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Marketing Simplified

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A Simple Approach to SEO

Uncategorized· Video

Enhancing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is by far one of the most common questions I get asked and my favorite strategy for Improving Search Engine Optimization is awareness. I’ll explain what I mean…

Getting people to click on your website is the number one way to improve Search Engine Optimization and by posting more frequently on social media and using email marketing, you’re making great strides in that direction. Another common way to improve SEO is by using keywords and here is a common way to identify keywords that are likely already working in your favor.

First, head on over to wordle.net/create. It’s a website where you paste a bunch of words and it will form a “word cloud” of the most commonly used words there. Then, repeat this exercise with comments on social media, newsletter text, etc. Once you’ve made a few word clouds, you should see common words emerge at a larger size than others. These are the keywords that you are likely ranking on (whether you know it or not). Once you do it for your own organization, you should try this with competitors and complementary businesses too. Maybe they are using a keyword or two that you didn’t think about.

Once you find your keywords and maybe one or two from competitors or complementary businesses, keep a list on a word document. AFTER you write content on social media or email, take a look… are there any words that can be replaced with keywords?

Now, here’s a word of caution. I mentioned replacing words in original content with keywords AFTER you write it for good reason. It becomes obvious quickly when something is written for the SOLE PURPOSE of using keywords…and the bottom line is good content gets clicks. So please resist the temptation to sacrifice quality content with keywords… just look for natural opportunities in the editing process.

For today’s post across your social media channels, use the prompt “I remember…” and from there, make a throwback Thursday post. AFTER you’ve written the post, find opportunities to replace non-keywords with keywords. From here on out, make this a regular part of your content marketing strategy… within reason.

Before I go, Google Keywords is also a great tool, albeit more complex than the strategy above. If you have extra time, you may want to familiarize yourself with it. Links also provide great SEO, so if possible, partner with other organizations and use links. For example, if you’ve sponsored an event for a nonprofit, ask that nonprofit to link to your website… it will help BOTH of your page ranks.

Happy Thursday and I’ll be back tomorrow with more tips!

Marketing Blog

Rethinking AI: From Automation to Authentic Connection

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AI is everywhere, especially in marketing. But here’s the big question: are we using it to truly connect with people, or just automate the basics? I recently had the opportunity to share my thoughts about using AI for communicating with our ideal customers at the American Marketing Association’s EVOLVE event. Think about it—when was the … Read More about Rethinking AI: From Automation to Authentic Connection

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“Vanessa changed my life. This is not an exaggeration. I learned more about marketing and brand management from Vanessa in one weekend than I did in YEARS of trying to navigate these subjects on my own. Vanessa has a way of presenting material so that it is easy to understand, effective and immediately actionable. She makes complex concepts simple and accessible. With her many years of experience, she is able to teach real-life lessons that you can implement to launch or improve your business today. Most of all, Vanessa can see your potential and vision sometimes better than you can see it yourself. She truly believes in her students and clients and has a unique way of helping them make their dreams a reality. I did not always think of myself as a thought leader in my industry but Vanessa inspired me to look at my career in new ways. She has helped me bring forth opportunities that I never thought were possible. I am so thankful to have her in my life and forever appreciative of the impact she’s had on both my personal and professional endeavors. Vanessa uses her special gifts to help bring out yours.”

Dr. Lisa Hornick
Optometrist
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“A huge thank you to Vanessa and for her unwavering commitment to shaping leaders of the future. Her knowledge and strategies with personalized thought leadership was the foundation that transformed the way I presented myself and my business. I realized how crucial it is to create a brand that authentically represents you, your values, and your mission. This branding not only impacted my career but shaped the way we position WilsonTech in the market, emphasizing our dedication to excellence, trust, and innovation.”

Ryan Wilson
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“Vanessa helped us realize that we needed to look at marketing one of our new ventures in a whole new way — the opposite of we were doing before. When I followed her approach to create our offer, conversions were downright easy.”

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“I like how Vanessa begins with the end in mind. She has you strategically understand your goals, ideal customer, and offer first, then teaches you how all the rest applies. It’s not tied to one thing, but rather, it’s an integrated approach. I would like to create online products for my business and Vanessa really reaffirmed the possibilities. She also highlighted how simple it can be to get them started.”

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“Vanessa’s careful nurturing of her clients, her guidance, and her cheerleading have been invaluable to me. The amount of information you get in her workshops and online course is staggering… it includes email marketing, social media, paid traffic, content creation and so on… email marketing was especially valuable for my business. I would recommend her to anyone looking to increase their organization’s online marketing presence.”

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“We actually slowed down our marketing plan to keep up with all the new business!

Vanessa has expert knowledge of marketing techniques, but what is really special is the way she helps her clients understand and apply those techniques. She is a great mentor and coach.”

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“Vanessa’s strategies have allowed me to significantly outpaced competitors in fundraising revenue generation. But what I really appreciate is her passionate approach, the way she cares about each individual person she works with, their mission, and how it can change the world. Her marketing strategies can’t be found in any textbook but they work significantly better than the ones I find there.”

Tracy Fauver
Executive Director, Davis Community Meals and Housing
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