Bare Knuckle Blog

Ranking Reports are Worthless

There. I said it. I’ve been thinking it for years, and now I’ve just come out and said it. Pardon my frankness but I feel like a broken record lately, as I am continually trying to do damage control because someone Google’d themselves and didn’t see what they were expecting to see in the search results.

You may have done it yourself, or perhaps your boss just stormed into your office asking what the h-e-doublehockeysticks you’re paying for this worthless SEO stuff. It’s ok, you’re not alone. Google rules the world and we all want to win in Google. But it’s time to set things straight and really drive this point home: stop Googling yourself. What you see in the search results will be different than the person next to you, and different than what you see two hours from now. (more…)

How to Win Online: Be Awesome Offline

Seriously. It’s just that simple.

I hear the question all the time: how do I succeed online? How do I win with the search engines? How can I get more visitors to my site, more Facebook fans, sell more widgets… Many people look for a magic bullet or some secret sauce. They think Google is some amazing entity that will only grant you a top ranking position if you can crack their code. (more…)

A Trip To The American Sign Museum: Stepping Back in Marketing History

I recently visited the American Sign Museum with a few friends. It’s located off Spring Grove Ave. at 1330 Monmouth St. in Cincinnati, OH and I was truly impressed and delighted by what I saw and learned. I am fascinated by early forms of marketing and from the moment I walked in, I was hooked.

As a marketing professional, I was interested in seeing how businesses marketed themselves before internet, radio or television. They had some unique and cool ways to let  people know what they did and many of the signs are considered artwork – beautiful, hand crafted pieces that served a purpose: to draw customers. The demo on how to  make a neon sign was really great. – I always wondered how they did it. (more…)

Using Social Media To Rebuild A Damaged Business Reputation

Social media is a powerful tool for increasing brand awareness but it can also damage your reputation. Good word about your blog or business can quickly spread through social networking websites. However, controversies and derogatory comments can spread just as easily. Negative impressions about your brand will continue to circulate online and imprint on the minds of people unless you do something about it. (more…)

Get your Virtual View on! Making Your Google Maps Page Stand Out by Welcoming Users Inside

If you’re a Google Maps user, then you may have seen a local business listing that lets you take a virtual walk inside the location. Google Maps allows businesses to create a 360° panoramic view of the inside of their business and yes, it’s pretty sweet.

Aside from being a super cool feature, adding this to your digital marketing strategy can help your business rise to the top. (more…)

What do people think of our lunch and learn workshops?

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Back by Popular Demand! Digital Marketing Lunch and Learn Workshop Series!

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How Google Personalizes Your Search with Social

Yeah, Google is kind of like Big Brother: an all knowing being that tracks our every move, can bring a planet to it’s knees with one change in the algorithm and now can read your mind? While it’s scary for most people, it’s gold for SEOs like us and that’s why we go to things like the Search Marketing Expo. We help bring the most relevant quality content to you while you’re searching, is that not what you want? During a panel with Jack Menzel, a local search engineer at Google, I learned a little more about how our search results are being influenced by our social habits. (more…)

Think You OWN Your Website and Your Content? Think AGAIN!

Clients have come to us complaining that former designers are holding their websites and designs hostage when they decide to take their business elsewhere. It’s always a good thing to have a great lawyer on your side and we have the best, Mike Marrero from Ulmer & Berne in Cincinnati. Thankfully, Mike has decided to blog for us and share some of his great wisdom! Not everyone has the same strict code of ethics that Bare Knuckle has, so we want to spread the word on how to protect yourself and your data.

Whenever you engage ad or branding agencies or Web designers to create an ad campaign or your Web site’s content for you, make sure that their deliverables and end product belong to you.  Don’t assume that they do just because you’ve shaken hands and paid in full.  You need a written agreement that spells out that those deliverables and end product belong to you.
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Should you buy Twitter followers? Chris Silversmith’s tips from SMX West

Where in the world are these Bare Knuckle Ladies? We’re in San Jose, California at the Search Marketing Expo and it’s pretty freaking cool. I just finished a session on creating buzz on twitter which was absolutely invaluable and I MUST share. (more…)