Thought Leadership Strategy: How to Influence in 4 Steps

A thought leader is someone who uses their expertise in a given field to help others. But it’s also more complicated than that—having a good thought leadership strategy doesn’t mean you can just decide one day that you are a thought leader because you know a lot about your craft. You must first gain credibility with your audience. You have to be considered a solid source of information within your business niche. The way things used to be before the internet gave everyone a platform if they wanted one, thought leaders had to publish in trade magazines and speak at …

Should I Continue To Use Facebook For My Small Business?

This is the question many small business owners have been asking regarding their presence on Facebook in light of the recent scandal. Last Friday, Facebook came under intense scrutiny regarding the unauthorized sharing of 50 million users’ data  with Cambridge Analytica – a political data analysis firm. Since the announcement, people and businesses across the globe have shown great concern  about their online security and privacy – and a small subset have opted to delete their Facebook accounts. We understand the magnitude and importance of this issue and wanted to share some perspective about the news. As a business owner, …

2018 Marketing Trends: The Best Ways to Grow Your Business this Year

Your business—whether in its first year or in its fifteenth—needs to operate with the mindset that your customers are becoming savvier. The products or services you provide may be far superior to anything else out there, but with a plan that doesn’t include the best 2018 marketing trends, they might never find their audience. With the rapid advancements in technology, consumers have access to so much at their fingertips. With voice-activated search engines such as Siri, Alexa, and OK Google, it’s easier than ever for a consumer to find exactly what it is that they’re looking for. And utilizing them …

Facebook Marketing: 5 Steps Your Business Needs to Take to Stay Seen

It’s no secret. Using Facebook marketing to connect your business with customers is an essential part of any modern business’s marketing efforts. Sadly, with Facebook’s announcement that the company is changing how content reaches users’ newsfeeds, your business’s social marketing efforts could be at risk if you don’t take action fast. The reason for this change? Facebook wants businesses to start investing more in their ad services. It’s a purely financial move, and though an understandable one, the effect on small businesses that use the platform to build relationships and stay in touch with their audiences could be huge. If …

SEO: Getting Your Site Found On Google

If you’re like the average consumer (I know I am!), you probably use Google to research businesses before deciding whether to purchase products or services from them—from reviews to pricing, Google is most people’s starting point in their transition from potential to actual client. It only makes sense, then, that getting your site found on Google is critical if you want to grow your own client base, increase sales, and keep up with the competition. Once your site starts showing up toward the top SERPs, you can tap into that deep pool of potential clients to show them exactly what …

Why Local SEO Matters

Confused about Local SEO?  In a nutshell, properly executed Local SEO will get your business on the map…literally.  When a Google search returns a map in the results, it is Local SEO that can put your business at the top of the listings. Over time your business will be listed in many places online, many without you doing anything.  Examples include your Google, Yahoo and Bing listings, social media check ins by customers, industry directory listings, Yellowpages, Yelp, MapQuest etc.  Some of these listings may be correct but incomplete and some may be incorrect.  In fact, if your business has …

Keys to a Successful Startup

A successful startup doesn’t just happen. Of course, no one believes that anyway. But even pouring yourself into making your startup work doesn’t guarantee success. You might be able to limp along for a little while, but sooner rather than later, things will fall apart. Bleak, right? Well, it’s a good thing that I believe that there’s no point to complaining about a problem if you can’t provide a solution. If you want to create a startup that thrives, put these five critical tips into practice today. Find Your Purpose Building a successful startup is a journey—you might not know …

SEO Basics: What Google Likes And Where To Start

Google is always refining their search algorithm, but there are some fundamental things that we know Google likes, as well some trends we’re seeing.  So without further fanfare, here are the ZenChange SEO Basics. Now I probably don’t need to tell you how important it is for your business to be found on the first page of Google.  But just in case, here are some stats for you to ponder: 61% of users check the internet before buying products & services 75% of users never get past the first page of search results There are 131 billion (yes, that’s a …

Franchise Success — What It Takes

Standing out as a franchise in your industry is a tricky feat to achieve. There might be too many big names standing in your way. Or perhaps the thing blocking you from franchise success is a bit more subtle. Whatever situation your franchise finds itself in, there are some core concepts that can help you differentiate your brand so you can keep building your business. The fact is, you’re not selling a product or service anymore—in whichever industry your business competes—you’re selling an instruction manual and telling others “Look! I did it, and so can you! Here’s how.” It’s that …

5 Ways to Boost Your Small Business Online Performance

It’s always been hard for small businesses to compete with bigger operations, and that’s true for small businesses with long histories and those that have just started out. Even with the democratizing force of the internet, small businesses can still have trouble getting their message to the right people. In fact, the constantly changing rules of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can make good small business online performance very tricky. It can be difficult without the right tools and strategies, but it’s definitely not impossible to get your business noticed online. With the right strategies, you can rank better in online …