LinkedIn has a powerful feature that most people don’t know about. It’s a little gem that is tucked away on LinkedIn’s “Advanced Search” page. Here are three reasons you want to start using LinkedIn’s “Saved Searches” feature today! Read More
Thoughts on websites, digital marketing, web tech and how it impacts the insurance industry. And a few personal stories, too. đ
I get it. Social media is sexy. Everyoneâs talking about it. Twitter âhashtagsâ are on the news and âLike us on Facebookâ graphics are on every brochure. In fact, thereâs probably even a âsocial media expertâ on stage somewhere showing people how to tweet as you read this article. But letâs take a step back. What is social media really, and what role should it play at your company? How important is it? Read More
This is a question that gets asked a lot, especially if the current website is not built on the popular WordPress platform. Since blogging has become a popular way of sharing information and expertise, not to mention that itâs great for website traffic, everyone wants to get on the bandwagon. But what if your website doesn’t have a blog option? Should your blog even be a part of your website? Or, is it better for your blog to be hosted off-site? Hereâs the scoop. Read More
We were talking with a business a little while ago about their tagline. They were completely hung up on it. We brainstormed a bunch of options together, but they couldn’t find one that everyone liked. Weeks passed. Months passed. Today, they’re still stuck. How important is a tagline? Or your logo? Or your website? Or any other piece of the puzzle? It’s not one thing. It’s the collection of ALL things that make you who you are. Read More
Writing great content sometimes requires a bit of legwork. Sure, you know what you know, but you can make a stronger case for it if you back it up with some solid data. The web is great for that, but it can become overwhelming sorting through hundreds of pages just to find that one reputable site. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a better option? There is! It’s another great product brought to you by Google. Here’s where to find it. Read More
Forge3 was founded in 2004 – almost nine years ago. Has it always been smooth sailing? Heck no! Not even close. If you own a small business, you know exactly what I mean. There are days that you’re on top of the world. There are also days when it feels like the world is against you and nothing you do is working out. We fall down a lot. We get bruised and battered. That’s not important. What IS important is that we get back up – just like my little girl who’s learning to take her first steps. Read More
Terri wrote in with this question: “I am starting a blog using our new website. What is the best way to get people interested? Asking a question? Posting something related to the season? Just curious how you started yours and how well it took off.” Great question, Terri. Here are a few tips you can incorporate right away. Read More
This past week, syndicated talk show host John Aberle invited me on his Life Unedited show. We spent an hour talking about work, life, the challenges of being an entrepreneur and how social media played a critical role in the Boston Marathon bombings. If you listen to just ONE thing from me this year, THIS should be it. I’d love to know what you think. Read More
LinkedIn is a powerful, but sometimes underutilized, business tool. Itâs powerful because nearly half of LinkedIn members are decision makers. Itâs underutilized because most people treat it like an online job board where they store their resumĂ© and nothing more. Here’s how you can get more connections on LinkedIn with one simple change in your approach. Read More
I’ve always wanted to try this. Does having a personalized license plate help with exposure? Do people see the plate and use their smartphones to see what it’s all about? There’s only one way to find out. Read More
Bill wrote in with this question: “Iâve got some serious concerns about whoâs âfriendingâ our Facebook page. For example, what are the potential motives of us being linked to an element that appears to have nothing to do with our business? Can they hijack our brand? Should we de-activate our Facebook page?” Great question, Bill. Here are some of our thoughts. Read More
Needle in a haystack? Are you making it easy for people to find you or do they have to search like a 5-year-old searching for Waldo? If it’s the latter, you’re losing out. Spending just a few minutes making sure you’re visible can be the difference between being found and being a nobody online. Here are a few quick tips that will get you moving in the right direction. Read More
Email marketing statistics can vary by industry and by audience. If youâre a B2B company marketing to senior level executives, your open and click rates for an email sent on Monday at 8am may be very different than if youâre a B2C company marketing to new parents. There are so many factors to consider, making it hard to pinpoint that perfect time to send an email. Read More
I was behind a tractor trailer the other day with the tagline of “Our people make the difference” painted on the back of it. Wow. That’s original. Honestly, that means absolutely nothing. Any business can (and does) say that. How many times have you heard, seen or said “Our people make the difference?” I’m not doubting that your people are great, and who knows, maybe they DO make the difference, but that’s not the message. HOW or WHY your people make a difference would be a better place to start. Read More
LinkedIn is a great platform for professional networking. But what about LinkedIn etiquette? Are there certain rules you should follow? We think so. Here are 16 LinkedIn dos and donâts to help you get the most out of the time you spend on LinkedIn. Read More
