A blog, adored by the search engines for its frequent and ever-changing content and loved equally by readers for the same reason, is a must have for any individual and business. With that said, most small businesses push their blog to the bottom of their to-do list.

We just stumbled across this awesome interview of Seth Godin and Tom Peters on blogging and why you–yes, you–should be blogging even if no one is reading.

If you’re ready to start blogging but aren’t sure how start with WordPress.com. The blogging platform is entirely free and be sure to visit the WordPress support forums if you have any questions or issues. You can also contact Cement Marketing, we specialize in WordPress and develop all of our websites in WordPress.

Here’s a clip from Part 1 of the series, The Social Side: Social Media for Small Businesses. Read the entire post here.

The Social Side: Social Media for Small Businesses, Part 1

“I want to do it, but I don’t get it.”

The above is the most common statement about social marketing I hear from my clients or potential clients. They have been persuaded through the mounting evidence and successful case studies that social marketing works, but entering the space is an entirely different challenge.

From my vantage point, as a professional digital strategist, their acceptance is a sign of huge progress. In fact, accepting social media and, more importantly, finding the patience to let its effect take hold is paramount to “getting it.” So, congratulations. You’ve made it this far.

Read the entire post here.

The truth is, there is no quick mix. Here’s a clip from a speech Alaina Sheer recently gave on the subject.

To hear Alaina again along with Cement Marketing SEO Director, Brad Spencer, snap up tickets to Finding Your Virtual Mix: A Sway Workshop Day Camp at Ohio University on September 30th. The $38.00 tickets include a full day of search engine marketing and social marketing basics.

The low ticket cost is thanks to our generous hosts for the event: Ohio University’s Innovation Center, Business Remixed and the Small Business Development Center.

[Special thanks to Ruth and Jan of Articulation, Inc. for the above speech - a result of their meticulous and inspiring speech coaching].

Here are a few of the Websites and social media campaigns we’ve launched in recent weeks:

So much so, that we now communicate with each other at lightening speed and in ways we wouldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. We are searching and socializing amidst a sea of information. For individuals it’s entertaining and exciting but for brands and marketers, the new Internet can be an overwhelming space. The questions are many, one of which is, “How will my customers find me in this sea of information, how can I rise to the top? And when they do find me, how can I make a connection?”

The answers aren’t easy and there is no quick mix. But with a little bit of research and the right guidance, you’ll find yours.

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Come to Wild Goose Creative on Wednesday, June 30th at 6:00 pm to hear Cement Marketing’s Alaina Sheer speak on Finding Your Virtual Mix.  The event is free and open to the public. And the drinks are on us!

DavisWince.com is now poised to jump in search rankings and wow potential clients with a focus on photography and info rich case studies.

The site also has a fully operational blog, feeding the humans and the search engines with engaging content that will keep everyone coming back.

Browse DavisWince.com for the full experience.

Cement Marketing is a full service Internet marketing firm in Columbus Ohio offering Web design and development along with SEO and social media.

If you’re on the fence about whether or not you or your company should invest in search engine optimization – start by conducting a bit of keyword research using the Google Keyword Tool.

It takes just a few minutes. To make it even easier on you we’ve put together this little video showing you exactly how it’s done.

The next step?

Ranking highly for your keywords. And, that’s the part of search engine optimization that takes time, dedication and an investment in a team of search experts. You can hire a firm like Columbus-based Cement Marketing or you can roll up your sleeves and invest the personal time in ranking your search terms on your own.

Either way, you should attend the upcoming Sway Search Workshop in Columbus.

During Sway attendees will get hands on search engine optimization instruction from Alaina Sheer and Brad Spencer of Cement Marketing.

If you missed it here’s what went down.

• A nice man in California searches the Internet using these keywords, “Lifesize E.T. Doll”. He needed said doll for a charity bike ride.
• His search term leads him to this post on my personal blog.
• My son and I pack up E.T. and ship him off for the long trip to California. See pictures here.

E.T.’s temporary owner just posted these pictures to Facebook. E.T. has landed and is about to take off on a bike ride to raise funds for the San Francisco Aids Foundation. Donate here.

To find out how your business can rank #1 in Google for terms like “Life size E.T. doll” contact Cement Marketing or attend our Sway Search Marketing Workshop on May 20 – 21st.

Our attendees walked away armed with new Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and guidance on exactly how to execute a social media campaign and a little extra sway in their steps.

Testimonials coming soon, but until then check out our photos on Flickr.

There are still a few seats left for the Sway Search Engine Optimization Workshop. During the SEO Workshop attendees will be shown the ins and outs of search marketing, from keyword research to launching a search marketing  campaign.

Register for the Sway Search Marketing Workshop now.