And now for something completely different. Well, maybe not so much different as just comprehensive as Rhea Drysdale, Michael King, Merry Morud give us an overview of tools for every SEO, from independent shops to enterprise-level organizations. Get ready to take notes because this group is about to drop some super valuable and actionable info while Monica Wright and Vince Blackham moderate. Ready? Let’s do it.
(more…)

Google sure does like to keep us on our toes, don’t they? This session was originally going to cover local SEO tactics that went beyond Google Places. Then Big G went and dumped Places in favor of Google Plus. I’m betting Mike Blumenthal, Michael Dorausch, and Mike Ramsey did a bit of grumbling when they had to edit their presentations so close to conference time. Ah, Google—such a sense of humor! Matt McGee and Rob Bucci are moderating, so let’s get down to some local business.
(more…)

I have to say, this is the fourth conference I’ve liveblogged, we’re only one session in, and I’m already digging the format. One session, then a 45-minute break, giving me plenty of time to not only publish my post, but get to the next session without running? Awesome. SMX, I thank you.

Now it’s time to focus on search engine personalization and how it affects results. You know Google’s not the only one playing that game, right? Our own Outspoken Media CEO Rhea Drysdale, along with Aaron Friedman, and Marty Weintraub are going to give you the lowdown on how the personalization functions work, and what you can do about it. While they present, Danny Sullivan will moderate. Listen up because it’s about to get good.
(more…)

Break out the flannel and the Chuck Taylors, and put on some Nirvana because we’re in Seattle this week! Okay, so grunge may be not be as mainstream as it once was. But what has become more mainstream is search marketing, which is why we’re here to attend Search Marketing Expo Advanced. Hey, I gotta take my segues where I can get ‘em.

Let’s just jump right in, shall we? We’re kicking things off with Hardcore Social Tactics. Think you already know everything there is to know about social? Think again. Vince Blackham, Brent Csutoras, Monique Pouget, and Marty Weintraub still have a few tricks up their sleeves, and they’re about to share them while Greg Finn and Eric Enge moderate, so get comfy.
(more…)

Okay, nobody move! I seem to have misplaced the entire month of May. I could have SWORN it was just here a minute ago, and now somehow it’s June already. But it turns out that’s a good thing because it means it’s time for Search Marketing Expo Advanced! Rhea, Emily, and I are headed to Seattle next week for what promises to be a fantastic conference. Great speakers, interesting topics, and a networking event at the Seattle Aquarium, which I’m super excited about. I don’t like to eat fish, but I do think they’re pretty to look at.

If you’re attending, you won’t want to miss Rhea speaking on two panels: Surviving Personalization with Bing and Google, and Hardcore SEO and Social Power Tools. If you’ve seen Rhea speak, you know she brings it, so get there early for a good seat.
(more…)

I think I’m pretty safe in speaking for my coworkers when I say one of the things we all love most about our jobs as Internet marketers is the opportunity to work with a roster of diverse clients. Some agencies focus on one, maybe two industries that are large and complex enough to sustain exclusivity, and that works just fine for them. For me in particular, because a large part of my job entails content creation, being able to switch gears from one client to another is ideal. It keeps my mind engaged, and prevents boredom. If I had to write about just one industry day in and day out, my brain would turn to mush. Hats off to the writers who do that, and do it well.

Luckily for me, our clients are anything but boring. From e-commerce to entertainment, and a few industries in between, it’s never a dull moment around the Outspoken Media office. A couple of our most interesting clients have been small law firms, not only because they’ve been great people to work with, but because some of the areas they focus on come with built-in controversy.
(more…)

Awhile back, we hinted that we’d be starting a new series on the blog with free micro-SEO audits. Despite having a low level of technological proficiency, we managed to get through one! Don’t worry, we’ll eventually compile the outtakes (they’re amazing) and in time, production quality and graphics will get sexified. For now, get ready for some SEO knowledge bombs!

We’re starting with WaldowSocial.com, which is owned by DJ Waldow, a familiar face to the Outspoken community having guest posted in the past. We’ve also made no secret of the fact that DJ connected us to InfusionSoft, who is helping us set up better lead management processes and a newsletter. We trimmed our feedback to the most actionable recommendations for a non-technical e-mail marketer. I’m sure we missed things, so feel free to add your two cents or ask questions in the comments below.
(more…)

An Introduction

Hi, my name is Emily Cote, and I am the new Community Manager for Outspoken Media.

You probably didn’t know this, but I have been the Community Manager for the past month. The reason you didn’t know this is because I have pretty much been non-existent online since then. And honestly, I owe you an apology for that.

No one ever likes to admit their weaknesses. It goes against all human nature. But I believe the only way we can ever make progress (as individuals, and as a species) is to know where we are starting from, and to know where we want to go. In between, there is a lot of stumbling, a lot of questioning, and a lot of positive, life-changing growth.

I also think I need to tell you, our readers, the truth. At Outspoken Media, we are pretty much starting at square one.
(more…)

What if I told you that you could reduce reputation problems, provide great customer service, strengthen your brand, and live according to your values and mission through a single marketing tactic? The answer lies in fruit. Yes, fruit.

Around the Outspoken Media office, we’ve been on a big corporate social responsibility kick. It’s one way we convey our values, so when I stumbled on a “fruit delivery” service from The FruitGuys, I had to know more. They provide a corporate delivery solution for local and organic produce. Fantastic! I’m a big environmentalist and the team has a love/hate relationship with carbs. This service could provide a healthy, environmentally friendly alternative to office snacking.
(more…)

Want to see more of Outspoken Media? Here’s where we will be hanging out at in the coming months. We’re always happy to meet new people and catch up with the industry’s finest, so please come and say ‘hi’ if you catch us at one of these events:

SMX Advanced – June 5th-6th

SMX Advanced is fast approaching! This conference is loaded with some great speakers this year, including keynotes from Matt Cutts, Google’s head of web spam, and Derrick Connell of Bing’s Search Program Management team. Besides contributing to the creation of Bing, we’re pretty sure Derrick has an amazing Irish accent. (more…)