After Hours Marketing

Kane Jamison is the Founder and Managing Director for Content Harmony. Kane is heavily focused on data-based content strategies, and has some words of wisdom on how you can better optimize your content for the least amount of dollars. Find out more on this week's episode!   Key Takeaways: [2:10] Content marketing has been packaged as 'new,' because of this digital age, but it's really quite old. [3:10] Digital marketers get a bit distracted with other 'shiny things,' and often forget about the importance of content marketing. [3:30] Solid keyword research is critical. [12:05] If you struggle to find out what content you should produce, diving deep into keyword research really helps you narrow down your search. [18:00] Damon predicts we will have to develop content that's not just mobile-friendly, but voice-friendly as well. [23:15] One of Damon's clients has 6,000 404 errors due to a bad web transfer. [24:40] Track value on everything. Track everything!! [28:10] How much would you pay to get a 1,000 new

This is a very special episode, because all three hosts, Damon, Greg, and Andy, are here on the call today! Greg starts off the conversation with admitting he sucks at personal branding. Out of all three of them, Damon has completely crushed it on the 'personal branding' front, but how did he do it? Also, as Andy's the introvert, he's found creative ways to put himself out there, without going to a conference or speaking gig.   Key Takeaways: [1:00] Greg admits he's clueless when it comes to personal branding. [3:15] Damon seems to be the biggest success story, compared to Greg and Andy. [8:15] You have to be laser-focused on your content strategy. [8:50] How did Andy get himself out there? [11:20] Andy admits he's much more shy/introverted than Damon. [13:00] Andy is very nice, but he's also somewhat of a pent up bull. [16:10] Tag people on social media, let them know you're sharing their stuff! [17:20] Do Facebook ads work? 62% of small business owners don't think so. [21:45] 84% of small business owne

Today, we have two great guests on the show. Mike Orren is the President of Speak Easy and a lifelong media entrepreneur. Michael Sitarzewski is the owner and chief publisher at Launch DFW as well as a Dallas Startup Evangelist. Today's great debate focuses around content, the need for transparency and how brands can adjust during a time where news is only fake when it doesn't match the audience's opinions.   Key Takeaways: [2:00] Why are marketers still having a content debate despite it being around for years now? [3:05] If you don't agree with it, it's 'fake news.' [5:05] YouTube Star PewDiePie has more than 51 million subscribers. Does his audience know when he's sponsoring products? [7:25] Transparency is key when promoting products. [12:25] Do people really care whether something is sponsored or not? [15:05] Where is Google's and Facebook's responsibility in all of this? Is it really Facebook's job to filter out fake news? [17:10] Is fake news really fake news or just news you don't like? [17:20] E

Rob Bucci is the founder and CEO of STAT Search Analytics, an SERP analytics platform for SEO professionals. Rob dives into what a feature snippet is on today's discussion, and offers insights on what Google is up to these days. After analyzing millions of Google searches, Rob is more than qualified to help you uncover some hidden data, and get your website ranking better.   Key Takeaways: [0:40] Who is Rob? [2:50] What is a feature snippet? [5:45] What did Rob learn from the data he gathered from Google searches? [10:15] Suggestive queries are where the money is. [13:15] How is Google going to monetize all of this? Maybe they're not trying to. Maybe they just want to optimize the user experience. [14:50] The problem with voice search thus far is that you still need to use a screen. [16:00] What should marketers be doing for their on-page search engine rankings? [18:20] Once you monitor the query space, you can see and capitalize on important buying trends. [20:10] An FAQ-type structure did really, reall

Billy Schuh is today's After Hours Marketing podcast guest. Billy is the Vice President of Client Services at Roundedcube, a digital marketing and system integration agency. Billy has over 10 years of project and client management experience. He discusses why web project managers should not be overlooked in a company, especially in a digital marketing agency.   Key Takeaways: [1:45] Compared to the last couple of years, web project management, specifically content management systems, has really opened up. [5:35] Most clients want their tools all in one system, so that they're not logging into 6 different things. [7:00] However, what ends up happening is that they get sold on a product, and they find that the product is way too complex for their needs. [7:50] Another thing that happens is the costs end up being more than they had initially planned for. [8:10] So, how can people best figure out what they need? [11:15] What does Billy do at Rounded Cube? [14:10] What are some of Billy's clients' main pain p

Andy and Greg sit down with Colin Burns, the Account Director at Sprinklr. Colin is in charge of client success, and works directly with Sprinklr clients, as well as fellow directors, success managers, and analysts. Today's discussion focuses on some of the biggest changes that happened in 2016, and what we can expect to see in 2017, based on current trends.   Key Takeaways: [1:10] Who is Colin and what does he do for Sprinklr? [2:30] What have been some of the biggest changes that have moved the social media marketing needle in 2016? [4:35] IT is getting much more involved with the marketing side of things than they ever have before. [7:40] Are employees being replaced with a different type of skillset? [9:30] Right now it's a challenging time for data analysts, because the metrics are constantly changing. [11:25] What kinds of challenges are both big and small companies facing, when it comes to their social media marketing? [15:20] What are some upcoming things we can look forward to in 2017? [18:45] W

Zeph Snapp is the CEO and Founder at Altura Interactive, a Spanish Digital Marketing and Online Presence Agency. Zeph speaks all over the world on why you don't just need to speak the Spanish language when it comes to good marketing, but you also need to send the right message. Google translate simply doesn't work! Zeph dives into the sales process, scaling up his business, and explains his thoughts on the 'lifestyle' business model.   Key Takeaways: [2:10] What are some of the differences in dipping our toes in Spanish marketing? [3:00] Leverage the power of Whatsapp. [5:10] Google translator doesn't work for Spanish marketing! [8:20] Tons of marketing departments are hiring. [9:05] What is the one skill that Zeph believes has helped him as an agency owner? [11:55] Remember, sales is about relationships, and cultivating those relationships. [16:45] Damon explains how he decided to go into business for himself. [20:40] As you begin to close larger deals with clients, the selling process gets easier, but

Jessica Best is the Director of Data-Driven Marketing at Barkley. Jessica admits during the show that the reason why she knows the ins and outs of email marketing is because she's spent the last ten years getting it wrong! Data-driven marketing doesn't have to be complex when you have experts like Jessica. On today's show, Jessica dives in, and gives you some fantastic takeaways on how you can effectively use data to optimize your email marketing sales.   Key Takeaways: [1:40] It sometimes feel like email is the most underappreciated platform. [3:05] Email might not be all that trendy, but it's still effective. [5:25] When a client comes to Barkley's door, Jessica first begins by asking them what needle they wish to move first. Based on their answers, Jessica determines whether email is the right fit. [9:35] Case studies play an important role to prove the point that emails should not be ignored. [15:25] One of the mistakes companies make is storing data in more than one place. [19:25] A data management

Alan Bleiweiss has been in the website/SEO industry for the last 22 years, and still continues to learn new methods and strategies to get your website optimized and running to its fullest capability. Alan discusses what it takes to be a 'Forensic Site Auditor,' and some of the things a website admin should look out for when developing their website.   Key Takeaways: [2:15] What does a 'Forensic Site Auditor' do? [6:55] The most recent audit Alan did was 45 pages long. [8:55] Some auditors will give 400 pages worth of information, but Alan doesn't like to overwhelm the staff like that. [10:20] Alan has been in this industry for the last 22 years. [11:55] What kind of background does someone who is looking to get into the auditing industry need to have? [15:15] What kind of concerns does Alan have about Mobile-First Index? [22:25] What should people know about AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)? [26:50] What do people need to know about SEO going forward? [33:25] Alan believes you need a combination of both vi

Benjamin Beck is an online marketer who has worked with a variety of small, mid-level, and large organizations. But no matter the size of the company, they all had the same type of problem — how do they become an authority in their niche, and generate content that stands out from the crowd? This is when Ben came up with a completely fantastic way to attract authority and build links quickly! Tune in to find out how you can implement his strategy and build influence in your community.   Key Takeaways: [1:40] How does Ben approach content? [2:40] The biggest problem Ben saw throughout his career is that companies didn't know what content they needed to push out. They didn't know what was resonating with their clients/customers. [4:25] Ben discusses how he finds the right voices for his niche. [9:00] Why does this strategy scale so well for Ben and his clients? [13:00] Once you've reached out to the top bloggers in your niche, reach out to them again and have them answer some questions that everybody wants

Jason Croft has 24 years of media experience and works as a video marketing strategist and consultant. Jason helps big to medium size businesses with their marketing problems by creating engaging and unique videos to achieve specific goals. So, how does someone effectively measure the ROI from a video and what should a business owner look for in a video production company? All these topics are covered, and more, on this week's episode.   Key Takeaways: [0:45] Why is video helpful in building a business? [3:00] How do you justify or measure the ROI from a video? [5:20] How does Jason set proper client expectations before he creates the video? [7:30] What are some examples of an effective call to action in a video? [10:40] How did Jason get started in video? [13:00] Why did Jason launch Croft Media? Who are his clients? [15:00] What should people look for when they're about to hire a video production company? [17:00] What should people look for in the demo reel? [19:15] Be sure to have a conversation about

Laura Weaver is a freelance copywriter who works one-on-one with innovators. There are different levels of expertise when it comes to copywriting, which is why Laura focuses on story-based copy to build a connection with her clients' ideal target market. On the show, Laura explains what it means to be a story-based copywriter, what clients need to know before approaching a copywriter, and much more!   Key Takeaways: [1:10] Who is Laura and how did she get started? [3:45] Your B2B sales may want to consider acting lessons. [4:15] What does it mean to be a story-based copywriter? [7:45] Why does the customer need to be the hero in the story when you're trying to sell your product? [10:40] Laura talks about Star Wars and how the hero, product, and brand all tie into each other. [11:55] What are some of the things you need to think about when you're writing for an audience? [13:55] Laura fills out a worksheet describing her client's ideal audience. [17:40] The more specific you are with your target user, the

The guys discuss what it means to 'dominate local social' and how small business owners can effectively leverage their neighborhood presence to actively compete against larger and more well-known companies. It's difficult to fight for 'pizza' keywords on Google, but putting your local business front and center on social media has never been easier. You definitely won't have to spend what corporate is spending to get noticed in your target area.   Key Takeaways: [1:05] What does it mean to the guys when they 'dominate local social'? [4:55] Where are your customers spending their time and how can you crush those channels? [6:30] It's very affordable to position yourself in a smart way today than it was 3 years ago. [8:00] Google makes it harder for small businesses to compete, but on social, it's all fair play. [9:00] How much does it cost to dominate your local social? [12:15] The budgets have been raised. You can no longer get away with spending $1 a day on Facebook. [13:25] Shut up and listen. Listen to

Eric Swayne is the Senior Director of Fan Engagement at Funimation, an anime and foreign licensing company. The founder, Gen Fukunaga, was the person who brought Dragon Ball Z to American TV screens. Eric speaks to Greg about the social engagement he and his team oversee in the company and some of the most underrated/overrated things in marketing today. He offers helpful insight on how he measures more of the sticky elements to marketing like conventions and social analytics.   Key Takeaways: [0:35] Who is Eric? [1:40] What is Funimation? [4:35] The founder, Gen Fukunaga, brought Dragon Ball Z to the US. [7:30] What are some of Eric's biggest challenges right now? [8:20] Funimation will be at 40 conventions this year, but it's hard to measure the exact impact their presence has compared to paid advertisement. [11:10] How does Eric gather the metrics and other data? [15:00] How can you effectively read/measure social analytics? [18:30] What kind of gaps should teams begin to fill and how can they prepare

The guys discuss some of the amazing features Facebook offers the everyday marketer. When it comes down to audience targeting, no other company has it as good as Facebook.  LinkedIn is so far behind when it comes to targeted ads.  The hosts agree that by putting in a couple of bucks a day into Facebook, you can see some great returns on your page.   Key Takeaways: [1:30] What does Damon tell his clients on how to establish local dominance through Facebook ads? [4:15] What is the value of a Facebook click? [8:15] Damon believes the future of marketing will be marketing to different types of audiences, not individual customers. [11:15] How effective is Facebook for e-commerce products? [15:00] Greg has found good success with Twitter when he was running webinars. [18:35] The 'about us' section is incredibly important for customers. You can leverage this in ads. [21:55] Damon loves look-alike audiences. He explains further. [28:45] You can't do any of this stuff on LinkedIn. [31:25] You can put di

The guys sit down and speculate on the upcoming future of LinkedIn since it has now been acquired by Microsoft. Was this acquisition a blessing in disguise or a soon-to-be disaster? Greg says he won't be surprised if Microsoft ends up walking away from the deal all together. However, with that being said, it does look like Microsoft has an uphill battle to face in trying to get more engaged and active users onto LinkedIn. Will the integration of Microsoft products, such as Skype, into LinkedIn become more appealing for business users? Only time will tell.   Key Takeaways: [1:45] Should LinkedIn just give up? [3:35] LinkedIn needs to focus on increasing their daily use, but will Microsoft have any impact on this? Greg doesn't think so. [6:15] Damon believes LinkedIn's news feed is just terrible. [7:35] Another point Damon makes is that LinkedIn's API is incredibly closed off. Will Microsoft open it up? [8:50] Andy uses Microsoft Office at work because he has to, not because he wants to. [10:00] Damon does

On this episode our three co-hosts, Damon Gochneaur, Andy Odom, and Greg Allbright, talk about some of their favorite digital marketing tools and why they find them helpful at this current time. Greg says he loves Google Tag Manager, but there is a steep learning curve involved with that tool. However, despite that, Greg believes Google Tag Manager is the tool of the future and everyone should work towards learning about it inside and out. Damon loves SEMrush and Andy completely digs Hootsuite.   Key Takeaways: [0:45] Today the guys will be talking about some of their favorite tools in their toolbox. [1:10] What is Damon's favorite digital marketing tool? [3:00] Damon loves SEMrush. [4:50] Is SEMrush sophisticated enough to see where competitors are getting traffic from? [7:10] What is Greg's favorite tool? Google Tag Manager. [9:35] How easy is Google Tag Manager to use? [11:55] Andy believes having one tool to schedule all of your social media posts at one time is very powerful. [15:25] Greg loves bein

John Doherty is the founder of Credo, a website platform that helps businesses find the right consultant to grow their business. Damon sits down with John to discuss what good agencies are doing right and what everyday businesses are looking for in their talent. John also discusses some common problems agencies face and how to fix them ASAP. Listen in for more great tidbits from John.   Key Takeaways: [1:10] Find out more about John Doherty. [3:45] John's platform, Credo, helps business owners find exceptional talent. [4:30] What do good agencies do from a communication perspective? [7:40] As digital people, we may be afraid of telephone conversations, but picking up the phone does wonders for your success. [8:05] The problem with certain marketers is that they do not have a sales background, so they can lead the company in the wrong direction. [8:45] Every single member of your team needs to know what you do well enough that they can sell someone your services. [8:55] They don't need to know how to pitc

Greg interviews Trevor Bass on the subtle differences between reporting and analytics. Trevor says that technically it should be called Google Reporting, not Google Analytics, based on the true definition of the word. Greg also believes a source of some of this term confusion is mostly due to how we use both of them so seemingly together. At the end of the episode, Greg is joined by his co-hosts Damon and Andy to discuss what kind of reporting they personally do for their clients.   Key Takeaways: [0:50] Greg welcomes Trevor Bass to the show. [1:50] Why did Trevor get into math? [3:15] What is Bitten Labs about? [5:45] Trevor dives into the article he wrote about reporting vs. analytics. [7:20] Trevor shares an example and the differences between reporting vs. analytics. [10:15] People might confuse the terms because reporting and analytics do depend on each other. [11:05] Let's talk about Travor's CRAPOLA design concept. [14:20] When you create a report, the data should be really clear on what it means.

Lots to cover in today's episode! The three guys first go over Google's unexpected AdWords ban on certain search terms like payday loans or high interest, short term loans. As of July 13, paid ads for payday loan ads will no longer pop up in search. Is this a good thing or a bad thing and where will Google draw the line on these bans? We have two guest expert interviews on today's show. Greg interviews Kim Solberg about the importance of a website audit and Andy interviews Danny Greer to discuss in-house vs. agency services. Tune in for more!   Key Takeaways: [1:15] Interesting things coming out from Google. [5:15] Google is giving website owners better tools to cater to their audience from an AdWords perspective. [5:45] There will be no more paid ads for payday loans or for high interest, short term loans. [6:00] As of July 13, AdWords will no longer accept ads for those search terms and predatory search terms surrounding what those companies target like, 'I can't pay my bills', 'how to borrow money', e