There are probably two big reasons. First, many of these companies have done things they shouldn’t to try to get an edge, and now that they are being ignored by Google, they’re looking for ways to re-position themselves amongst the top of the search engine rankings again. And secondly, the effects of Penguin and Panda are still being felt, as the algorithm is fine-tuned month after month.

But, that doesn’t mean that you should pay very much attention. If your business website (and accompanying search engine optimization plan) are put together in a way that appeals to common sense, then you probably aren’t likely to be affected at all. If anything, you’ll benefit from Google’s de-emphasis on sites with too much optimization.

Google algorithm changes might continue to be ongoing news, but that doesn’t mean they should always be on your mind. Just keep at your marketing plan, and you won’t have to worry about the next animal-themed update to come along.

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

Naturally, that’s attracted a lot of marketers who want to take advantage of the site. But, finding success takes more than just sharing a few pictures. Here are four quick tips for better Pinterest marketing:

1. Try the site for a week or two before starting. That way, you’ll get a feel for how it works, what kinds of images get the most attention, etc.

2. Post professional photos of your products. The last thing you want is to share shabby, grainy photos or stock images.

3. Identify your images correctly. That is, tag them and put them in the proper categories. You may also want to watermark them so that people can always tell where they came from.

4. Encourage your customers to share their images, as well. If you have pictures of people happily using your products, these can work as a third-party endorsement that helps build your credibility.

The best way to get to know Pinterest is to become a user and play with it a bit. Why not take a few minutes and check out one of the fastest-growing social sites today?

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing, Social Media

The answers will vary a bit from company to company, of course, but here are three ways to tell if you’re running an effective social campaign:

1. Your contact lists are growing. If you are attracting more fans and followers each week, then your influence is growing, and your campaign is probably working.

2. Your posts generate discussion. Most social media marketing is ignored because the content isn’t interesting enough. If people are responding to your ideas, that’s a great sign.

3. You can trace at least one or two new sales opportunities per month to your social profiles. Ultimately, your social media marketing campaign has to generate sales to justify the time, effort, and expense. But, don’t worry if they come along at a slow pace in the beginning.

For expert social media marketing assistance that’s focused on real-world sales and results, work with the Marcy Design team of experts. We are only a quick phone call or e-mail away!

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

That’s where a lot of the offbeat Internet ads you see come into play.

Designed to jolt you to attention, they typically feature strange images or unusual headlines. But are they actually effective? And could they work for you?

Here are three things to consider:

1. There is a fine line between “offbeat” and “silly.” A lot of what you see on the Internet grabs attention, but doesn’t do anything to build credibility or boost sales.

2. It’s best to use your common sense first. Ask yourself a key question before putting your ideas out online: can this tie into my overall sales message and marketing team? If not, go back to the drawing board.

3. If you still think you have a great idea for an offbeat Internet ad, test it. The proof is always in the numbers, and you should know quickly whether an unusual Internet ad is a winner or not.

In most cases, going too far with your Internet advertising is likely to gather a few chuckles, but won’t do a lot for your sales. But, it never hurts to try something new as long as you’re keeping one eye on your advertising budget and the ongoing measurable results.

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

But, just trying a few different tactics is never going to be as effective as following a detailed road map. That’s because your Internet marketing plan is what makes the whole thing bigger than the sum of its parts.

Here are just a few features of a great online marketing plan:

Focus. You should know what you’re trying to achieve in the market and not be distracted by everything else you could be doing.

Research. It’s important to know who your customers are, what your competition is like, and how you stack up in terms of products and pricing.

A set of measurable outcomes. How do you know if your Internet marketing plan is working the way it’s supposed to? You need a few ways to keep score.

A schedule and/or calendar. Your online marketing plan isn’t worth much if it calls for you to get new customers “someday.” You need something that outlines what actions to take during a specific time period.

These are just a few examples, but you probably get the idea. Without strong Internet marketing plan, most businesses simply have a list of interesting things to try, and that’s not good enough in 2013 and beyond.

Do you need help getting your Internet marketing or business website on track? Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

Marcy Design creative web design and development is recognized by Hermes Creative

COLUMBUS, Ohio May 13, 2013 – Marcy Design is pleased to announce that it has won 5 National Awards from Hermes Creative. The Platinum and Gold Awards are given annually to top performers in the web development and marketing industry.

Marcy Design recently won five national awards, two Platinum Awards, two Gold Awards, and one Honorable Mention from Hermes Creative for excellence in website design. The Platinum Awards are the highest awards given. The winning entries were: MDSolutions eCommerce Website – Platinum Award, iCool Magazine iPad App – Platinum Award, Columbus Coal and Lime Website – Gold Award, Ohio Association of Realtors Website – Gold Award and Ometek Website – Honorable Mention.

The Hermes Creative is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, graphic design shops, production companies, web and digital creators and freelancers.

Marcy Design is regarded as one of the top web design and marketing companies in Ohio for providing outstanding creative design and customer services. Marcy Design has won nearly 200 awards to date.

About Marcy Design Group:
The Marcy Design Group is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and was founded in 1988. In over 24 years of business, Marcy Design has worked for hundreds of companies throughout the Ohio.

For more information please contact Greg Krivicich, President for Marcy Design via email: gkriv@marcy.com or via phone: 614.224.6226.

Tags: Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing, Website Design

The point we are trying to make is that Internet marketing is less of an activity and more of a good habit – or at least it should be if you’re managing your campaigns the right way.

When you’re keeping up with tasks and thinking about your overall plan every day, good things start to happen. For one thing, your ideas are more inspired, because you aren’t trying to force them out so quickly. For another, you notice trends faster, and take feedback from customers in real-time.

Most importantly, though, is that you aren’t trying to cram too much activity into a very small amount of time. Trying to do too much, too quickly, after long periods of inactivity causes more stress and headaches than almost anything else when it comes to finding customers or the Internet. So, remember that it’s a habit – one you need to keep up with on a regular basis – and take things gradually rather than being overwhelmed with a long list of things to try.

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

So, how do you come up with great titles… aside from spending hours writing and rewriting them?

Here are three tools you can use:

1. Social media polls. If you have a strong social following, why not ask your current fans and contacts which title they think is most compelling? Since they make up likely buyers, their feedback should be helpful.

2. Pay-per-click advertising split tests. If you’ve narrowed it down to a few good possibilities, you can always test them in pay-per-click ads. That way, you get quick feedback for a low cost.

3. Multiple versions. It isn’t unusual, in digital publishing, to have several titles for one document, such as a long version and a short version. If you really can’t decide, try a few and see which gets the best response.

Need help making your digital publishing project a success? Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

Believe it or not, however, you might be able to create a bigger marketing impact by sending them to someone else’s website.

Usually referred to as “guest posting,” sharing your blog articles with another website seems like a good way to give someone else all the credit and search engine optimization benefits. But, if their site is well-known enough, you could achieve three things by giving them some of your content:

1. Build more credibility for your own website and company. When you are published on a prestigious site, customers and colleagues take notice.

2. Find new followers, readers, and customers. If people like your post enough, they may start to look for more of your content in the future.

3. Gain valuable back links to your own site. Search engine optimization is changing, but back links from reputable sites can still help you be more visible.

Sometimes, giving a few of your best ideas away really is the perfect strategy if you want to stand out. For more great marketing tips, check back to our blog often, or contact the Marcy Design team today to set up a free consultation.

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing

Those aren’t bad, as marketing motivations go, but your blog should be more than a virtual pin board to put up coupons and specials – it can also be a forum for discussing industry topics and testing the waters for new ideas.

When you treat your blog that way, as a discussion more than as a series of announcements, you’ll notice something interesting will start to happen: people will respond with comments, ideas, and suggestions.

When that happens, don’t ignore this feedback, as so many companies do. Believe it or not, over time it can become the most valuable part of your blog. That’s because you can get a few important things from your comments section:

• Ideas for future blog posts
• Feedback on your thoughts and ideas
• Introductions to other colleagues within your industry
• Suggestion for future promotions and marketing plans

In other words, you can get valuable input directly from some of your best customers. That can turn out to be even more valuable than the benefits you originally hoped for when you launched your company blog!

Call Marcy Design, a Columbus Ohio website design company to help with your web, marketing and advertising campaigns.

Tags: Advertising, Columbus Ohio Website Design, Marketing