How to Land Almost Any Job on Upwork

For the past decade, I have consistently been one of the highest grossing freelance writers on Upwork (formerly Elance and oDesk), the largest freelance job site around. In four of those years, I was the #1 individual in the world for the writing category, and I can...

Use Content to Build Links & Your Brand in 2018

Content isn’t just something nice to have – it’s one of your most tangible brand assets. Use content to build effective backlinks that are going to stick, and actually benefit your business and brand. Content-oriented link building is some of the most effective link...

Does Modern Design Destroy Your Content Flow?

When a person visits a website, they are almost always searching for a very specific piece of information.   As writers and domain owners,we are always quick to assume that we know what that one thing is- people are here because they want to buy our products and...

Welcome to the New Upstate Synergy!

As you've probably noticed, we've fully overhauled our website and switched our brand name to Upstate Synergy.  Hopefully you like the new look and feel!  It was truly a labor of love that we spent entirely too much time on.  We're still polishing up some final...

Twenty-Seven Reasons to Never Hire a Website Designer

Never hire a website designer?  What kind of idiot would actually say that out loud?  Before you start throwing rotten tomatoes at your screen, just hear me out… After all, if you want a great cup of coffee, then you would visit the best coffee shop in your town.  If...

Web Synergy’s “Lunch with Friends” Campaign

Do you ever get the feeling that if you could only talk to some of your ideal customers and show them that you’re the real deal; that it could really change things in a dramatic way? I was thinking about that today when I realized that I have more clients in Los...

The Death of Keywords in 2018

I need to ask you an important question here- and be honest.  How much do you really focus on keywords these days? Well, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, and you have to promise not to tell anyone about this.  Not even those self-proclaimed SEO gurus that...

Creating a Powerful Content Marketing Plan in 2017

One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to search optimization is that it takes mass amounts of content in order for a website to rank favorably.  To this very day, I still see businesses taking the quantity over quality approach…even though...

A Very Merry Christmas to All

As a child, I can remember feeling sick with anticipation and excitement on Christmas Eve waiting for the morning to arrive; those were easily the longest nights of my life.  Just the thought of Santa somehow appearing in our South Florida home with a sleigh full...

Does Online Marketing Work for Restaurants?

I had an interesting conversation with a local restaurant owner in Costco the other day as he tried to push his enormous cart of mozzarella, spices and tomato base towards the checkout counter.  As a former Italian restaurant owner myself, I knew his story without...

Newest Google Panda Update 4.2 Changes Rules on SEO

There’s some good news and some bad news revolving the launch of Google Panda’s 4.2 update that occurred last weekend, and I’m afraid the latter is really going to make some of my readers angry.  So let’s get that out of the way first. The latest Google Panda update...

Five Tell-Tale Signs of a Neglected Website

If you’re like most business owners in the digital age, then you probably measure you’re website’s effectiveness by the number of customers that it delivers to your doorstep.  The more daily foot traffic that mentions seeing you online, the more time you invest on...

Learn to Write Amazing SEO Content

When it comes to writing SEO content for the search engines, Google and the other search providers have spoken loud and clear on the subject for over a decade now.  Forget about the keywords.  Stop aiming for certain word counts.  Just deliver high-quality content and...

Does Web Design Factor into Search Engine Rankings?

Let’s pretend for a moment that I am your ideal customer. And when I say ideal, I’m not talking about someone that wants to speak to your sales staff or register for a product demonstration.  I mean that I’m THE customer; the one whale of a client you’ve been hoping...

Ignoring Your Website is Ignoring your Customers

Just a few days ago, I found an unbelievable steal on a 2014 Chrysler 300 for my parents.  They had been looking for a newer sedan for quite some time now and they absolutely fell in love with the 300’s tough-looking stance and superior luxury.  So when I saw that a...
Learn to Write Amazing SEO Content

Learn to Write Amazing SEO Content

When it comes to writing SEO content for the search engines, Google and the other search providers have spoken loud and clear on the subject for over a decade now.  Forget about the keywords.  Stop aiming for certain word counts.  Just deliver high-quality content and...

Does Web Design Factor into Search Engine Rankings?

Does Web Design Factor into Search Engine Rankings?

Let’s pretend for a moment that I am your ideal customer. And when I say ideal, I’m not talking about someone that wants to speak to your sales staff or register for a product demonstration.  I mean that I’m THE customer; the one whale of a client you’ve been hoping...

Ignoring Your Website is Ignoring your Customers

Ignoring Your Website is Ignoring your Customers

Just a few days ago, I found an unbelievable steal on a 2014 Chrysler 300 for my parents.  They had been looking for a newer sedan for quite some time now and they absolutely fell in love with the 300’s tough-looking stance and superior luxury.  So when I saw that a...

Study- Online Marketing & the Death of Small Business

Study- Online Marketing & the Death of Small Business

In 2014, Google found that 50% of local smartphone searches led to a US customer visiting a brick and mortar store to make a purchase.  Tech researcher comScore found an even bigger correlation between online searches and local business traffic by stating that almost...

The Complete SEO Strategy Guide for Small Business

The Complete SEO Strategy Guide for Small Business

It’s no secret that search engine optimization has changed drastically over the years as Google continuously adapts to reward the most helpful websites with coveted first page rankings.  And for the average small business owner or entrepreneur that’s on the outside...

How Do I Write Better Page Copy for My Website?

How Do I Write Better Page Copy for My Website?

When you write out text and descriptions on your website, are you sure that what you’re typing is the message that you want to deliver to customers? For example, my wife is a beautiful Southern gal who speaks like she was raised in the country…mainly because she was...

Are Poor Choices Making Google Penalize You?

Are Poor Choices Making Google Penalize You?

About a week ago, I met with a prospective new client in downtown Greenville to discuss the possibility of working together on an internet marketing project.  This was a little bit different from my typical business meeting, however, because this person was a small...

What Type of Web Content Drives in New Customers?

What Type of Web Content Drives in New Customers?

If I had to pick one question that business owners ask me about the most, it would easily be, “What kind of content should I have on my website to get more visitors?”  And I will quickly tell them that they’re asking the wrong question- because traffic is only half...

What’s Holding You Back in Online Marketing?

What’s Holding You Back in Online Marketing?

While I’ve developed a fantastic career from inspiring others and teaching them about the finer points of online marketing, I can honestly admit that I’m a lousy pastry cook.  I’m also dreadful on ice skates, frustrated by politics and virtually useless when it comes...

Want to Write for Us?

We are always looking for talented guest bloggers to help our readers.

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.