Small to Medium Business Marketing Tips Trends, Guides & advice

Building your badass digital marketing strategy

(BUSINESS NEWS) Email, blogging, social media, PPC, SEO -- where to start? What’s really important when it comes to digital marketing?

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Qruuz might have found the magic secret formula for doing biz on Twitter

(MARKETING NEWS) 69% of consumers are more likely to buy from a business they follow on Twitter. Qruuz has developed a way...

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How to successfully launch and grow your company’s blog

(MARKETING NEWS) Businesses launch blogs with good intentions but don’t always follow through and put forth the effort necessary to make them...

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This startup simplifies the hell of customer service

(MARKETING NEWS) Let’s face it, dealing with all of your customer interactions is a lot to handle.

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Stats say we are close to reaching the mobile tipping point

(MARKETING NEWS) Better get mobile-friendly, quick. The migration to mobile will have interesting and profound implications for how and when brands communicate...

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What are marketers actually worried about these days?

(MARKETING NEWS) Marketers once obsessed over expanding their brand through social, but the market has become more sophisticated. What keeps marketers up...

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Should your company jump on the debranding bandwagon?

(MARKETING NEWS) With aggressive advertising being too overbearing and passive advertising being too misleading, where is the middle ground?

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The simplest ways to get people to respond to your emails

(MARKETING NEWS) It's not what you say, but when and how you say it! Here are some of the simplest ways to...

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Most recent stats for reaching moms on Instagram

(MARKETING NEWS) Companies are cashing in when they target moms on Instagram.

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Outsmart: Social media insights (with snazzy PDFs to show your boss)

(BUSINESS MARKETING) Outsmart is a new tool for analyzing and optimizing your digital marketing efforts.

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Design and UX trends that actually boost conversion rates

(BUSINESS MARKETING) Knowing these UX and web design trends can help your website to work better for you, convert more visitors, and...

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New stats on what’s driving consumer purchases

(MARKETING NEWS) Studies show statistics on the influence that social media channels have on consumerism.

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The anonymous population tracker you didn’t know you needed

(MARKETING NEWS) Density, an anonymous population tracker, will revolutionize your customer service, your business strategy, and—most importantly—your pocketbook.

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All of your brand’s social media in one single feed (including metrics and publishing!)

(MARKETING NEWS) Social media platform SMhack works to house all social media accounts in one condensed timeline.

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Use PROMO to easily create instant marketing videos

(MARKETING NEWS) The PROMO app allows users to upload photos, video, music and create a snappy-looking product in minutes. There are plenty...

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Pinterest’s Promoted Pins: You won’t believe these stats

(MARKETING NEWS) Pinterest recently analyzed the Promoted Pins campaigns for 16 retailers to measure their impact on consumer behavior. The results are...

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Survey tool roundup for the best client feedback

(MARKETING NEWS) Surveys and polls allow agents and companies to hear from their customers first hand. They are critical in learning who...

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Consumers are increasingly relaxed about giving up their data [stats]

(MARKETING NEWS) Since the inception of the internet, at least for the last 10-15 years, web users have feared handing over their...

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Cheap way to test your next ad campaign, inspired by Nike

(MARKETING NEWS) You can spend an arm and a leg throwing money into the ad budget, or you can take a page...

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4 ways data visualization can help new online marketers (and 3 mistakes to avoid)

(MARKETING) Data visualization has become an important part of any marketer's job, despite being somewhat new to the scene. Here's why, and...

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Which celeb’s social media posts make the most bank? It’s not a Kardashian…

(SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING) The queen of social media's promotional posts make over a half of a million dollars each. So, who is...

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Why marketers should experiment with virtual reality now, not later

(MARKETING NEWS) There's a new immersive medium through which marketers can connect and engage with audiences in ways that are unique and...

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New app puts customer surveys right inside of your emails

(BUSINESS MARKETING) If you value customer feedback, check out this new app that puts surveys beautifully inside of emails. Genius!

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The type of promotional emails I actually enjoy getting

(BUSINESS MARKETING) Emails fly into our inboxes every day, and most are ignored. But some blatantly advertise to us, and yet we...

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Got a podcast? This tool lets listeners interact in real time

(MARKETING NEWS) Remarks is looking to add a new element to the traditional podcast platform by allowing users to interact with the...

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Pinterest has made changes that encourage people to shop, not just dream

(SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS) Pinterest now offers buying options straight through the desktop site.

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How to use your blog to keep people coming back

(BUSINESS MARKETING) Blogging has become an essential part of marketing, but it is now so much more than just a broadcasting tool....

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The anatomy of an ad that recently went viral (and how you can too)

(MARKETING NEWS) What if we told you it garnered over 27 million views in 24 hours, and 54 million total in less...

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5 habits of highly successful bloggers

(MARKETING) With blogging one of the staples of any marketer's toolbox, what are the keys to success in today's business environment?

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What is brutalist web design?

(MARKETING NEWS) Web design often draws inspiration from design in the physical world. Lately there’s been a buzz about a type of...

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4 in 10 people watch vlogs, does your brand have one?

(MARKETING NEWS) Vlogging offers an inclusive, organic approach to online marketing. If you aren’t vlogging, what are you waiting for?

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Snickers’ hilarious billboard is just good marketing

(MARKETING) Snickers’ ingenious marketing campaign, “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” is compelling and memorable. Humorous marketing at its finest!

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How to make sure blogging isn’t a waste of your time

(MARKETING NEWS) Being a good steward of the Internet involves answering questions for your potential customers. Doing so gives you exposure and...

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Netflix jumps on #influencer marketing, time to consider the movement legit

(MARKETING NEWS) Netflix just sent a big cultural signal out to marketers everywhere; celebrities aren’t the only influencers you should be paying...

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Instagram engagement is huge, but should it be in your ad budget after all?

(MARKETING NEWS) Ads on the social network should avoid the “hard sell.” However, early data suggests that seeing Instagram only as a...

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Flashissue: Create beautiful bulk email campaigns in Gmail

Flashissue has launched to solve some of the most painful parts of email marketing, and the best part is that it's Gmail...

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Find out how far your Twitter content goes with Postreach

Postreach, a new service specially for content creators and marketers understands the importance of content stats, and claims to deliver effective and...

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New scheme where others make money off of your content (and you get nothing)

Heads up, publishers, writers, and anyone with a website containing copyrighted content. There may be companies making money off of your copyrighted...

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Beatsnap is a rad way to create content for your brand

Beatsnap is a new app, now available in beta, that makes it incredibly easy to make a super polished slideshow, using your...

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Luxury brands continue to invest in customer service

Regardless, luxury brands are now catching up to their brick-and-mortar stores. It seems these brands are recognizing the increasing importance of customer...

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The freshest social media marketing stats in the world

The social media experts over at Buffer just completed a study of over 100,000 brands and how they use social media. Take...

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For anyone selling a product, Route could be your new best friend

New marketing tool Route tracks website visitor behavior as a way of determining why a product is purchased or not. Smart!

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10 tips for marketing to millennials

Millennial buying power is up to $200 billion, which makes them one of the most lucrative markets today. Generation Y should be...

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Romanian grocery store lets you shop like a Jedi

Wading through the remains after the Star Wars craze After Star Wars: Episode VII celebrated a record-breaking box office success, just about...

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The best way to reach a CEO you’re trying to get a yes from

Targeting busy C-level executives can be a big marketing challenge. C-suite executives are the ones who open the doors, make the decisions...

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Blank takes your favorite Instagram moments and puts them on a shirt

While this tool will do wonders for egomaniac’s, it might do better utilized as a marketing and branding tool for your brand.

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Study says we trust influencers just as much as real life friends

In this day and age, grassroots level street cred carries a lot of weight.

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The role of fathers is shifting, so take note marketers

Millennials are changing the way America works and plays. It’s no surprise that the role of motherhood is changing, but what is...

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What the YETI “cult” can teach you about marketing success

YETI has built a cult following for their 300 dollar cooler. Confused? Don’t be. This story isn’t rocket science; just good old...

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Sales success begins and ends with engagement

Having success in sales isn't done with any magic bullet, so we asked an expert to tell us how they oversee success...

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When marketing to momlennials, do you go for “mom” or “millennial”?

We're all trained to choose demographics to focus our marketing efforts on, but many brands are unsure which to approach when it...

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Top 7 signs that your website is out of date

Just as styles of clothes come and go, website styles can date your business. How can you tell if your design is...

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Better for biz: Virtual reality OR on augmented reality?

There’s a lot of hype surround the concepts of augmented reality and virtual reality marketing. So what's the difference, and which one...

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Should your brand focus on Pinterest or Instagram?

Pinterest and Instagram both have the potential to electrify your business, but how can you tap into that revenue potential? Which platform...

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Pandora’s unique (and effective) new ad campaign

Pandora Jewelers celebrates the individuality of women. From their beautiful hearts and minds to their incredible talents, strengths, and style.

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Veeroll solves the video editing challenge for your ads

Veeroll has launched to make the complicated video editing process simple so you can quickly offer video ads for social in a...

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ChatPage.io improves lead conversions for any type of company

Converting leads is a tremendous challenge, no matter what you do for a living, but ChatPage.io thinks they have a meaningful solution...

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Micro-influencers increasingly inspire consumer purchases

When anyone can give an opinion, regardless of how much they know about the subject, the real question becomes “Whose recommendation is...

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Do company ethics ACTUALLY affect purchase decisions? [study]

For some corporations, ethics has become a big business. Companies have turned their focus on more than just the bottom line. But...

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How are millennials accessing video content, and where should your brand be?

So you've got some video content you're hoping to push on some unsuspecting millennials. Great! Now where do you put it?

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Google+ is more popular than you think

Google+ is often joked about as a ghost town, but new data says otherwise. Time to reconsider your social strategy.

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Are emojis just for fun, or can they really be used in marketing?

Emojis have taken over the marketing world, with an array of brands using them to resonate with their audiences by using the...

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Are your customers shelling out cash to block your ads?

Is it really a service or are we just being extorted? Let's look at what ad blocking is all about.

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Porsche’s latest ad might inspire you to bust out a new marketing move

Porsche’s high-visibility ad in April’s edition of FastCo provides an excellent example of how working smarter—not harder—can be the most profitable way...

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What types of brands are crushing Facebook marketing (by like, a lot)?

Study examines what industries have the highest percentage of Facebook interactions, and how the leading industry compares to the average.

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Consumers are overwhelmed by company emails [report]

Email marketing is the second most effective marketing channel in ecommerce, but it might be worth noting that there is a point...

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Social networks adding buy buttons, but do consumers actually want them? [study]

Buy buttons on social media can be a boon for small businesses that don’t have the capital or tech power to create...

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How ZMOT can skyrocket your business

In marketing, as well as many other aspects of life, first impressions are everything. Google has an extensive repository of data relating...

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Lord & Taylor in trouble after hiding relationship with social media influencers

Bloggers required to reveal biz partnerships This past week, Google advised bloggers to disclose relationships when they were talking about products in...

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So influencer marketing is a thing, but HOW do you find an influencer?

Successfully targeting an audience of likeminded people that follow an influencer because they trust their opinion, share similar interests and often, are...

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Why Cheerios will ditch their bee mascot

Cheerios branding has become synonymous with that cheerful little bee mascot. So, why would they want to ditch the bee after all...

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How to persuade customers to share your brand’s videos

Consumers are motivated by four different aspects when it comes to sharing video content with their friends, make sure you meet at...

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Why influencer marketing works, and the new direction its taking

In our advertising-saturated age, influencer marketing is becoming increasingly important. Customers are more likely to buy if a trusted friend, especially one...

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Small town marketing focuses on community, and it works

Marketing does not always need to be flashy or high tech. Sometimes, all the brand awareness you need can acquired with some...

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Where CEOs are spending their advertising dollars

It’s an understatement to say that marketers are fighting harder than ever to make sure their brands are relevant. But CEO spending...

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Deep customer engagement potential with Facebook’s new Canvas

Facebook has introduced its newest product, Canvas. Available on iOS and Android phones, Canvas is a full-screen immersive advertising product. It was...

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Kohl’s takes home the Oscar for Best Ad Campaign during the 88th Academy Awards

Almost reminiscent of Super Bowl commercials, Kohl’s launched a campaign for the Academy Awards that related directly to what the viewers were...

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LinkedIn growing their social ad revenues, still in the big leagues

Social network LinkedIn continues to grow its global ad revenues. For 2015 revenue growth is still in the double digits and continue...

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Brands cashing in on the Damn Daniel meme (we will gladly take this over Be Like Bill)

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the smallest trend or video can go viral within a manner of days. Such...

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How MAC cosmetics deals with racist jerks on Instagram

A close-up picture on MAC Cosmetics' Instagram account focused on the model’s lips. Soon after, the image was bombarded with hateful comments...

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Forever 21 gets roasted for using non-plus sized models for plus sized line

Forever 21 seemed to be on the right track when it created an Instagram account to promote its new plus-sized clothing line,...

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Publishers love VR, but see limited ad potential

VR (virtual reality) is all the rage today, but one segment of the market is hesitant to jump on board: Publishers. Here's...

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Nearly half of users buy things on mobile – is your brand optimized?

With the recent boom in mobile popularity, consumers are armed with little buying machines in their pockets. And they've got money to...

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VERY cool way Brussels is marketing itself after taking massive tourism hit post-attack

It was only a few months ago when Brussels found itself facing a Level 4 alert and lockdown after the terrorist attack...

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Teens can’t tell the difference between Google search results and ads

Teens may be more seemingly saavy when it comes to using technology, but that doesn’t mean they’re more aware of the subtleties...

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Facebook user stats for your marketing delight

Facebook may have started out for college students, but in today’s world, 12 years after its launch, it’s no longer just a...

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Your brand might have marketing to millennials down, but what about the upcoming Gen Z?

If you’ve been wracking your brain to find the best way to target younger consumers in your business model, wrack no longer,...

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How beauty brands tap influencers (and you should, too)

Recently, more and more brands and companies are leveraging influencers to drive engagement and awareness, and usage isn’t slowing. Marketers are teaming...

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How marketers are measuring customer engagement these days

All marketers should evaluate their strategy. If you’re not currently using any of the above metrics to evaluate the success of your...

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Pop-up coffee shop tricked hipsters into loving grocery store beans

It’s a formula that works for marketing in general; present your product in an appealing, trendy or familiar way, and the consumer...

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Here’s where the big boys will be pointing their ad dollars in 2016

Newer social ad venues are intriguing marketers. Many senior ad buyers plan to point their advertising dollars to new social media venues...

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Brand names jumping on the “Be Like Bill” bandwagon (eyeroll)

If imitation is the fondest form of flattery, then Bill creator Eugeniu Croitoru must be thrilled to no end because Bill, or...

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Coca-Cola’s gif maker gets trolled hardcore, brands should take this as a warning

Last week, Coca-Cola ditched their 7-year-old slogan “Open Happiness,” in favor of the fresher “Taste the Feeling.” However, the brand is now...

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This Play-Doh campaign is so perfectly snarky, pokes fun at tech

Let’s face it: we’re addicted to technology. A fact which is the focus of Play-Doh’s new ad campaign. The most famous doh...

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Genius guerrilla marketing campaign: Zappos schools Google, y’all

Zappos and Google had a marketing street fight and the video proves that there's a clear winner. This guerrilla marketing tactic is...

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Beacon adoption remains low. Why?

Beacon adoption rates are nowhere near what they were once projected to be, so what does the future hold?

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Why every marketing team needs to team up with HR to avoid undoing years of work

Whether you are being driven to visit a brand website or driven to visit a recruiter website, the endgame is the same:...

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Easily send push notifications to your site visitors, get them to re-engage

With the new app, Aimtell, you can send push notifications to your site visitors even after they've closed their browser.

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Seriously, what is ad stitching? Why should anyone care?

Do you lie awake at night, worried that your company’s marketing budget is going down the drain, wasted on ads that go...

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How to get publicity by doing something outstandingly good

Publicity is fantastic if it's focused on the positive side of your brand. There's a way to get free press while making...

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Stay ahead of the curve with these design trends for 2016

Design is the first thing your audience notices, perceives and thinks about, and should be everything they expect when they arrive. So,...

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Star Wars kills Jurassic Park’s record, JP responded in the classiest way possible

The team behind Jurassic Park took out a full page Twitter ad to congratulate the team behind Star Wars on beating their...

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Buffer has acquired Respondly, moving social media into customer service

Marketing just got a whole lot easier thanks to an acquisition made by Buffer.

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Brands looking to tap LGBT dollars should beware their approach

Just as with any group of people, there are marketers salivating over the spending power of the LGBT community, but it can...

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Medium is now hosting other news sites? This direction is strange…

Medium is breaking the traditional advertising mold by bringing on brands for original content and cross-publishing. Could this benefit your business?

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Pinterest adds price drop notifications; yet ANOTHER reason your brand should pay attention

Pinterest is an amazing tool for a company - not only can innovative products "go viral", but users can now purchase them...

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The ultimate guide to getting online advertising results in 2016

We all have an advertising budget, but determining where the best spend is varies, so which is best for you in the...

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KitKat launches a new ad of… nothing?

Advertisement is all about brand awareness, and KitKat has started running an ad for television of literally nothing. Did the risk pay...

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5 Powerful B2B tradeshow marketing tips

Tradeshow marketing is a tricky craft, and many fail to impress, particularly in the B2B arena - here's how YOU can nail...

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Any brand with an app MUST know this trick for conversion

Mobile usage is increasing, and your brand is already ahead of the curve with the best-designed app. But how are your conversion...

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What your marketing team can learn from Pornhub (we’re serious)

What can your brand learn from a porn site? A lot, actually. Pornhub's marketing efforts remain brand-appropriate, with the perfect mix of...

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Pantone releases the 2016 colors of the year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Pantone has released the color of the year for 2016, and this time we're seeing double: soft pastel shades Rose Quartz and...

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The super cheap 3D marketing stunt anyone can do (all you need is a smart phone)

Cardboard Camera is now making virtual reality photos a possibility with just your smart phone - which makes this idea one of...

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What’s going on with traditional and internet radio advertising today?

Radio advertising both online and offline have been a successful marketing tool for many brands - which option is best for you?

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Get KeyReply if you sell stuff but can’t be glued to a computer

KeyReply is designed to be a grown-up version of rapid responses, keeping your team connected with customers in a meaningful way.

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Hatch is the perfect marketing all-in-one for freelancers

Freelancers trying to keep up with the marketing side of their brand might want to give Hatch a look. It's an all-in-one...

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Are your #hashtags hurting your social media presence?

Hashtags connect people to your social media posts -- or do they turn people away? Recent studies show that they might be...

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Are millennials even getting your brand’s message?

When it comes to marketing to millennials, making sure your brand is engaging with them most effectively is key. Here are some...

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Pull my car around, I’ve finished my Cheesy Gordita Crunch: Taco Bell offers valet

One Taco Bell is doing the unthinkable and offering valet service to its customers. Now Taco Bell fans can truly live up...

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Time will tell if Gas Station TV advertising works, but it might be worth trying

If a consumer can fast forward through or block your ad, what is the point in advertising? Gas Station TV might just...

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YouTube videos + Google Cardboard Glasses = huge opportunity

Google Cardboard Glasses are a cheap and interesting way to get people watching your YouTube videos and converting to sales. Glorious.

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Snapchat has become a marketer’s dream [stats]

Snapchat has grown in relevance and is no longer just for the teens. Start thinking of how YOU will stand out.

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Fanlytics connects artists directly with fans via their social media campaigns

If only there was a way to text all of your fans that you have a show tonight! Or tell them your...

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Study: Digital buyers still prefer shopping in-store

Despite the ease of online shopping with endless choices and items magically appearing at your door, most consumers still prefer purchasing items...

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Customer Discover Ninja has people call YOU to talk about your product

Customer Discover Ninja has launched so you can get feedback about your idea, product, or service. No hunting, just talking. Genius time...

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Audi is setting their sights on pedestrian safety with new campaign

Audi attached their matrix LEDs to a billboard in Germany and started turning them towards pedestrians in the streets as part of...

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New data impresses upon us all that ignoring mobile marketing will lead to failure

Why is mobile marketing so important for businesses? 68% of Americans now own smartphones and if you're not reaching them you're missing...

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How to tap into consumers’ “coupon high” this season

As the holiday season approaches and brands get their playbook together, let's look to the science of consumers' "coupon high" and how...

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Thinking outside the box: Marketing with no budget

Marketing is essential to any successful business, but how can you do it with little or no budget? Take a page from...

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Using Google Analytics to understand your marketing failures and successes

In the world of online marketing, there are so many tools to use and learn. Understanding how to access and use your...

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SurveyCount wants to help you survey your customers better by asking less sucky questions

Now in Beta (and free!), SurveyCount targets what you want to find out from your customers, then helps you ask the right...

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TV is trying to personalize ads – will it work on you?

As the internet takes over, advertisers are becoming less likely to put their trust (and money) in TV. But the industry won't...

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Wait, what? Do luxury shoppers really see less ads?

Luxury shoppers see less ads - is that because they're shown less, or because they rely on them less?

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Which technologies are marketers focused on for 2016?

Which technologies are currently working for marketers, and which do they intend to use more of in the next year?

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Mail Is Back direct mail bundles hot startups offering glossy coupons

In a world that has gone almost completely digital, can direct mail compete? You might be surprised to learn that direct mail...

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Google wants to teach businesses how to business

Google is offering free lessons for anyone that wants to improve their business, just download their new app!

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Pepsi campaign sends drones around concerts to locate your friends

Drones are all the rage, and we're used to them taking video and pics, but Pepsi has dreamed up something more clever,...

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Makeup now being developed for selfies (we’re serious)

The new selfie-loving generation has created the need for selfie-centered products. Have you considered cosmetics to be among these? They are. Here's...