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What is Search Engine Optimization?

What is search engine optimization?What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Many organizations have invested in designing a beautiful website only to have it lost in the forest, er, Interwebs. So what is Search Engine Optimization and why is SEO important?

Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) important? If a website launches on the internet and nobody sees it does it make a difference? [Tip of the cap, George Berkeley]

SEO is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). The goal of SEO is to improve the visibility of your web content to users when they are searching. It is a fluid journey, not a destination, that involves a lot of different factors technically, logistically, but more often, logically. Let’s look at the two main elements of SEO; on-page and off-page.

On-page SEO involves optimizing the content – text, images, and code – on a site to make it easier to be crawled and indexed by search engines. At a minimum, it is making sure the keywords and primary topics of a web page are properly formatted and in sync with the technical elements. These are things like meta tags, coding that the search engine sees that are invisible to the reader, structure, navigation, and page speed of the website..

Off-page SEO is a way of improving the site’s visibility by securing links (“backlinks”) to its content from external sources. These can include social media pages, online directories, and other authoritative websites like news and industry blogs. It can help validate a site, just like getting a referral from a high-profile customer.

We’ll share more in the coming months about the myriad other aspects of SEO. But the key takeaway is that SEO is an important tool in the digital marketing toolbox that can help your website perform and help you to grow your organization.

SPARKS! can help you learn how your website is performing in search and create ways to boost your visibility.

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What Is Digital Marketing?

What Is Digital Marketing?So, to answer a question we often get at SPARKS! – “what exactly is digital marketing?” – here’s a quick-and-dirty summary of the key elements.

Businesses and organizations must rely on some type of marketing in order to grow. Traditional tactics – advertising and trade shows, for example – are stalwarts and an important part of the overall recipe. But a key element that many small businesses overlook is to optimize what is perhaps the easiest gateway to their audience: their digital assets.

Digital marketing refers to the use of online (aka digital) channels, such as search engines, social media, email, mobile apps, and websites, to promote a product or service. It is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of techniques and strategies, all of which are designed to reach and engage with a target audience in a digital environment.

For most organizations, an informative, engaging, mobile/user-friendly website lives at the center of the digital universe. But what about the other spokes in the wheel? Digital marketing can be broken down into several different elements, including:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO involves optimizing your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) like Google and Bing for relevant keywords and phrases.
  • Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC): PPC advertising involves placing ads on search engines or social media platforms, and paying a fee each time a user clicks on one of your ads. These ads can reach a prospect at the most important time of the sales cycle – when they’re searching!
  • Social Media Marketing: Social media marketing involves promoting your brand or product on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. But the world does not run on posts alone. Social advertising can be an effective, low-cost method of reaching your targeted influencers, users, and decision makers.
  • Email Marketing: Email marketing involves sending targeted messages to your customer and prospect databases with the goal of driving engagement and sales. We could write articles that delve deeper into the specific strategies, but the most important is to motivate the recipient to take action – visit the website for more info, follow on social media, or make an inquiry.
  • Content Marketing: Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and engaging content with the aim of attracting and retaining a clearly defined audience. And creating a “clearly defined audience” is critical – know your audience and provide relevant and authoritative content.
  • Analytics: Often overlooked, capturing some type of data is the only way to measure effectiveness and ROI. Free platforms such as Google Analytics, Search Console, and some CRMs are the easiest way to track traffic, user behaviors, referral sources, and measure user interest. This information can guide the strategies and execution of your digital marketing plan.

Is digital marketing a part of your overall marketing strategy? If not, SPARKS! can help inform, guide, and assist you with developing and implementing a plan that’s best for your organization. Let’s connect!

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SPARKS! Presenting at RESONATE: A Marketing Colloquium on Sept 26th

SPARKS! Presenting at World of Marketing September 26thDiscover Marketing Strategies That Work 

Ready to take a deep dive into the world of marketing? Join experts from all areas of digital marketing and our own SPARKS! President Greg Pierce on Thursday, September 26 at the Loyola Graduate Center in Lutherville-Timonium, MD.  Greg will share insights on social media marketing advertising strategies that will help grow network and your business.

Presented by The Strategies That Work, LLC, Resonate: A Marketing Colloquium is a behind the scenes look at how to build marketing platforms that will take your brand to the next level.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT AVAILABLE FOR SPARKS! CLIENTS!

We have a SPECIAL DISCOUNT for SPARKS! clients so please call our office at 410-244-5111 or CONTACT US for the discount code. This event includes breakfast and networking opportunities and takes place from 7:30 A.M until 11:45 A.M. Only 75 spots are available, use your discount code and register online today!

 

SPARKS! Welcomes Caitlin Gott

Caitlin GottSPARKS! is happy to announce that Caitlin Gott has joined us as our new Client Relations Manager. Caitlin has a strong background in marketing communications and her duties will include client management, business development, and account management.

Welcome aboard!

SPARKS! Featured on MPT’s “Your Money and Business”

SPARKS! Featured on "Your Money and Business"Maryland Public Television Visits SPARKS!

We’re honored to have Yolanda Vasquez and the team at MPT’s “Your Money and Business” help us share the SPARKS! story in the December 20th episode. After a tour around the office, she spoke with Greg Pierce to learn more about how we help our clients reach their clients.

CLICK HERE to view the entire episode online at MPT, and look for the SPARKS! segment at 7 minutes into the show.

Thanks again Yolanda, Darryl (cameraman extraordinaire) and MPT!Yolanda Vasquez and MPT Visit SPARKS!

SPARKS! Welcomes Jason Breichner

Jason Breichner - SPARKS! Marketing CommunicationsSPARKS! is happy to announce that Jason Breichner has joined us as our new Digital Marketing Assistant. Jason is an experienced copy writer with an agency background in digital marketing and great customer service approach.

Recently receiving his Google Certifications in Adwords and Analytics, Jason will be helping our team and clients to get found online and grow their businesses.

Welcome aboard!

AV Equipment Rental Now Available

AV Equipment Rentals

Make Your Presentations Pop with AV Equipment Rental from SPARKS!

SPARKS! is excited to offer Baltimore area organizations the ‘ability to improve visibility’ through our new AV Equipment Rental service. Made available in conjunction with our Odyssey Audio Media division, we can now provide LCD projectors, screens, portable sound systems and accessories suitable for business presentations, meetings and small-to-medium corporate events.

Existing SPARKS! clients are eligible for a 10% discount, too!  For more information, visit our AV Rental page.

Inauguration Day at SPARKS!

National Conserve Energy Day

Lauren Pierce Joins SPARKS! As Operations and Client Services Manager

Lauren Pierce, Operations and Client Services Manager SPARKS! is pleased to welcome Lauren Pierce as our new Operations and Client Services Manager. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Lauren will direct our non-profit and SMB client services and development efforts.

A graduate of Penn State University, Lauren joins our team after a career in campaign management and development for the Maryland chapter of a major national non-profit organization. She has extensive organizational and operational experience in addition to her marketing and social media capabilities.

When she’s not helping our clients, Lauren also serves as an assistant coach for Maryvale Prep’s 2015-16 Maryland IAAM-A Champion cross-country and track and field teams.

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Launchpad Blog

BBB & SPARKS! Present SEO Webinar

SPARKS! and the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland will be teaming up on Thursday, April … MORE

Cyber Threats are Real – Prepare Yourself

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Many organizations have invested in designing a beautiful website only to have it lost in the forest, er, Interwebs. So what is Search Engine Optimization and why is SEO important?

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What is Search Engine Optimization? - SPARKS! 410-244-5111

www.onsparks.com

What is Search Engine Optimization? - SPARKS! is an award-winning marketing communications agency based in Baltimore, MD. We offer web development and design, SEO, social media and digital marketing s...
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Where is your business showing up in your customers’ search results? Are you in the top results? Greg Pierce has the answers to get your business to break into the top positions.

Through the Better Business Bureau Greater Maryland webinar series, Greg will discuss:
- Fundamentals of SEO
- Tips to improve your website's ranking on search engines
- Using analytics to monitor performance

Search Engine Optimization: Simple Strategies to Improve Web Performance
Thursday, April 20th | 8:30 - 9:30am

Register for FREE online!

www.eventbrite.com/e/search-engine-optimization-simple-strategies-to-improve-web-performance-regi...
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Search Engine Optimization: Simple Strategies to Improve Web Performance

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See ‘behind the curtain’ and learn ways to have your website rank higher in search-engine results
1 month ago
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Seven years ago today - it seems like only yesterday! Happy SPARKS! Anniversary to our own Lauren Pierce! ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago
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Wonderful anniversary! Keep up the great job!!!!

Happy Sparks anniversary to my very talented granddaughter!💕

Congratulations Lauren

Congratulations Lauren!

Happy anniversary!

Congratulations!

The best 7 years!

Congratulations 🎉

Perfect VIBE!!!

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224 Schilling Circle, Suite 240
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
410-244-5111 - 866-500-8088
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