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  • 4 Reasons Why Blogging is Important for your Business

    There is some debate out there as to whether blogging is still relevant in today’s social media marketing environment.

    Regardless if you are a small business, or a multinational company, blogging is integral to your online content marketing strategy.

    Here are 4 reasons you need to blog:

    1.  Drive traffic to your website

    2.  Increase your SEO/ SERP

    3.  Position your brand as an industry leader

    4.  Develop better customer relationships

    Drive traffic to your website:

    Your blog gives you the opportunity to create relevant content for your customers. Use this as a marketing tactic to drive traffic back to your website.

    Make the blog on your website the foundation for all of your social media platforms.

    Your business might be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or anywhere else. Post links  – with relevant visuals – of your blog articles to your social sites. Give your social followers a reason to click through to your website.

    Additionally, post inbound links directly in your blog articles, to drive traffic to specific landing pages of your website.

    Increase your SEO/ SERP:

    Blogs increase your SEO. Fresh content is still a key to beating out your competitors in the search engine results page.

    Use keywords in your articles. List out the keywords, topics, and categories you want your business to be found with. Use these words, and related expressions when writing your posts.

    Of course, whether you actively seek these out or not, blogging regularly about your business, industry, product or customer lifestyle will naturally increase your search keywords. Being intent about your words will only increase results.

    Keywords and topics on your website are a significant way in which Google (and other search engines) find your site for these searched words.

    Position your brand as an industry leader:

    Well written articles demonstrate your company as an industry leader. By posting topics which resonate with your market and show your knowledge, you are marketing your skills for your business, service or product too.

    If you are a retailer, for example, write blog posts about your products. Your customers will get to know you as the knowledge source for the products they want.

    If you are in B2B, post articulate, well researched articles about your service. Become the hub, or the place to be, for your industry.

    You are building trust, too. The more you can show that you are well-versed in your field, the more likely your consumer will trust you to supply what they need.

    Your customers additionally benefit from the learning you provide them.

    Develop better customer relationships:

    Blogs provide another source to deepen the connection with your customer. By connecting directly on your website, your clients are able to get to know your business or product from the comfort of your online home base.

    Use this. Again, build trust by being a source of information. Consumers like to be informed, and appreciate that you are the one teaching them.

    Additionally, just as on your other social sites, respond to comments and interact with your consumer. If they have questions about a product you are writing about, respond to them directly on your website. Unlike many social sites, a blog is generally searchable on your site for some time. Your website comments last longer than on a Twitter response or Facebook post. Other customers will see your interactions too.

    Source: Wishpond
    Written by: Krista Bunskoek, PR and Content Marketer @ Wishpond

     

     

  • Tips for an Awesome and SEO-Friendly Blog Post

    Writing a blog post -like all other writing- is a skill. In order to keep your reader interested, you should think about structuring your text and writing in an appealing style. You should help your readers to grasp the main idea of your post by providing headings, subheadings and clear paragraphs. If people understand and like your text, they are much more likely to share, like, tweet and link to your post. And that will increase your rankings! So, in order to improve your ranking in Google, you should definitely try to maximize your writing skills!

    For some, writing for SEO purposes and writing to attract and keep attracting your audience could appear as two contradictory goals. However, I totally disagree. Indeed, if you not only want a good but also an SEO-friendly blog post, your text should be written in such a way that the words you want to be found for have a very prominent place. And, using your keywords too often severely damages the readability of your text. So, you definitely should not do that!

    In this post, I would like to give some tips on writing blog posts that are both very readable as well as SEO-friendly. I genuinely think those two goals should (and can easily!) go hand in hand!

    Elementary writing tips for good blog posts

    Before anything, your blog post just has to be a good piece of writing! A lot of bloggers just begin to write after creating a new blog post. They just type what comes to mind. For some, this may be sufficient, because they are natural writing talents. Others may need some help. I always follow the next set of ‘rules’ myself.

    1. Think before you write!

    Think hard about the message of your text. What do you want to tell your readers? And what is the purpose of your text? What do you want you readers to do at the end of the page? Write down the answers to these questions before you begin writing.

    2. Write down the structure of your blog post.

    Every post should have some sort of introduction (in which you introduce your topic), a body (in which the main message is written) and a conclusion (which should summarize the most important ideas or deduce some new idea). Write down what you want to write in all these three sections. You now have some sort of summary of your post. The real writing can begin!

    3. Use paragraphs.

    Everybody uses paragraphs, but make sure to use paragraphs that make sense. Do not start a new sentence on a new line, just because it looks nice. There should be a reason for making a new paragraph. Every paragraph should have a main idea or a main subject. Ask yourself what the main idea of each paragraph is. You should be able to grasp that main idea in only one sentence. If you need more sentences, you simply need more paragraphs!

    4. Use Headings.

    If you want people to find their way in your articles, you should use subheadings. Subheadings will lead people, help them scan your page, and make the structure of your articles that much clearer.

    5. Use signal words.

    Signal words help people to scan through your text and help people to grasp your main idea. If you, for instance, have three reasons for wanting to sell a product, you should use signal words as: First of all, Secondly and Finally. Also, words as Nevertheless, Surely and Indeed also give a clear signal to your readers. Readers will instantly get that a conclusion will follow after words as Thus, So or Therefore. Signal words are thus very important to structure your text.

    6. Let other people read your post.

    Before publishing your post, let someone else read your post first. Ask him/her whether or not he understands the main idea of your post. Correct typo’s and sentences that are not formulated correctly.

    by Source: Yoast.com

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  • Benefit Communication in the Mobile World – Benefits Technology

    Benefit and HR communications have long been a challenge for HR departments and the benefit consultants that support them. The struggle to communicate effectively with employees so that they better understand and utilize their employee benefits has made little progress in recent years. Now more than ever benefit professionals are looking at cross selling voluntary benefits to generate new or additional revenue sources, and the need for better communication with employees is even more vital.

    The topic of how better to leverage the latest in technology is a regular in our industry news and articles, mostly related to marketing for new business.  Until recently we have all looked at paper, onsite enrollers, and email blasts to try to interact with employees so they will understand and use their benefits.  The simple problem with these options is that they are all very easy to ignore and often miss entirely. These methods are work-related and as we all know work is the easiest thing to tune out or save for some later date that never seems to arrive.

    The clear opportunity before us all is that better utilizing technology and social media for employee-directed material is the true “ah-ha” moment that has been missing.  Utilizing the technology that employees use and access 100 times a day is the real key to interacting with your employees and getting the response you crave. Platforms like mobile-friendly websites, SMS/text-based reminders, and social media profiles are the next generation of employee engagement.

    Case in point:  at the next enrollment meeting notice before, after, and sadly DURING the presentation how many employees check their mobile devices. I think we can all agree they are probably NOT checking if a vital work email has come through. Text messages and social media clearly rule the attention of employees and ask yourself how much of that attention do you have?

    Examples to consider adopting for your agency:

    • Text-based messaging blasts
    • Social media / hashtag content posts
    • Incentive-driven voluntary benefit sign-ups

    Each solution could be easier than you think to leverage and might be a simple extra step with how your clients may already be connected with employees.  Be intentional and meet with your client and ask what types of communications they may already be doing and suggest one or more of these options. There are various vendors that can support and provide these services so do a little homework in advance to feel comfortable with delivering on your ideas.

    BIO:

    Jeff Hill has been passionate and working with Benefits Technology since 1998 starting with Resource Financial Group in Austin, TX. Developing employee benefit platforms for the broker community related to benefit websites, online and paperless enrollment, and communications has been Jeff’s constant focus in all areas of professional work. Jeff was on the original staff as Director of Technology for United Benefit Advisers and traveled the country presenting to agencies on how to best use technology to attract and win new business. As a leading expert in web design for the employee benefit market, his work has been utilized by agencies, carriers, and benefit industry professionals nationwide.

    As President of eTekhnos Benefit Technology, Jeff has led the company to annual double-digit growth and new innovations in the benefit technology industry.  eTekhnos is also the nation’s only Benefit Industry-focused web design and internet marketing agency. The benefit world is very unique in its marketing and branding needs and eTekhnos knows that world inside and out.  eTekhnos saves agencies time and money and delivers stunning client technology web design and social media content.

  • 5 Benefits of Blogging for Your Small Business

    If you run a small business, chances are you are wondering if blogging is worth the time and effort. The short answer is a resounding YES! Blogging on a frequent basis is a relatively easy, inexpensive way to enhance your inbound marketing efforts, drive traffic to your site, and attract more perspective customers.

    The Case for Small Business Blogs

    Here are some of the most important benefits of having a blog for your business:

    1. Boost Search Engine Optimization-Search engines love fresh content. What better way to provide frequent content than with blog posts. By blogging consistently, you give Google and other search engines new content to index and you create opportunities to plug in those all-important keywords to increase your visibility on search engine results pages (SERPS).
    2. Develop Relationships with Potential and Existing Customers-Blogging allows you to connect with your site visitors. This can be accomplished by asking your readers questions at the end of your posts to get the conversation going or by simply allowing comments and feedback. By reviewing and responding to readers’ comments, you can create a rapport with your audience, build trust, and gain valuable insight into what your customers are looking for.
    3. Establish Your Business as an Industry Leader-No matter how small your business is, you can build trust and clout within your industry by providing valuable, expert information in your blog posts. Over time, you become a “go to” resource for helpful, informative content, which can ultimately lead to higher customer conversion rates. This is especially important for small businesses looking to gain credibility to compete with larger companies.
    4. Connect People to Your Brand-Blog posting allows you to show a personal side of your business that perspective and current customers won’t see through outbound marketing techniques. Blogging gives others a sense of the corporate standards, vision, and personality of your company.
    5. Create Opportunities for Sharing-Every time you blog, you create an opportunity for your audience to share your blog with others. Whether they link to your blog post, tweet it, or email it to others, it’s free marketing and it further validates you as a credible business.

    From a practical standpoint, blogging just makes sense. With minimal effort and expense, you can build credibility, boost search engine rankings, increase website traffic, and foster relationships with potential and current customers. This is an opportunity no small business should pass up.

    Read More – By Kelly Thomas Mango

    We are here to help with your blogging needs!  Rockstar Technology can drive traffic to your site with a new blog that can be integrated with all your social media outlets!

  • Become a Rockstar Business on the Internet!

    How your business is seen on the internet is, in today’s world, likely your strongest advertising tool.  People, more than ever, are turning to the internet to find services, products, and just about anything under the sun.  The strength of your online presence says a lot about your business!

    Does your business have a Rockstar presence online or are you just behind to those companies who do?  Your company needs to be represented well on the internet as archaic methods of marketing, paper ads, direct mail, etc. are no longer the most effective marketing tools.  Don’t get left behind online and lose out on major potential growth opportunities for your business!

    One of the best, and often fun, ways to increase your businesses online presence is through the power of social media.  Social media has quickly become the future of communication and it gives businesses the ability to rapidly, cost effectively, and personally build relationships with their current and potential customers.  Social media encompasses an array of internet based tools and platforms that can, when managed correctly, help your business grow!.

    Social Media Marketing is fast becoming the future of business advertising!  Social Media Marketing is sometimes called “Inbound Marketing”.  This is the process of utilizing social media outlets to gather and increase traffic or attention for your business through a webpage, blog, and social media sites.  These would include, but are not limited to things such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  Social media is a great way to draw customers to you … which is exactly the point of all advertisement in the first place!

    Many companies do not realize the need for this type of marketing until it’s too late.  Comments and feedback through client testimonials are often ranked higher with Google than a website, this is because little or no effort was put into developing a positive online relationship.

    The list of positives to having a strong and aggressive social media strategy for your business is endless.  Building an online relationship with your customer market breeds loyalty, trust, and increased profits!  When customers trust you they share with their friends … often times through social media which continues to grow your online presence.

    Social media marketing is here to stay and we are here to help!  We would be happy to provide an assessment of your website, blog, or other internet platform and would be honored to help you take it to the next level.  We have a variety of marketing plans to fit every niche and budget!  Contact us to get started today!

     

  • New Website Launched for Clemons Company

    Here is another of our latest websites, just launched for Clemons Company.

    clemons

    Unique features: Iconic Image & Integrated Blog and News Feed

    The Clemons Company website was recently launched with a special focus on engaging the user with interesting content and design.  We integrated an iconic banner image and blog/news feed into the site to provide updated content daily. The site is easy to navigate, clean and concise.

    Visit the new Clemons Company site at http://clemonscompany.com.

  • Five Benefits of Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business and Your Career

    Five Benefits of Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business and Your Career

    Five Benefits of Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business and Your Career

    If you are like most digitally minded people, you are probably aware that LinkedIn is the social network of choice for working professionals looking to make connections. Many tech-savvy business professionals, possibly even a majority of the business workforce, have profiles on LinkedIn and are connected to the social network a majority of the time through their computer or mobile device.

    Since there is every indication that more and more business will be moving to social media, taking advantage of the free exposure provided by a network like LinkedIn simply makes sense. Check out the following advantages of taking an active role in managing your company’s LinkedIn profile, and then get to work!

    1. B2B Networking

    Finding vendors, suppliers, manufacturers, and other third party resources is a breeze with LinkedIn. The platform is designed to connect people and companies with like interests, after all, and your chances of finding a partner you can trust are greatly increased with the power of the network. Rather than combing through a phone book and comparison price shopping for days or even weeks before choosing a vendor, you can send a couple InMails and be done in just a few hours. In addition, seeing the vendor’s online presence gives a more complete picture of a company than just speaking to someone on the phone might, so you can see if other businesses have had good experiences working with the vendor.

    2. B2C Networking

    Brand building is a vital part of any business plan, and a well-managed LinkedIn profile can serve as a flagship for your brand. By keeping active and posting often on the site, you can build your brand bit by bit, increasing likeability and gradually building the trust of your potential customer base through timely, relevant, and interesting posts. Your brand is how you identify with your customers both current and future, and LinkedIn provides a perfect way to shape that brand image the way you want it.

    In addition, LinkedIn can be a great avenue to promote new products and services without resorting to traditional advertising campaigns. By contrast to an expensive ad campaign, generating buzz on the social network is affordable, flexible, and totally in your control.

    3. Lead Generation

    Networking with possible consumers by optimizing your account profile and company page, as well as consistently posting relevant and unique content, are both key elements of getting the most from the social network, as discussed in point #2 above. A direct result of continuing to build a more coherent and focused brand is the generation of new leads that will come about organically as people find you on LinkedIn and like what they see. This method combines all the best aspects of traditional word-of-mouth lead generation with the control of showing customers your best side by choosing what to include in your profile.

    4. Staffing

    Your dynamic and consistently relevant LinkedIn profile is sure to attract enquiries and applications from top talent who are using the network to find great job opportunities. Take advantage of this by keeping an active list of open jobs and positions attached to your own company page, to be easily found by someone who may be looking to join your team. Since LinkedIn is the social network of choice for business networking and career advancement, top tier talent is likely to come your way based on the quality of your company profile alone.

    5. Customer Satisfaction

    Finally, LinkedIn offers a perfect avenue through which to interact with your customer base, with surveys, messaging and comments. If done right, this can provide a perfect means for achieving great customer satisfaction levels and showing you are a company that cares. Customers truly appreciate feeling like their voice is heard, so interacting with customers via the public and private messaging options on the social network is a great way to resolve any issues and show that you are listening to your customers, as well.

    Many business professionals assume that LinkedIn is just a networking site for job hunters and recruiters, and as a result, miss out on the broader benefits of the platform. As with any social network, the benefits of a well-maintained profile centered on outreach – whether to new customers, new vendors, or even new recruits. LinkedIn’s many benefits as a social platform make the site a vital part of any business’ web strategy and social media presence.

    Source: Written by Brian Hughes

  • 5 Reasons Why SEO is Important for Small Businesses – SEO Marketing

    Why Should You as a Small Business Owner be Concerned About Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

    Because you want to provide visitors to your website with such a fantastic user experience that they will tell others! Because you want to provide search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo critical information so they will place your site in the
    top 5 spots on the returns page!

    The job of a search engine is to take the information typed in by the user and locate the most relevant websites using those keywords. Simply put, if you are not engaging in SEO, you are not on that first page of results – the other guy is! By investing in search engine marketing, you are staying competitive with those other guys while giving your brand name exposure 24 hours, 7 days a week and are sure to gain new customers – even while you sleep. Let’s take a look at what a good SEO service can do for you while you take a snooze…

    5 Reasons to Invest in SEO Marketing

    1. Optimal User Experience

    SEO is ultimately about providing the user with the friendliest, fastest, best experience possible. A search engine wants to provide the user with what they are looking for, and when it can do that, both parties are happy. A happy visitor will become a returning visitor.

    2. Optimal Reach

    People unconsciously trust search engine results. If Google places Dave’s Donuts in the top spot of a search, then it must have earned that place and it must be good. User then tells all his friends on Facebook and Twitter that he’s going to Dave’s and he invites them, leaving the link for them to click as well. The laws of multiplication can work pretty fast, and before you know it, a dozen hungry teens show up at Dave’s Donuts! Why? Because the search engine matched everything perfectly, and it all pointed to Dave’s.

    3. Optimal Potential for Conversion

    Internet marketing, including SEO, attracts people who are already looking for your product or service. You don’t have to scream, dance, or wear cool clothes to gain an audience; they are already convinced of their need which is why they went searching in the first place. No bold print ad placed front and center on the magazine page is required. You just have to present yourself in one of those top 5 results and – voila! They were looking for you and you showed up right on time! You still have to convince them that you are the better company to purchase from, but half the battle is over. Once they come to your website, if you have invested the same tedious work to optimize the user’s experience with you by providing the content they seek, then you are well on your way to gaining a new customer.

     4. Optimal Exposure for Brand Awareness

    As stated in point #2, people unconsciously trust search engine results. If Dave’s Donuts is #1, then Dave’s serves the best donuts. But most users do not just run over to Dave’s the next hour and buy a dozen donuts (unless they are local teenagers)! They do, however, file it somewhere or bookmark it. They go clicking around the world numerous times before making a final decision. If your website is employing top notch SEO services, how often might that user come across your company name while conducting his search? What if your company came up 3 of the 5 times they searched for that desired product? Next thing you know, they have clicked through to your website.

    5. Optimal Insight into Your Customers

    If your website is properly optimized, it will increase your search engine visibility, usability, and credibility, all of which increase traffic to your site. Now that you are enjoying higher numbers of visitors, Google Analytics (which every website should have set up) can track valuable information about your visitors. Find out what browser they use, what key words, the technology they use, their geographical location, the days and times they are most active, how much time they spent on a page…on and on. This information will help you discover your target market, hone your advertising, and determine strategies based on facts rather than just educated guesses. The better you know your customers, the better product or service you can provide, the higher the ROI.

    Search engine optimization is no longer an option for businesses that want to be competitive, grow, and see returns on investment. But it is only one piece of the puzzle. If your website does not contain viable content, then no matter how much money or time you spend on SEO, it is wasted. Content will always be king. But when used in conjunction with other important marketing tools, SEO will provide visibility, traffic, credibility, branding and help you gain valuable insight into customer behavior.

    Read More

  • Employee Spotlight – Jeff Hill

    jeff and AshThe team we have here at eTekhnos/ Rockstar Technology is our greatest asset to both our company and the clients we serve daily. The Employee Spotlight is to help our clients get to know the staff they work so closely with and rely on personally and professionally! Read below to learn more about Jeff Hill – in his own words.

    • Question 1: What is your title at Rockstar Technology: President / CEO
    • Q2: How long have you been with the company? Since 2005 when it was formed.
    • Q3: What is the favorite aspect of your job? I love meeting with clients that have ong put off web and marketing projects because they seemed stressful and complicated and then hearing the clear relief when they realize we can handle it from start to finish and make their online presence a great reflection of their company and passion they have for what they do.
    • Q4: Do you have a favorite sports team? Texas Longhorns – Hook em!
    • Q6: Do you volunteer? I am passionate about working with the high school students in the Keller area as a member of the student ministry of Keystone Church. I also play electric guitar as part of the worship team also at Keystone Church.
    • Q7: What is something people might not know about you: I started a non-profit in 2010 to teach other the importance and easy to remember steps of CPR called Mission: CPR. My life was saved by a family member performing CPR on me when I was found without a heartbeat and not breathing – I try my best to share that message at no cost to companies and organizations in DFW as much as possible.

  • 10 Reasons to Upgrade Your Website

    Statistics overwhelmingly show that your website is very likely your customers’ first impression of your brand or store. That being said, keeping your site up-to-date and relevant is definitely in your best interest. An upgrade may mean a new site, but in some cases may be just mean fixing up what you already have. Here are 10 signs that it might be time to make some changes to your website:

    1. You cannot update your website’s content. The content on your website is the reason why people visit your site and also why they choose come back again or why they may lose interest. Not to mention the affect that out-of-date or irrelevant content has on your site’s SEO affecting the ability for search engines to find you. And, accordining to PR Newswire study, 89% of Consumers Conduct Their Product Research Using Search Engines. (Source: PR Newswire). Having the ability to update content or add new content is a must and some content management platforms, like WordPress, are as easy to use as editing text in a Microsoft Word document. So, if you cannot add content, you could be missing out on traffic.

    2. Your website does not link to your social media sites. Did you know that 78% of Consumers Say That the Posts Made by Companies on Social Media Influence their Purchases. (Source: Forbes). The conversations that are had on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are beneficial to your website visitors as well. Linking the sites can open the gates for traffic to access your brand in more than one place online. This can give the user a deeper sense of your brand and your existing community.

    3. Your website is not set up to convert visitors to prospects. When a user visits your website, this is your chance to grab them by the hand and give them a tour of your brand, products and services, much like you would if they walked into your brick and mortar location. If your website doesn’t invite them to look around or give them opportunities to interact, you may be missing opportunities to filter users into your sales funnel. Look at your homepage. Are there opportunities for one to sign up for a newsletter, watch a video, view products, shop or browse? Is the call to action clear?

    4. Your website is not mobile friendly. If your website is built in Flash (which is not mobile or search engine friendly at all), you’ll definitely want to look into a new site. But, even if your website does not render well on a mobile device, or if you don’t have a mobile version of your website, you could be missing as much as 27% of your website traffic, according to Smartmetrics.

    5. Your website is not user friendly. If one can’t figure out how to navigate through or use your website, why would they visit or ever come back to your site? When thinking of how best to organize your website, try to put yourself in the seat of the user. What do they want to know? In what order do they want to know it?

    6. Your website loads slowly. If your site loads slowly, people are leaving your website without even giving it a chance. 47% of consumers expect a web page to load in 2 seconds or less.  Learn more about faster load times: http://www.rcpmarketing.com/faster-website/.

    7. Your website is not as good as your competitors website. People use the Internet to shop and learn about the products and services they are looking for or are interested in. So, chances are if they found your website, they also have looked at your competitors sites as well. If their site is more user friendly, draws them in and looks better than yours, you might be losing more money in missed prospects than it would cost to upgrade your website.

    8. Your website is more than 3 years old. The world of web development is ever-changing and in three years, the options have exponentially increased and changed.  There are so many new options, widgets, apps and integration opportunities that make your website more user-friendly and appealing to your audience more than ever before. Sometimes this means an upgrade to what you already have and sometime this can mean a completely new website.

    9. Your website is an online brochure. People expect more than just text about your offerings and brand when they come to your site. In fact, they need more to take full advantage of getting to know you. A website no longer benefits you or them if it doesn’t encourage and facilitate interaction.

    10. The purpose of your website has changed. If your marketing strategy has changed, it may be time to change your website to match the new plan. For example, at the time that you built your website, your goal may have been to sell products. Now, your goal may be to increase repeat business. In order to keep your website relevant, you may want to evolve your website navigation and options to match your goals.

    Source: Carly Crow – RCP Marketing