Get in the Marketing Spirit!

Have you thought about using the holidays to boost your online presence?

One of the great things about the holiday season is that nearly everyone can participate, even if they don’t specifically celebrate Christmas. Using holiday themed graphics and images on your social media and website gets people in a cheerful mood and helps them relate to your business. Plus, with all the holiday advertisement that other businesses will be doing, you don’t want your business to seem dull by comparison!

If it’s not the style of your business, you don’t have to advertise your business with pictures of candy canes and snowmen—even just a few festive colors or subtle graphics can do the trick.

Boost Your Web Design with Michigan SEO Group

Whether you need holiday marketing or a year-round business boost, Michigan SEO Group can help! Our company provides social media management, SEO services, and web design based in Michigan. But don’t take it from us, click here to see reviews from our happy clients!

To get started, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here. Happy holidays!

'Tis the Season for Discounts

Looking for ways to promote your business as the year closes out?

The holidays are a great time for your business to run specials and discounts. As long as it’s conducive to your business, one-time discounts are a tried-and-true method of boosting profits. Retailwire.com talks about the psychology of discounts, and the main principle is “the larger the discount, the greater the perceived value.” This just means that people are more likely to buy something when it’s discounted, because it seems like it’s worth more. This is more geared towards retail, but also applies to services. 20% off a chiropractic exam? 30% off a utility installation? It may not be the first thing you think of when you think of holiday cheer, but any working adult will tell you how much of a gift small business service can be worth!

Get More Marketing and Web Design Tips from Michigan SEO Group

Whether you need holiday marketing or a year-round business boost, Michigan SEO Group can help! Our company provides social media management, SEO services, and web design based in Michigan. But don’t take it from us, click here to see reviews from our happy clients!

To get started, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here. Happy holidays!

What Should You Do if You're Hacked?

Have you ever been hacked?

In the age of constant computer use, hacking is a serious crime. Sadly, it’s also very common, and the victims can suffer anything from a minor inconvenience to a completely destroyed livelihood.

If you ARE hacked, the best thing you can do is immediately report it. If you’re hacked on social media, you’ll probably get an email saying that passwords or emails are being changed; make use of the “this wasn’t me” function in those emails. Try to change your passwords and lock down your accounts as soon as possible. It might not be in your power to remove the hacker from the account completely, but you CAN lock down the account to keep them from doing any more damage. 

Once that’s done, you should talk to the support team of the platform you were hacked on. This could be the support team directly tied to the platform, such as the Meta support team for Facebook and Instagram; or, if your business website was hacked, then you may have the option to work with an IT company to restore control.

Secure Your Website with an Ann Arbor SEO Company

When Michigan SEO Group manages your website and social media, we do everything in our power to secure your data and keep out hackers. If you’re looking at Ann Arbor SEO Companies, reach out to our team here or call (877) 815-6974 to get started.

Avoid Hacking: Tips from an IT Company

Are you prepared to deal with potential hacking of your computer or social media platforms?

We decided to take a page from our sister company, Network Services Group, and share their expert advice on protecting yourself from cyber-attacks:

Be aware, be suspicious, be vigilant. Tricking you into giving out personal information is what scammers and hackers do best. Don’t give out any passwords without first verifying the person you’re talking to is legitimate. 

Use strong passwords. We recommend at least eight characters, with a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation.

Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. Your email is a gateway to most of your other passwords, especially with the “forgot password” function. Use a unique and strong password for your email account and change it regularly.

Know where your data is saved, and make sure it is backed up. Ransomware is a new breed of virus/malware, and once a hacker infects your machine, they actively seek out all of your data files and encrypt them, rendering them useless. Make sure your data is backed up so in the case of a security breach, you still have access to it.

Use extreme care when opening attachments or downloads. Be cautious when clicking on links or buttons contained within emails or social media messages. If you’re concerned, visit the requesting site/profile by manually typing the URL. Never click on an unknown link as it may direct you to a phishing site. Never open attachments from an unknown or suspicious source.

 

Get More Tips from an Ann Arbor SEO Company

When Michigan SEO Group manages your website and social media, we do everything in our power to secure your data and keep out hackers. If you’re looking at Ann Arbor SEO Companies, reach out to our team here or call (877) 815-6974 to get started.

Social Media Timing Matters

Did you know that the time you post can actually make a difference?

It’s true that people are looking at social media at all hours of the day, but there are optimal times for each audience. Working adults are likely to be scrolling through social media at different times than teenagers who are still in school. Posting close to the time of day that your audience is scrolling will make them more likely to see it.

The general consensus of our research is that afternoon/evening is the best time to post on weekdays, whereas mornings and evenings are the best times to post on weekends. Keep in mind, it varies from audience to audience—the times listed here are geared more towards working adults, who are likely looking at social media on their break and after work. 

Boost Your Social Media in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Need help making a social media action plan?

The Internet Marketing Directors at Michigan SEO Group can help you produce lively, consistent social media from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Don’t live in Michigan? No problem—the online nature of our business means we can help businesses everywhere. For more information, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

Best Times to Post on Social Media

Does your business post on social media?

We’ve done some research to figure out the most optimal times to post on social media:

1. Social Pilot (a platform used by Michigan SEO Group) says these are the best times to post:
• 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on weekdays
• 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekdays
• 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on weekends
• 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Saturday
2. This HubSpot article says the best day to post is Friday, and these are the best times to post: 
• 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 
• 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 
3. This Hootsuite article says the overall best time to post is 12:00 p.m.

Rock Your Social Media with Help from Ann Arbor, Michigan

Need help making a social media action plan?

The Internet Marketing Directors at Michigan SEO Group can help you produce lively, consistent social media from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Don’t live in Michigan? No problem—the online nature of our business means we can help businesses everywhere. For more information, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

User Experience Includes Appearance

Does your website need a facelift?

It’s important for your website to be user-friendly. A user-friendly site is easy to navigate, and viewers can quickly find the information they’re looking for. Viewers won’t stay on a site that’s difficult to navigate, which you’ve probably experienced yourself! 

Web design includes function of course, but it can be easy to overlook appearance as part of the user experience. Colors, fonts, and photos are just as important as functional buttons and links. If your website looks nice, viewers will stay to have a look. Even if your website is full of info and easy to navigate, viewers won’t be inclined to stick around if it’s not nice to look at. This is something that you CAN do yourself, but having a team of professionals is much more efficient and effective.

Trust a Michigan Web Design & Marketing Company

Need a new website? How about a team of friendly, professional marketing writers? Michigan SEO Group has you covered!

Our team specializes in internet marketing and web design in Michigan, but the online nature of our business means we can help companies anywhere in the world! To give your website and business some quality TLC, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

Finding Your Website

Looking for ways to boost your company’s visibility?

If no one can find your website, then it doesn’t matter how pretty it looks! Web design and digital marketing work together: marketing brings people to your website, and your website brings people to your business. 

Promoting your website on social media is a great start. You can do this yourself, but it pays to have people who know how to properly optimize social media posts. Having a marketing team help manage your business’s social media will help your posts reach a larger audience and that direct traffic to your website!

And that’s just the start. For truly effective marketing, you’ll want a team that can optimize the website itself and continuously release quality content. This will help your website appear in search engine results.

Reach Out to a Michigan Web Design & Marketing Company

Need a new website? How about a team of friendly, professional marketing writers? Michigan SEO Group has you covered!

Our team specializes in internet marketing and web design in Michigan, but the online nature of our business means we can help companies anywhere in the world! To give your website and business some quality TLC, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

Two Reasons to Podcast Your Business

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, you probably understand how great they are for connecting to your audience. Here are two reasons to start a podcast for your business:

Podcasts create a personal connection. Listening to podcasts offers an alternative for people who don’t have time to read online. This is an easy way to expand your audience. Because podcasts are made by talking, they’re great for showing your listeners that you’re a person just like them. At the same time, this gives your business another layer of personality. 

One way to do this is to let your audience peek behind the curtain. People love looking “behind the scenes,” and it’s a great way to both educate and build trust with your listeners.

Podcasts are cheap to produce. Quality of equipment makes a big impact when producing videos, but when producing podcasts, all you need is a good sound. As long as you have a laptop and a quiet space, you can make a good podcast! Because there are no visuals, the production of the podcast doesn’t overshadow the script. Compelling content overrides the quality of your equipment. 

Of course, purchasing high-end equipment never hurts, but it’s completely optional for those on a budget. Podcasts are an accessible way for small businesses to increase their content and audience without breaking the bank.

Read more about the benefits of hosting a business podcast here.

Produce Expert-Level Social Media in Michigan

Ready to up your Michigan social media game?

The team of Internet Marketing Directors at Michigan SEO Group can help you produce, manage, and optimize your business’s social media. Call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here to get started. Click here to read reviews from our happy clients!

Podcasts Increase Website and Social Media Traffic

Looking for new ways to promote your business?

Having more content on your website and social media platforms is great for SEO! More content and frequent posting both increase website traffic, and a meaty way to do that is to make a podcast.

Podcasts can be produced on a regular basis and offer listeners a new, interesting way to learn about your business. If you pair useful information with personality in your podcast, it brings up both the quality and quantity of your website and socials.

Pew Research Center says that about 42% of Americans listen to podcasts monthly. That’s over 140 million people! What better way to expand your business’s audience?

Read more about the benefits of hosting a business podcast here.

Team Up with MSG for Your Michigan Social Media

Ready to up your Michigan social media game?

The team of Internet Marketing Directors at Michigan SEO Group can help you produce, manage, and optimize your business’s social media. Call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here to get started. Click here to read reviews from our happy clients!

Hire a Marketing Agency to Run Your YouTube Ads

Looking for a marketing agency that can manage YouTube ads for you?

It’s possible for you to run YouTube ads on your own, but hiring a marketing agency will get you the most bang for your buck. 

YouTube ads are directly connected to Google Ads, so if you aren’t familiar with Google Ads, they can be intimidating. It can also be overwhelming to check on your ads daily and continuously work to optimize them when you’re already busy running your business. It’s a full-time job to market your business, and advertising can easily double your workload. 

Read more about running YouTube ads.

Ask SEO Companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan About Ads

Did you know that Michigan SEO Group specializes in Google Ads and YouTube ads?

Our Internet Marketing Directors work with you directly to manage ads that are in your budget, so you can focus on doing what your business does best. Michigan SEO Group is proud to be one of the best SEO Companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but don’t take it from us! Take a look at our Google reviews. 

To ask about our services, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

YouTube Ads for Your Small Business

Does your business run YouTube ads?

YouTube is second only to Google as the most popular search engine. If you’re not taking advantage of YouTube ads, you could be missing out on opportunities for your business!

YouTube ads are small-business friendly because they aren’t expensive, and you don’t need a whole production team to make them. There are several options, including skippable in-stream ads, non-skippable in-stream ads, bumper ads, in-feed ads, and more. This gives you the freedom to choose which ad style best suits your business’s style and budget. You can learn more about the different types of YouTube ads here.

Read more about running YouTube ads.

Work with SEO Companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Did you know that Michigan SEO Group specializes in Google Ads and YouTube ads?

Our Internet Marketing Directors work with you directly to manage ads that are in your budget, so you can focus on doing what your business does best. Michigan SEO Group is proud to be one of the best SEO Companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but don’t take it from us! Take a look at our Google reviews. 

To ask
about our services, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

Avoid Information Overload

Are you suffering from information overload?

There’s a lot of writing advice flying around on the internet. It’s a beautiful thing to have a wealth of information, but it’s also overwhelming. When you’re trying to write your own web content, it can be difficult to figure out how to craft it. Do you make it fluffy or informational? Simple or detailed? 

In the age of constant noise, readers can suffer from information overload. When there’s too much information, very little gets absorbed. The key to standing out in the sea of information is to write something valuable to your readers. What need does your product or service fulfill? How would it make your readers’ lives easier? Valuable content has a lot of empathy for its audience.

Click here for more tips on writing compelling online content.

Quality Content with Online Marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan

You can try writing your own compelling content, or you can trust a team of professional writers to do it right.

Michigan SEO Group is an online marketing company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We’ve been boosting businesses with professional, empathetic writing for 17 years. For content that makes a difference, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

Talk to Your Readers

Are you struggling to write compelling content for your business?

With so much writing advice floating around on the internet, it can be hard to figure out how to write for your company. 

It may seem simple, but one of the best ways to communicate with your audience is to write like it’s a conversation. Most online readers aren’t looking for the next Charles Dickens novel. When you’re writing for your business, your goal is for people to understand what you’re all about. Writing in an easy, conversational tone makes people feel welcome; they want to read about your business the way you would tell them about it in person. Being overly formal or overloading your content with jargon is a quick way to lose your audience’s attention.

Learn more tips for writing compelling online content here!

Trust Online Marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Writing web content is a full-time job; why not hire professionals to do it for you?

Michigan SEO Group is an online marketing company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We’ve been boosting businesses with professional, empathetic writing for 17 years. For content that makes a difference, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

The Difference Between Evergreen and Time-Sensitive Content

Does your website have a ton of old content?

Do you know the difference between evergreen and time-sensitive content?

The key to great SEO is quality content. If your website has been around for a long time, you probably have a wealth of content—but contrary to common SEO advice, more content is not always better. If your website is bogged down by old, irrelevant, or repeated content, it may actually hurt your rankings. Overused content and keywords can cause your webpages to compete with each other rather than other websites, and old, low-traffic content can be dead weight to your SEO.

Evergreen vs Time-Sensitive

Evergreen content is always relevant to your business and brings in steady traffic. Time-sensitive content is relevant to your business, but may only be relevant for a short period of time. You can clean up your website by updating or repurposing evergreen content over time and evaluating time-sensitive content to see if it can be removed. Removing old, time-sensitive content is another way to help avoid keyword cannibalization. It helps boost your ranking by making way for fresh time-sensitive content.

Learn more about cleaning up your web content here!

Update Your Content with Online Marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Overwhelmed by the prospect of doing a complete audit?

It’s time to turn over your SEO to a professional!

Michigan SEO Group offers online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We can take the burden of website maintenance and SEO off your shoulders, and our traditional SEO methods keep your content fresh and relevant. If you want help getting your business to page one of Google, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form
here.

What to Look for in an SEO Audit

Are you struggling to see results from your SEO efforts?

When was the last time you ran an SEO audit? 

An audit is the most comprehensive way to check how well your content is performing. Running an audit can help you find bad links, orphan pages, missing meta text, unoptimized URLs, and more. Auditing can also tell you about the traffic on each webpage. You can clean up your website by cutting down on low-traffic content and prioritizing high-traffic content.

You can also prioritize content by consolidating similar pages. The Search Engine Journal says “consolidating pages that cover similar topics into one comprehensive page can improve user experience and help avoid keyword cannibalization.” Keyword cannibalization is when your website has multiple ranked pages with the same keyword, and they are forced to compete with each other rather than other websites.

Cutting down on repeated and outdated content takes the dead weight off your website and makes it easier for the important pages to raise their rank. Read more about cleaning up your web content here!

Refresh Your Website with Online Marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Overwhelmed by the prospect of doing a complete audit?

It’s time to turn over your SEO to a professional!

Michigan SEO Group offers online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We can take the burden of website maintenance and SEO off your shoulders, and our traditional SEO methods keep your content fresh and relevant. If you want help getting your business to page one of Google, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form here.

The Cons of AI Writing

 Do you think AI writing will replace human writers?

AI writing can be a great launch pad for a project, but the nuances of working with real-life people and their businesses could be easily lost. The days of AI being able to completely replace every aspect of human writing is a long way off. 

Four reasons why AI content needs a human writer:

• Requires editing. Even though AI can write clear, easy to understand content, it still takes a degree of human editing for AI content to sound less clunky or robotic.
• Lacks emotional intelligence. One of the highlights of online articles is how the reader can relate to it. Emotional intelligence is key in marketing and is something that AI writing has not reached yet. 
• Potential issues with plagiarism. Because AI writing is sourced from pre-existing web content, it could be considered plagiarism. Content written by an AI bot does not guarantee plagiarism, but without a human writer checking what is sourced, it becomes a risk.
• SEO needs a human touch. The latest AI writing can come across as natural. However, if the goal is SEO, sometimes an AI bot can go a little too far. It’s important to make sure that the keywords in an article don’t sound like spam; if Google flags an article as spam, then it defeats the whole purpose of the SEO. 

Read about this topic in more depth here.

Human-Based Online Marketing in Ann Arbor

Are you considering leaning on AI writers for marketing?

Michigan SEO Group uses experienced writers instead of AI to give your business the attention to detail it deserves. If you are looking for online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, contact us here!

The Pros of AI Writing

 Have you tried using an artificial intelligence (AI) writing software?

AI writing programs have the potential to aid writers and businesses. The best way to use AI writing programs is to treat them as tools for human writers. 

Three ways that AI can help writers:

• Saves time for writers. It can take hours to write content which can quickly become overwhelming when projects pile up. Using AI writing as a stepping stone for content can help writers keep up with their workload.
• Helps overcome writer’s block. Rather than struggling with a blank screen, AI generated content provides a base for writers to work with and shape into people-first content. 
• Helps research and organize ideas. AI writing is pulled from pre-existing content on the internet, which can streamline the process of looking for inspiration. 

Read more about the pros and cons of AI writing.

Looking for Online Marketing in Ann Arbor?

Our content is composed by well-seasoned writers who are up-to-date on optimization and best practices. If you’re looking for online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, contact us here!

Why Stock Photos Don't Hurt Your Online Ranking

Are you unable to hire a professional photographer to take original photos for your company website? 

Do you prefer using stock photos because they’re quick and free? 

While stock photos may not be the best for optimizing your website, they won’t negatively impact your website. 

Why stock photos don’t hurt your online ranking

If hiring a photographer isn’t an option for your business, stock photos are great for decorating a webpage. Stock photos are easy to find in a pinch and add a visual interest to your content. Another plus: stock photography won’t have a negative impact on your website’s SEO. If you notice another business using the same stock photos you are, you can add alt text to your photo to help your page appear above others, but that’s not a guaranteed method with Google. 

Learn how original photos could help boost your online ranking here!

Manage Your Online Presence with an Internet Marketing Company in Michigan

Keeping up with online trends, social media, and consistent posting can be a lot to expect from someone already working a full-time job! When you hire an internet marketing company in Michigan, a professional can keep your content organized and up to date! 

Contact us today to see how an SEO professional can make a difference for your website. 

 

Stock Photos vs Original Content

 Do you use stock photos on your website? 

Have you ever wondered if using stock photos put you at a disadvantage?

Stock photos may not be harming your search ranking, but they may not be helping, either.

Why you should use original photos before stock: 

• Original photos provide a level of authenticity you can’t get from stock photos. 
• Personal pictures rank over stock because you won’t be competing with other sites using the same stock photo.
• If someone saw your photos online, they could use them to search for your website. 

For a more in depth look at why you should use original photography, click here! 

Rely On an Internet Marketing Company in Michigan to Boost Your Ranks

Working with an internet marketing company in Michigan will help keep your online presence organized and interesting. Working with a team of marketing professionals can help boost your Google search ranking and get more visitors on your website. 

Contact us today at 877-815-6974 for a free website evaluation.