Two great articles have been released by HubSpot and Google, which discuss the importance of inbound marketing and today’s consumer journey.

A recent survey of North American marketers found that 35.9 percent have plans to increase spending on digital initiatives in 2013, according to a study by Balihoo, a local-marketing automation company. Although this may not come as a shock to some, it speaks volumes about the direction small and medium-sized businesses are headed with their marketing plans.

Paid media, at times, can be confusing; how do brands and businesses use paid media to grow their business? In an effort to explain how paid media drives new customers, we thought it was important to discuss the various forms of media that play a role in today's marketing mix. 

Blogging? Really, do I have to? Yes, yes you do!

The perfect integrated marketing burger

Our attempt to get your mouth watering is a perfect example of layering a well thought-out marketing plan with multiple advertising solutions to help you increase business. By mixing traditional (offline) solutions with digital (online) solutions, allows your business the ability to not only stay in front of consumers, but also send specific offers and messaging to them.

The ROI Burger infographic is a menu for success—just pick the right "toppings" for your business's goals and needs.  

We recently launched our lawyer marketing specific guide titled, “Top Practices to Boost Your Law Firm Leads” to help the legal industry learn more about online advertising and digital marketing best practices. The guide ranges from basic information regarding digital solutions to a more expert approach explaining the benefits of an integrated marketing campaign. Even if you’re not an attorney, or you consider yourself knowledgeable in the world of online advertising, you should still walk away with new information about the ever-changing digital world. 

At what point do you high five and pat your advertising and marketing plan on the back? Is it when a customer finds a phone number on your website and calls, when a client clicks an ad you've placed, or when a coupon is used during a purchase? Do you rate the effectiveness of an advertisement solely on the final outcome, or should you look further up the line giving credit to multiple initiatives?