8 Digital and Graphic Design Trends to Inspire Your Business in 2021 and Beyond

Looking for inspiration for your marketing and visual design? This Infographic provides insight on trends for 2021: bit.ly/2021graphicdesign

Social platforms' explosive revenue growth signals pandemic weight on digital has lifted

Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are all reporting revenue gains in Q3, reflecting marketers investment in digital marketing and eCommerece. A recent article in Marketing Dive provides insight on what to expect as 2020 comes to a close: bit.ly/digitalmarketingq4

22 Gmail Hacks: Turn Your Inbox Into a Productivity Powerhouse

Email plays an essential part in all of our daily routines, both personal and professional. If you're looking for a way to reduce stress and maximize productivity, check out these 22 Gmail Hacks from Search Engine Journal to transform your Inbox from clutter to clarity: bit.ly/22gmailhacks

Holiday 2020 is do or die for many SMBs

With COVID-19 presenting unpredictable consequences for our economy, the 2020 holiday season may be even more important for many small businesses. Hopefully your business has already started making a list (and checking it twice) of everything you'll need for a successful holiday shopping season - and this article from SearchEngineLand provides some helpful marketing tips: bit.ly/smbholidays

Facebook Removes the 20% Text Limit on Ad Images

In an unexpected shift for marketers and businesses, Facebook has removed its 20% text limit for ad images, which may create new possibilities for advertisers. Search Engine Journal explains everything you need to know about the latest update to Facebook ads: bit.ly/facebook-text-limit

Google Ads to Start Hiding Some Search Query Data

As of September, search queries without a "significant" amount of data will no longer show in Google Search Query reports. What does this mean for your site and program analysis? Check out the link below to find out: bit.ly/searchquerydata

Holiday shopping SEO: Last-minute tips and techniques for e-commerce sites

The holiday shopping season is just around the corner—is your e-commerce site designed to attract more visitors? Learn the latest tips to optimize your site for maximum sales and opportunity over the coming months: bit.ly/holidays2020-seo

15 Digital Marketing Tools to Improve Your Online Presence in 2020

Developing an effective online presence is more important than ever before, and with so many digital marketing tools and apps to choose from, it can be hard to know what's right for your brand or business. From keywords and blogs to banners and messenger bots, click below for a list of 15 need-to-know tools for today's marketers: bit.ly/marketing-infographic-2020

6 Ways to Get More Social Media Traffic to Your Website in 2020

Directing traffic from social platforms to your website is a constant effort for today's brands and marketers. If you're feeling stumped on how to make it happen, this article from Social Media Today features six easy and efficient tips to help your followers take the next step: bit.ly/socialtraffic2020

CMO Reflections on the State of Marketing in 2020

2020 has thrown all of us for a loop, and the marketing world is no exception. As the industry tries to remain flexible and prepare for what's next, CMO's offer their expert opinions on what the future of marketing might hold. Read more below: bit.ly/cmopredictions

LinkedIn Publishes New Guide on How to Make Best Use of its Platform

While sometimes left out of the social media conversation, LinkedIn is an essential tool for brands, businesses, and marketers. To help you get the most out of this versatile platform, LinkedIn has published a new guide on how to most effectively use its many tools for engagement.  Click below to check it out: bit.ly/newlinkedinguide

71% of Marketers Expect Virtual Events to Continue Beyond 2020, Survey Finds

Virtual events have become an increasingly prevalent marketing strategy through the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the country slowly opening up, can we expect these kinds of events to stick around? According to experts, it seems likely. Learn more from Marketing Dive: bit.ly/futurevirtualevents

The 11 Most Important Hard & Soft Skills Marketers Need to Have

Does your marketing team have all the right skills to develop successful campaigns, create compelling content, and connect with the right audiences? Search Engine Journal explores the 11 most important hard and soft skills for today's marketers: bit.ly/11marketingskills

The “Graying” of America

While marketers are often quick to focus their efforts on youth engagement, it's essential to not overlook older demographics, as well. As the number of Americans ages 65-74 is growing, it's important to examine opportunities with this high-income age group. Learn more below: bit.ly/babyboomermarketing

Facebook Shares New Insights into Effective Brand Messaging

In the digital age, the importance of effective brand messaging cannot be understated. From text copy to graphic elements, this quick and helpful infographic covers all the essentials for developing consistent content for your brand or business: bit.ly/brandmessagingbasics

Social Media Marketing Post-COVID: Marketers Predict the Future

COVID-19 has forced brands to think hard about what the future of marketing looks like. While much remains uncertain, one thing seems certain: social media is more important than ever before. Check out this article from Social Media Today to learn what experts predict the future of social media marketing to look like: bit.ly/futuresocialmediamarketing

Update on Google Ranking Factors: SEO Tips

Curious to learn more about the myriad of factors impacting your search rankings on Google? Business 2 Community explores a wide range of on-page factors that could be determining whether or not your search performance is successful. Check it out here: bit.ly/googlerankingseo

How Natural Language Generation Changes the SEO Game

Search Engine Journal's Hamlet Batista dives into the latest advances in natural language generation, to explain how how computers are able to generate new content and distinguish between what's relevant and what's spam: bit.ly/naturallanguageseo

The Impact of Keyword Choice on Website Rankings

Choosing the right keywords and key phrases could be the secret to improving your search ranking. Instead of guessing, strategically utilizing keywords can yield positive changes in your search performance. Business Matters explains how to better understand keywords and key phrases when it comes to SEO: bit.ly/keywordchoice

Stock Photography Impact on SEO

 Thoughtful use of stock images can lead to more clicks and increases in customer conversion. Learn more from Search Engine Journal: bit.ly/stockphotoseo

Why You Need To Accelerate Your Digital Transformation Right Now

As brands and businesses continue thinking about how to move forward, it's become more important than ever to speed up your transition into digital operations. From customer experience to internal communications, Forbes examines how businesses can most effectively respond as life becomes increasingly more digital: bit.ly/forbesdigitaltransformation

On the Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What We Know About Gen Z So Far

While all generations respond uniquely to different marketing strategies, Gen Z has created entirely new challenges and opportunities for brands and marketers. This report from the Pew Research Center dives into what drives Gen Z and examines how this young demographic engages with their world: bit.ly/understandinggenz

SEO Will Be a Primary Focus for Marketers During the Downturn, Says Survey

An economic downturn is on the horizon, and with SEO rated as the top-performing channel for marketers last year, organic search is expected to become even more important going forward. Check out this article from Marketing Land to learn more about the vital role of SEO in the forecasted global recession: bit.ly/seodownturn

The Need for (Mobile) Speed: Small Improvements Have a Big Conversion Impact

Did you know that slow load times could be steering customers away from your website? When it comes to site speed, especially on mobile devices, minor improvements in performance can have an impact. Search Engine Land explores why it's essential for marketers and web developers to optimize page load speed: bit.ly/page-speed-marketing

3 Months In, How COVID-19 Has Permanently Changed Marketing

It's no question that COVID-19 has deeply impacted all of our lives, and when it comes to marketing, experts predict permanent shifts in the relationship between brands, businesses, and consumers. Marketing Dive explores how the advertising world has responded to global and national crises and how things may continue to change in the future: bit.ly/marketing-after-covid

How Social Platforms are Responding to the #BlackLivesMatter Protests Across the US

Interesting summary of how social media sites are responding to the Black Lives Matter protests: bit.ly/blmsocialresponse

Your Customers Aren’t Interested in Your Covid Messaging Anymore, What Now?

As COVID communications fatigue sets in, brands and marketers are starting to think about where to go next. In this article, Search Engine Land offers helpful insight on how marketers can continue to connect with audiences amidst the current climate: bit.ly/covid-marketing-whats-next

Webinar: "New York is Reopening Now What?"

If you weren't able to attend this week's Business Council of Westchester webinar "New York is Reopening Now What?", it will be well worth your time to check out the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yER8Nd6teos. Great information provided by Tom Morley of the Small Business Development Center.

3 Pandemic-related Behaviors Will Stick as Consumer Anxiety Subsides, Kantar Predicts

Experts anticipate that the COVID-19 crisis and quarantine will have lasting impacts on human behavior. Marketing Dive explores several recent consumer behaviors, which are expected to impact brands and marketers for the foreseeable future. Learn more: bit.ly/pandemic-consumer

Black Friday in April: E-commerce is Booming According to Three Reports

The retail landscape has changed drastically as a result of COVID-19, with online sales experiencing significant highs. Search Engine Land explores recent trends in e-commerce to help us understand how these shifts can predict future consumer behavior: bit.ly/april-ecommerce

5 Tips to Increase Your Brand's Engagement on Social Media [Infographic]

By now, your brand or business is probably utilizing social media—but is there more you could be doing to increase engagement and improve your digital presence? In this helpful infographic, Social Media Today offers 5 easy tips to help you take the next steps in elevating your social media strategy: bit.ly/five-social-tips

How to Manage a PR or Social Media Crisis in 10 Steps [Infographic]

In this day and age, almost every brand or business is actively incorporating social media into their marketing strategy—which means you'll need a social media crisis management plan. In this infographic, Andrew Hutchinson takes us step-by-step through how to effectively manage a PR or social media crisis: bit.ly/socialmediacrisisplan

5 Ways to Supercharge Your Email Marketing During the Coronavirus Outbreak [Infographic]

Feeling a little unsure about where to steer your email marketing? This helpful infographic from Social Media Today offers five tried and true tips for elevating your emails during the pandemic: bit.ly/emailmarketinginfographic

Search Insights and Shifting Consumer Behaviors and Trends During Covid-19

In addition to changing the way we live, the COVID-19 crisis has also changed the way we search. From dramatic increase in hobby-related search terms to shifts in pet-related inquiries, Search Engine Land explores recent changes in search trends: bit.ly/consumerbehaviors-covid19

Instagram Sees Greatest Gains From Recent Social Media Spikes

While engagement continues to grow across all major social platforms, Instagram appears to be taking 2020 by storm. Search Engine Journal explains which platforms are seeing the most significant growth and why: bit.ly/instagramgrowth2020

How Different Generations of Consumers Use Social Media

Each generation uses social media differently, and understanding the preferred platforms of different age groups is essential if brands and marketers want to see the best possible ROI on their digital campaigns. Check out this article from Social Media Today to learn how different generations, from Gen Z to Baby Boomers, are tapping into social media: bit.ly/socialmedia-generations

As Consumers Hunker Down at Home, Stores Move Online

As consumers remain home due to the COVID-19 crisis, more retailers are moving their stores online. From shifts in buying patterns to adjustments in business strategies, Digital Commerce 360 explores the changing relationship between retailers and consumers during the pandemic: bit.ly/covid-online-retail

Survey: US Small Business Owners Need More Funding and Immediate Legislative Action

David Hoffman: Digital Marketing Lessons From the Current Crisis

5 Reasons Why Your Facebook Ads Campaigns Are Failing

When it comes to Facebook advertising, a more strategic approach to digital marketing may be the secret to more successful campaigns. Check out this article from Search Engine Land to learn several strategies that can lead to drastic improvements in your Facebook ad performance: bit.ly/Facebook-abtesting

With Social Media Usage Up, and Advertisers Pausing Spend, Now May be a Good Time to Maximize Reach

With digital media usage at an all-time high and advertising costs across social platforms relatively low, now may be an optimal time to expand your reach. Social Media Today explains how the current climate has produced new advantages for digital marketers: bit.ly/advertising-during-covid

Twitter Publishes New Research on What Consumers Want to See from Brands During COVID-19

With marketers navigating new and unfamiliar terrain, Twitter conducted a user survey to shed light on what people want from brands in their communications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's what they found: bit.ly/twitter-covid-marketing

Seo Will Be a Primary Focus for Marketers During the Downturn, Says Survey

SEO was the top performing online channel for businesses in 2019, and a survey by Conductor shows that SEO will be the primary focus for marketers during the economic downturn. Read more from Search Engine Land at bit.ly/34yt6O0

Email Marketing Benchmarks

Email communications can be an essential component of any digital marketing strategy, but with so many different metrics to track, it can be tough to interpret performance. Check out this helpful breakdown from Mailchimp, which covers benchmark data across different industries, to help you build stronger email marketing programs: bit.ly/34hg1rW

Desktop Search is Rising Amid the Work-From-Home Surge

With more people working from home than ever before, there have quickly been profound shifts in the way we search, shop, and interact online, as well as changes in the devices used to perform these tasks. Learn how to make the most of these changes in consumer behavior with these helpful tips from Search Engine Land bit.ly/3dQKYI7

‘Acts not ads’: How firms should market themselves during the coronavirus crisis

B2B Turns to Digital Marketing in the Wake of Coronavirus Outbreak

Concerned about canceled events due to COVID-19? To help make-up for some of the lost exposure, try shifting your focus to digital strategies and online marketing. Learn more in this recent article from ClickZ. bit.ly/2QT7N47

Google to Make $340 Million Available in Ad Credits for Small & Medium-sized Businesses

Google announced that they will make $340 million available in ad credits for small & medium-sized businesses. Learn more at bit.ly/2yfDz4F Details will be available soon but to be eligible, businesses will need to have had active Google ads accounts since Jan. 1, 2019. We'll be providing details to our clients shortly. If we can be of help, please let us know.

Effective Email Marketing Tips

Email marketing has been an effective way of reaching out to a targeted audience. Improve your email marketing and attract more of your audience with these tips from Search Engine Watch. 

How a Computer Sees Gender

Ever wonder how a computer sees gender? Learn more about how computers use vision tools like facial recognition and take part in an interactive challenge from Pew Research to see how these tools work. https://pewrsr.ch/3bnAQEq

10 Silent Killers That Affect Your Website Speed

Time is valuable and nobody likes to be kept waiting when it comes to a slow web page. Read more from Search Engine Watch on the ten silent killers that can affect your website and how it can be solved. https://bit.ly/3a3ggZX

Digital Knowledge Quiz

Tips to Grow Your Social Media Audience

Social media has become one of the most effective ways to connect with your target audience, create more leads, and raise awareness. Take your social media platforms to the next level with these helpful tips from Socialnomics. http://bit.ly/2IBYLnC

Digital Marketing Campaign Tips for 2020

Digital marketing can help businesses get new customers and build brand loyalty. Here are six ways to get the most out of your digital marketing campaigns from this Search Engine Watch article.

Westchester Business Expo

The Westchester Business Expo has been rescheduled for June 8th from 1pm-5pm at the Hilton Westchester in Rye Brook. Always a great opportunity to see colleagues and connect with over 180 vendors. For more information about the event and to attend, please visit www.wbxpo.com

Search Engine Marketing Course at Fordham University

If you know someone switching careers or who wants to improve their Digital Marketing skills, Fordham University is offering a terrific comprehensive certificate program. Founded and directed by our colleague and friend Robin Colner, I will be teaching the Search Engine Marketing section which begins April 22nd. http://bit.ly/2VdgOI0

Top 8 Secrets of Instagram Marketing

Debunked Google Analytics Metrics in 2020

When it comes to measuring your website performance with Google Analytics, there are a number of long-held metrics that are now considered debunked. This Search Engine Watch article provides key metrics and useful suggestions for how to better decipher your Analytics data: bit.ly/2SjjEJH

Congratulations to Robison Oil

Congratulations to our friends at client Robison Oil, on winning the 2020 Hall of Fame Family Owned Business Success Award from The Business Council of Westchester. And as a long-time Robison Oil customer, I can attest to what a well-deserved honor this is. Purchase your tickets to the Awards Ceremony: http://bit.ly/2uDhNGG

How to Rank Well on Google: The Moz SEO Checklist

Check out these tips from MOZ on the top indicators for SEO ranking:

Congratulations to STEPS Home Care

Congratulations to our friends at client STEP Home Care who were awarded an amazing THREE prestigious national home care awards, highlighting agencies that have consistently achieved exceptional Client and Caregiver Satisfaction Scores. Learn more: https://blog.stepshomecare.com/steps-home-care-awarded-3-top-national-home-care-awards

Search Smart Marketing at CT Business Expo

Search Smart Marketing was proud to present "10 Digital Marketing Activities Anyone Can Do To Generate Quick Wins" with IMPACT Branding & Design LLC Founder & CEO, Bob Ruffolo. Please find the presentation on Slideshare . 

10Do to Generate Quick Wins

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni

We've graduated! Search Smart Marketing is proud to join the diverse community of Goldman Sachs alumni. Check out our founder, David Hoffman, in the Cohort 8 video by The Booth. The video was created as part of the graduation festivities for participants in this year's Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative.

Search Smart Marketing Accepted into Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative

Search Smart Marketing is honored and excited to announce our acceptance into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative at LaGuardia Community College. Companies who apply to the program are evaluated on a range of criteria and the selection process was competitive, as we were up against a strong pool of candidates from throughout the tri-state area. Program participants dedicate hours both in and outside the classroom to developing a growth plan that will benefit their business and help create new jobs. More details to follow next week's orientation. Read more about the 10,000 Small Business Initiative and previous participants here.