How to Separate the Real SEO from the Scams

How to Separate the Real SEO from the Scams

Do you mistrust the idea of “SEO”?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is about maximizing your website’s performance to ensure that it ranks as highly as possible in a search engine like Google. However, phishing scams and spammy emails can make the entire SEO industry seem like a fraud.

…but did you know there are two kinds of SEO?

“White hat” SEO refers to ethical and legal ways of promoting your website and making sure that when people search for keywords associated with your business, your website pops up. But even within the white hat (good) realm of SEO, there are many agencies that […] Read more

The Holy Trinity of Digital Marketing: Blogging, SEO, & Social Media

The Holy Trinity of Digital Marketing: Blogging, SEO, & Social Media

So you’re running a business? Maybe you’ve recently launched… or perhaps you’ve been around for a while but you’re ready to push your business to the next level?

Next Steps: Scale + Grow

What better way to help your business expand in today’s market than by using digital advertising? Social media, blogging, and SEO are powerful marketing tools in their own right but when they all come together and work in unison, that’s when you really hit the holy grail of digital marketing.

You probably realize that you need to leverage the power of the internet to grow and scale your business, especially […] Read more

Why We Always Recommend WordPress For Your Website

Why We Always Recommend WordPress For Your Website

I’m in a lot of business groups on LinkedIn and Facebook and I see the same question almost every single day:

“Hi everyone, I plan to make a new website. What website platform do you prefer? Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, WordPress.com, WordPress.org…?”

I’ve been drawn into this discussion on so many occasions that I figured it’s about time I write a blog post about it.

Whether this is for a business website or a personal blog, here are 5 reasons why at Barker Social we ALWAYS recommend WordPress for building your website:

1. If you plan to do any kind of marketing, WordPress […] Read more

Our Best Tips for Social Media in 2018

Our Best Tips for Social Media in 2018

We’re well into 2018 and so far, it’s been a wild ride in the world of social media marketing! Even before #Facebookgate, Mark Zuckerberg had us panicking with the changes to Facebook and Instagram algorithms. There was also a change in Twitter’s policy; in February, the platform announced it would no longer accept recycled tweets. In both of these instances, it meant businesses would have to adjust their online marketing strategies in order to keep their content in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

There’s no doubt about it, in order to see a return on investment in social […] Read more

How to Promote Your Local Business on Facebook

How to Promote Your Local Business on Facebook

Are you concerned about the latest updates to the Facebook algorithm and how they’ll affect your business?

Here’s the reality: Facebook algorithms are here to stay. Your impulse might be to get angry at Facebook because you’d like to benefit from free organic reach to build your business. We get it, from a business owner’s point of view, it feels obnoxious. But being angry is actually misguided.

Facebook has to continually make updates to their platform to ensure that the user experience is positive and that all of those 2.07 billion monthly active users keep coming back. If Facebook got spammy, people […] Read more

The Instagram Shadowban: What is it & What to do about it

The Instagram Shadowban: What is it & What to do about it

Have you fallen victim to the Instagram shadowban? Maybe you have, and you haven’t even realized it yet!

What is it?

So what is the Instagram shadowban and why has it been making bloggers, influencers, and entrepreneurs pull their hair out for the past several months? No, it’s not a complete ban. Your account won’t be suspended. Instead, the shadowban limits your brand’s visibility in the hashtag search.

**To be clear, Instagram has said that this was an unitentional glitch in the system, not a conscious algorithm adjustment. However, people continue to experience the shadowban so the bug seems to be at least […] Read more

How to Use Social Media Engagement to Grow Your Business

How to Use Social Media Engagement to Grow Your Business

Should you be engaging with your customers on social media? You better believe it!

But there are two sides to the answer of the social media engagement question—why you need to engage with your customers on social media… and how to do it.

Why Engage?

Pssst! In case you haven’t heard: People don’t like to be sold to!

Nobody likes to be told what they want. It’s obnoxious and spammy. But people do like to be engaged. The brands that are engaging with people on social media are actually making more sales than those that are just hard selling. It’s a fact! 80% of […] Read more

How to Improve your Marketing ROI with Facebook Ads

How to Improve your Marketing ROI with Facebook Ads

Are you concerned about how much you’re spending on your marketing vs. the return you’re getting? You should be!

More often than not, you have to spend money to make money—but it’s not just about spending cash. It’s also about expending resources. This includes your own time, as well as any time that any of your team members are spending on any kinds of marketing. If you’re not tracking your results vs. your spending, then you’re probably wasting time and money.

And by the way, if you’re sharing content on Facebook, it’s quite possible that almost no one is seeing your content. […] Read more

Business Owners: Are You Wasting Your Time on Social Media?

Business Owners: Are You Wasting Your Time on Social Media?

As a business owner, are you spending your precious time on social media marketing that could be better spent growing your business?

Probably!

Is social media marketing important?

Absolutely! It’s critical!

Does that mean that you should be managing it?

Heck no! In fact, it’s probably a terrible use of your time.

Being a business owner means wearing a lot of hats. From sales to management, to product/service delivery to accounts receivable and payable, the work never stops. You’re the person with the big vision who needs to push your business forward. Getting bogged down with nitty gritty daily tasks is a time killer—and it can […] Read more

Market to Millennials Using These Social Media Tips

Market to Millennials Using These Social Media Tips

Are you worried that the answer to the question “how should I market to millennials” will be Snapchat?

Don’t worry. I’m not going to say Snapchat.

Actually, one of the reasons why Snapchat is so popular with millennials (those born between the years of 1982 and 2000, roughly) and Generation Z (the post-millennial generation) is that it’s so organic that it makes it pretty awful for business use. So, forget Snapchat. Don’t waste your energy.

But… I am going to say Instagram.

Yes, You Need Instagram Marketing!

Heck yeah! Instagram is a great social media platform because it’s very authentic—and millennials demand authenticity!

Not to downplay […] Read more

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