Business
SEO Is Simpler Than You Think. 5 Things Every Beginner Needs to Know to Get It Right
This post was originally published on Inc.com. As a non-tech founder, I understand the resistance that comes with doing anything that makes you feel stupid. For me, that includes web design, HTML, and search engine optimization (SEO). This was particularly embarrassing since SEO is one of the most foundational digital marketing tools in the toolbox and I was (…)
The Dangerous Problem of Lazy Content
There’s a scene in the new Ghostbuster’s movie where Abby points to the reality TV show “Ghost Hunters” and goes, “See! This is why people don’t take us seriously!” That’s how I feel every time I open my browser and see headlines like “3 Ways To Make More Money By the Holidays.” It’s not a bad headline. On the contrary, (…)
Why You Shouldn’t Have a Marketing Department (Have This Instead)
You know how you aggressively brush your teeth the night before a dentist appointment? Like, if you just brush REALLY hard, your dentist won’t notice that you haven’t been flossing those back teeth for months. It never works. Your dentist always notices because she’s a dentist. It’s her job to know you’ve been half-assing your (…)
This Is What Happens When You Let Other People Get In Your Head
This week I’m in Houston staying with my parents because I’m a great daughter and winner of all brownie points. I was meeting a friend for dinner when my mother said, “I’m not sure you should take the car. You haven’t driven in a while.” She was right. Living just outside Manhattan I never drive, (…)
This Hiring Mistake Could Be Costing Your Marketing Department Millions
Have you ever been to Stillwell, Kansas? It’s the type of place where you walk down the street and everyone says hi to you. That warm receptiveness to strangers is a hallmark of the Midwest. It’s also why I was so shocked to meet an unfriendly Starbucks barista when I was in the Kansas City (…)
The Surprising Upside of Manipulation
A funny thing happens when you tell people you work in marketing. You become the devil. “So (dramatic pause), you manipulate people for a living?” That’s always a fun conversation starter. (I recommend this debate if you’re bored at your next dinner party. #protip) When I started in marketing, the ethical boundary for me was very (…)
The Real Reason Self-Promotion Sucks
No one likes promoting themselves. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and makes us all feel like we’re bragging and annoying people. When you start to feel like, “I’m not a salesperson. I’m the subject matter expert. I shouldn’t have to do this. I’m above this.” one of four things happens: You start to explore your paid-ad options (…)
How to Write a Good Customer Survey
“Are you afraid of the impending robot revolution or do you feel completely safe and not at all worried about A.I. technology?” That wasn’t a joke. A real surveyor for a real (and prestigious!) institution asked me this. A pollster called my landline and I agreed to “answer a few brief questions on the economy.” (…)