at your brand and your marketing message to define your company? It may seem like[more...]

Every small business owner I speak with tells me that most of their best customers come from referrals. Having your own referral program is a[more...]

How would you like to get competitor’s website traffic and customer’s they paid to attract? It’s easier and faster than you think. All you’ll need[more...]

We marketers love power words.  We love to use them in emails, subject lines, and landing pages. As marketers and advertisers we’re looking for any[more...]

Have you heard of effective video sales letters (VSLs)? It’s exactly what it sounds like, a sales letter created on video that inspires your customer[more...]

You’re scrolling through LinkedIn, half-reading posts, when something catches your eye—a competitor just announced a new product that looks suspiciously like the one you’ve been[more...]

So, you’re an entrepreneur, huh? No MBA? No Problem. What’s the next step? Who needs fancy degrees and mountains of student debt when you can[more...]

Have you been thinking about writing a book? Then you want to know how authors make money. Well, get ready because you’ll find out that[more...]

We’ve been talking about voice search for several years now. And, like most trends, small business owners aren’t keeping up. Don’t let this happen to[more...]

Why slow down your marketing? The answer is counterintuitive but logical. Stop.  Just stop.  Before you pour another dollar into that new marketing idea, take[more...]

I admit it. I was an advertising basher. I thought that paying for advertising a small business was a waste of money with little to[more...]

What would happen if you put employees first? I’ve been in marketing for almost 40 years. So, it wouldn’t surprise you if I said the[more...]

Let’s talk about dynamic pricing. You either love it or hate it depending on whether you’ve got your entrepreneur hat on or your consumer hat[more...]

An opportunity analysis is a great way to determine whether or not your next business opportunity can be profitable. By evaluating the competition, the target[more...]

Hiring a virtual team sounds like a great idea! And it is a great idea. But I’ve been part of more than my share of[more...]

Can cleaning your email list increase sales? Yep. Email cleaning is a thing. Bet you never thought about cleaning your email list. But you should.[more...]

Digital marketing is a fantastic way to connect with your customers, and social media is an essential component of digital marketing that also serves as[more...]

More and more of you have been looking for a simple way to run your business on a budget – Zoho One is my answer[more...]

These link building ideas are ideal for content marketers who don’t have the resources or the inclination to run around begging for backlinks from high[more...]

We all get it; email marketing statistics can feel overwhelming. Do any of these questions keep you up at night? What are the average email[more...]

You’re not selling a product or service, you’re selling your customers’ desired outcome and helping them accomplish it. Once you determine exactly what that is,[more...]

Want to increase sales and conversions? Create a pricing page that makes it easy for customers to buy. Creating a pricing page that converts can[more...]

Want to know how to manage a marketing team? We asked marketing and product managers and they told me what they only say in secret.[more...]

Should you hire a graphic designer? YES. you should. In this article, I’m going to give you 7 reasons to hire a graphic designer and[more...]

As a small business owner or solopreneur, you might think that market research basics are only for big corporations with deep pockets. But the truth[more...]

Let me ask you – have you ever been frustrated by the lack of responses you receive when sending out a marketing email blast? Maybe[more...]

If you’re actively using LinkedIn to boost your job search, you’ve probably considered ways to make your profile stand out. You know that having a[more...]

Crisis marketing is about adapting your marketing strategies to overcome challenges like economic downturns or disasters. It helps maintain customer trust and protect your brand’s[more...]

These days, it feels like everyone and their dog is clamoring to “learn digital marketing”. And for good reason: It’s one of the few careers[more...]

Let’s talk about marketing materials for your small business. Believe it or not, potential customers still want printed marketing materials to hold in their hands.[more...]

Marketing is a long game, but outbound marketing strategies are your fastest path to cash.  Outbound Marketing: What It Is and Why It Still Matters[more...]

In the beginning, marketing was expensive. If you wanted to look like a real business you had to throw money at designers, writers and technical[more...]

The summer season has started in my storybook town of Medina, Ohio and that means our local retailers and restaurants are singing the summer’s greatest[more...]

Using AI for marketing is filled with minefields, so let’s dig into some typical privacy concerns with AI, and how to deal with them in[more...]

Branding for small business isn’t as hard as you think. Try these branding tips to make your business the obvious choice regardless of price. You[more...]

I think a lot of folks have given up on social media lead generation. I get it, it’s not as easy as it used to[more...]

Try These Local Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business As a small business owner, you pour your heart into your business, but connecting with local[more...]

Hiring a marketing team isn’t as overwhelming as you think. Here’s all the stuff no one tells you about how to hire a marketing team[more...]

Have you ever noticed how small business email marketing tools are sold like exercise equipment. There are hundreds of types of email marketing software out[more...]

Email newsletters are HOT HOT HOT. But I’m not talking about those lame, boring newsletters that get deleted without even being opened. I’m talking about[more...]

Want to know the secret to crisis marketing success? It’s not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the most authentic.[more...]

Ever feel like you’re throwing money into a black hole with your marketing efforts? I’ve been there. But guess what? You don’t need deep pockets[more...]

If you’re looking for a cool pricing strategy that will help you increase profits without selling more stuff, I’ve got a pricing strategy that might[more...]

Are you measuring what matters in your content marketing strategy? One of the traps we content marketers fall into is creating content for content’s sake.[more...]

Big brands aren’t using slogans and taglines anymore.  Why?  And should you ignore developing slogans, taglines, and a unique selling proposition? If I were to[more...]

If you’re considering expanding your professional network and uncovering new business opportunities, you may be evaluating BNI as a potential avenue. This BNI review cuts[more...]

Bet you didn’t know that QR codes have been around since 1994! Then in 2010 or 2011, they hit the mainstream to a “meh” reception[more...]

The other day on LinkedIn, I came across a terrific discussion about the “Book a Demo” call to action. Now, I have a profound dislike[more...]

Want to know how to turn a single sale into a bigger profit without being pushy? That’s where upselling techniques come into play. Effective upselling[more...]

Looking to navigate the world of Gmail ads? This guide provides a no-nonsense approach to creating, managing, and optimizing your Gmail ads for maximum business[more...]

You know that you have to find your ideal customer, but this often fells like you’re searching for a needle in a haystack. I get[more...]

Wondering how to elevate your multimedia presentation from good to great? An engaging multimedia presentation requires a tight integration of visuals, audio, and narrative to[more...]

There’s a marketing myth out there that you don’t want to have any competition. Not so. For entrepreneurs, no competition typicaly means no demand. But[more...]

I’m a master procrastinator.  Give me 5 minutes of downtime, and I’ll figure out a way to distract myself from doing what I know needs[more...]

Calling all introverts! You know who you are. If you dread the idea of going to networking events, walking up to people you don’t know[more...]

This is the week that the world shut down in 2020. We skipped April Fools that year, and the following year, and, I don’t know.[more...]

Searching for the best apps to edit YouTube videos can be overwhelming. I tend to prefer written content over video, but there’s just no denying[more...]

It’s been a while since I’ve seen some simplified counterintuitive marketing advice and so I thought I’d get out there and create a list of[more...]

Goal setting is necessary but, let’s face it you’re always setting the same types of goals; sales, profits, and brand recognition. There’s nothing wrong with[more...]

There are dozens of new and affordable AI video generators out there. Each one claims to do it all, but you and I both know[more...]

Ah, high maintenance customers— you know who I’m talking about, the folks that can make your heart sink the moment you see their number pop[more...]

Video AI tools are everywhere. Honestly, it’s overwhelming. Personally. I’m looking for something that’s affordable, easy to use, and has an AI feature that will[more...]

The price of everything has gone up.  And, I’m sorry to say, value hasn’t been keeping up. Consumer habits have changed and customers aren’t buying[more...]

These are the perfect ways to say thank you to your team if you don’t have a lot of money. Ever wonder why some teams[more...]

Yep. Gratitude marketing strategies are a thing, here’s how you can make it work for you. Picture this: you’re at your favorite coffee shop, and[more...]

I’m starting to think that handwritten thank you notes are a lost art. I grew up sitting down at the dining room table writing thank[more...]

There are real business threats out there, but which ones are worthy of your attention? This is the time of year we’re all wrapped up[more...]

Where are you on Small Business Saturday? I don’t know about you, but I’m never ready for the holiday rush. Every year it feels like[more...]

Let’s be honest, your brand identity isn’t really doing anything for your business. I mean if you asked a handful of your customers and clients[more...]

20 SEO strategies from small business experts. These will help your customers find you, choose you and buy from you. For as long as there[more...]

20 powerful tips on how to start mobile marketing for your business! One of the things that drives me nuts is how everyone talks about[more...]

Discover how nostalgia marketing tactics are being reinvented to charm and engage modern audiences, blending nostalgia with innovation. Remember the days when marketing meant a[more...]

Goodbye, social media frenzy; hello, smarter marketing in the AI revolution. Lately, I’ve noticed my social media feed isn’t buzzing like it used to. Fewer[more...]

20 oproductivity tips to balance holiday hustle with time management tips and gift ideas for entrepreneurs. As the holiday season rolls around, I often find[more...]

Distracted? I hear you. This book review of Indistractable, you’ll be inspired to stay focused and get more done. As an entrepreneur, my days often[more...]

Boost your freelance success with top LinkedIn strategies Like a lot of people, I started my business as a solopreneur – aka freelancer. Back then,[more...]

Entrepreneurs are betting on these 2024 marketing trends and strategies for 2024 — and I’m scratching my head. Every morning I open up my news[more...]