5 Tactics to Appear in the Search Results That Don’t Require a Lot of Work

By Neil Patel

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SEO doesn’t discriminate.

For brands that “get it” and have the know-how and resources, the coveted first page rankings are ripe for the picking.

But let’s be honest.

SEO is back-breaking and often mind-numbing work.

With a plethora of continually growing ranking factors and algorithm updates, staying on top is a daunting task.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Quite a few SEO tactics—requiring only marginal effort and little time—can help you appear in the search results.

I’m not saying that laziness and a half-hearted effort will get your brand to the top.

But I would like to discuss five specific tactics that don’t require a lot of …read more      

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A Quick Copywriting Lesson Taken Directly from an Email Marketing Fail

By Stefanie Flaxman

"Reveal the details that compel your prospect to take action immediately." – Stefanie Flaxman

Ten years ago, a tattoo shop I went to subscribed my email address to their email newsletter.

They didn’t send updates very often, so I never unsubscribed. However, new owners recently acquired the business — and apparently their email newsletter list — because lately I’ve been getting not very good emails more frequently.

I should have unsubscribed after receiving the first few, but I kept forgetting. I’d just scroll through an email quickly and delete it.

And I’m glad that was my routine, because today I have a copywriting lesson to share that I took directly from a mistake they made …read more      

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Why Sex Doesn’t Sell

By Robert Bruce

"Are you a writer, or a flimflam artist?" – Robert Bruce

In his essay, “It’s Necessary for the Scene,” American playwright David Mamet explains why no play or movie he writes or directs include explicit sex scenes.

Mamet is no prude. He cut his teeth in the theatre, working in and around that last great institution of vagabonds and players, excess and fornication.

No, what he’s getting at here is something more important than a hopeless moral stance. It is a display of wisdom and restraint that can instruct both copywriters and content marketers.

“When we see the scene of simulated sex, we can think only one of …read more      

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How to Gain More Branded Search Volume to Your Website

By Neil Patel

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If your business is not a brand, it is a commodity.

~Donald Trump

So maybe not everyone is a massive fan of the prez these days, but you can’t deny he knows a thing or two about branding.

And I think we can all agree that online branding is incredibly important.

This is especially true if you’re in an already crowded industry, where being identified as one of the premier brands can literally make or break you.

Gaining a high branded search volume is just one of the ways companies come to prominence and build a strong reputation.

But how do you do this?

How can you …read more      

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The Goofus and Gallant Guide to Success on the Web

By Sonia Simone

Back when I was a very nerdy little kid, every month I would anxiously await my copy of Highlights magazine, and read it cover to cover. I’m charmed to discover that Highlights is still publishing, and that they still feature the regular comic strip “Goofus and Gallant.”

Gallant was a kid who always did the right, noble, and virtuous thing. Goofus, on the other hand, could be counted on to be selfish, unpleasant, and rude.

For now we’ll just gloss over the uncritical definitions of absolute good and bad, along with the thorny question of just what’s going on at home with …read more      

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