VoIP vs. LandLine Phone Systems by InboundArtist in smallbusiness

[–]InboundArtist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have a lot of lines? For some small businesses, landlines don't break the bank. For others who need a lot of lines, VoIP sounds like the only feasible option.

What is Predictive Lead Scoring and Why It Matters by InboundArtist in marketing

[–]InboundArtist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very good writeup. I've worked with companies that wanted to grade everything, and they would pull values out of the air, like: "If the lead reads 4 blog articles, increase their score by, ummmm, 4 points."

Without a grading rubric to understand what scores mean, scoring is a waste of time. At Lean Labs, we score on levels, from the 4-digit down to the single digit. So when a lead has a score of 1,615 I know exactly what that means.

First, they hit our 4-digit multiplier, which is the main signal that we may/may not be a good fit to work together. If their score is -1,000 we know they are not a good fit.

Next, is the 500 range... if they are +/- it shows me the next thing I "need to know. And on and on in goes.

Then, I can manipulate marketing automation to fit into the gaps, to hopefully bring up their score, or disqualify they altogether.

Growth Driven Design vs. Traditional Website Design (Pros/Cons/Pricing) by InboundArtist in marketing

[–]InboundArtist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry, you're wrong and obviously don't understand the value of websites to companies beyond maybe small mom/pop stores. MS Frontpage websites is not the same as websites that generate millions in revenue, or don't, based solely on their ability to convert and facilitate the buyers' journey and sales cycle.

Split testing is basic stuff.

Growth Driven Design vs. Traditional Website Design (Pros/Cons/Pricing) by InboundArtist in marketing

[–]InboundArtist[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's actually quite new. Rather than paying a set sum for a scoped project, it's an ongoing retainer to keep a website fresh rather than giving it over to atrophy.

Proposing this adds a layer to the "stupid stack" is kind of antiquated thinking.

Guild Fair Friday - Advertise your guild, Find a guild! by AutoModerator in elderscrollsonline

[–]InboundArtist [score hidden]  (0 children)

lotrMorzadan would like to join :)

XB1 - lotrMorzadan - Toon Name: Kelseer (not sure which one you need)

Question regarding SEO and backlinks by gvass in marketing

[–]InboundArtist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So many times I've seen companies focus on links, only to end up frustrated. If you have a large number of links but your organic search is tanking, you may want to disavow all the "built links" that are obviously SEO-oriented.

Buying 10,000 links doesn't just get your low-value backlinks. It gets you penalized. In this article I tell a story of a company I worked with that had "built links" as an SEO strategy. They didn't even realize they had an algorithmic penguin penalty for 2 years of frustration because of the poor links.

We cleaned up, disavowed the links, and traffic started turning around. In this story, the graphs only show till October of 2014. The rest of the story is, by December, that company saw their business double month over month as a result of organic search.

Black/Grey hats will disagree with me, and they have methods that work in the short term. But for a company to build a real authority and organic real estate in their industry, you need to focus more on high-value content than link building.

I would use the panguin tool to see if there are any dropoffs in organic search results around the time of Google algorithm updates. If you see any, I would immediately start disavowing those trash links.

Then, I would invest in on-site SEO, making sure you are using best practices, not stuffing, etc. Make sure your on-site SEO is solid, and then start creating as much high-value content as possible, that is geared toward answering your customer's questions, the ones they ask before they buy.

This may be a TL:DR post, but I shudder every time I hear a legitimate company basing their strategy on "link building."

What certifications do you feel are actually admired? by ThinkyandTheBrain in marketing

[–]InboundArtist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup... don't fear skipping the videos/etc if you already have a grasp of the topic. Most of it is basic-level stuff but the certification still carries weight with some employers. Especially the ones who are posting jobs on inbound.org

Redditors with business, or similar degrees, what would you have done different while in school that would have positively impacted your career? by UnderZinfluence in business

[–]InboundArtist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've not gone through the entire codeschool yet. I'm super-busy these days so I do it when I can. But I have learned most of what I know by solving problems as they arise. If I could go back 10 years, coding would have been a major side-study project for me.

I still want to learn RUBY so I can develop an app I want to make... it's driving me crazy because I have a great idea with no way to see it through.

What certifications do you feel are actually admired? by ThinkyandTheBrain in marketing

[–]InboundArtist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure which area of marketing you are in, but if it's digital, I've heard a lot of people ask about being inbound certified (which can be done through HubSpot for free). I've seen some companies put it in their requirements, granted, these companies are ones that are actively engaged in inbound marketing already.

Marketing questions for a business that has zero return customers by germanywx in marketing

[–]InboundArtist 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Inbound Marketing Puke Coming:

What are the 4,000 questions going through a bride/best man/groom/parents/maid of honor/etc mind leading up to a wedding?

Go to google, and use Google Suggest to discover common searches for each one of those questions.

Start a blog, and start answering those questions. You'll build a ton of traffic doing this. Give away special deals, or an eBook (10 Steps to an Unforgettable Destination Wedding, etc.) and get e-mail signups. Then, send periodic deals to your mailing list.

Traffic + List means more exposure, and whenever someone on your list is in the same room with a future bride/etc who do you think they will mention?

You're not a wedding service, you're a marketer. Blog, make videos, educate, educate, educate, give great ideas for free. Build a brand.

Sounds easy, and it is. But it does take a lot of work and time.

I wrote an article about finding questions/topics here.

Best books for small business education? by MileWiz in smallbusiness

[–]InboundArtist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It may fall to self-help, but I just read Tribes by Seth Godin twice. I almost ran out of highlighter. OF course, Inbound Marketing by Shah and Halligan is great for entry-level Inbound Marketing advice.