Ashley Daniels

I'm sure you've all heard the saying “everyone's a critic.” Well in 2017, everyone's a photographer — or so they think. Many marketers believe that because their Instagram feed looks great, they're photographers. Well, that is until they are asked to create visual content (aka pictures and videos) for their organization's website or social media accounts. When people start talking about shot lists, camera angles, and editing software, it can be a confidence killer.more

Have you ever played the word association game? You know the one: where someone rattles off a list of words and you say the first thing that comes to mind when you hear that word. For example, kittens = cuddly, rain = cloud, spiders = creepy.more

It’s the start of a fresh, new year. You know what that means? The "best trends of 2016 " and "things to look for in 2017" lists are here! No matter your area of interest, there is a list for it: food, travel, or web design (which is of course is one of our favorite topics here at MINDSCAPE).more

Maps are one of the most valuable tools that humans have at their disposal. For thousands and thousands of years, they have helped us navigate unfamiliar places and prevented us from getting hopelessly lost. If you are a marketer or content creator, you've probably wondered if there was some type of map (be it a literal or figurative one) to help guide you through the rather confusing land of blogging and content creation. I have good news: that tool exists in Google Analytics. To a newcomer, Google Analytics can seem overwhelming because of all the statistics and data that it provides. But there are a few things you can look at (no matter how much or little background you have in statistical interpretation) to help you understand your visitors and improve your efforts in content creation.more

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Less is more. Quality over quantity. These old adages can hold true when it comes to gifts, interior decorating and ... digital marketing. Yes, you read that right. There are many instances in the world of digital and Inbound marketing, where quality is much more important than quality. For instance:more

Website content, blog posts, social media, emails; there are so many avenues that colleges and universities can use to create digital content and communicate with their prospective audiences. This variety can be a blessing and a curse, depending on how you slice it. But either way, it can be a challenge. We asked some of the colleges and universities that we work with what some of their biggest challenges are when it comes to creating digital content and here is what they had to say:more

I am a huge fan of superheroes - Superman, Batman, X-Men; I love them all. So any chance I get to make a superhero analogy I take it, and I think this is one of those chances, so bear with me.more

Investing in an Inbound Marketing plan can be a big step, so naturally, it raises a few questions and concerns. I asked our Business Development Manager some of the questions he is asked most frequently when having conversations with potential clients about Inbound Marketing plans.more

Jane owns a small coffee shop in a busy metropolitan area. As a responsible business owner, she is aware of how many people come into her shop, what they order, and if for some reason they leave without ordering anything (something she notices has been happening more often lately).more

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In the Wild West (or at least how it's portrayed in the movies) the "good guys" wore white cowboy hats and the "bad guys" wore black cowboys hats. But "white hats" and "black hats" aren't just for the Wild West anymore, now they show up in the technology sphere. Recently, the term "black hat" has been used to describe computer hackers, virus creators, and others who perform unethical actions with computers. Some of these unethical actions can include aggressive SEO tactics, like:more

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I hate small talk. I really, really do. I just don't see the point in it. Two people locked in a conversational script littered with generic questions and answers that leave the participants equally uninterested and uninformed. Why bother?more

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Sometimes the proof isn't in the pudding at all -- it's in the numbers. If you understand the powerful data behind Inbound Marketing, you might realize it's worth a second glance. While it's not as familiar as some of the traditional outbound marketing tactics, it's actually much more effective. By the numbers, Inbound Marketing has Outbound beat. 1. Inbound Leads are 61% Cheaper than Outbound Leads Maybe you enjoy watching your ROI plummet and your bank account balance dwindle as you throw more money at television advertisements or outbound calls. But we're guessing you don't. When you spend money on marketing, you want it to come back to you -- with interest. That's exactly what Inbound Marketing provides. According to a Business2Community infographic, Inbound leads are 61% cheaper than Outbound leads. In other words, you spend less money to gain each lead, which means you can divert that cash to other (money-making) pursuits. 2. 44% of Shoppers Start with a Search When was the last time you considered a potential purchase? If you think back to the moment the idea first occurred to you, you'll probably recall pulling up your browser and Googling it. Your customers act the same way. They don't want to buy a product off the shelf or purchase a serivce unless they know how much it costs, what its features are, and whether it has gotten good reviews. All this focus on search makes Inbound Marketing king, especially since 44% of shoppers begin the buying journey with a simple search. 3. 80% of Business Buyers Prefer Content to Ads If you think inbound marketing only works for B2C companies, check the stats. According to Impact, 80% of B2B buyers want to get their information from detailed, engaging content instead of through advertisements. In other words, they want to be educated instead of pitched. You probably hold a similar view. Ads are intrusive, noisy, and distracting. Content offers real value, which makes it indispensable if you want to gain market share. Since Inbound Marketing is based on content, it's the perfect place to start. 4. 60% of Your Competitors Have Already Started If you're still not sold, look to your left and right. The companies that you compete with for customers and brand awareness have already launched their own Inbound Marketing campaigns. Unfortunately, that means they're skipping ahead down the customer-acquisition path while you lag behind. But don't worry, since the number of marketers using inbound hovers at around 60 percent, you can launch your own inbound campaign and start making up the difference. Creating blog content, connecting with your prospects via email, and engaging with your audience on social media can all have a tremendous impact on your market reach. Now that you're equipped with the facts, it's time to give Inbound Marketing a shot. We're here to answer all your questions and help you navigate through these waters, so request a consultation today.more

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