MARION Marketing https://www.marion.com Tue, 07 Jun 2022 22:02:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.4 How To Create Content with Google Algorithm Updates in Mind https://www.marion.com/content-creation-google-algorithm-updates/ https://www.marion.com/content-creation-google-algorithm-updates/#respond Tue, 07 Jun 2022 22:00:15 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18680 content creation google algorithmGoogle releases several algorithm updates every year, and these changes can have a significant impact on your SEO efforts. In other words, it affects how many eyes will reach your content. So, how do you keep up with the ever-changing algorithm? Let’s go over some general best practices for ensuring ...]]> content creation google algorithm

Google releases several algorithm updates every year, and these changes can have a significant impact on your SEO efforts. In other words, it affects how many eyes will reach your content.

So, how do you keep up with the ever-changing algorithm? Let’s go over some general best practices for ensuring your content stands up to any and all future changes.

How Often Does Google Update Its Algorithm?

Google is well-known for rolling out algorithm updates left and right. On average, there are upwards of 3,000 changes made per year. That being said, the majority of updates are minor improvements that may not be of interest to most content creators and typically go unnoticed.

However, Google also launches several significant changes every year, referred to as “core updates.” Often planned months in advance, these critical components of Google’s ranking algorithm are designed to enhance the quality and relevance of overall search results. As many digital marketing experts know, these updates are notorious for drastically affecting SEO, for better or for worse.

google-algorithm-updates-graphic

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Check out our ultimate timeline of Google algorithm updates >

Content Creation Best Practices

Simply put, it’s not enough to just produce high-quality content nowadays. Many businesses succeed at creating engaging and valuable content for their target audience—but that doesn’t automatically make it long-lasting, high-ranking content in the eyes of the algorithm.

To ensure your content outlasts future algorithm updates, you’ll need to play by Google’s rules. Follow these best practices and learn how to create the content you need for ongoing success.

Focus on Quality

Regardless of algorithm updates over the years, quality is the key to generating inbound traffic. To create truly valuable content, you must have subject matter that is beneficial to the user—whether that be educational information, unique insights, proven research, new ideas, etc.

Additionally, if your content is presented neatly and accurately, your message is far more likely to get across. Avoid any errors that might make visitors click away. The top reasons that users are likely to leave a webpage include:

  • Broken links and forms
  • Spelling and grammar mistakes
  • Outdated information
  • Misleading/irrelevant title
  • Poor format, design, or usability
  • Not mobile-friendly (bad UX design)
  • Overwhelming ads or pop-ups

But more importantly, you must have high-quality content by the algorithm’s standards in order to climb the ranks and beat your competitors. Here are three few red flags Google looks for when ranking websites.

1.     Poor On-Page Optimization

Elements like keywords and page titles play an important role in helping the algorithm determine what your content is about. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to optimize title tags, image tags, meta descriptions, URLs, and XML sitemaps.

2.     Thin Content

Simply put, thin content is on-page content that is not useful to visitors. This includes doorway pages, affiliate pages, irrelevant guest posts, and content that is automatically generated or stolen from another online source.

3.     Insufficient Links

Not only do you need great content to gain Google’s approval and achieve high ranks, but you also need great links. The more high-value links your site has, the better your web presence. You’ll also want to avoid bad link-building practices to stay on Google’s good side.

Overall, Google favors meaningful, quality content related to the keywords you’re ranking for.

Understand the E-A-T Perspective

Ultimately, Google wants to give its users the best search engine experience possible, which is why it takes careful precautions to only promote trustworthy domains. As a result, Google’s perception of a business often correlates with the impression left on its target audience. So, how can you tailor your content to meet Google’s standards?

Google measures three main factors when determining how much trust should be placed in a particular brand or website—Expertise, Authority, and Trust—also known as E-A-T. The concept of E-A-T has been around for nearly a decade, yet many industry experts still struggle with it today.

Google-E-A-T

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  • Expertise – Expertise means to have exceptional knowledge or skill in a particular subject. Google tends to favor content created by subject matter experts. Simply put, the content on your site must demonstrate a higher level of expertise than the competition.
  • Authority – Authority is all about reputation, typically among industry experts and influencers. When people see an individual or website as the go-to source of reliable information on a subject, that constitutes authority.
  • Trust – Trust is about the accuracy, legitimacy, and transparency of a webpage’s content. Citing trustworthy sources is a big part of building trust with Google. Including publisher contact information is also helpful.

What exactly determines E-A-T? Google typically looks at a combination of the content, creator, and website. Therefore, the algorithm is constantly being trained to look for these variables when deciding which web pages to promote in search results.

Keep Reader Intention in Mind

Unlike Google, people don’t generally care about links and tags. They’re just searching for content that meets their needs. Therefore, you must tailor your content to your specific audience to achieve the best results. Ask yourself these questions to better understand Google audience targeting.

  • Who is your target audience?
  • What problems are they trying to solve?
  • What writing style appeals to them most?
  • How can you earn their trust?

Once you know your audience, all you have to do is create content they are specifically searching for. The best content creators know what strategies to use to boost reader engagement and drive traffic. 

For example, you can incorporate descriptive language into your writing to create an image in the reader’s mind and fully immerse them in your work. Likewise, using figurative language can transform ordinary content into an enhanced experience.

Follow these steps successfully, and the algorithm will reward your efforts with high ranks and leads for your business!

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What About Future Google Algorithm Updates?

At this rate, it’s clear that Google won’t be slowing down on the updates anytime soon. And with thousands of algorithm changes per year, it’s impossible to keep up with all of them. It’s true that most updates won’t affect you, but it’s a mistake to ignore them entirely—especially the big ones.

Ultimately, it’s crucial that marketers and content creators know when major changes in the algorithm happen. It’s the only way to understand whether rankings shifted because of an internal change or a Google update.

So, do you have a proactive or reactive digital content strategy when it comes to Google algorithm changes? To ensure your content survives future search updates, you’ll need to raise the bar.

Get ahead of the algorithm and put your best foot forward with the content optimization tips mentioned in this article. Or if you’re not ready to take on that challenge, you can always recruit the help of an outsourced marketing agency that knows its way around the algorithm.

Contact us today to learn more about our SEO services in Houston and Austin, TX.

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MARION Celebrates 40 Years of Business https://www.marion.com/40-years-of-marion/ https://www.marion.com/40-years-of-marion/#respond Thu, 05 May 2022 14:16:14 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18595 marion celebrates 40 yearsForty years ago, MARION Integrated Marketing was founded in Houston, Texas. We could not be more excited to celebrate our history, success, and all the incredible accomplishments made possible by our employees, customers, partners, and the local community. Celebrating 40 Years of MARION Only a small percentage of marketing firms ...]]> marion celebrates 40 years

Forty years ago, MARION Integrated Marketing was founded in Houston, Texas. We could not be more excited to celebrate our history, success, and all the incredible accomplishments made possible by our employees, customers, partners, and the local community.

Celebrating 40 Years of MARION

Only a small percentage of marketing firms make it as far as we have come. So, what makes us different?

MARION did not achieve 40 years of business simply through good luck or having the right connections. Reaching that milestone takes the perfect blend of people, talent, vision, and innovation. So as we celebrate this impressive achievement, let’s take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going.

A Look at the Past and the Future

In 1981, back before websites even existed, we built our business on a solid design foundation. The original MARION team thrived in traditional “offline” marketing, such as print design, direct mail campaigns, and creative branding services.

In the years since, we’ve kept up with times and transitioned our business to the online world. We embraced digital transformation and reshaped our operations and business models to meet the new demands of the marketing landscape. As a result, MARION quickly evolved into a powerhouse of internet marketing and custom content development. While most of our business is now digital, we would be nowhere without our strong design roots. 

“It’s been my pleasure to work as a designer at MARION for over 25 years,” says Rodney Glawson, Art Director. “During that time, I’ve seen a rapid evolution in design process and style trends. The emergence of design software and technology over the past two decades allows for efficient brand implementation across a vast spectrum of deliverables in traditional and digital formats—including the rapidly growing web and social media platforms. Our design department’s priority has always been to help build businesses by effectively and consistently communicating for our clients through award-winning branding and design.“

Today, MARION Integrated Marketing is a leading full-service marketing and design agency with offices in Houston and Austin, Texas. Our solutions include marketing strategy, graphic design, search engine optimization, web development, social media management, branding services, and more. Some of the world’s most trusted companies have depended on us to create and implement innovative strategies to help dramatically increase leads and sales.

MARION Houston marketing awards list

Over the years, MARION has won numerous awards and national recognitions for itself and its clients. “In this ever-changing industry, we have had to up our game to truly integrate strategy and creativity,” said John Anger, a Partner with MARION. “Our team takes a uniquely holistic approach to your marketing goals. Our mix of strategic, creative, and technical team members work together to accelerate brand awareness, differentiate from the competition, and generate leads.”

We have a proven track record of helping Texas businesses dominate their markets. Companies have seen the incredible results we achieve and seek us out because of our top-tier talent and evident success.

Here’s To 40 More Years

To our clients, partners, associates, and community members — thank you for your continued support and the trust you place in us. “MARION has truly become a marketing powerhouse in Texas,” said Carey Balzer, Managing Partner. “I am so proud of our team and the success we’ve had on behalf of our clients. I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years will bring.”

For more information about MARION, visit our website or contact us at 713-574-5389.

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The Ultimate Guide to Hiring & Working with Local Internet Marketing Agencies https://www.marion.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-hiring-working-with-local-internet-marketing-agencies/ https://www.marion.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-hiring-working-with-local-internet-marketing-agencies/#respond Thu, 25 Nov 2021 13:29:00 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18473 internet marketing agency guideA marketing agency is a business that helps organizations increase the sales of their products and services. Futhermore, there are two ways to categorize marketing agencies: in-house and external. The former deals with the company’s marketing efforts internally, while the latter works with the company’s marketing externally. Additionally, there are ...]]> internet marketing agency guide

A marketing agency is a business that helps organizations increase the sales of their products and services. Futhermore, there are two ways to categorize marketing agencies: in-house and external. The former deals with the company’s marketing efforts internally, while the latter works with the company’s marketing externally.

Additionally, there are three main types of digital advertising agencies: performance-based, traditional, and integrated. Performance-based agencies provide services like search engine optimization (SEO) or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising; traditional agencies offer services like print or broadcast media; integrated agencies provide both performance-based and traditional marketing services. So, which one is best for your business? Keep reading to find out.

Why Hire a Local SEO Agency in Your Area?

If you’re looking for internet marketing services in your area, these are a few of the biggest reasons why you might want to hire a local SEO agency, regardless of your industry. 

  • SEO Optimization: Agencies would be able to understand the nuances of your industry and help with local optimization.
  • Keyword Research: Agency experts know what kind of keywords and key phrases to target and how to rank well on search engines so that your business will be seen by more people who are looking for products or services like yours.
  • Local Knowledge: Digital marketing agencies near you will know what searches and trends people in your area are searching for. You also can’t beat face-to-face interactions.

digital marketing packages and pricing

How to Find the Best Local SEO Agency for Your Business in Houston

A local SEO marketing agency will have in-depth knowledge of your industry, be close to you geographically, and have the dedication to work with you long-term. The right agency experts will help you build a digital content strategy that dominates your industry.

So, what are the best practices for finding a marketing agency that can help your business grow? Of course, it’s important to find an agency that understands your industry, has strong local connections in Houston, and has the patience to work with you for years to come. But how do you know which one is right for you?

How Much Should You Budget for an Online Marketing Campaign?

Marketing costs can seem daunting. But it is essential to budget correctly so you can be successful at marketing your business online.

The first step to determining your marketing budget is to look at your company’s revenue and growth goals. If you are expanding, there should be an equal investment in growth and marketing if you want the business to grow exponentially.

After assessing growth goals, you need to take into account the cost of customer acquisition. Customers are expensive — it costs about five times more than what it takes to retain a customer through marketing campaigns or by providing excellent service.

Finding the Best Marketing Agency in South Texas

If you are looking for a top marketing agency in South Texas, look no further. You have come to the right place! You will find all kinds of information about marketing agencies here—from tips for getting started with marketing services in Houston to online marketing strategies with the biggest impact on ROI, top questions to ask a branding agency, and more.

In conclusion, the best way to choose a marketing agency that’s perfect for your business is by following these simple steps. First, ask them about what they do for clients with similar businesses to yours or who have an equivalent budget size. Then ask them about their experience working with your particular market or industry. Finally, see if they offer free consultations so you can meet them in person and see if it’s a match!

Ready to hire and work with the best internet marketing agency in Houston? MARION has been helping Texas businesses advertise big since 1981. We work with our clients to manage their entire online presence, from social media and web design to email marketing and reputation management.

Contact our team today and schedule a free consultation to learn more about our services.

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MARION Named As One of the Best Web Designers in Houston https://www.marion.com/best-web-design-agencies-houston/ https://www.marion.com/best-web-design-agencies-houston/#respond Fri, 19 Nov 2021 14:35:39 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18495 MARION Integrated Marketing is proud to announce that we have been featured as one of the Best Houston Web Designers by Expertise.com. The list “scored Houston Web Designers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.” About ...]]>

expertise award

MARION Integrated Marketing is proud to announce that we have been featured as one of the Best Houston Web Designers by Expertise.com.

The list “scored Houston Web Designers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.”

About Expertise.com

Expertise.com provides valuable services to further enhance your social media campaigns. According to the company, “Expertise.com finds and reviews the top service professionals in over 200 industries across the U.S. Each month, we research more than 60,000 businesses to help customers find the best-qualified professional for their needs. Our research process is always evolving to keep up with industry changes, so we’re confident that when we say a provider is one of the best, it is.”

About MARION

MARION Integrated Marketing has offices in both Austin, TX, and Houston, TX. In addition to web design services, we provide SEO, graphic design, PPC, social media, trade show support and much more. If you’re ready to take your marketing game to the next level, reach out to us today.

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Creative Marketing: What It Is and Why You Should Pursue It https://www.marion.com/creative-marketing-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-pursue-it/ https://www.marion.com/creative-marketing-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-pursue-it/#respond Thu, 18 Nov 2021 13:29:00 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18423 creative marketingThe purpose of marketing is to create an awareness of a product, service, or event. Creative marketing is one of the most interesting and desirable aspects of marketing as it can be used to convey a message through creativity. It brings customers to the company’s product and helps them keep ...]]> creative marketing

The purpose of marketing is to create an awareness of a product, service, or event. Creative marketing is one of the most interesting and desirable aspects of marketing as it can be used to convey a message through creativity. It brings customers to the company’s product and helps them keep their attention. It’s a proven way to boost conversion rates!

What is Creative Marketing?

Creative advertising is not just about coming up with catchy slogans or designing an attractive logo for a company. Instead, it involves the use of tools such as music, sound effects, symbols, and images in order to make consumers interested in buying a product.

Why Creative Marketing Matters

Creative marketing is an essential part of the modern marketing industry. It’s more than just an additional ingredient—it’s at the core of everything that businesses do today. Creative marketing is crucial to the success of any company because it’s all about changing perceptions and connecting with potential customers on a new level.

Creativity has always been considered an important resource in marketing, but in recent years it has taken on greater significance. With the rise of social media, consumers are bombarded with messages about products and services every day. To stand out, marketers must be innovative and creative in their campaigns to gain attention and interest from potential buyers.

digital marketing packages and pricing

The Challenge of Creativity in Marketing

Creativity is the cornerstone of marketing. It is one of the most important aspects of an organization’s marketing efforts. A creative mind is what separates a good marketer from a great marketer. A creative mind can help build up ideas that are not only effective but also refreshing. 

As the digital environment continues to change, marketers are faced with increasing challenges when it comes to creativity. Marketing in an online environment is much different than traditional marketing, which poses some unique obstacles for marketers looking to be creative in their work.

The emergence of AI writers has made the writer’s job more streamlined and efficient as they can focus on what they are best at—creativity and emotions—rather than wasting time on skillsets that they don’t have, such as mathematics and research.

How to Increase Creativity in Your Marketing Efforts

Did you know that 75% of the individuals believe they are not living up to their creative potential? Becoming more creative can be challenging as it takes time and effort to develop your artistic skills. It won’t happen overnight! However, the following tips will help you tap into your right brain and increase your creativity in marketing:

  • Brainstorming: brainstorming is a great way to come up with new ideas for your product. You can do it alone or in a group, but make sure all participants are active and engaged.

  • Ask yourself: When was the last time you went out of your comfort zone? Trying new things will give you fresh ideas and perspectives that you never imagined before.

  • Bring the team together: Put together a creative task force made up of people who have different backgrounds and skillsets. They will be able to provide different views and experiences that can be used for breakthrough marketing ideas.

What Creative Marketers Do Differently Than Traditional Marketers

Creative marketing is about individual creativity and the uniqueness of your product. Creative marketers rely on their wits, intuition, and skills to get where others can’t.

creative marketing plan

Traditional marketing is about tactics, techniques, and best practices. Traditional marketers use strategic methods to get your attention in crowded markets, but these techniques aren’t as effective as they once were. To truly get in front of people these days, you need to be creative.

Elevate Your Brand with a Creative Marketing Agency

To recap, creative marketing is a type of marketing that focuses on creativity and emotions. It is an effective tool used by businesses to generate new ideas and fresh perspectives, while still engaging with customers. Creative marketing will never replace traditional forms of marketing because it has its own limitations. However, it can certainly complement them in a way that brings out the best in both. Simply ‘being creative’ isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Luckily, our digital marketing agency is here to help! 

The team at MARION has been serving Texas businesses for over 40 years. We’ve taken a creative approach in developing custom marketing plans for various industries. Check out MARION’s design portfolio to see what our creative designers are capable of.

Contact us today to learn how we can help your business grow by incorporating a creative strategy into your marketing plan.

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MARION Named As One of the Top Facebook Marketing Agencies in Houston https://www.marion.com/best-facebook-marketing-agencies-in-houston/ https://www.marion.com/best-facebook-marketing-agencies-in-houston/#respond Thu, 11 Nov 2021 16:14:44 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18468 best facebook marketing agency houstonMARION Integrated Marketing is proud to announce that we have been featured as one of the Top Facebook Marketing Agencies in Houston by SocialAppsHQ. The list features “companies are not only the best in the field, but they’re also reliable and affordable.” About SocialAppsHQ SocialAppsHQ provides valuable services to further ...]]> best facebook marketing agency houston
Top Facebook Marketing Agency in Houston

MARION Integrated Marketing is proud to announce that we have been featured as one of the Top Facebook Marketing Agencies in Houston by SocialAppsHQ.

The list features “companies are not only the best in the field, but they’re also reliable and affordable.”

About SocialAppsHQ

SocialAppsHQ provides valuable services to further enhance your social media campaigns. According to the company, “SocialAppsHQ is your All-in-One Social Marketing Platform that allows business owners to grow their brand. We have enabled thousands on business in running their social media marketing campaigns.”

About MARION

MARION Integrated Marketing has offices in both Austin, TX, and Houston, TX. In addition to social media marketing (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and more), we provide SEO, web design, graphic design, PPC, trade show support and much more. If you’re ready to take your marketing game to the next level, reach out to us today.

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A Non-Designer’s Guide to The Web Design Process https://www.marion.com/a-non-designers-guide-to-the-web-design-process/ https://www.marion.com/a-non-designers-guide-to-the-web-design-process/#respond Thu, 11 Nov 2021 13:20:00 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18417 web design guideWeb design is a process of designing and formatting websites and web pages. Web designers use a variety of tools to create the desired look, feel and usability of the site. From a digital marketer’s perspective, solid web design can effectively benefit SEO, boost conversions, strengthen PPC campaigns, outshine competitors, ...]]> web design guide

Web design is a process of designing and formatting websites and web pages. Web designers use a variety of tools to create the desired look, feel and usability of the site. From a digital marketer’s perspective, solid web design can effectively benefit SEO, boost conversions, strengthen PPC campaigns, outshine competitors, and so much more!

But what happens if you’re not a designer? If you’re wondering what you need to know before you begin the web design process, this guide will provide some insight.

Introduction: The Basics of Web Design

Web design is not only about making sites attractive and readable; it also needs to make sure that they are user-friendly. An effective business website design should be such that the visitor doesn’t need any additional guidance or instructions to navigate through its content. Bad web design can truly make or break a website!

A great way for beginners to learn basic web design is by following simple tutorials on the internet. There is an abundance of online resources that provide step-by-step instructions on how to build specific components of a website like menus, headers, navigation bars etc.

web design process for beginners

Step 1: Planning

Planning is one of the most important phases of the web design process. The planning phase includes some basic tasks such as:

  • Defining your company’s goals and objectives

  • Studying and researching competition and what content is trending

  • Defining target audience

  • Collecting data about target audience’s interests, demographic, and behavior

  • Creating a content plan to deliver on the company’s goals and objectives; this also includes an outline on how to keep that plan updated.

This stage is crucial for any business seeking success with their website. This will help you figure out what design decisions you need to make in order to meet your goals.

Step 2: Wireframing

wireframe for web design

The wireframe is a crucial part of the web design process. A wireframe is a diagram that represents the structural layout of a website or application. It covers the site’s content, hierarchy, interactive elements, and navigational flow. Wireframes can be created with pen and paper before they are transferred to more sophisticated design tools like Photoshop or Illustrator. 

The goal of this process is to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page before any work begins on visual design, coding, or development processes. This way everyone knows what to expect from each other and can plan accordingly.

digital marketing packages and pricing

Step 3(a): Designing the Layout

Web design is the process of creating a design solution for a website. This includes gathering and analyzing information about the desired content and the intended audience, and then creating a representation of these on screen.

There are some basic elements you need to consider when designing your web layout:

  • What is your goal?

  • What are you trying to communicate?

  • Who is your target audience?

  • How much space do you have?

  • How many pages do you want on your site?

There are also different layouts that can be used such as: grid, mobile, one column, two column, etc. Be sure to research your layout options before deciding on one. 

Step 3(b): Designing Typography

Typography is the work of selecting typefaces, point size, line length, letter spacing, and adjusting other elements of type to create a particular mood or tone. Additionally, it includes features that are more decorative in nature, such as choosing colors for text and backgrounds.

A person skilled in typography design is actually referred to as a typographer.

With so many factors to take into consideration when designing typography for your website, it can be hard to know which fonts are best for your project. Typographers have studied the factors that affect legibility and readability on screen or paper so they know what matters most when designing fonts. One factor is x-height which is the height of lowercase letters relative to capital letters in proportion to their widths. This is just one example, but there are many factors a web designer should consider with typography. That’s why having an experienced designer is so important to web developement!

Conclusion & What’s Next?

Let’s conclude by saying that the future of web design is going to be a bright one. We predict that these next years are going to bring a lot of changes and new technologies for us to explore. To maximize your website performance and get the most out of web design, it’s helpful to partner with the right web design agency. Contact us online today to schedule a free marketing consultation

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The 5 Best SEO Tools for Monitoring Your Site’s Performance https://www.marion.com/best-seo-tools/ https://www.marion.com/best-seo-tools/#respond Fri, 29 Oct 2021 14:29:39 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=18451 best seo toolsThe world of search engine optimization (SEO) can be overwhelming for those who aren’t accustomed to it. The number of tools, strategies and changes by Google is virtually limitless. If you’re new to SEO, where do you start? Here are five SEO tools we think are among the best for ...]]> best seo tools

The world of search engine optimization (SEO) can be overwhelming for those who aren’t accustomed to it. The number of tools, strategies and changes by Google is virtually limitless. If you’re new to SEO, where do you start? Here are five SEO tools we think are among the best for monitoring your website’s performance and making improvements.

Why Measure SEO Performance?

There’s an adage out there that says, “you can’t improve what you don’t measure.” While cliché at this point, it rings true. If you’re just improving your website without a benchmark or goal, you’ll only experience success if you’re lucky. For the rest of us unlucky ones, we can actively improve our website’s performance based on specific metrics like organic traffic, search engine rankings and conversion rates.

You see, most of what’s visible to your prospects and website visitors is content. And, according to HubSpot’s Ultimate List of Marketing Statistics for 2021, “the majority of companies (67%) use organic traffic to measure their content success.” Why? Because organic traffic (as opposed to paid or direct traffic) reflects how valuable your content is to your prospects.

So, how do you get your valuable content in front of the right eyes? These days, a good SEO tool is really a requirement. Fortunately, we have some recommendations.

The Best SEO Tools for Performance Monitoring

Any “best” list is going to be subjective, but the truly best tools will show up again and again on recommendation lists or articles. That being said, here are the tools that we’ve seen over the years that have had a demonstrable impact on improving SEO performance for websites.

1. SEMrush

Are there other better all-in-one marketing tools out there? Maybe. But few software alternatives come close to SEMrush when it comes to SEO. After all, search engine optimization is SEMrush’s bread and butter. It’s the company’s specialty. (Just look at the company name. “SEM” refers to “search engine marketing!”) If you’re going to try an SEO tool, we recommend starting with SEMrush.

  • Pros: Robust, deep and packed with features. Extremely helpful customer service team.
  • Cons: Fairly expensive and a bit of a learning curve to use.
  • Best SEO Features: Keyword research, position tracking, organic research, traffic analytics, backlinks, keyword gaps, competitor comparisons, social media management, content marketing suggestions, local SEO and much more.

2. Moz

Moz lost a bit of its luster and appeal when Rand Fishkin exited the company, but it remains a solid SEO option. One of the best parts about Moz is that many features are free! You just need to sign up for an account and there are limits to queries you can submit. But if you have a single business or don’t check in on SEO metrics very often, this might be a good starter tool for you.

  • Pros: Moz also excels at backlink data and has a proprietary Domain Authority score that is a standard in the industry.
  • Cons: You must upgrade to a premium/paid account to use all features.
  • Best SEO Features: Domain analysis, keyword explorer, link explorer.

digital marketing packages and pricing

3. HubSpot

I admittedly have a soft spot for HubSpot, as I’ve obtained dozens of certifications from the company and have used their tools for many years. When it comes to user experience and customer service, HubSpot can’t be beat. While it’s true that HubSpot isn’t an SEO-exclusive tool, it does have many SEO-friendly features that will help you improve your website’s performance. If you’re looking for an all-in-one tool with plenty of SEO features, HubSpot is a can’t-miss option.

  • Pros: Easy to learn, with top-notch UX/UI. Friendly, helpful customer service team.
  • Cons: Expensive (though you get what you pay for). SEO data isn’t as rich or accurate as SEMrush or Google Analytics (based on the traffic sources the tool references), but you still get valuable insights for improvement.
  • Best SEO Features: Content optimization recommendations, topic clustering, robust reporting and valuable SEO-related tools like blogging, landing pages and marketing automation.

4. Screaming Frog

If you have technical aptitude and some SEO experience, Screaming Frog is a tool that will allow you to dive deeper than others on this list. Screaming Frog basically crawls your site in a way similar to search engine robots, helping you identify crucial issues like improper tags, meta information that’s too short or long, missing alt text on images and more.

  • Pros: Rich, deep data, which is easily exportable/sharable.
  • Cons: You’re limited to 500 pages on the free plan. May be too much for new SEOs.
  • Best SEO Features: Site crawling, integrations with other SEO tools, advanced metrics.

5. Google Analytics

Last, but probably first in the list of tools you should consider is Google Analytics. There really is no replacement for the data you’ll see straight from the source with GA. Customizing reports and diving deep into advanced metrics is attainable with Google Analytics, though you definitely need to know what you’re doing.

  • Pros: Most accurate data for organic traffic from Google; highly customizable. Integrates with most SEO tools.
  • Cons: Very steep learning curve; not ideal for new SEOs. Permissions/security can be annoying.
  • Best SEO Features: Visitor behavior tracking, identifying top pages/content, annotations for big changes, customizable tracking and reports.

Bonus: LinkWhisper

We’re huge fans of this final SEO tool, which is ideal for monitoring links in particular. You can easily build reports, identify broken links, set up auto-linking settings for blog posts (limiting them to one per post) and more. If you’re looking to automate the internal and external linking part of SEO, LinkWhisper is worth checking out. (It works with most WordPress-hosted websites.)

Should You Partner with an SEO Agency?

With all these amazing search engine optimization tools available, why would you need to partner with a marketing agency for your SEO? Well, if you notice from some of the cons above, many tools require search engine optimization knowledge to get the most out of them that you can. (This is why several companies like HubSpot and Google offer certifications.)

Additionally, some of the more expensive tools may be out of reach for your company and its budget. An agency, however, may already be on an agency plan and you’ll be able to enjoy the amazing benefits of the tools without the premium price tag. Other benefits include easy integrations, more precise reporting and flexibility.

If you’re interested in learning more about these tools or how we can help with your SEO efforts, contact us today.

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Tips for Getting Started with Marketing Services in Houston https://www.marion.com/getting-started-marketing-services-houston/ https://www.marion.com/getting-started-marketing-services-houston/#respond Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:38:00 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=17879 Houston Marketing ServicesMarketing services in Houston are a great way to get your brand out there. These services can help you multiply your reach and generate more revenue for your business. How? There are a number of ways that Houston marketing services can help you with your business, from SEO to social ...]]> Houston Marketing Services

Marketing services in Houston are a great way to get your brand out there. These services can help you multiply your reach and generate more revenue for your business.

How? There are a number of ways that Houston marketing services can help you with your business, from SEO to social media marketing. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so it is important that you meet with a company and have a conversation about what makes the most sense for you and your business.

There are many benefits to getting marketing services in Houston from an experienced company, but the best is the expertise that professional marketers have in their field. They know what works best for different industries, so they will be able to offer advice on how to get started correctly and maximize ROI (return on investment).

4 Simple Steps To Get Your Company’s Marketing Services Business Going

It is not enough to just think about marketing. There are some key steps that you need to take before you start marketing your business.

Below are four simple steps that will help you get your company’s marketing services business going.

  1. Commit To Investing In It: Despite what some might say, marketing is not a luxury for businesses with deep pockets. It is a necessity for all businesses who want to succeed and grow their revenue.

  2. Create A Marketing Strategy: You will need a solid, documented strategy for how you plan to market your company’s products and services going forward. This should include the tactics you plan on using as well as an estimate of the resources it will take to implement those tactics on an ongoing basis over the next 12 months.

  3. Partner with Experts: Whether you hire in-house or outsource, you have to rely on experts in today’s digital world to see success with marketing.

  4. Start With Your Website: This is your digital storefront. If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to start, begin with optimizing your website.

Internet Marketing Services Secrets That Will Help Your Brand

Brands need to have a clear strategy for their marketing activities and this section will give you the most successful internet marketing tactics that work best for brands.

The first thing to do is create a brand image for your company with a strong message and personality. Every company needs to have a clear strategy from the beginning, so they can establish their identity on the Internet. The next step is to create quality content that is engaging and shareable in order to get more followers on social networks. You should also establish partnerships with other companies in order to increase exposure for your brand outside of the internet world. The rest? Well, they’re secret for a reason. 

How To Partner with the Right Marketing Agency in Houston

The idea of partnering with an agency is that they will take care of all the hard work and focus on your marketing needs. Actually, it’s just the opposite. The best agencies and partners understand that you’re not in this alone and they’re there to help you succeed. So don’t just blindly find a marketing agency and partner with them without knowing what they can do for you.

If you want to work with the right Houston marketing agency, then you need to know what types of services they provide so you can determine if they are the best fit. To review MARION’s marketing services, click here.

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Why Outsourcing Is A Cost-Effective Way of Marketing Your Business https://www.marion.com/outsourcing-cost-effective-solution/ https://www.marion.com/outsourcing-cost-effective-solution/#respond Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:28:42 +0000 https://www.marion.com/?p=17873 Outsource MarketingOutsourcing your marketing tasks can be a cost-effective way to market your business. Outsourcing has the potential to save you time, money, and resources when it comes to marketing. Oftentimes you will need outside help when it comes to marketing your business, but sometimes the best thing for you is ...]]> Outsource Marketing

Outsourcing your marketing tasks can be a cost-effective way to market your business.

Outsourcing has the potential to save you time, money, and resources when it comes to marketing. Oftentimes you will need outside help when it comes to marketing your business, but sometimes the best thing for you is if you outsource part of your marketing process.

This article will explore some of the most important benefits that come with outsourcing your marketing tasks.

Why You Need to Outsource Your Marketing Tasks

In today’s market, companies have to be on their toes from the moment they start operations. They have to be competitive and innovative in order to stay afloat. In previous times, marketing was confined to a company’s four walls. Today, marketing has become a top concern for business owners who want their brand to reach a wider audience and achieve greater success.

The best way for a company to grow is by outsourcing some or all of its marketing tasks – starting with tasks that can be outsourced – such as data analysis, social media management, content management and virtual assistant services.

3 Best Ways to Outsource Your Marketing Tasks for Less Time & Money

Marketing is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor for most small business owners. You can outsource the marketing tasks to other specialists, but you need to know how to go about it.

Here are three ways you can outsource your marketing tasks and save time and money in the process:

1. Hire a Marketing Agency: You can hire an full-service marketing agency that specializes in services such as content writing, SEO optimization, etc. They would take care of all your marketing needs at a fixed monthly cost which is much lower than hiring an employee for each task or paying hourly rates for freelancers.

2. Hire Freelancers: The other way to outsource your marketing tasks is by hiring freelancers who specialize in specific areas of work.

3. Do a Hybrid Approach: This might be the best option, as you can enjoy the benefits of both freelancers and a marketing agency.

digital marketing packages and pricing

Why Outsourcing your Marketing Work is the Key to a Productive Workflow

Outsourcing marketing work can help you to create a better, more productive workflow.

The conventional way of marketing is no longer as effective as it once was. Technology has changed the world and the way people view things. In the olden days, advertisers only had to make sure that they were reaching their target audience by broadcasting their message through on-air media and print advertisements. Nowadays, it becomes a challenge for marketers to reach out to people who can be interested in their products or services due to the change of communication habits and platform use.

Outsourcing your marketing work can help you with a variety of things: from creating a content calendar, generating more leads, improving customer engagement rates, increasing organic traffic from search engines, managing social media campaigns and so much more!

Other Advantages of Outsourcing Your Marketing Tasks

Marketing outsourcing can provide a unique solution to many of the problems faced by marketing teams, such as time and labor constraints, lack of in-house expertise, and lack of budgets.

As an example, you might outsource your advertising campaigns to an agency that specializes in that area. This ensures that you’re not wasting time with skillsets that you don’t have and instead focusing on what you’re best at – creativity, emotions and your brand.

To learn more about outsourced marketing services, contact us today.

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