Yes, people like to deal with people, so it’s still a good idea to maintain your personal LinkedIn profile. But, if you want your business to gain credibility with your audience, you absolutely need to create a LinkedIn company page as well.

There are a number of advantages that a LinkedIn company page can offer to your business that a personal LinkedIn account simply can not:

1. LinkedIn company pages are very appealing to search engines.

Your LinkedIn company page is the perfect place to naturally incorporate keywords that your target audience is using when searching for products and services that you offer. Be sure to include these keywords throughout your description and complete your company page profile in its entirety to really give your SEO strategy a boost.

2. You have the ability to run Sponsored Updates on LinkedIn with a company page.

Sponsored Updates can offer your business a number of advantages, such as laser-specific targeting with your LinkedIn ads. It’s an extremely powerful way to drive more traffic to your website, and it’s a feature that you can’t take advantage of with just a personal LinkedIn profile.

3. A LinkedIn company page gives you credibility.

Today it almost seems that if a business doesn’t have a company page on LinkedIn, it might not even be a real business. If you are a small business owner, you especially need to created a company page on LinkedIn to position yourself as a credible business. Plus, creating a company page also provides for an opportunity to link all of your employees together that have listed your company as their current position.

To learn more about the benefits of promoting your business with a LinkedIn company page, be sure to download our free Small Business Guide to LinkedIn.

(Image via The Undercover Recruiter)

Google Adwords can seem like a very daunting, huge concept to learn, especially to a small business owner who already has an incredibly busy schedule. The importance of Google AdWords is a popular subject, but exactly what IS Google Adwords, and why should a small business owner use it? By understanding the basics of Google AdWords, you will learn how it can be used to benefit your small business.

What Is Google AdWords? 

Our favorite Adwords tool? The Keyword Planner.

 

How To Use Google AdWords? 

There are three basic ways that traffic is driven to your website: search engines, social media, and blogging. Since this article is about using a content marketing blog to help grow your small business, let’s focus on the blogging aspect. Here are several benefits that your business will realize by starting and maintaining a blog:

1. You’ll drive more traffic to your website.

Take a good look at your current website. It’s likely that your website does not contain a lot of pages. It’s also likely that you don’t regularly update the various pages on your site. If you have a blog, however, you are creating an additional indexed page every time you write a blog post. This sends a signal to search engines that your website is very active and that it should be checked regularly for new content. The more indexed pages that you have on your website, the more opportunities you are creating for traffic to be directed to your website.

2. You can use your blog as a tool for qualifying leads.

Not all traffic that arrives at your website is your ideal traffic. To help qualify leads, make it a best practice to include a relevant call-to-action in every blog post that you write. The most effective types of calls-to-action are free ebooks, whitepapers, and webinars that entice your visitors to share their contact information with you in exchange for more detailed information about a topic that they are genuinely interested in. Not only will this help to qualify your leads, but it will also give you a better understanding of where these leads are in your buyer journey.

3. Your blog can help to position you as an authority in your industry.

The more often you create content that is helpful to your target audience, the faster they will come to think of you as an authority in your industry. If you are the manager of an apartment community, for example, you could regularly post about the best local date night spots or bucket list activities to do in your area. These posts will help to highlight the fantastic location that your apartment community is located in, and people will return to your website time and time again to learn more about what there is to do in the area.

Making the decision to establish a content marketing blog will yield longterm results as long as you are consistent with publishing new content that provides value to your audience. If you are currently tossing around the idea of starting a blog for your business, download our free ebook that will walk you through the steps of how to how to start a business blog the right way.

However, it can be challenging to create a blog voice that speaks to your residents. Here are four tips you can use to ensure that you blog with a purpose.

1. Maintain communication with your content marketing company.

Once you hiring a blog writing service to work with you, you’ll want to maintain close communications with the company. These individuals have the tools and expertise you need to bring your PMC to fruition, but they need to know how they can help. Being as informative as possible is essential once you recruit a third party.

2. Have a point to each post.

Each update you post to your blog should have an underlying point, and you can even tie it back to a promotional marketing concept. Having a purpose in mind while writing, your blog post will likely be more relatable to your audience.

3. Use multimedia to showcase your purpose.

In addition to using text, incorporating photos, videos and interactive media in your blog posts can give your page a boost. Additionally, these forms of media may be able to translate your PMC in ways that words simply cannot do for you.

4. Plan it out beforehand.

The blog writing professionals you are working with can help you plan out your blogging strategy for organizational purposes. In turn, you’ll know exactly what you’re trying to promote with each post before you even sit down to write. Content calendars, for example, can help you lay out what you want to address on your blog with your apartment community members.

Blogging comes with its fair share of benefits, but it takes a bit of strategy to make the most of this marketing tool. A content marketing company can help you better understand how to use your blog to connect with your apartment complex residents on the web.

While the Digital Summit ended a little more than two weeks ago here in Atlanta, we’re still very much experiencing the buzz and “information” fallout provided by the conference speakers. Most people are still trying to find the best ways to survive the recent updates to the Facebook News Feed or Google’s Mobile Algorithm Update. But in my opinion, those developments are simply add-on questions to the real head-scratcher that is SEO.

My name is Christopher Hill and I am the Digital Content Strategist and Trainer for Digital Sherpa. There are a number of responsibilities that come with the role but one of the major ones is ensuring that our team of content marketers aren’t making detrimental SEO mistakes. So when Quinn Whissen, Marketing Manager of Vertical Measures, led a breakout session geared towards successfully optimizing content, I was all ears.

Her session was by far my favorite of the entire catalog because it spoke to a gap that I truly needed filled. Knowing how to properly perform quality SEO is as simple as knowing what mistakes you are or possibly could be making. I left Whissen’s session knowing the 10 most common SEO mistakes:

• Over Optimization
• Duplicate Meta Data
• Poorly Optimized Images
• Poor or Thin Content
• Keyword Misfocus
• Blocked Pages
• Bad Backlinks
• Page Load Time
• Penalties
• Unintentional Duplicate Content

Now if you’re familiar with the terminology, then you know just how easy it is to A.) make these mistakes and more importantly B.) fix them.  In fact, half of these mistakes revolve around quality and the thoroughness of the work you’re doing. Duplicate Meta Data, for instance, was something that I was surprised to see make the list. But the more I thought about it, I remembered that most SEO packs allow this section to auto-populate from the text – so why couldn’t there be cases of unintentional automated duplication? Also, I knew that images were a big deal, but I didn’t realize how frequently that potential wasn’t being utilized – even within my own team.

However, one of the SEO mistakes that I wasn’t surprised to hear mentioned in Whissen’s session was the issue with thin and low-quality content. Ever since the Hummingbird update a while back, the need for hyper-helpful content has been at a premium. Gone are the days when you could simply crank out a keyword-rich post and expect to see it indexed favorably. Now there’s questions if Google even recognizes a piece of content under 300 words! Of course, some of the issues – like not being aware of pending penalties from Google and slow page loading times – were things that are more or less in the hands of our developers. However, this doesn’t make them less intriguing or less important for us to know as content marketers.

One thing that was made clear during the session with Whissen was that all of these mistakes are fixable, but only after you first identify the problem. A simple audit of our content showed me how much things have changed since last year alone. SEO has always been a tricky concept to navigate, especially with each additional update Google levies. But after a quick glance back at the list above, I am confident that remedying these problems will definitely lead to SEO success for 2015 and beyond.

(Image via Flickr)

Here are five key tips for enhancing your SEO through Google Plus.

1. Post updates with noteworthy titles.

As you’ll quickly notice with Google Plus, updates are more than a 140-character blurb. Think of them as mini blogs, which do best in search results when they have catchy, keyword-friendly titles. Your titles should always be informative and attention-grabbing to your audience.

2. Use images.

By including an image with your updates, you’re improving the shareability of your posts. Just remember, you should always include the URL to the text you are referencing after your photo. This will make your update as informative as it is eye-pleasing to your audience.

3. Don’t be afraid of hashtags.

They aren’t just for Twitter anymore! Hashtags are a quick way to let your readers know what your post is about, and they’ll redirect people to your page when they search for your used hashtags.

4. Include links on your profile.

Links shouldn’t just be in your updates – they should be used on your profile as well. Your Google Plus page is the perfect platform to backlink to sites like your blog or your official website. Make sure you use the appropriate keywords throughout your page as well to drive SEO. Critical information, such as your apartment complex name or city, can draw more people to your Google Plus page from search results.

5. Maintain your account.

If you’re just learning about some of the new ways to enhance your Google Plus account, you may find that your existing posts are a bit lackluster. Luckily, Google Plus allows you to edit your old posts, so you can go back and add media (links, photos, etc.) to spruce up your updates and drive more SEO. Take the time to maintain your account, and you’ll see more results.

Google Plus may not be as popular as Facebook or Twitter, but it can still be a valuable tool for raising awareness of your apartment community. Furthermore, it can serve as an online gathering place where your complex can communicate with each other regularly. Contact us today to help you create an successful Google Plus strategy for your business!

(Image via Flickr) 

1. Time can be tight.

At the end of the day, we can all only do so much, and some areas of our lives may suffer if we try to take on more than we can handle. While social networking has its benefits, keeping up with it may be taking time away from your friends or family. A social media company can give you this precious time back.

2. Expertise is essential.

In order to see the most ROI from your social networking efforts, you need to ensure that you’re using these platforms appropriately. Whether you don’t know what to post or you’re unsure of the frequency, a social media marketing company will have the answers.

3. Marketing may be a struggle.

If you’ve been using your social networking profiles to market your apartment complex, you may not be seeing the results you want. If you slack on time, effort or both, your social profiles will fail to enhance your marketing efforts. A company that specializes in social media can help you adjust your strategy to target the appropriate audience.

4. Awareness is at a standstill.

Many people use social networking to show the values of their businesses, whether it’s a bakery or an apartment community. You can do the same, and a social media company can help you raise awareness of your principles as an apartment complex owner.

5. It takes work to bring your community together.

Many people in your apartment community may be unaware of your social networking profiles. Hiring a company that specializes in this type of marketing can help you get the word out about your presence on social media. In turn, you can strengthen your virtual bonds with members of your complex.

Whether you’re on the fence about hiring a social media marketing company or you know you need one, there are multiple benefits to making a decision sooner rather than later. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!

My corner of the world at DigitalSherpa

As a Social Media Intern (and Millennial), I have always been fascinated by the power of social media and its effect on marketing, self-esteem and the influx of Twitter followers Kim Kardashian gets after posting a selfie. But today, let’s just focus on that “marketing” bit.

Interning at DigitalSherpa has given me the opportunity to see just how effective social media is to marketing a client’s product. This experience has allowed me to explore how a brand’s social media strategy affects consumer responsiveness, as well as knowing the importance of a client’s target customer.

These days, most companies measure the success of their products’ marketing by how many Facebook “likes” or retweets they receive. However, as I’ve learned from my time with DigitalSherpa, those numbers mean nothing if that brand’s consumers can’t relate to the product.

A great example is Taco Bell. Taco Bell has one of the most effective social media strategies to date; it truly understands its target consumer. If I had to personify the company’s Twitter feed, I would say reading it is similar to what I imagine having a dinner party with Jennifer Lawrence would feel like; it’s an experience dripping in sarcasm, dry humor and tacos. Taco Bell, according to CEO Greg Creed, is a “Millennial edgy brand” and therefore, should have a strong, fun relationship with the Millennials of the world. Having the interactive social media presence it does is imperative to the participation of Millennials in the Taco Bell brand. Consumer participation is important; not only for gaining new customers, but for retaining the ones they already have. By coupling their knowledge of their target consumers and the execution of their social media marketing, Taco Bell is #winning.

DigitalSherpa has shown me importance of using insights and research to connect with a client’s target consumer. So while I might be able to post about Taylor Swift’s cats for a Millennial client, this might not work for a Baby Boomer.

I’ve seen first-hand that doing the proper research can generate highly positive feedback from both the client and their consumers. Companies want consumer responsiveness, and consumers want to feel included by a brand they support and trust. During my time interning at DigitalSherpa, the biggest takeaway in social media I have is this: When it comes to social media marketing, it’s vital to have a relatable online voice and message, but it means nothing unless you know who you’re talking to.

There are only so many images of your actual apartment community that you can share in your blog before you begin sounding redundant. So where can you go to find more images that would fit into the multifamily housing industry? Here are several great resources that you can turn to for free images without running into a copyright issue:

1. Flickr

You can find thousands of pictures to use on your blog by browsing through Flickr’s Creative Commons. You can use the search feature by typing in relevant keywords to help you find your ideal image. It’s very important that you make sure to read the licensing information for each picture, though, to give proper credit for the image.

2. FreeImages

The name best describes what you can find on this website, and there is also the option to use some of the images for a small fee. You’ll find that each image on this site has different restrictions, so you’ll want to make sure that you read the copyright and attribution requirements before using a picture.

3. FreePhoto

This website features over 100,000 images that you can choose from to include on your blog. Of course, you’ll need to be sure to give appropriate credit for using the image. Some people do not like this image source as the images include a small watermark on the bottom corner that say “FreePhoto.com.” While it’s not really obtrusive, some are concerned that using images from this source make their blog posts seem less authentic and professional.

4. PhotoPin

This website offers millions of free photos that bloggers and creative types can use. Just browse through the Creative Commons photos and add your selections to your blog posts. Of course, you’ll want to make sure to properly credit the images.

5. WikiMedia Commons

You can search this large, free library to find images, photographs, drawings, illustrations, audio files, and much more. Some of the images that you’ll find on this website are public domain and require no attribution. You can also find images on this website that do need to be attributed, so make sure to read the licensing requirements of each image before using one in your blog.

6. StockphotosForFree.com

Use this website to browse through more than 100,000 free stock photos from around the world. These images come with a royalty free license, so there will never be a charge to use them.

Finding the right images to use in your blog posts can sometimes be as challenging as writing the blog content itself. Simplify your life by using these free online image resources to find the right visual imagery to include in your apartment complex’s blog. For a more in-depth look at the power of imagery in your marketing, watch our free webinar, Visual Social Media Marketing. 

1. Date Night Board

Whether your goal is to attract single professionals or families to your apartment community, everyone can benefit from hearing some great date night ideas that are local to your property. As a rule of thumb, keep these recommendations for date night activities within a 20 mile radius of your apartment community. The possibilities for what to include on this board are really endless, from favorite local restaurants to a popular concert venue in the area. This type of board is an excellent way to showcase that your apartment community is situated in a prime location with an enormous amount of exciting activities nearby for your residents to choose from.

2. Apartment Decorating Ideas to Accommodate Your Floor Plans Board(s)

You likely have several different floor plans in your apartment community that residents can choose from. Help them better envision life living in your apartment community by sharing some decorating ideas specific to the floor plans that you offer. You could actually create a board for each floor plan that your community features. For example, to make a studio apartment more desirable, you could use Pinterest to share some unique ways to divide up the space to make it feel more like separate rooms rather than just one open space. If you want to highlight that one of your floor plans includes a spacious outdoor patio, use Pinterest to offer some suggestions for creating a fabulous outdoor dining space or a successful container garden. Do your apartments feature an enormous amount of storage space (walk-in closets, for example)? Share tips for getting organized and making the most of this storage space to live a clutter-free lifestyle.

3. Green Living Board

If you are marketing to Millennials, this board could be particularly appealing as this demographic has a desire to give back to the environment. This is also a great way to highlight that you have updated your apartments with energy efficient appliances and/or have used green friendly building materials to renovate. The board could include apartment living tips to use less energy, clean with environmentally friendly materials, and simply live a greener lifestyle.

When you create these Pinterest boards, a best practice from the pros is to make them group boards, meaning that anyone can contribute. This can increase the awareness of your apartment community online tremendously as contributing pinners will have your content appear in their newsfeeds, exposing your Pinterest board to a new audience.

For more unique ways to position your apartment community on Pinterest, please download our free ebook that shares how to drive real results from your Pinterest marketing efforts.

(Image via Flickr)