5 Rules for Better Business Blog Topics

By Lee W. Frederiksen, Ph.D.

So you have a blog that is focused on generating new clients for your professional services firm. Now what? How do you go about selecting topics to write about?

It’s a struggle that many executives are facing today as content marketing begins to take hold in the professional services community. But it’s a struggle worth mastering. In our recent study of online marketing in professional services firms,  we found that business blogs were rated as one of the most effective online marketing tools, right behind search engine optimization.

So without further ado, here is my mini manifesto on developing business blog topics:

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The Top 3 B2B Online Lead Generation Tactics

By Lee Eliav

What professional services company out there doesn’t want to generate new business online? Companies small and larger are looking for new lead generation tactics that are as effective as they are easy to implement. Here at Hinge, we employ a variety of online techniques to generate high-quality leads for our clients and ourselves.

Here are three of our top lead generation tactics for professional services firms:

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[Infographic] Social Media Smackdown 2: Twitter vs. LinkedIn

By Lee W. Frederiksen, Ph.D.; infographic by Brian Lemen & Shikha Savdas

(Click image to see full-size infographic)

If you liked our first Social Media Smackdown where sumo-sized Facebook took on the B2B fav, LinkedIn, you’re in for another treat.
 
In this Smackdown, the crowd pleasing LinkedIn goes head to head with the high-flying Champion of Chatter… none other than Twittttteeerrr! Can the hyperactive little bird take out the reigning Barron of Biz Babble? You be the judge.
 
Twitter has made some amazing headway and is clearly a contender for the attention of busy professionals. And the reigning champ is no slouch when it’s “get down to business” time. This could be a close one.
Have fun and don’t forget to share.

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Has Your Blog Run Dry? Try This.

By Sean McVey

Marketers will tell you (and they should) that the more valuable content you publish to your website, the better your web traffic and general online visibility will be.  If you want to be a thought leader, start a blog.

The problem is that once you launch your blog you then have to write in it at least once a week for the rest of your foreseeable life.  And it’s flat out hard to write interesting articles all of the time.

Different writers have different remedies for this problem, but what I’ve done recently is used a nifty ebook titled 103 Ways to Create Sharp Blog Content.  The book, authored by Sara Lancaster of the web marketing agency No. 2 Pen, serves as a rapid idea generator.  It’s a list of ideas for writing blog posts, split into easy-to-skim sections.

Here are a few of my favorites ideas:

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10 Best Professional Services Proposal Tips

By Lee W. Frederiksen, Ph.D.

Tired of competing on price alone? Looking to stand out in a crowded marketplace? Perhaps it’s time that you step up your game to stand out from the other professional services firms.

Forget What You Think You Know About Professional Services Proposals

Well maybe not everything. Yes, you still need to proof it for typos and be at least somewhat responsive to the client’s request. And true, there may be some circumstances where you still want to be rigid about how you organize your response (for instance, if you are addressing highly regulated government procurements).

Having said that, there is no reason your professional services proposal should look and read just like every other firm’s. Submitting a “me too” proposal encourages reviewers to select the lowest bid.

Here are my favorite tips to make your firm stand out from the crowd and compel prospects to give your proposal special consideration.

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Accounting Marketing – A New Model Emerges

By Sean McVey

How are accountants getting new business today?

• Word of mouth
• Referrals
• Networking

 
Is there any other way?

Yes, according to Eric Majchrazak, Marketing Director at CPA powerhouse Freed Maxick.  The firm derives 20 to 30 percent of its annual “new business” revenue from online sources including social media, search engines, mobile and its website.  I caught up with Eric a few days ago in an attempt to understand how they are navigating the world of accounting marketing.

A Different Look on Social Marketing

Eric and his team have a solid understanding of search engine optimization, email marketing, and other online marketing fundamentals.  But that’s not what impressed me.  It’s the way the firm uses social media to attract prospects that really got me listening.

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