When you're running a small business, it can be hard to keep track of all the latest developments in online marketing.
After all, you've got so much on your plate it can be hard to take time out to read the blog articles, ebooks and white papers you need to read to stay at the top of the marketing game.
With that in mind, we've put together 10 of the best small business marketing blog posts from the last year to help you get up to date on what you've missed, so you can start planning your strategies and tactics for the year ahead.
Post 1 - Local SEO and beyond: Ranking your local business in 2017 - From the Moz blog
This post may be a few months old now, but the advice in it will remain useful into 2018. Whether you're just getting started with local search engine optimisation (SEO), or have been working on it for a while, Casey Meraz's post will help you look at the subject in a new light. It might even inspire some dramatic changes to your local SEO strategy.
And don't to get to keep tabs on the Moz blog for further local SEO updates in 2018.
Post 2 - 5 tips to creating an unbeatable Facebook ad campaign - From the Kissmetrics blog
Have you tried Facebook advertising but never managed to quite make it work for your business? These five tips from Kissmetrics could be the advice you need to crack the mystery of social media ads.
It tackles everything from what really gets people interested in a Facebook ad, to what kinds of goals you should be setting for your Facebook ads.
Hopefully it should act as inspiration for your social media advertising campaigns in the year ahead.
Post 3 - The ultimate YouTube marketing guide - From Social Media Examiner
Whether it's preroll ads, or in depth "how to" videos, YouTube offers a range of ways for small business owners to connect with existing and potential customers.
This post by Lisa D Jenkins gathers a huge selection of resources and will be useful for YouTube marketing experts and absolute beginners alike.
So why not dive in, and discover what YouTube can add to your marketing mix?
Post 4 - How to write engaging blog posts your audience will crave - From State of Digital
Blogging is a fantastic way to communicate with existing and potential customers. But if you're just starting out with business blogging, it can feel hard to strike the right tone in your posts.
After all, why should anyone be interested in what you have to say?
Marijana Kostelac's guide to creating engaging blog posts will help you overcome these worries. It explains how you can create content that's of interest to people, but still relevant to your business.
Post 5 - How to attract your ideal clients in just 3 questions - From Jim's Marketing Blog
Jim Connolly's posts are usually short, but he still manages to pack some incredibly useful advice into every one of them.
In this case, he's tackling the thorny issue of how to make sure you attract the clients you want.
Jim's post cleverly encourages you to put yourself in the shoes of a potential client visiting your website, so you can understand whether you're addressing their needs fully.
It's an invaluable resource for anyone looking to take on more business.
Post 6 - Use these 4 copywriting pillars to craft kickass presentations - From Copy Blogger
If you ever find yourself pitching for new business, or investment then these tips from Sonia Simone could prove invaluable.
Creating persuasive presentations isn't easy, but it's a lot easier if you understand the principles behind making a convincing argument.
So dig into this post, you never know when you'll be called on to give that make or break presentation.
Post 7 - How to make sure your ecommerce customer service doesn't suck - From the GoDaddy UK blog
People love good customer service. And bad customer service can be enough to send a previously loyal customer running into the arms of a competitor.
In this article, Judith Kallos explains what you need to do ensure people feel well treated by your ecommerce business.
So use this guide as a template and see how your current customer service efforts match up, and identify any areas where you need to improve.
Post 8 - 5 email marketing tweaks to double your business revenue - From Entrepreneur
With so many other options around, email marketing is often overlooked, despite the fact it can add real value to your business.
This post by John Stevens offers five great tips to help you make the most out of this powerful marketing technique.
And if you haven't tried email marketing before, you can get started with Email Marketing from GoDaddy.
Post 9 - 7 easy steps to grow ecommerce sales from Instagram - From the Compass blog
Instagram might not seem like the obvious social media platform to choose if you want to boost ecommerce sales, but this guide by Ramon Bez makes for compelling reading.
It provides a good overall strategy outline for using Instagram ads to boost sales. You'll need a understanding of Instagram to make the most from the guide, but even if you haven't used the platform before, the post gives you a good idea of what's possible on the social network.
Post 10 - 11 web design trends to watch in 2018 - From the DMI blog
We end with a look to the future. This guide from the Digital Marketing Institute provides a good overview of what's coming in the next 12 months when it comes to web design.
There's something in there for everyone - to mobile-friendly design (which is already a must-have, real) to talk of bold fonts and colours.
If you are thinking about an upgraded website in 2018, check out the ways GoDaddy can help you build the perfect website.
