Author: Content Curator

Did you know that Matt Cutts released a video explaining that social signals do not impact search engine result rankings?

For a long time, every SEO behaved as if they did. If this is true — that social signals don’t affect search rankings — what do we do now?

I’m making the case that social is the new SEO. But I need to explain the new social/SEO territory that we’re in, specifically in the wake of Cutts’ announcement.

So, what has changed with social media and SEO?

Let me give you a brief history of Google’s conflicted stance on social signals.

Google’s stance on social media

First, in May 2010, Cutts stated that the algorithm does not use social signals as a factor in search results.

Then, in December of 2010, Cutts revealed that the algorithm does use social signals as a factor in search results.

Finally, in January of 2014, Cutts informed us that the algorithm does not use social signals as a factor in search results.

This agonizing back-and-forth has caused some confusion in the search community. For the last several years, we’ve been operating under the assumption, stated by Cutts himself, that social signals were an algorithmic rank factor.

Our metrics seemed to back it up. The higher our social following, the better our sites seemed to perform in the SERPs. Evidence suggests that the so-called “social signals” were a helpful SEO feature.

And now, the… Read More

This week, McDonald’s searches for besties on Twitter, Heinz wants to end a long-standing food feud, and new competitors are taking to the field of sports content marketing. Continue reading →

The post Competitions and Compromises Abound – But Which Brands Are Winning? appeared first on Content Marketing Institute.

… Read More

Dialpad Meetings is an easy-to-use conference call service. With robust call recording tools and a host of great features, it’s one of the best free conference call services. There are a few areas where competitors surpass it, such as the call audio quality, but it’s still better overall than most other conference calling services.

Dialpad Meetings Pros and Cons
Pros

Free plan available
Call recording included at all levels
Easy to use
Screen sharing included

Cons

Limited features in free plan
Less-than-optimal audio quality

Visit Dialpad

Compare The Best Conference Call Services
We reviewed dozens of conference call services and narrowed them down to the best options.
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How Dialpad Meetings Compares to the Best Conference Call Services

Dialpad Meetings holds up well against the other conference call services on the market, particularly those that are free. With i… Read More

Among customer relationship management (CRM) software tools, Copper provides an easy-to-use option that’s best-suited for businesses that rely on Google tools and apps.

Copper CRM works well for organizations looking to save a bit of money and don’t need the high-end services and features found with the top brand names in this category.

Copper, previously called ProsperWorks and G Suite CRM, has a close integration with the various aspects of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). 

Copper pulls information from various Google apps, saving time on data entry and allowing your group to improve its efficiency and productivity.

Although Copper did not make our list of the top CRM software packages, it has a key role in the market, helping small businesses get started with CRM.

Copper Pros and Cons

Pros

Easier to use than competitorsIntegrates closely with all Google appsPulls data directly from GmailAllows automation of multiple tasksLead management tool is effectiveDelivers customizable reportsOffers a free trial periodUseful mobile appSecurity is a priority rather than an afterthoughtDelivers versatility for multiple business typesCommunication tools keep team members engaged

Cons

Clogs up your inbox with alerts and suggestionsDoesn’t match features found in top brandsThose who don’t use Google apps will miss key benefitsNot the best tool for larger organizationsDashboard design could be more usefulPricing… Read More

Sage is a software company that helps businesses with everything from accounting to HR. 

As a result, its CRM tool is not its primary focus, and it’s not one of the best available. 

While it has helpful marketing, sales, and customer service capabilities, Sage CRM falls behind in integrations and fails to present a clear pricing advantage. 

Sage CRM Pros and Cons

Pros

Plentiful email Marketing FeaturesSizable customer Knowledge BaseSolid Sales ReportingLots of Compatible Products For Other Business Needs

Cons

Unclear PricingLack of IntegrationsCRM Is Not Sage’s PriorityCRM Product Isn’t As Good As Sage’s Other Products

How Sage CRM Compares to Top CRM Software

Sage CRM is not one of the top CRM software tools available. Sage has a variety of business solutions, and its CRM tool is not its primary focus. 

While this tool has powerful capabilities, its pricing is unclear, and it lacks many third-party integrations. Some stronger CRM software tools include HubSpot, Salesflare, and Zoho CRM.

These tools do everything Sage CRM does, often doing them better, plus they have upfront pricing, powerful integrations, and their companies are more focused on CRM software specifically. 

Sage CRM Team Size

Sage CRM is intended for businesses with 100 employees at most. It has enough capabilities for the midsize business range, but it’s not as complex as an enterprise CRM. … Read More