All posts by Jen Corre

Doing SEO in 2018: 21 Metrics to Use to Determine Your SEO’s Health

Posted by on September 15, 2017

doing seo in 2018: 21 metrics to determine seo health

We strive to monitor and maintain the optimal health of our SEO. The slightest slip in its performance can negatively impact ranking, traffic and conversion and the success of the campaign in general. With this, no digital marketing agency can be complacent enough. The mantra should be proactive and not reactive.

Doing SEO in 2018 will be more difficult, yes. Good thing there are SEO metrics that can help in tackling issues before they escalate into more alarming, bigger problems.

SEO Metrics

1. Organic traffic

Traffic is the single most critical determinant of the changes in SEO’s health. If organic traffic increases, the solution is simple. Just examine the activities that went right and do the same thing in other parts of the website. However, if it decreases, you need to look at other equally important things such as mobile device usage. Anyhow, look at the other health metrics to determine the real problem and act accordingly. Consider creating an Analytics alert to notify you of a 5% increase or decrease in organic traffic.

2. Direct traffic

Users find your website through organic search. However, since they come back to the site through a direct search, search traffic can also be considered as direct traffic in Analytics. If direct traffic decreases, examine the organic traffic. If both are dropping, check the mobile device usage. If the mobile usage falls, then there must be a problem with the marketing activities. Consider creating an Analytics alert to notify you of a 10% increase or decrease in direct traffic.

3. Referral traffic

Referral traffic measures the performance of the link profile, whether links are gained or lost and how valuable the earned links are. If it decreases, check the backlink profile. Check the referrers as well to determine whether the inbound links are intact. Lesser traffic from a particular link might mean changes on the side of the linking site. If referral traffic increases, check the linking sites and explore more linking opportunities from these sites.

4. Campaign traffic

Campaign traffic does not directly impact the SEO outcomes. However, it can give an in-depth insight into the changes that direct and branded traffic are experiencing.  Consider creating an Analytics alert to notify you of a 20% increase or decrease in campaign traffic.

5. Email traffic

Email traffic works in the same way as campaign traffic. Consider creating an annotation in Analytics with each time you email blast.

6. Session

In Analytics, a session means a visit. In a multi-screen world and with diversified marketing channels, it is a challenge to tie the users together. Nevertheless, measuring the overall growth and decline will determine whether the marketing is successful or not.

7. User behavior

The total number of users tell whether the overall performance is bringing in more traffic or not and whether the traffic is returning or not. Ultimately, it can give you a clearer idea if the traffic is becoming more engaged or not.

8. Mobile device usage

Analytics provides an overview of the devices used by the users as desktop, tablet and mobile. This tells you whether you are targeting the right devices for your contents or not. Consider setting up automated emails regarding users’ mobile device usage on a monthly basis.

9. Branded keyword impression

Checking impressions and clicks must be conducted after reviewing traffic data. Decreases in the total number of impressions and clicks mean diminished brand awareness.

10. Non-branded keyword impression

Decreases in ranking might indicate that the keywords you are targeting are not relevant to the users. This also means that the meta data is not as appealing as it should be.

11. Keyword ranking

A decrease in keyword ranking can potentially lead to less traffic. Consider adjusting or changing the keyword strategy.

12. Bounce rate

A high bounce rate indicates irrelevant keywords, irrelevant contents, slow website and poor UX. Consider setting up automated alerts when the bounce rate increases by 10%.

13. Page load speed

Page load speed affects usability and experience and thus conversion. Increase in page load speed signals the search engines negatively, and spiders will not crawl the site. The users will also get annoyed in the process. Consider setting up daily automated alerts when the load speed increases by over 10% or if it exceeds 5 seconds.

14. Download time

The total number of pages crawled daily and the time spent downloading a page is also indicative of website performance issues. The effects are detrimental if there is a decrease in page crawled daily and an increase in time spent downloading a page. Consider checking these bi-weekly.

15. Server response time

In some instances, site speed is affected by server speed and not necessarily page load speed. Consider setting up automated alerts when the server response time exceeds 1 minute.

16. Crawl error

Crawl errors indicate a bug and missing redirects that can affect user experience (UX), among others. A crawl error report can identify these issues as well whether bad URLs are present on the site.

17. Server error log

Server issues are difficult to detect, but they also affect usability, experience, and conversion nevertheless. Consider configuring alerts to notify you regarding major trends in server errors.

18. Manual action

Google Webmaster Tools now feature a manual actions tool. This tells whether the search engine acts on the site manually.  This can be either a right or wrong action that may ultimate include algorithmic penalties.

19. Security issues

Another useful tool is Security Issues tool which sends an alert upon detecting malware. Again, these issues can take a toll on how the site performs in general.

20. Index status

Another noteworthy tool is the Index Status tool which gives an insight on how the search giant treats websites on its index. An increase means new pages are added or is that bots crawl pages that shouldn’t be crawled. A decrease means the site is penalized, or some pages not crawlable. If you haven’t initiated any changes, check if a malware infects the site.

21. 404 error

Several frameworks append a query string telling the user that the requested URL causes a 404. This leads to the discovery of broken links that the bots otherwise access. Consider setting up automated emails notifying you of page views with 404 URL.

Checking SEO’s health is easy, that is, if you know where to start. Let this be your guide so that none of these issues will hurt the performance of your website.

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Getting SEO Right From the Start

Posted by on March 24, 2017

“Good SEO is paying atention to all the details that most bloggers ignore. From using the Yoast plugin, to writing for people, to creating thorough resources linking out to trusted sites and linking into evergreen, relevant content, do what others refuse to do to rank for semi-competitive and even competitive keywords. Spend an extra 1-3 hours to publish and SEO – optimized post. The returns from a targeted traffic, community and brand-building perspective are astounding.” – Ryan Biddulph


Every business, regardless of the size, aims to establish their brand name through the Google search engine. That means, penetrating the online industry is a step closer to successful marketing. However, if you’re aiming to get a high-quality traffic on your website, then understanding the importance of a good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) must be considered. Even a competitive business such as the SEO company are continuously striving to excel in the online world.

 
Following a good SEO can create a significant impact on how search engines rank websites. When done well, it can improve your site’s visibility in the search engine result pages. However, SEO nowadays can be a little bit tricky especially when it evolves every time. But to get you started, below are some list of questions on how to do SEO from the outset.

1. Will paying more and choosing a bigger agency to get me more ROI on SEO?

Yes. In fact, when you increased your investment then it generally comes with an increase in hours spent on your campaign. Whether you are up for producing content, doing an outreach program, or even building and leveraging assets, the hours you spent for these activities vary. In business, marketers should be upfront with their clients, telling you cannot work with them when their level of investment is not enough to compete in their market.

2. How do I decide whether SEO or PPC is better for me?

Doing both Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) can be an advantage to your business. However, not all businesses can do both considering the budget. That is why marketers should understand each strategy. When it comes to generating the best Return On Investment (ROI) in the long term, then do the SEO. It is also going to deliver the lowest cost per acquisition. On the other hand, PPC is going to generate immediate results (most of the time). According to Andrew Raso, a Co-Founder of Online Marketing Gurus, he would recommend choosing SEO over PPC if you have investment for a minimum of 12 months.

3. If they rank for “SEO company my city,” does that mean they’re good at what they do?

Not necessary. Achieving a rank may not be difficult since the city-related terms are not that competitive. But just because they rank for a non-competitive term, that does not mean they can compete in the ranking with very competitive industries. Also, some businesses tend to manipulate the Google’s search engine for their website to rank. However, once the Google update is released, their site will not have longer rank.

4. Google discourages ranking guarantees. What should I expect instead from my SEO vendor?

The moment you start an SEO campaign, you need to have an outline of what exactly you will be doing for the investment every month, and ensure that you will deliver these promises to your target clients. Sometimes, there are SEO vendors who don’t show the work they are completing. Perhaps, it is either substandard or because they are trying to hide something from their clients. Markters should show their customers everything that you do – from the links and to the content that you produce. It is also a plus factor when you explain to them the process.

5. What would be a good length of time before I start expecting results from my SEO campaign?

It depends on the industry and client. Whether the client previously had SEO work done on their website or the client is doing other marketing works, or even whether their website has to be been penalized, these factors can significantly affect the results that you had expected. In SEO, the usual time allowed when generating transaction is within 4-6 months of starting a campaign. But then again, that depends on how fast and efficient you are when it comes to SEO strategies.

6. I don’t know how to choose from one of their packages. What should I do?

When you want to be successful with SEO, then marketers should build every strategy from the ground up and should be tailored to a particular campaign. Moreover, marketers should also have a scope of work that should be complete for that particular investment level for each month. When transacting business with your clients, explain to them how much you need to spend each month. It is for them to be aware of the business they are into.

7. Should I help them with keyword research?

That depends on how complex your industry is. For some companies, before they process with the campaign, they usually spend an ample amount of time understanding the scope of the client’s business. They make sure that they can talk with the client to obtain their approval. However, it is not necessary that clients do keyword research for the company. Keep in mind that SEO companies have plenty of tools available for them to use with the campaign.

8. My site has millions of pages. How many should I get them to optimize?

Most SEO experts would recommend targeting the most relevant pages with terms that your clients want to rank since this will help boost your site quickly. Also, when you have a team that is capable enough, then you can write a script that can pull a list of best practices for title tags, meta descriptions, etc. for your client’s website. However, if you are going to create compelling content, then you must do it manually, and it cannot be scripted. This is to ensure that your target audience will get interested on your website.

Final thoughts:

When it comes to business, there are times that the strategies used by the other companies are not applicable to yours. That means you should create your strategy that would fit your website’s needs. With that, you can ensure a growth on your website.

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9 Components of an Effective SEO Team

Posted by on March 17, 2017

“Even the best SEOs are not magicians. They can’t simply place a site at the top of the engines when there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of others that offer basically the same thing and provide basically the same information. If they could, you’d see a whole lot more millionaire SEOs” – Jill Whalen

No matter how appealing your website is, it would not go far if no one can find it online. When you are aiming to make your business big on the online world, then sooner or later you would encounter Search Engine Optimization (SEO). It is a crucial factor in generating high-quality traffic for your website to rank on the search engine. Even a competitive business such as the SEO Company takes this strategy seriously. That simply means, having a capable team is one crucial factor in generating and achieving high-quality traffic.

Finding the right person that specializes in different areas may be a bit challenging, especially if you do not have that expertise. However, building a team is essential if you want to succeed in your business. When selecting a member, here’s some components you need to consider to have a competent SEO team.

Component #1: SEO Manager/Director

SEO Manager is the head of the team and manages everyone else. Their job is to be concerned with the “bigger picture” they would face later on. Especially when dealing with strategies and tactics to use, an SEO manager should be able to determine what and what not to do when it comes to those matters. Additionally, a manager should understand the capabilities of his/her teammates. In that way, it would be easier for them to delegate the tasks based on their field of expertise, and of course,

Component #2: The Content Creator(s)

Content is King. That just means, your content is crucial when it comes to generating organic search traffic. It is the job a content creator to come up with a compelling content for their target audience.They make sure to create a relevant topic, where people would get interested and engage on your site. Also, they ensure that they write contents where their target audience can relate to. When a website does not have any content, then there is no reason for the people to be interested in your site. Although it may take a lot of time, optimizing your content will eventually pay off.

Component #3: Designers

Keep in mind that people prefer visuals over text. That is why designers in a SEO strategy also play a big role in generating high-quality traffic. They are the ones who create custom images of all of your content. They make sure that the content would be associated with images that are relevant to the topic. Also, the SEO manager must ensure that the content creators and designers are on the same track. Otherwise, it would end up not the way you expected it.

Component #4: PR and Link Builders

Although there may be some distinctions between PR and Link Builders, both aims to reach out to other people in the industry. They are most likely to look for other business and develop relationships that will be mutually beneficial. In SEO, PR has a broader term that surrounds within modern link building. There are even times when the connection between the two could be used for other opportunities beyond gaining a simple link. Most SEOs who specialize in link building are also expanding their niche and skill set that includes PR skills.

Component #5: Technical Experts

The content on your website is a crucial factor when it comes to getting high-quality traffic. However, SEO specialist should not mainly focus on creating content to the extent where the technical side of SEO is ignored. Keep in mind that the technical side is the foundation of all the other parts of SEO. Without it, your team might experience difficulties along the way. People who specialise on the technical part are called the SEO analyst. Their job is to analyze and understand the site architecture and can detect flaws. Also, they handle another technical aspect as checking the load time optimization, split testing, internal linking optimization, implementing rich snippets and “rel” tags and keyword optimization in content (if need)

Component #6: Developers

This is where the user’s experience is involved. A great user’s experience depends on how great your website’s developer is. That means the developers are responsible for optimizing and modifying your site – its feature and usability of a website. It does not matter whether the manager plans to hire a full-time or a freelancer, the developer must be skillful enough to make a user-friendly site.

Component #7: Account Manager

There are just times that the job of an SEO manager can get overwhelming. When the manager gets too much workload, this is when the account manager takes place. Their job is to assign a new set of responsibilities to a member of the SEO team. The account manager will also be the one who handles the most basic client communication post-sale and generates reports of their work and its results. When the SEO manager is busy, the account manager will be the one who will answer the client’s inquiries.

Component #8: Email And Social Media Marketers

When it comes to getting a high-quality traffic, you must consider email and social media marketing. It does not just increase your website’s traffic, but it also gives your business the return on investment (ROI). Depending on your team, email and social media can perform differently. However, to achieve a better output, both should have some input into the content marketing strategy since it will be promoted and used in other ways.

Component #9: Conversion Rate Optimizers

An SEO manager can decide whether to have a conversion rate optimizers on his team or not since it is just an optional role. However, if you aim to achieve a desirable outcome, then having them on your team can be a good option. They are responsible for their SEO work to clients or upper management. They also care about the results of your actual rankings: traffic, profit, revenue, and to a lesser extent.

 

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5 Ways to Gain Team Trust and Momentum

Posted by on March 3, 2017

“The best thing you can do to help others take responsibility is to authentically practice the behaviours that you want others to practice.” – Dr. Michelle Reina

Being a leader is a lot of work. When executed correctly, then you would make a great team. But when a leader does not pay attention to the needs of his team, then the expect the opposite. Even a competitive business such as SEO Company, leaders make sure they know and understand what a team needs to establish trust and momentum. But then again, it is not that easy.

The job of a team leader is not just about understanding or helping his/her subordinates. But also, he/she must be reliable, credible, and committed to working hard for the team’s growth – that makes an effective leader. To give you more of it, we list down some ways on how to gain team trust and momentum.

  1. Reward To Performers

“You have to create a culture where everybody has an opportunity to be recognized.” – John Mackey

You do know your team is working. They do the tasks you asked them to do and finish it on time. But the question is; which of them is dedicated enough to do his/her tasks well? Who is that certain person who would go beyond what you expect them to do? Who is that one person that makes sure that everything he/she does would excel? These people are worthy of a reward.

Acknowledgment for their hard work probably would do. But as a leader, don’t limit your reward. Think about what makes them happy, excited or feel motivated to do their work even harder. SALARY perhaps?

  1. Protect Your Team’s Time

“Business is about people, and your reputation is built on how you treat people.” – Bruce Rauner

As a leader, you are well aware that time management is important. However, you may not realize that sometimes you have been using their time in an impractical way. For instance, you called them for a meeting, and yet your agenda is so simple that you can just inform them through an email. Think about how many minutes would it take for them to assemble in the conference room. Think about their feelings whenever you called a meeting. Not thinking about these things can ruin their productivity.

Additionally, if you want to call a meeting, make sure to create a timeline on the things you want to discuss – a new project perhaps. It is in this way where you can deliver all the important things that needed on a new task or project in an easier and faster way.

  1. Encourage Efficiency and Communication

“I wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.” – Indra Nooyi

Keep in mind that a successful business would depend on how you act or work as a team. However, you can never create a strong team when you lack efficiency and communication. Is your team competent enough? Do they have the ability to excel in their field of expertise? Are they effective enough to execute a certain task or project? Knowing and understanding their unique capabilities is crucial when you want to create a great team. But you cannot achieve a desirable outcome when you do not care to communicate.

It is in an effective communication where you can get to know more about your members. You may want to ask them on what part of the task do they find it easy or difficult. A simple question with a simple answer can create a big difference on the productivity of your team. That means, in everything you do, try to communicate and help each other succeed.

  1. Provide Clear Role Definition and Project Direction

“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.” – Howard Schultz

No matter how competent your team is, if the members do not understand their respective task, then you are still bound to fail. That means, it is the job of the team leader to provide his/her members a clear definition of a specific task and project direction. Do not leave your members hanging and wondering what role should they take to achieve the right result. Keep in mind that your business or company is at stake. So, you better be serious in clearing up any misunderstandings and confusions.

Needless to say, having a clear role and project direction does not just save your business from any disasters, but also helping your teammates feel ownership of their work and responsibilities. Not to mention, the feeling of accomplishing a certain task that he/she excel.

  1. Provide a learning environment, not just lecturing

“Your words and deed must match if you expect employees to trust in your leadership.” – Kevin Kruse

Sometimes, a leader should also try to put on the shoes of their subordinates. Think about how would they feel whenever you keep lecturing them about something all over again. Think about the things you sometimes do that irritates them. You probably not aware of it, but there are times your team may not be as productive as before considering these issues. Keep in mind that your team would also get tired of being told what to do. Why not try to create a learning environment? They do not just learn something you, you can also get an idea for your next project based on their opinions and suggestions.

An effective leader should cut the distance between his/her teammates. Work on and enjoy every task together. If there are any confusions about an individual process, then simplify it for them. If you learn something from reading or based on experience, then care to share it with your team. Or even do some team building to learn more and new stuff. It is in this way you can gain their trust and momentum that you certainly are the right leader for the team.

Final Thoughts:

Although being a team leader is a lot of work, it is not that hard to execute and be an effective leader. The effectiveness and productiveness of each team member would also depend on how you motivate them to work hard and excel in their respective task. Again, maintain a strong intra-team communication to achieve the desired outcome.

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Breaking Away from Procrastination – How to Do it Right

Posted by on February 17, 2017

“The essence of procrastination lies in not doing what you think you should be doing, a mental contortion that surely accounts for the great psychic toll the habit takes on people. This the perplexing thing about procrastination: although it seems to involve avoiding unpleasant tasks, indulging in it generally doesn’t make people happy.” – James Surowiecki

Procrastination is a common way to get us all stuck. And yet, we may not even realize we’re doing it. Whenever you want to avoid a task, we tend to create reasons in our head that supply us with enough logic so we can delay it. For instance, you need to beat a deadline, yet there you are fiddling with miscellaneous things such as checking your email, social media, watching videos, surfing blogs and forums, and the list can go on. You will know that you are already procrastinating when you slack off from your work.

Everyone is guilty of procrastination. Who aren’t, right? But just because everyone else is procrastinating, that does not mean you’re doing the same thing as well. Especially when you work in a competitive environment such as the SEO Company, overcoming procrastination is must-do! Here’s how:

1. Face your fear

“Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the “someday I’ll” philosophy.” – Denis Waitley

Have you ever tried thinking about being afraid of something that you just want to avoid it? Perhaps, you’ve been feeling a bit pressured on your work assuming you might get more work than you usually do whenever you are done with it. Not to mention the fear you feel whenever you make mistakes, stumble and not avoid the pain. This might be too risky for you to get ahead thinking about what can happen to you in the long run. But did you know that not bravely facing your fears can lead you to regrets? You may find it difficult to cope with the challenges in life, but at the end of the day, you must know that for you to move forward, you need to beat your fears head-on.

2. Start with the hardest task of your day

“Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.” – Dale Carnegie

Did you know that humans are productive in the morning than later in the afternoon? This is because your mind is in working condition willing to perform any task you have. That means, if you start your day doing the hardest task, then you may feel relieved afterward. Additionally, you will feel more relaxed and good about yourself for accomplishing the task you might hate the most. Keep in mind that your decision and action would break or make your day.

3. Stop thinking. Start doing.

“To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.” – Eva Young

There’s nothing wrong about planning ahead. In fact, it is one thing we need to do to complete our tasks more efficiently. However, when you tend to think and think and try to come p with “the perfect plan,” then this can eat up a lot of your time without accomplishing anything else. Coming up with that “perfect plan” may be impossible to achieve. When it comes to working, you need to start with some small steps and more small steps until you get to the point where you know what’s best for your task. It is a learning process. So, stop thinking too much and start doing it right now.

4. Don’t blow a task out of proportion

“If you want to make an easy job seem might hard, just keep putting off doing it.” – Olin Miller

“Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off hard things makes it impossible.” – George Claude Lorimer

There’s also a popular saying that goes, “Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin

Let’s just say; you have a particular task that would be due on Friday. You think that it might be okay to put it off since it’s still Monday, later you’ll realize that days are passing so fast that you forget to do the necessary changes. Procrastinating would lead you to panic on what to do for you to get your task done, which naturally would also lead you to settle for less. Keep in mind that those who are okay with going for less are unproductive people. One thing is for sure; you do not want to be labeled as an unproductive person.

5. Just take the first step

“You don’ have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

There may be times that you feel like the pressure is on you since your tasks may seem impossible to accomplish. But keep in mind that no one is genius enough to get their work done perfectly on the first try. When it comes to working on your task, expect there would be some mistakes, some corrections, and some changes. Whenever you’re corrected, don’t take it too hard. You just have to be open-minded and keep it in mind. This is for you to grow mentally and emotionally. All you have to do is to take the first step and do whatever you can. You will eventually realize that you’ve finished your tasks already.

Final Thoughts:

Procrastination is the enemy of success. If you notice that you’ve been drag down to procrastinate, then force yourself to move in the other direction. Here’s a warning: There are a lot of temptations around you which lead you to procrastinate. Before you do, think again whether it is worth your time and effort. If it doesn’t, then avoid it as much as you can. It is in this way where you can learn how to discipline yourself and succeed whatever you are into doing. 

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Meeting Expectations – It Pays to Know What’s Expected of Them

Posted by on November 10, 2016

“Employees are a company’s greatest asset – they’re our competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company’s mission. “– Anne M. Mulcahy

If your business is rapidly growing, your employees must have been competent enough in contributing to its success. It would take a great team to achieve a desirable outcome. However, even if they are capable of doing their job well, employees should also not forget they are still under the supervision of their employer. But sometimes, that’s not always been the case. Many employees do not understand what their employers expect them to do, which generally would lead to confusions and committing costly mistakes.

 
When it comes to competent jobs such as working in an SEO company, it is crucial for every employee or marketer to understand their respective tasks. This is to ensure you know what you need to do to come up with good results. On the other hand, it is also the duty of an employer to assign the tasks accordingly, and clarifying important points to make sure everything is clear. Communication is everything. And as an employer and a marketer, it is crucial for you to know these key points below:

 

Set clear and realistic goals

 

A goal is the backbone of the company. Without such, you may not know what and where you’re leading. But keep in mind that it is also difficult to accomplish a task when your goal is not even possible for you to reach. You may have so many things in mind that you want to do, but you also have to know that there are things that are not just applicable for your company. That means you need to break down your thoughts into realistic ones.

 
As an employer, you should never assume that your employees are aware of these goals. It is your responsibility to have a constructive conversation with them. Determine whether your goals are aligned with the goals set for each employee. Think about what an employee can do or contribute to achieving the goals set for the company. Pay attention to their needs and capability. Collaborating is needed to achieve a better outcome. In this way, you will learn and have a new perspective based on your employees’ opinions and suggestions.

Tell employees that their job matter

Every employee plays a big role in business growth. They have contributed to the success of the company. Unfortunately, it is not all the time motivation would come to our aid. There would be times productivity of an employee would go down, dedication and performance are poor, and not to mention, losing the passion and the love they have for their job. If this continues, obviously the company will suffer. That only means, an employer’s encouragement is crucial in times like these.

 
Try to focus on the importance of work expectations. Even a single encouragement such as telling your employees how important their skills and capabilities to the company is a big help. And most importantly, try to acknowledge their desire to work hard to achieve a particular goal. It is in this way; you can boost your employees’ esteem and confidence in doing their tasks well.

Clear accountability objectives

Telling your employees the goals of the company, or how crucial it is to do their work well is not enough. They should not just be aware of their respective tasks, but employees should also hold accountable to the happenings within the company. For instance, if there are any inappropriate activities, or even facing disappointed clients, they should know what and what not to do to address such issues. However, if your employee does not know what work for which they are accountable, then they cannot deliver their tasks well.

 
Again, communication is the key to understanding your employees and the things you expect them to do. Without proper communication, it would be difficult for the team to achieve quality results. A good employer would give their employees a chance to voice out their opinions, suggestions, or any other concerns about their tasks or workplace. In this way, it is easier for the team to address and resolve any problems at work.

Provide advancement opportunities

Apart from giving your employees the right encouragements, did you know that an employee advancement drive performance? That does not mean requiring you to have your employee a formal promotion, though, but letting them understand how to advance themselves in preparation for a higher position matters. Perhaps, you can help them identify what qualities should an employee have to get promoted. Or even provide them with clear goals and expectations.

 
Employees who receive advancement opportunities from their employers have a higher chance to excel in their field of work. Why? Because they have the reason and the motivation to do so. And of course, with this goal in mind, they will strive harder to for their career growth.

Display a positive attitude

Problems or conflicts are inevitable. Companies may encounter back jobs, disappointed and angry clients, drop sales, and anything that may ruin the reputation and the credibility of a company. Although we may not want these circumstances to happen, sooner or later, your company would also experience such issues. These things are unavoidable considering the line of work. But the good thing is, displaying a positive attitude towards the situation can lessen the pressure and bad vibes in your workplace.

 
It is important for a team to stay calm during the crisis, to ensure you can clearly think of a better way to address the issue. And most importantly, having the right attitude can help both employer and employee harmonize the workflow of the company.
Understanding the expectation of each employee may be a challenge to every employer. However, these things mentioned above would guide and help you with the things that boost the productivity of every employee.

 

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Top 50 Quotes to Boost Marketer’s Greatness

Posted by on October 28, 2016

Whether you are aware of it or not, being in a marketing industry is not easy. There are things you need to consider, double check, and confirm if a particular strategy is effective or not. Even professional marketers who are working in a competitive company such as the SEO Company also have struggles on how they can implement a strategy successfully. That means, being stress at work is enviable.

As a marketer, however, slacking off at work is a big no. This may only lead to undesirable outcome such as disappointed clients. Below, we list down some quotes that would inspire them to bring back a marketer’s greatness.

  1. “How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?” – Seth Godin
  2. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
  3. “Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  4. “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
  5. “Bring the bst of your authentic self to every opportunity.” – John Jantsch
  6. “You can have brilliance in you, your contribution is valuable, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do, and you just.” – Seth Godin
  7. “Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  8. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
  9. “If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
  10. “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  11. “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” – Zig Ziglar
  12. “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  13. “Inspiration doesn’t respond to meeting requests. You can’t schedule greatness.” – Jay Baer
  14. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you’re a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
  15. “Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” – Tim Feriss
  16. “Be where the world is going.” – Beth  Comstock
  17. “If you’re looking for the next big thing, and you’re looking where everyone else is, you’re looking in the wrong place.” – mark Cuban
  18. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
  19. “If you don’t have room to fail, you don’t have room to grow.” – Jonathan Mildenhall
  20. “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
  21. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” – Tony Robbins
  22. “If you’re not failing now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything innovative.” – Woody Allen
  23. “I’d rather apologize than to be so timid as to never try to do anything smart or brave.” – Lee Clow
  24. “New ideas are sometimes found in the most granular details of a problem where few others bother to look.” – Nate Silver
  25. “Marketing’s job is never done. It’s about perpetual motion. We must continue to innovate every day.” – Beth Comstock
  26. “In the long history of humankind those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” – Charles Darwin
  27. “Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
  28. “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss
  29. “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” – Coco Chanel
  30. “If you can’t explain it to a 6-year old, you don’t know it yourself.” – Albert Einstein
  31. ‘Making promises and keeping them is a great way to build a brand.” – Seth Godin
  32. “A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is.” – Scott Cook
  33.  ‘Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about.”  – Benjamin Franklin
  34. ‘Don’t settle: Don’t finish crappy book. If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you’re not on the right path, get off it.” – Chris Brogan
  35. “My goal is to spark something within the reader and allow it to initiate an idea they then can grow.” – Warren Whitlock
  36. “Content should ask people to do something and reward them for it.” – Lee Odden
  37. “Content is anything that adds value to the reader’s life.” – Avinash Kaushik
  38. “If your content isn’t driving conversation, you’re doing it wrong.” – Dan Roth
  39. “Content builds relationships. Relationships are built on trust. Trust drives revenue.” – Andrew Davis
  40. “Good content isn’t about good storytelling. It’s about telling a true story well.” – Ann Handley
  41. “Social media is about the people. Not about your business. Provide for the people and the people will provide for you.” – Matt Goulart
  42. “If you get bored with social media, it’s because you are trying to get more value than you create.” – Fast Company
  43. “Successful companies in social media function more like entertainment companies, publishers, or party planners than as traditional advertisers.” – Erik Qualman
  44. “Build it, and they will come” only works in the movies. Social media is a “build it, nurture it, engage them and they may come and stay.” – Seth Godin
  45. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
  46. “If your stories are all about your products and services, that’s not storytelling. It’s a brochure. Give yourself permission to make the story bigger.” – Jay Baer
  47. “Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make. But about the stories you tell.” – Seth Godin
  48. “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein
  49. “To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.” – George Kneller
  50. “Creativity about life, in all aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.” – Leo Burnett

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Mindsets A Successful Person Embraces (Seven Steps to Success!)

Posted by on September 27, 2016

 

 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill

 

There have been many ways to interpret success and how to achieve it. For many, persistence complemented with unwavering desire to succeed is key while for some, the essential ingredients for it are simply working towards a goal and never losing focus. For Vince Lombardi, success comes with the price of hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether one wins or loses, one had applied the best of themselves to the task at hand. Regardless of how one interprets how one achieves success, one thing remains universal: It takes the right kind of persistence and mindset to make it.

What people can readily observe in a successful person is the result–they do not see the struggle towards achieving that very goal they were so determined to. For this reason, some people would fail in their intrepid endeavors at doing something successfully–they only think about the result without necessarily contemplating about the logistics it takes in getting there. Achieving success is not a one-time attempt (unless you are very lucky), so it invariably means staying positive amidst trials and adversity. It requires one to go from failure to another failure without losing enthusiasm and focus. In essence, you need to develop the appropriate kind of mindset in order to be successful. Whether you are aspiring to develop a new generation of SEO consulting services or to build your new empire of retail conglomerates, here are seven mindsets you should keep abreast:

 

1.)  You should accept who you are and what you are about

The road to success needs a little introspection on your part. You need to know who you are, and you would need to accept that and what you are capable of. In a nutshell, this is about accepting and liking yourself as you are. It may seem like a hackneyed notion, but in success this is pivotal.  If you desire success, you cannot let adversarial conflicts with yourself bog you down. You need to accept yourself wholeheartedly, or you will be spending most of your time in doubt as regards what you do and what you are capable of.

 

2.)  You should set goals and work to achieve them

The road to success may be an unpaved path, but having goals would certainly help you navigate it. True enough, having a vision is great but having an idea alone would not take you anywhere. Having a dream with corresponding goals is how your dreams and visions would materialize and seem achievable. More often than not, if you operate on just a dream alone without any goals, you would most likely end up in a confused heap of mess. You need to consistently set and word toward goals in order to make a positive difference as this will lead you closer to your ultimate goal. Additionally, setting goals makes you see visible, albeit little, results and progress which would propel and encourage you further. So set some goals and set them high and do not cease until you have accomplished each and every one of them.

 

3.)  You should accept failure and not take it to seriously

There is no failsafe plan towards success. Even the most successful people would tell you that amidst their success were times they have failed. Similarly, you will too but no matter how many times you have failed, your will to persevere should remain strong. Your failures would not define you as your willingness to persist what would give you results and ultimately get you to accomplish what you have set out to do. Do not let failures weight you down, instead, treat them like little challenges that you would need to overcome to reach your goal.

 

4.)  You should not get sidetracked by problems

In your pursuit of success, encountering problems would be inevitable. If you are always getting distracted by these problems, you will engender bad thoughts which would hamper you in your pursuit of your goals. Have a healthy mindless or problems will only grow in strength. Think of problems as an opportunity to be innovative in coming up with solutions, think of them as minor setbacks which would not impede the way to the success but sharpen your focus in getting there. Focus on the possibilities and not the problems.

5.)  You should not leave things to chance

Hoping for the best and praying success will come is counterintuitive to the essence of achieving success. Instead of waiting by the sidelines, hold the reins and make success happen. Do not leave anything to chance and if you truly want to succeed, take a more active role in seeing it gets done. Being proactive in accomplishing your goals displays your decisiveness and strong will. Decide to take control and let the rest fall into place.

6.) Continuously learn

No man has the monopoly of knowledge which would mean that for anyone chasing success, something is to be learned every step of the way. Be open to learning more and embrace the fact that you do not know everything. Be enthusiastic about learning so much more and let go of any bias. Admittedly, experience is life’s best teacher and would have lessons for every single one of us. But do not disregard the possibility that you may encounter someone or something along the way that may teach you a thing or two. You might just not know it, but this may play a pivotal role in accomplishing your goals.

7.) Be decisive

Successful people are not ambivalent, and they make decisions adroitly and soundly. Likewise, you should adopt the same mindset. Be smart about how you make decisions, know the information required, contemplate your options and pick the best one among all of them. Although it is incredibly important to choose the most favorable option, this does not mean you can vacillate or even second-guess yourself. If your decision turned out to be bad, take it as a lesson instead of dwelling on it. Remember, a bad decision is even better than no decision at all.

 

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to attaining success and for every individual, it may take a different tack than the ones applied by others in order to achieve theirs. There is no universal road map nor is there a standard recipe to follow when it comes to succeeding, however developing the right mindset can set you on the right track. Cultivate the seven mindsets above and let it propel you towards your goals.

 

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Motivation 101: How to Love Your Job More

Posted by on September 13, 2016

” Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do” -Steve Jobs

 

If every person in the planet was lucky, he or she would be doing what he or she loves best and get paid for it. Unfortunately, some of us are constrained to mediocre jobs that do pay well in order to survive day to day. However, if you loved your job, you would find yourself looking forward to going to work whether you may be working in a retail conglomerate or in seo consulting services .In fact, a wise and popular maxim coined by Confucius has had a rather interesting view on jobs and professional careers. He has said that if a man chooses a job that he loves, he will never have to work a day in his life. Similarly, Simon Sinek has asserted that stress results from working for something we do not care about, while working for something we love is called passion.  Without a doubt, a huge fraction of our lives is spent working, so it is only natural for us to desire doing something we do love and get paid for it. Though seeking a job you inherently love is incredibly laudable, albeit a bit hard to do, it is not exactly realistic nor is it practical. People may complain about being discontent with their 9-5 jobs, but you do not exactly see a mass exodus of employees seeking better jobs elsewhere, making radical career changes or doing freelance work all in the name of passion.

Leaving our jobs where we generate steady income to chase our passions is detrimental to stability. Not to mention that it breeds uncertainty for the future and may not exactly provide food for the table to eat. This is not to say that all those who do are not awe-inspiring –they are, but in most cases, we have to be realistic and think about what would serve us better day to day.  Fortunately though, there are countless and commendable ways to love your job more and in such a way that would motivate you to work even better.

 

1.) Realize that the job you have does not define you.

However, realize that how you perform it does. When it comes to your job, there is a lot that can be said for attitude. You can be smart and have the right set of skills, but all this will be for naught if you do not have the right kind of attitude complemented with the right kind of work ethic. Despite what many might think, any job can be done exceptionally well if it is done with compassion and done with care. Your attitude in going about your work has a leverage on what kind of work output you do. How you treat people, your mood does not go unnoticed and it has a profound effect on the people you work with it. Admittedly, there are inevitable scenarios wherein you cannot control the situation but you can always choose how to react and live with it.

 

2.) Stop focusing on the money

You might be in the job because it pays well, or you might have taken a job you disliked because the salary offer was rather exorbitant. But what you need to keep in mind is that for unfathomable reason, money will never be sufficient enough so stop using it or the lack of it for that matter as an excuse. Whatever income you might have at the end of the day, there will always be things you had wanted to do or you could have done had there been more. If this is the kind of tack you are used to, then try tracking the money you make and see where your money is really going. This can aid you to focus on thing that you really want. Sure, having an income might be one of the biggest lures of a job, but is only one small aspect of what you do. At the end of the day, your work should be more than just a paycheck in order for it to be fulfilling.

3.)  Find significance in what you do

Contemplate and do some introspection.  Finding meaning and significance in what you do may require you to think outside the box and give some thought about what you have been doing. Take some time to ask yourself pivotal questions as well. Do you provide essential service? Do you get to see the finished product? Do you direct how things are done? Do you feel like you are going anywhere? Then ask yourself this imperative question: How can I make this job better or done differently just because I am the one doing it? Thinking outside the box and asking yourself some reflective questions would put things in perspective. As a result, satisfaction increases as well as a sense of well-being. Remember why you took the job in the first place and what drew you to it.

 

4.) Ask yourself if it is really worth it

When you have gone through the three phases above and still could not find any aspect in your job that is amiable to you, then consider the reasons why there is nothing in your job that you love. Is it turning you into a person you can never be or dislike? Do you see yourself not going anywhere? Perhaps, you do not need a new job but simply the direction. Do you like the person that you are while doing this job? If the answer is in the negative, then are there changes you can incorporate to change it? Or is the job itself the inherent problem?  Maybe it is not the job that you are doing which is unsatisfying, but rather the different course you have taken since you have started. You might have veered off course from your original responsibilities and are constrained to do something you find no value in doing. If this is the case, maybe all you would need to do is to refocus. As much as possible, try to say no in doing things which have nothing whatsoever to do with your current job. Do not simply attend meetings or events because it is expected of you. Attend them because you want to.

 

Having a self-awareness about your job gives you a realistic view of what you expect of it. It also assist you in warding off feelings of malcontent and dissatisfaction. More often than not, it is not that we no longer love the job we have, but rather we have been so used to it that we no longer appreciate what we do or have lost sight in the value of what we do. At the end of the day, when you are feeling rather unhappy with you job, instead of asking yourself “how can I get the job I love?” ask yourself, “How can I love the job I have?”

 

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50 Quotes to Inspire Great Teamwork

Posted by on September 12, 2016

There’s a big difference between working alone and working on a team. For entrepreneurs, working with diverse people with different life and work experiences is an advantage. But unless leaders are committed enough to create an effective teamwork, the team will never get the desired outcome. Even an SEO company aims to form a strong team to work together to achieve a common goal, vision or project.

An effective teamwork is both simple and difficult at the same time. One thing that helps them is to be motivated and determined enough to achieve and have a guaranteed SEO for their clients. And to get you motivated, below are some quotes to inspire you to work on a great team.

  1. “Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” – Mattie Stepanek

  2. “Collaboration allows teachers to capture each other’s fun of collective intelligence.” – Mike Schmoker

  3. “The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison.” – James Cash Penney

  4. “Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.” – John C. Maxwell

  5. “When you form a team, why do you try to form a team? Because teamwork builds trust and trust builds speed.” – Russel Honore

  6. “We talk a lot about hope, helping, and teamwork. Our whole message is that we are more powerful together.” – Victoria Osteen

  7. “The speed of the boss is the speed of the team.” – Lee Iacocca

  8. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford

  9. “Teamwork makes the dream work.” – Bang Gae

  10. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

  11. “The strength of the team is each member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson

  12. “A successful team is a group of many hands and one mind.” – Bill Bethel

  13. “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford

  14. “Remember, teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.” – Patrick Lencioni

  15. “I invite everyone to choose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal ambition.” – Jean Francois Cope

  16. “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” – Andrew Carnegie

  17. “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi

  18. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

  19. “None of us is as smart as all of us.” – Ken Blanchard

  20. “To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless.” – Mike Krzyzewski

  21. “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth

  22. “Trust is knowing that when a team member does push you, they’re doing it because they care about the team.” – Patrick Lencioni

  23. “On our own, we are marshmallows and dried spaghetti, but together we can become something bigger.” – C.B Cook

  24. “Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.” – Patrick Lencioni

  25. “The greater the loyalty of a group toward the group, the greater is the motivation among the members to achieve the goals of the group, and the greater the probability that the group will achieve its goals.” – Rensis Likert

  26. “We = power” – Lorii Myers

  27. “We’re a team. It’s part of our job to help each other out, and to forgive each other quickly. Otherwise, we’d never get anything done.” – Jeramey Kraatz

  28. “The second you make it all about you, is the second you’ve already lost. It’s about people – it always been and it always will be.” – Chris Hill

  29. “Progress has a steep price. Success has an even steeper price. Your team won’t be willing to pay it if you aren’t willing to pay it.” – T Jay Taylor

  30. “There is no need to tell someone how to do his job if you have properly trained your team.” – Dick Winters

  31. “Forget what we become; what matters is what we’ve become, and our potentials to overcome.” – Aniekee Tochukwu Ezekiel

  32. “Teamwork builds trust and the trust build growth.” – Nazim Ambalath

  33. “The individual great spirit and great efforts create a great team.” – Lailah Giffy Akita

  34. “You may have the right idea to work on, you may have the right time to start, you may have the right resources to boost, BUT unless you have the right people, you’ll never succeed.” – Rateb Rayyes

  35. “We all cannot do everything or solve every issue.”It’s impossible”, however, if we each simply do our part. Make our own contribution, regardless of how small we may think it is…together it adds up and great things get accomplished.” – Mark W. Boyer

  36. “Every successful start-up is built on four pillars. Team, idea, passion and representations.” – Aayush Jain

  37. “All are one unless and until they are asked to work together to achieve a noble goal one.” – Anuj Somany

  38. “Teamwork is so important that is virtually impossible for you to reach the heights of your capabilities or make the money that you want without becoming very good at it.” – Brian Tracy

  39. “Good teams incorportate teamwork into their culture, creating building blocks for success.” – Ted Sundquist

  40. “Teamwork is the secret that makes common people achieve uncommon results.” – Ifeanyi Onuoha

  41. “The ration of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.” – Lewis B. Ergen

  42. “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” – Napoleon Hill

  43. “A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skills of others.” – Norman Shidle

  44. “People achieve more as a result of working with others than against them.” – Dr. Allan Fromme

  45. “Interdependent people combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success.” – Stephen Covey

  46. “The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.” – Margaret Carty

  47. “A leader must inspire or his team will expire.” – Orrin Woodward

  48. “Bad attitudes will ruin your team.” – Terry Bardshaw

  49. “Everyone is needed, but no one is necessary.” – Bruce Coslet

  50. “With an enthusiastic team you can achieve almost anything.” – Tahir Shah

Final thoughts:

There’s nothing more effective than achieving success with your team. If you think that you’ve been slacking off lately, then you might want to go back to these quotes above to keep you inspired and motivated to do your work productively.

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