Blog

2021: Looking Ahead

2021: Looking Ahead Planning for next year’s goals may seem pointless after a year when so many of our plans have been completely canceled. It’s been a tough year in many ways but it hasn’t all been bad. These pauses to our normal activities can provide a chance for innovation. This was a year of... Read More

Refresher course: Get noticed through Google My Business

Google My Business is one of the most useful online tools a small business can access. It puts your name and business name in front of customers who are looking for you nearby—and it also places you on the map when people do searches for other businesses close to your location. These local search results... Read More

Local searches matter! How to improve your odds

Improving your Search Engine Optimization ranking is difficult enough, but when you factor in the local angle, it becomes even more challenging. That’s the goal you’re striving for: to have your business appear to customers in your neighborhood that are looking for your services. Fortunately, Google has made it somewhat easier and there are actions... Read More

How to improve your SEO ranking without new content

Search engine algorithms are always changing, but you don’t have to change your content to increase your Search Engine Optimization ranking for your web sites. There are many things you can do by simply tweaking and organizing the content you already have to increase your ranking and climb up the search engine ladder—and you don’t... Read More

Can you pay to have bad reviews removed?

Bad reviews are troublesome enough. When scammers or identity thieves get into the act, it can get even worse. We recently had a customer call us after she fielded a call from a company that said her business had a bad review on Google and that he could “get it taken down.” For a fee,... Read More

PISTn featured at national conference

Kevin Steeland, founder and CEO of PISTn digital marketing, will be a featured speaker at the international Car Wash Show this May in Nashville, TN. The conference, billed as the largest gathering of owners, managers and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments, will take place from May 13-15. “I’m looking forward... Read More

Facebook launches new ‘Showcase’ service

Facebook is launching a new video service that can help businesses get in front of new audiences. The new premium video ad program, Facebook Showcase, is now available in many markets across the U.S. “Showcase gives online video and TV ad buyers participating in the upfront selling cycle new opportunities to reach their target audiences... Read More

Looking back: Facebook changes in 2018

Last year was a year of turmoil for Facebook. The social media giant was forced to respond to several critical news stories alleging bias, misinformation campaigns as well as general concerns over user privacy and proprietary data. In the wake of growing customer backlash, Facebook made several changes to its business and advertising policies designed... Read More

Facebook page feature gives info on competitors

Efforts to promote transparency in advertising on Facebook have given business owners an additional tool to use to scope out the competition. You probably already know how important it is to do a competitive analysis of your business competition: you need to know how they are marketing themselves to consumers in order to do it... Read More

Are Google searches rigged?

Are Google search results rigged against you? The obvious answer to this question is ‘no,’ but many people are still asking it after President Donald Trump’s latest unsubstantiated claim. For those that missed it, the president recently called Google’s search results “rigged,” in a tweet, claiming that searches of “Trump news” only showed reporting by... Read More

Facebook adds Stories Archive feature

Facebook stories may be around for a while, after all. The feature, launched by Facebook in Ireland in 2017, was designed to compete with Instagram or Snapchat. It essentially allowed users to add photos and videos to a story for their friends to tap through. Like with Instagram or Snapchat, there are different effects you... Read More

Email marketing trends for 2018

There have been many changes in digital marketing trends through the years, and email marketing is no different. Email marketing is still one of the preferred ways for marketers to get their messages to consumers—it remains the best way to ensure your message gets exactly where you want it to go at the exact time... Read More

Three ways to increase Facebook engagement

It’s difficult to run a Facebook business page these days—or at least an active one. Organic reach has been dropping steadily for several years, and Facebook is continually altering its algorithm to place more emphasis—and show more users—content from their friends, family and outer circle. That’s understandable, given that it was created to be a... Read More

It’s beginning to look a lot like…Christmas?

We know what you’re thinking. Please! I’ve barely warmed up! I can’t be thinking about Christmas! True, the year is barely six months old and, while we don’t want to hasten its departure any more than the next full-service marketing firm, it’s time to start thinking about your holiday marketing campaign—or, at the very least,... Read More

How to defend your brand

Without a doubt, we live in some peculiar times. As business owners, we are constantly building up, perfecting and defending our brand. It’s difficult enough to respond to critics, competition and any of the unusual slings and arrows hurled at your business every day. What do you do when you have to defend your brand... Read More

Google speed update: is your site fast enough?

We have long talked about how important it is to have a mobile-friendly web site for your business. Consumers are more and more embracing mobile technology. Now more than 80 percent of consumers own a smart phone and the majority of them use it to search for goods and services they need. This summer, not... Read More

Top blog sharing tools

A blog is still a great way to spread the word about your business, share your knowledge with a potential customer base and provide evergreen content for your social media channels. There are several apps out there that will help you share your blogs in different ways, allowing you to reach new people and expand... Read More

Social media predictions for 2018

The New Year will bring challenges to business owners, and the continued digital marketing revolution will be there to help—or hurt. Just like last year, we expect plenty of changes to impact your business’ social media channels. Here are some of the top trends we’re predicting: Shrinkage. You probably noticed last year that the number... Read More

Four easy ways to perfect your pictures

Good graphics can make your post and a bad picture can break it. Most small business owners don’t have a regular photographer or the ability to hire one and, let’s face it, stock photos will only get you so far. Don’t worry, though. There are plenty of ways to fix your photos, even if they... Read More

Facebook to take some of the guesswork out of ad campaigns

Have you ever had two great ideas for a marketing campaign, and wondered which would work better? Soon, you may not have to. Facebook announced this week that it would soon allow brands to try “split testing,” which will essentially allow you to try two different versions of the same campaign at the same time.... Read More