The Latest
How Much Should I Pay For SEO Services?
I’ve been in the digital market space for 20 years and this question, “how much should I pay for Search Engine Optimization?” is perhaps the hardest to answer. The elements that go into SEO are highly dependent on variables that agencies or SEO service providers need to identify before they can provide a valid estimate. SEO variables can be overt or hidden and defining them is key to establishing a…
LinkedIn B2B Session
Here are the links to the LinkeIn presentation and presentation notes for the sessions given in the Chicago area. The presentation is an overview of using LinkedIn to build b2b relationships, participate in the LinkedIn community and build a sales pipeline. This is NOT a quick hit program. LinkedIn, as all social platforms, requires time and patience. linkedin linkedin_notes…
SEO vs. PPC, Which One Is For Me
Clients ask about SEO vs. PPC, which is better. Like so many things, the answer depends. Before we look at the question, let’s be sure we are on the same page regarding what SEO and PPC are. SEO Definition SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, refers to the activity focused on getting a web page to show up on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo!, or Ask. Actions such as changing…
Google Organic Update: Fred?
They are calling it Fred. That’s the name being given to the Google update that hit on March 8th. It is getting a lot of attention in the SEO worlds, as you can imagine. No one really knows what the change is, but the speculation is that it relates to inbound linking. Every time Google makes a change, the speculation goes to “google is going after black hat seo.” I…
reprieve from the unskippable 30-second YouTube ad is on the way
Looks like a reprieve from the unskippable 30-second video YouTube ad is on the way. According to the british site Campaign Live, Google is doing away with the ad format on YouTube. Considering Google emphasis on mobile, and their push for advertisers to adapt a mobile first mindset, the unskippable 30-second video is arcane. Though some legacy advertisers and those who really like to watch themselves are unhappy with the…
Google Dropped Organic Site Links & Some impressions dropped
Google Organic Search Metrics Google Search Console (GSC)/ webmaster tools provides insights into the way users see your organic Google SERPs. Unfortunately, the dashboard data only goes back 90 days, so when Google makes a change, it is difficult to normalize the data. So, here is what changed: For some websites, Google displayed site links under the primary listing. So, one search with one listing provided multiple Landing Page impressions…
Creating Custom Targets in A few steps
It used to be that getting precise targeting was available to advertisers with big names and big budgets. In the past couple of years the ability to target specific groups has been opened to small and medium sized advertisers as well. The options for implementing custom targeting are many, but advertisers can start with the most accessible. With digital marketing there are two broad methods for setting up custom targets,…
Top 3 roadblocks to using marketing analytics
No objective / plan In the 4th quarter of every year companies start planning for the upcoming year. The problem is that the planning starts with budgets. They look at what was spent over the past year, consider if the activities will remains consistent or change and adjust the budget accordingly, or just arbitrarily cut budgets. This approach does not establish performance metrics, just spending levels. Too often subordinates are…
Social Proof – a few simple things for big results
We see social proof all around us. From celebrity endorsements on the high end to ratings and reviews on the more common programs. Social proof can come in many forms, but it comes down to people believing in you because others believe it you. Take advantage of this in digital marketing and you’ll see increased customer acquisition and retention. Shoppers are looking to reduce the risk inherent with their buying…
Google’s Penguin Goes Real Time
Last month Google hit us with two pretty major changes to the search algorithm. The first was a straightforward update in early September. When this hit, we saw most programs take a slight dip and then recover after about a week. But, then Google announced that they will incorporate Penguin into the core algorithm as well, applying it to every query. This caused a lot of consternation as things fluctuated…
Hyper targeting ads on facebook
This past week I conducted a workshop at SCORE Chicago, which is a business mentoring organization for small – to mid sized companies associated with the SBA. The content was marketing on Facebook. We covered the basics of setting up a social media presence, engaging on Facebook (and others) as well as Facebook Advertising. While most were aware of advertising on Facebook, they generally did not know about the level of…
UTM Tracking for Your Google Analytics
Okay, starting with a couple of assumptions. 1. You care about knowing where your website traffic is coming from and finding better places from which to get it. 2. You have, or are willing to get, Google Analytics (GA) setup on your site. If you are putting links in social media or paid advertising, you should be tagging everyone of them to understand where your best traffic is coming from….
SEO
Automotive Repair Digital Marketing P…
Local auto repair shops generally have engaged owners who enjoy working in the b…
A New Site Design Doesn’t Have …
One of the biggest concerns companies have when redesigning their website is tha…
What Are the SEO Implications of AI?
We’ve been working with clients in SEO for decades, and one of the consistent th…
Before You Change Your SEO Strategy
I had a call from a client in the auto repair industry. He asked if I’d be willi…
Boost Your Plumbing Business: Digital…
Ready to elevate your plumbing business? Discover effective digital marketing st…
Top Chicago SEO Marketing Companies f…
Unlock your business potential with Chicago’s top SEO marketing companies. Disco…
Large Language Models and AI for Loca…
It is mind-boggling to consider how fast AI has become part of our lives. From t…
GOOGLE SUNSETS THE ”&num=100” PAR…
GOOGLE SUNSETS THE ”&num=100” PARAMETER The affects on SEO data, and how it…
Search Engine Marketing for Small Bus…
The Chicago area is a powerhouse of small business innovation. From manufacturin…
A Guide to Auto Shop SEO
A Mechanic’s Guide to Ranking on Google In today’s digital landscape, having a s…
Does Duplicate Content Hurt SEO?
Can Publishing Duplicate Content Hurt Your Search Engine Rankings? Duplica…
The Role of SEO in B2B Marketing
On the surface, SEO’s role for B2B is simple: help generate sales. However, wher…
Do No-Follow Links Help SEO?
First, What’s a No Follow Link? A no-follow link is a hyperlink that looks like…
Technical SEO An Overview
Technical SEO is the process of ensuring search engines can access and easily cr…
The Impact of AI on SEO (So Far)
Generative AI & SEO In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Artificial In…
How to Improve Your Ranking on Google…
A Guide to Google Maps SEO In the digital age, visibility on platforms like Goog…
Rebrand Your Site Without Losing SEO …
SEO Tips for a Smooth Rebrand At some point in their lifecycles, many businesses…
Citation Building for Local S…
Local Citations & Linkbuilding There are tons of components that go into a s…
Comparing Website Authority Scores (D…
Domain Authority vs. Domain Rating vs. Authority Score One of the primary sellin…
Google Automated Campaigns…use …
Google Ads is a great advertising tool for businesses of all sizes. From interna…
A Beginners Guide to Local SEO
Getting Started with Local SEO If you’re running a small business, you know that…
B2B SEO: Content-Led Strategy
Business-to-Business SEO Strategy B2B SEO is an important strategic marketing to…
Optimizing SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages
SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages Search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertisi…
Managing Change in SEO
SEO is dynamic. That’s no secret to anyone familiar with the field. We see a lot…
21 On-site SEO Areas to Improve Your …
The recommendations for on-site SEO, or on-page SEO, over years, have often been…
SEO Timelines: How Long Does SEO Take…
How long does SEO take to work? It’s a pretty straightforward question with a le…
What your SEO agency doesn’t know can…
No, this isn’t about the competency of your SEO agency. My guess is they’re good…
Google Update: How Google Changes You…
Last week, Google confirmed that they changed the way they generate new webpage…
PPC
Our Favorite 2025 Google PMAX Campaig…
For a while, Google has been pushing advertisers toward a fully automated system…
Automotive Repair Digital Marketing P…
Local auto repair shops generally have engaged owners who enjoy working in the b…
Keywords, Search Terms, and Search Th…
Your Back to Basics Guide: Keywords, Search Terms, and Search Themes In today’s…
Google Ads Campaign Types Breakdown
Your Back to Basics Guide: Campaign Types Whether you’re new to Google Ads or ju…
Biggest Changes to Google Ads in the …
The 6 Biggest Changes to Google Ads in the Past Five Years Google ads is always…
PPC Audit: A Complete Overview
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising allows businesses to display ads on search engin…
Google Ads Tracking Offline Conversions
Google Ads provides various tracking methods, from online e-commerce to offline,…
What Is A Google Ads Quality Score an…
What is a Google Ads Quality Score? First things first: what is a Google Ads Qua…
Google Ads – Build Your Funnel …
Improve your Google Ads Conversion by more than 50% Google Ads keeps getting bet…
Why Don’t I See My Remarketing Ads
“Why don’t I see my remarketing ads?” is a question we get asked. Or, some varia…
Amazon Prime Days and Google PMAX Sho…
October Amazon Prime Days ran 10/8-10/9, and they were promoted for weeks prior….
Evolution of a PPC Agency
There is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence in digital marketing and it…
5 Common Mistakes in Google Ads
Maximize the Effectiveness of You Ad Spend Maximizing the effectiveness of your…
Are You Starving Your Google Ads PMax…
Google Ads is in a transition, and while this may initially feel unsettling for…
The demise of Cookies and lessons fro…
As Google Chrome is sent to send Cookies to the dustbin this year, digital marke…
A Guide To Google Ads With Wix
Using Wix to Set-up Google Ads Starting a business is no easy feat and includes…
Google Ads Updates – Feb 2024
Over the past month, the two biggest (but not surprising) announcements have to…
Why is it hard to trust Google Ads AI?
There is no doubt that Google is pushing advertisers and their agencies to imple…
How to Use Remarketing in PPC
The Role of Remarketing in PPC: Strategies for Targeting and Converting In the f…
Google Ads Update: Search Themes in P…
Google Ads Update: Search Themes in Performance Max Campaigns Google has m…
5 Alternatives to Google Ads
Best Alternatives to Google Ads Google Ads has ruled the roost for years when it…
Google Ads: Automatically Cre…
Google Ads: Automatically Created Assets As Google Ads grows and expands its cap…
5 Ways to Prevent Budget Waste in Goo…
Conserving Your Ads Budget Google ads can be a great tool to drive traffic and a…
Geo Targeting Vs Geo Fencing
Geotargeting and Geofencing Compared The line between geotargeting and geofencin…
Google Ads Phrase Match Types Compare…
Should You Switch to Broad Match Keyword? We have all been there. Going through…
Is Paid Advertising Evil?
Are Search & Display Ads Evil? In the year 2023, we have all experienced ad…
5 Steps to Clean Up Your Google Ads C…
Why wait for spring cleaning when the start of the year is the perfect opportuni…
Optimizing SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages
SEO vs. PPC Landing Pages Search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertisi…
Display Campaigns & Brand Awareness
Today, we’re looking at how to build brand awareness with display advertising. T…
Google Ads Match Types Lack Meaning
As Google continues to push its belief that the Google Ads AI is better at align…
All Blogs
How Much Should I Pay For SEO Services?
I’ve been in the digital market space for 20 years and this question, “how much should I pay for Search …
LinkedIn B2B Session
Here are the links to the LinkeIn presentation and presentation notes for the sessions given in the Chicago area. The …
SEO vs. PPC, Which One Is For Me
Clients ask about SEO vs. PPC, which is better. Like so many things, the answer depends. Before we look at …
Google Organic Update: Fred?
They are calling it Fred. That’s the name being given to the Google update that hit on March 8th. It …
reprieve from the unskippable 30-second YouTube ad is on the way
Looks like a reprieve from the unskippable 30-second video YouTube ad is on the way. According to the british site …
Google Dropped Organic Site Links & Some impressions dropped
Google Organic Search Metrics Google Search Console (GSC)/ webmaster tools provides insights into the way users see your organic Google …
Creating Custom Targets in A few steps
It used to be that getting precise targeting was available to advertisers with big names and big budgets. In the …
Top 3 roadblocks to using marketing analytics
No objective / plan In the 4th quarter of every year companies start planning for the upcoming year. The problem …
Social Proof – a few simple things for big results
We see social proof all around us. From celebrity endorsements on the high end to ratings and reviews on the …
Google’s Penguin Goes Real Time
Last month Google hit us with two pretty major changes to the search algorithm. The first was a straightforward update …
Hyper targeting ads on facebook
This past week I conducted a workshop at SCORE Chicago, which is a business mentoring organization for small – to mid …
UTM Tracking for Your Google Analytics
Okay, starting with a couple of assumptions. 1. You care about knowing where your website traffic is coming from and …