Whatever your business, industry or value proposition is, there is no business without customers and there are no customers without leads.

If you are using email marketing to reach out to leads and gain customers, we have a few ideas on how to grow your email marketing lists so that you can reach more and more leads with your services and products.

First of all: NEVER BUY A LIST!  

Have you ever opened a website that was just lame? These websites normally have messages that are jumbled, poor website navigation, or content that isn’t appropriate for the audience in which they are trying to help. What makes a good website? Searching the web is like speed dating now-a-days. We have so many options to choose from and so little time that we turn to others to narrow the search down for us. Speed dating is popular because the dating pool is narrowed down for us and we are only given a set amount of time with each person on the “date.”

I got up at 5 a.m. this morning and went to the gym. Crazy to some, but I know that is the optimal time for ME to exercise. If I plan to go after work, I either end up not going because I’m too tired or had a better offer; or I go and dread being there the entire time and don’t get a good workout in. Some people would rather eat brussel sprouts than get up at 5 a.m. to exercise – and that’s okay – but for me it’s part of what makes my day feel balanced. I have more energy, I tend to eat healthier, and it does my body good.  

Are people visiting your website? If you answered yes, good! Onto the next question. Are they staying on your website and engaging with it, and becoming a lead, prospect or customer? No? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! While there is a long list of different things you could do to increase website conversion, we will focus on a few design elements that are easy fixes and just may be the trick! 

We have all been on the ‘hook’ end of the ol' lead generation techniques. Even in the last week I have experienced a number of these ol' tactics. Last night I had two gentlemen knock on my door asking if they could clean my carpet. I received direct mail about hearing aids (and I am not even 40 yet) and even at work my inbox is filled each morning with emails from companies selling products and services that I have no interest in at all.

As a business owner you are always thinking about how to be popular with your customers but also have authority in your industry, right? Well it kind of works the same way in the internet world. Which one is better though? Authority or popularity? Which ones does Google consider to be more important? Keep reading to find out!

We get it, you think that social media is just for the teenager next door and you may wonder “Why is social media important to my business?” But let me tell you, social media isn’t just for adolescents. According to the Pew Research Center, 73% of adults using the web are now using some sort of social networking sites; and 42% of those adults use multiple social media sites. This means that your business could be missing out on free internet marketing and advertising if you aren’t using social media as a part of your internet marketing strategy.

It’s your first day at the gym. You look around trying to decide where to get your burn on. You’re having second thoughts about getting in shape. The Planet Fitness commercial flashes through your mind:

Do you remember the days when blogs were those things that either teeny bopper girls used as their online diaries or they were what someone [usually in their 20s] began before they embarked on a backpacking trip in Europe. Are you still stuck in that moment of time thinking that’s what blogging is all about? Are you still asking “why blog?"

In today’s competitive world as business owners and professionals in our industry we are always looking for how to get ahead and beat out our competitors, right? Sometimes it completely takes us over and we forget about what’s most important in the internet marketing world: real content.