More than a Few Words

#234 Goals make a plan real

It is not enough to have a broad plan for your business. You need to have specific, measurable goals which you can translate into action.

#233 Know Your Market

#232 Why Groundwork Sessions?

How are you going to reach your goals this year? You could hire us to write your marketing plan, but then what?  You’ld have a well written document but unfortunately, the real work – figuring out how to implement it would still be ahead of you. We think there is a better way for business owners who want to be actively involved in creating and executing their strategy. Introducing Groundwork Sessions A six month program which includes equal parts training, group coaching, one on one consul...

#231 Do you have a plan?

We have been talking to quite a few business owners lately who are excited about starting their new business.  Unfortunately, it seems as if they haven't done their homework.  There doesn't seem to be a plan other than opening and selling.  To us, that seems like a recipe for failure.

#230 Why You Need a Content Calendar

What type of marketing will you be doing a week or month from now? What about in six months? How will your different marketing activities work together to drive sales? If you can’t answer those questions, you need a marketing calendar. This simple one-page document is a great tool to help you stay on track with your marketing all year long. No matter how big or small your marketing budget is, a well-organized calendar will help you save time, lower costs, track progress and ultimately incr...

#229 Kickstart your business with a little cash

Looking to jump start your business idea with a little capital infusion? With online fundraising tools like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, it is easier than ever to raise the money your need. 

#228 Why we revised a one year old website

I loved the website we launched in September of 2013, so why did we completely overhaul our theme just a year later? These days a year is a long time in the life of a web design company and although it looked good, it lacked flexibility on some of the interior pages. Also there are so many cool new tools and features we are building into sites for our clients, and I wanted some of them on our site as well. . Fortunately, our website is built in WordPress so swapping the theme didn't require...

#227 Free Kittens

What started as a  joke turned in to an interesting social media experiment when we decided to use kittens in our seminar marketing campaign.  The results surprised us, and I shared them during a presentation at the Fall Social Media Dames Conference. 

#226 Who Links to you?

Business is still about relationships.  And when it comes to the internet those relationships are measured by who links to you and to whom do you link.   While Google no longer puts the same weight on links that it once did, links from high quality sites will still bring search authority and better yet, real visitors to your site.   

#225 Attracting the Attention of People With Short Attention Spans

Let's face it, today your website visitors have a shorter attention span than ever before. So how do you keep readers interested long enough to digest your message? This week we will take a quick look at ways to create content to be consumed quickly.    For more on this topic check out our blog post on this same topic. http://www.roundpeg.biz/2014/11/write-people-short-attention-spans/

#224 How do you push prospects off the fence

Some of your marketing effort should be focused on people who are right on the verge of a purchase, and have made their intentions known. Do you have systems in place to make sure they jump towards the big “Purchase Now” button.

#223 Go where your customers are

One of the most surprising events in the social media community in 2014  was a decision by Copy Blogger to close down their Facebook page. With more than 38,000 fans this seemed like a strange move for a social media/content company.    They did not make the decision lightly, but as they looked at the interaction on their social media pages, they realized their community did not want to interact with them on Facebook.  A smart decision for them with many great implications for small busines...

#222 What to do when someone is interested?

When a prospective customer comes to your website or enters your physical retail store your primary  objective is to interest them in something you have to sell or share. This week we talk about ways you can do just that. 

# 221 Not everyone is your Customer

It is a hard thing to accept, but no matter how cool your product is there are people out there who don't want it.  Instead of wasting time trying to get the attention of people who don't want to buy, use marketing resources wisely to attract people who do.    Download our Target Marketing Guidebook to learn more    http://www.roundpeg.biz/everyone-customer/  

#220 Just Browsing

Most customers are not ready to buy right away.  You need to move them from Just Browsing, to Interested,to On the Fence, to Hooked.  This week we talk about what to do when someone is in the "hooked category. 

#219 What is on your menu

Don't assume your customers know what you really offer.  Ask questions and confirm the order. 

#218 How to Grow Your Email List

From high touch to high tech here are some of our favorite suggestions on how to grow your email list.  This week we share some of our favorite tips.  And if the show has left you wanting more, you can download our compete list of 50 tips. 

#217 User Generated Content with Erin Sparks of Edge of the Web

This is a recording of Lorraine talking with Erin Sparks of Edge of the Web Radio about User Generated Content. 

#216 Take the Keys

Even if you hire someone else to manage your social media and content strategy, you need to stay involved. Here are some tips to help you take the keys to your marketing program.   

#215 What to do when a customer calls

The sales process may begin when a customer calls, but it doesn't end there.  In many industries you need to have a follow up process to nurture the lead till the customer is ready to buy.  Do you? 

#214 How a pigeon can help you find customers

This week we are talking about Pigeon.  No, not the annoying bird which leaves a deposit on your window.  We are talking about the latest Google update focused on making reviews of your busienss easier to find. Now more than ever small business owners need to be collecting reviews. 

#213 Why Everyone Hates Your Website

No one tries to create a website customers and search engines hate, but let's face it, we know it happens all the time.    Don't let this happen to you!  Download our FREE web design guide.   

#212 Staying One Step Ahead of the Content Onslaught

More and more companies are jumping into the content game, cluttering in-boxes and news feeds. How do you compete to be sure your content is seen, read, liked and shared? One approach is to to simply write more, but at some point there is a diminishing rate of return. The other approach is to write smarter. Here are a few things you can do with your content strategy to rise above the clutter Need help getting your content program started?  Download our FREE tools: .   Content Calendar B...

#211 It is all about local

While you may never be able to compete with large national brands, if you only serve a local community you don't have too. Instead focus your energy on winning local search.   For more on this topic check out : http://www.roundpeg.biz/2014/08/tapping-local-seo/

#210 A picture is worth a thousand words

Some people say that a picture is worth 1,000 words.  Every wonder why?  It is because our brains process images significantly faster than we can process words. In an instant, they convey a range of emotions and ideas.     With the ability to quickly impact your audience, it is no wonder than more and more businesses are relying on images as part of their online strategy. 

#209 Everyone Needs a Little Help From their Friends

Many business experts agree one of the best ways to grow a business is with “OPM” (Other people’s money). The idea is to reduce your risk and multiply the impact of your capital with loans from banks or resources from investors. The influx of capital helps accelerate the growth of a business. In a way, this same strategy can apply to your online marketing. To accelerate the expansion of your brand you need “OPC” (Other people’s content). In marketing circles the technical term is user gener...

#208 What's New on Linkedin

LinkedIn continues to evolve and improve. This week we take a look at two exciting new additions to the platform. 

#207 Video Tips

Sometimes video can do more in 30 seconds than you can do in five or six pages.  Today we talk about some of the how and why of small business video. 

#207 Video Can Help Fuel Your SEO

Sometimes video can do more in 30 seconds than you can do in five or six pages.  Today we talk about some of the how and why of small business video. 

#206 Where You Say It

When it comes to content marketing it takes more than just great words and ideas.  It isn't just what you say, but where you say it that makes the difference.    With more and more companies developing content, the company with the best distribution strategy will will. 

#205 Inbound Marketing

It isn't enough to get people to come to your site.  You need to welcome them, engage them and keep them coming back.  Inbound marketing strategies can help you do just that. 

#204 Say it Once - Why Duplicate Content Kills Your Site

When people repeat themselves too often, you tune out. And it isn't just a semi senile grandmother people are ignoring, it is messages from companies just like yours. And it isn't just customers, prospects and potential employees who are zoning out on your messages.  Search engines get bored, too. When you duplicate information on  multiple pages within your website or copy information from other sites it does more harm than good.    This week we talk about ways to avoid the pitfalls of dup...

#203 Lessons from a Jar of Beans

Content marketing makes sense for almost any business.  This short program describes how a bean company used content marketing to drive sales.     

#202 Not every business needs a website

There are lots of successful companies which have been around 20, 25 or even 30 years without a website.  Do they need one now?  

#201 Process: How we do stuff

Lorraine tends to fly by the seat of her pants, and Jarred loves process and systems.  This week we talk about why a more organized approach is the right choice for most businesses. 

#200 What are other small business owners doing online?

Did you ever wonder what other businesses are really doing online?  How much time are they spending and where they are spending it? Well we were curious so we decided to ask and share the answers with you.    This week we will share some of the results from our small business survey. If the show is interesting, and you want to learn more your can always download the full report here.   

#199 Pandas and Payday Loans

Google has made another round of changes to their search algorithm.  These changes are revisions to both their Panda and Payday Loan updates. Does all that sound like too much SEO Speak? That's ok, this week we break it down and talk about why you should care.     

#198 Customers Service and Social Media

Customers will always have complaints and inquiries about your services or products- it's all part of doing business. In the modern age of smartphones and the Internet, your clients are only a few mouse clicks away from asking you questions or blasting your brand on Facebook and LinkedIn.   Do you have a strategy in place to engage with your audience and help solve their issues using new media?

3197 If You Build it Will they Come

A guide to using your web analytics to drive your marketing strategy.  If you aren't happy with the total amount of traffic coming to your website then dive in to the analytics and look at your traffic sources.     This week we will break down the different types of web traffic and what you can do with your marketing to support you web efforts. 

197 If You Build it Will they Come

A guide to using your web analytics to drive your marketing strategy.  If you aren't happy with the total amount of traffic coming to your website then dive in to the analytics and look at your traffic sources.     This week we will break down the different types of web traffic and what you can do with your marketing to support you web efforts. 

#196 Simple Guide to Trade Show Success

Trade shows and conferences can be tedious and time consuming, but they can also been profitable if you do a little bit of proper planning. This week we talk about some of our  trade show experiences- both good and bad- to explain how businesses can make shows profitable.     Want to learn more?  Download our trade show success guide.    

#195 Anatomy of a Perfect Home Page

There is no one perfect design for your home page.  In this week's show we weigh the pros and cons of different designs and talk about things you should consider as you plan your next web update. 

#194 Build Connections with Great Content

When you write something for your blog you hope someone will read it. Every now and then you get a bonus when someone likes the content well enough to share it excerpts on their blog.   And if that blog has high traffic the quality link is worth its weight in gold.   

#193 How Do You Get Noticed? By Doing Things Your Competitors Aren't

It's simple - you want to get noticed and be successful. The number one goal for any small business owner is recognition and exposure for their brand. Breaking through the noise and putting yourself in front of the right potential customers takes careful planning and a bit of innovation. How can you leverage new and unique opportunities to stay ahead of the game and stand out in the crowd?

#192 Linkedin Showcase

LinkedIn is making some big changes.  Product pages are out and the new Showcase Pages are in.   Wondering what are Showcase pages and what can you do with them?  Jarred and Lorraine will step you through some of the exciting opportunities these pages can give small business owners.     To read more on this topic go to our blog 

#191 Happy Birthday GMail

How did you access your email 10 years ago?  Yahoo?  AOL? Hotmail? Or were you an Outlook users?  Regardless of what you were using, your world changed ten years ago when Google launched Gmail.  For those of you who signed up right away and even those of you still waiting to create your first Gmail account, the launch of this product changed how we all expected email to work.     Now 10 years later, Google is still innovating. Join us as we talk about where they have been and where we are a...

3190 Company Culture counts

A thriving company culture drives innovation, entrepreneurship and productivity. Has your business gone through all the necessary steps to  define a clear mission and purpose? Developing these crucial culture elements and publishing them for your potential customers to see builds trust and authority. You can also use the principles you develop to help guide everything from the hiring process to partnerships with other businesses.   

190 Company Culture counts#

A thriving company culture drives innovation, entrepreneurship and productivity. Has your business gone through all the necessary steps to  define a clear mission and purpose? Developing these crucial culture elements and publishing them for your potential customers to see builds trust and authority. You can also use the principles you develop to help guide everything from the hiring process to partnerships with other businesses.   

#189 Build Healthy Networking Habits

Building great relationships is the key to any successful business endeavor. Most people don’t have the time to get networking wrong.  Having a game plan for each event you attend and each relationship you develop goes a long way in building your brand, growing you business and establishing trust in the community. The question is: Where do you start? This week we will share our favorite tips and tricks on how you can build a productive business network.   Want to learn more about this top...

188 Web 2020

The technology of the internet continues to evolve.  So what's next?  What will the internet look like just a few years from now?