I know, I know…summer is gone and fall is flying by, and it feels way too early to talk about the holidays. But if you’re a business owner, planning ahead is the name of the game when it comes to marketing, and this year is no exception. If you start cobbling together your holiday plans in December, you’re already behind the curve - and most other businesses will already have the wheels in motion!

So, what are some things you can do to market your products and services this Thanksgiving and Christmas season? Here are a few holiday marketing ideas…

Why You Should Pay Attention to Your 404 Page

Lest I make any assumptions, I realize that there is a strong possibility you don’t even know what a 404 page is - let alone why you should pay attention to it! Every website has a 404 page. It’s the landing page for any broken links or misspellings in the URL. For instance, if you visit www.nike.com/1234, the page doesn’t actually exists…and you are quickly redirected to this page instead.

You’ve definitely seen a similar page before on multiple websites, letting you know that you’ve gone somewhere that doesn’t really exist. For most people, this is a standard page that says something like ‘Page not found.’ But what if you could actually use this page to market and brand your business? I’m here to argue that no web page should go to waste - even one that doesn’t technically exist!

Which Website Platform has the Best SEO?

When it comes to building a website, there are countless great options. Wordpress is the default for most business owners, but Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace are all starting to make a rise in the small business space. ShowIt is used by a lot of creatives and photographers, and I’m sure there are countless others I haven’t even mentioned! I get asked a lot about which platform is the best for Search Engine Optimization, so I’m here to give a very definitive answer:

None of them are. And all of them are.

I could finish my blog with that, but let me explain a little bit further! There are a few considerations when choosing a website platform in the first place before we even dive into the question of SEO…

SEOMaria Grace PhotographyOctober 12, 2020seo, seo tips, search engine optimization, weebly, wix, squarespace, wordpress, showit

Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Expensive?

Business owners are always on a budget, and good business owners think hard about how they choose to spend their money. I completely understand, because I’m right there in the trenches with you! When it comes to thinking about one more thing to pay for in regards to marketing, it is understandable to recoil a little bit at the thought. So, does Search Engine Optimization have to be expensive? And is it really worth it?

The short answer: SEO does not have to be expensive to be effective.

SEOMaria Grace PhotographySeptember 22, 2020search engine optimization, seo tips, seo, online marketing, online business

Should I Write Guest Blogs? [SEO Tips]

Since the very beginning of my business, I’ve gotten consistent requests to write guest blogs for other websites - and if you have any kind of online presence, I’m sure you’ve gotten the same ‘offers.’ When the first email came across I’ll admit I was fairly flattered, but by the time dozens of requests had landed in my inbox, I realized that most of the time, it was a ploy to boost the presence of the requestor, and wouldn’t help my business at all. I started deleting every email I got, ignoring every request, and put the idea aside in my head.

The more I learned about Search Engine Optimization, though, the more I realized that there might be some benefit to some of these requests. While I still say no to a large majority of the emails I receive, I have a much more thorough way of reviewing the potential benefits and downside of writing guest blogs. I know the benefits that backlinks can have for SEO (more on that here!), and I want to take advantage of every opportunity I can get.

So…should you guest blog? The answer is a big maybe, and it depends on a few factors…

SEOMaria Grace PhotographySeptember 10, 2020guest blogging, seo tips, seo, search engine optimization

From Photography to Online Marketing: My Story

When I first got called a serial side hustler, I was a little taken aback. Owning my own business seems like such a natural way of life right now (it’s been over 4 years since I’ve done anything else!) that I hardly think of it as anything different. And yet, this life I lead was started by a side hustle, a dream that many can relate to, whether you’re working hard to build a retail business, selling oils, or hustling hard online to create a life that you love.

It was with this concept in mind that I talk to Josie from the Josieology Podcast a short time ago, as I relived my experience of growing and launching into both my first and second side hustles - because not too long ago (a year this month!) I finally decided to transition from wedding photography to online marketing as my main focus. What a year it has been…

Why Website Speed is Important for SEO

There are countless factors that go into good website search engine optimization (SEO), and my goal is to not only introduce you to a few of them, but also to explain exactly why they matter and what to do about it. In this blog, I’m covering why website loading speed matters for SEO and what you can do to both evaluate and improve your own website.

Why does it matter?
When I talk about SEO, I think it sometimes comes across that Google (or Bing or any other search engine) is the ‘bad guy’ waiting to penalize you for an unknown reason and choosing to reward other websites arbitrarily. That couldn’t be further from the truth!

An Easy Way to Get Backlinks [SEO Tips]

Backlinks used to be the BIG key to good website SEO…until they got used and abused and were filled with spammers creating links in strange and unsafe places online just to improve search engine optimization. So, a few years ago, Google made some big adjustments to the importance of backlinks, among other things.

While they are no longer as essential as they used to be, quality backlinks are incredibly useful for your online presence for two reasons:

SEOMaria Grace PhotographyJuly 29, 2020haro, help a reporter out, seo tips, seo, search engine optimization

Five SEO Secrets You Need to Know

If you’re here, it may just be because you know that it’s incredibly important to prioritize your Google rankings and search engine optimization, but you’re not exactly sure how you can do that. There’s a lot that goes into SEO, and while some of it is complicated, there are other little changes you can make to dramatically improve your website without hiring outside of your company.

If you’re new to the world of SEO or just want to improve your rankings even a little bit in the days and weeks ahead, here are five SEO tips for any online business that are sure to help you improve!

1) A little update can go a long way…

A Day in the Life of...Me!

I wrote a few years ago about what a day in my life generally looks like, and it surprisingly turned out to be one of my most popular blogs. Since then, things have changed as business has shifted and Willow has gotten older…and, of course, when she started daycare a little over a year ago. So as an update to what life looks like for me on a day-to-day basis, here’s what I do!

Note: I feel like I have to mention first that I have learned to not adhere to a schedule so strictly that I can’t give myself a little grace, breathing room, or a random day to sleep in here and there. Then the rest of my day can fluctuate as needed.

Morning…

What I'm Reading Lately | Summer 2020

If you’ve been around here for a minute, you know that I’m an avid reader. For me, hard copy is the way to go - while I understand the convenience of e-books and audio books, I want to hold paper in my hands and physically turn the pages. Maybe I’m old school, but I swear it helps me both concentrate better and enjoy what’s in front of me even more.

During quarantine I’ve been reading a ton of books. Most of the time I gravitate towards good stories, usually fiction, that take my mind off the here and now and let me escape a little bit. With the events of the world going on right now, my priorities have shifted a bit as I’ve worked to educate myself on the history of civil rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, as I added a new member to my team, I realized how important it is to learn how to be a good manager. I’ve managed people in the past, but I want to do it well, and I have a lot of learning to do.

Yet, of course, I want to read fun books, too, so here’s an even mix of all three. Take a dive into one or all of them as you add to your summer reading list for 2020!

Changes to the Google Algorithm in 2021

If there’s anything constant about the internet, it’s that there will always be changes, and a battle for business owners is staying on top of what’s happening in the online world. The other constant of the internet is its importance, from search engine optimization to social media, and how marketing efforts today can drive sales for months and years to come.

Google just made a big announcement about some algorithm changes coming down the pipe in 2021 (read their official statement here). Before you get worried about how this will affect your website, one of the biggest notations they made is that there is no definite ‘launch date’ yet for this change - and when a date is set, it will be announced at least six months in advance.

So while you don’t need to take drastic steps today towards satisfying their new requirements, it’s important to keep the upcoming changes in mind as you think about the future of your online presence, especially if you’re thinking about investing in a new website or a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) overhaul. Here are the big highlights and takeaways from Google’s 2021 announcement…

The Three Best Podcasts for Online Businesses

I tend to listen to podcasts when I have a little extra time during the day…and, actually, when I feel like I have less time than usual. Let me explain…

When I have more downtime (which, I’ll be honest, is rare), I might sit and listen to a podcast and occasionally take notes. I spend time really focusing on what each word says, and thinking through it all. However, on most days I am rushing from one thing to the next, just trying to fit it all in. On days like that, I turn on a podcast whenever I am doing something with my hands but not my head.

If I’m trying to feed my toddler lunch, there’s almost no way I can listen clearly, but if I’m prepping dinner while she plays outside or I’m making graphics for blogs like this while she naps, I often turn on a podcast. Sometimes, admittedly, my mind wanders and I don’t soak in all the information, but every little bit helps, and I love learning while I’m doing other day-to-day tasks.

So what podcasts have helped me grow as an entrepreneur? Here are the top 3 podcasts I would recommend for any online business…

Happy 3rd Birthday, Willow!

I think we can all agree that this last year has been wild. Today, the craziest thing happening to me is that I’m now the parent of a 3-year-old child when, exactly 3 years ago today, I didn’t even know she existed (read about her adoption story here).

I could talk for days about motherhood - the ups, the downs, the difficulties, the joys, and all the unexpected things that accompany keeping a tiny human alive - but today I just want to celebrate the fact that she was born and continues to grow each day, taller and sassier and smarter than I could have imagined…

PersonalMaria Grace PhotographyJune 14, 2020adoption

How My Business Pivoted in the Pandemic

As I've started to reflect on the last few months and what changes have happened, my initial thought was that nothing really changed in my business. After all, I run my business entirely online, and even local client communication is done via email and phone calls - so what did I even have to change?

Despite that fact, I actually did need to pivot my business in a few different ways, and when I started to really dig in I was surprised at all the things I changed to not only stay afloat, but keep moving forward. Here's what I did:

Five Creative Ways to Announce Your Business Re-Opening

Maybe it’s been months since your business had to close its doors, but now things are finally starting to re-open! The problem is that this is true for everyone in your niche, and it’s easy to get drowned out in the noise of announcements from every corner of the internet. How can you stand out as your business opens its doors again? Here are five creative ways to make your announcement and get attention from past and future customers.

How to Use Facebook Creator Studio

Facebook Creator Studio was actually launched some time ago, but until recently I was still scheduling my Facebook and Instagram posts using third-party software like MavSocial and CoSchedule. While these were incredibly helpful, I recently switched to only using Creator Studio for a variety of reasons.

When I first logged in to use it, however, I was pretty confused by several different features, so if you’re new to using Creator Studio, here is a brief overview of what you can do, and a little bit about why I switched from another platform…

3 Quick, Easy, and Free Marketing Actions to take Today: Five Minute Marketing

Marketing your small business is always a good idea, no matter what state our country is in - which, right now, is pretty precarious and differs wildly depending on where you live. While there’s no way to fully prepare for a pandemic that suddenly closes anything and everything, there are still tons of ways to market your business in the midst of chaos. Today’s five minute marketing tip is all about a few quick, easy, and free ways to market your business, both now and anytime in the future…

The 3 Must-Haves for Every Blog Post

If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know that blogging is at the core of my business, and I’ve been doing it for years. When I started out, I had no clue how to effectively use blogs to make money or attract new customers, so I just wrote about my life. Fast-forward to today, and it takes a lot longer to craft the perfect blog post…yet it’s 10x as effective as it was before I paid more attention!

Most business owners have no idea how to write an effective blog post, and I often see people writing just to write. While there’s nothing wrong with that (and YAY to those who are creating content regularly!), it’s simply not the best use of your time…and your blogs could be doing SO much more! Before you get started on your next blog, here are the 3 things you should do for every post you write - and I’ll tell you exactly why you should be doing them, too!

The Basics of Facebook Ads, Part 3

Click here to start at the beginning of the Facebook Ads series.

The ‘audience’ portion of Facebook ad sets is actually a huge topic, and I’ll probably cover it in a few different posts, since I’m not going to talk about Lookalike or Custom Audiences in this particular post - it would be too long! My goal in this miniseries is to show you the basics of advertising so you can get started without overwhelming you by covering all the different options. With that said, let’s jump right in!

Location…

Social MediaMaria Grace PhotographyApril 27, 2020facebook, facebook ads, facebook advertising

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Copyright 2023 Maria Grace, LLC

Click here to start at the beginning of the Facebook Ads series.

Maria Grace, LLCOnline Marketing Solutions for Small BusinessesHours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm