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Brock Murray
Recent articles by Brock
Ultimate Guide to TikTok SEO
TikTok, a platform celebrated for its engaging, bite-sized videos, has evolved beyond its social media roots to become a potent search engine. With a surge in interest around TikTok SEO (Search Engine Optimization), businesses and creators are uncovering the vast potential of this platform. The practice of SEO is all about enhancing the visibility of …
2023 YouTube Marketing Guide
As the second most-visited site, second most-popular search engine, and number one video site online, YouTube is an undisputed powerhouse of the digital era. With over four billion videos streamed daily and more than one billion unique monthly visitors, any savvy marketer can recognize YouTube as a cost-effective marketing tool with incredible exposure potential. Here’s …
seoplus+ Shortlisted at the 2022 Global Digital PR Awards
The Global Digital PR Awards are a celebration of the people and agencies who supercharge brand awareness, drive traffic, and deliver maximum ROI to their clients through Digital PR services. From media relations to content and link building, digital PR is a critical piece of the online marketing puzzle. seoplus+ has the distinction of being …
The Four Rs of Client Success
This year is off to a blazing start. seoplus+ is celebrating it’s 10th year in business. 2021 was a year of improving every aspect of our business. Improving processes, tools and training for our team. From strategy, tactics, to execution. With that said, I cannot remember a time where there has been so much demand …
seoplus+ Shortlisted for “Best Agency Culture” at the 2022 Global Agency Awards
The Global Agency Awards are a celebration of the people and agencies who make a big impact in the industry of digital marketing, SEO, paid ads, and content marketing. seoplus+ has the distinction of being shortlisted in the category of “Best Agency Culture” at the 2022 Global Agency Awards. This category celebrates the agencies who …
Leverage the $4-Billion Digital Adoption Program for Your Business
The digital shift is well underway, with more than 93% of Canadians having access to internet at home, and more than 84% using the internet to conduct business, such as shopping online. Companies that do not have a digital presence, or who have a digital presence that is not optimized for mobile, accessibility, or conversion …
seoplus+ to provide Digital Marketing support for CanExport Program
seoplus+ partnering with Canadian organizations to provide SEO services, paid advertising management, and e-commerce consulting in conjunction with CanExport funding grant program for SMEs. If you’re a business, times are tough. Turbulent, even. But not having an adequate digital marketing strategy in place can make those seas all the choppier. The optimal approach is, unironically, …
How to Carry Yourself in the Face of Crisis
As each one of us continues to adapt to the new reality of life, the dominance of COVID-19 has brought a myriad of both challenges and opportunities. As a founder of a successful digital marketing agency that’s been in business for almost a decade, with years of prior professional marketing experience in uber competitive industries …
Investigating February’s Organic Rankings Volatility
If you monitor your search engine rankings like a hawk, you may have noticed that there’s been a lot of movement in organic rankings in the last few days. The volatility has got news wires in the SEO community heating up today, with SEMRush and SERoundTable spreading the word about another possible Google algorithm update. …
Mobile Web Browsing Overtakes Desktop Usage for the First Time Ever
Global stats provider StatCounter has released a study which announced that mobile and tablet internet usage has exceeded desktop for the first time worldwide. Mobile use has been trending upward since the advent of the smartphone and the widespread use of tablet devices, but it took until October 2016 for global mobile and tablet internet …
Google Data Studio Now Available in Canada
The wait is over. Google announced today that Google Data Studio (beta) is now available in Canada. This is part of Google’s rollout of their integrated data and marketing analytics product, Analytics 360 Suite. Google Data Studio gives you the tools you need to turn your analytics into beautiful, easy-to-read reports through their data visualization …
Remarketing Tips from a Paid Ads Expert
What is re-targeting / re-marketing? You know how you’re shopping on [some big site – Canadian Tire, Walmart etc.], you leave the site, and suddenly there are ads following you around the internet asking you to come back and buy that shirt. That’s remarketing. Remarketing is a great way of re-engaging visitors who have visited …
Political SEO and the Power of a Redirect
If you’re like me, you’ve probably come across a meme of Donald Trump bragging about having bought JebBush.com and setting the site to redirect to his own campaign page. The meme is partially truthful – JebBush.com does indeed redirect to DonaldJTrump.com. However upon further research this humorous coup is slightly too good to be true. …
5 Simple Optimizations for Your Website
There are so many things you can work on when it comes to your online presence: your website structure, content, graphics, social media, off-site (links, citations), paid social & search. The list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming to anyone – particularly non-technical folks. See below for five things you can do to …
Why Customer Loyalty Means Everything in 2016
It’s not all about new customers. You want loyal ones! As you set out your business goals for 2016, I can probably guess a few of them. Increase sales. Reduce expenditures. Grow brand awareness. Give back more to the community. Where does improving customer loyalty fall on the list? If it’s not at the top, …
Google Analytics 101
Meet Bob. He runs a small pet store on Roncevalles Avenue in Toronto. Every time a customer walks in the door, he has an instant sense of them. With just one glance, he can tell their gender and age. He can tell how long they spend looking at dog food versus dog toys. He can …
Featured Client: Roofmaster
Roofmaster specialize in residential re-roofing, heritage roofs, metal roofs, siding, roof repairs and skylight installation. Over the past several years, they have established a solid reputation as the €˜go-to’ roofers in the Ottawa Region; including Kanata, Barrhaven, Nepean, Orleans and South Keys. They continuously strive to provide a high level of value and customer service …
12 Days of Digital Marketing: Optimize Your Internal Pages for Conversions
A conversion is any desired action by a visitor on a web page. It could be as simple as clicking a link to another page on your site, filling out a form (like an newsletter sign-up), or completing a purchase. The goal of conversion tracking and marketing is to “convert” website visitors into paying customers. …
The Power of the Jeopardy-Winning Supercomputer Is Now Yours
In 2011, IBM’s supercomputer Watson appeared on Jeopardy! to face off against Ken Jennings (he of the longest unbeaten run in show history) and Brad Rutter (all-time biggest prize winner in show history). The computer system dubbed Watson emerged victorious in the two-part match, winning the $1 million prize with a final score of $77,147 …
How I Turned a Negative SEO Attack into a Positive
As a self-proclaimed SEO addict, I check my backlink profile nearly everyday. I like to monitor which marketing efforts have generated backlinks (such as those listed in my recent article on outreach.) To my surprise on September 16, I noticed some really spammy links with some pretty interesting anchor text pointing to my domain. Right …
3 Real Life Examples of Outreach That Produced Traffic, Increased Social Following and Landed HUGE Backlinks
Back in August, growth marketing guru Sujan Patel wrote about the data behind viral hits like Psy’s Gangnam Style, The Harlem Shake, and #thedress. These global viral phenomena, along with the more modest viral posts achievable by small and medium-sized businesses, are examples of the incredible heights that can be achieved when skill, luck, and …
Google Rebrands as Alphabet
HUGE news in the online world today, as Google has announced that they are rebranding as Alphabet (http://abc.xyz). What is Alphabet? Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies. The largest of which, of course, is Google. This newer Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main …
30 Professionals Weigh in on Their Most Effective Strategies for B2B Content Marketing
We asked a variety of founders, marketing managers, and online marketing experts: “When it comes to content marketing, what is the single most effective tactic or strategy for B2B companies and why?” There was an overwhelming response, and we’ve highlighted our top expert opinions. Leverage Relationships/Influencers for Mentions/Links – 2 E-Books/Whitepapers with Paid Ads – …
How to Rank a BRAND New Shopify Store: A Live Case Study
My newest project – I’m going to be setting up a new partnership with a roofing parts supplier and I will setup a brand new Shopify store. I’m going to document all SEO tasks performed on a BRAND NEW domain and Shopify store. This will be particularly helpful for all those who have a beautiful …
13 Social Media Post Ideas for Social Media Managers
Are you struggling to come up with a content calendar for your social media? Here are 13 social media post ideas for your social scheduling! Token giveaway Giving your customers a small token after their appointment will make sure they remember you. Take a photo and include it in your message to entice them. Give a …
Download Google Fonts Collection
Google’s has a gigantic collection of open-source fonts — called Google Fonts. It has grown steadily in popularity since launching over four years ago. The quality of the typefaces varies greatly, but if you’re in search of new fonts it’s a great place to look. Google has made the process of using its collection of …
How to Reduce Spam Leads in Salesforce With Web-to-Lead
It’s always a great feeling to get leads through your website. However it is a bit demotivating when you go to review the lead and you realize it’s SPAM! I noticed we were getting 1-2 “leads” daily around 3-4 AM, with the company name often being ‘Ranks India’. I realized the only way to block …
Lunch with Google and seoplus+
Confused about digital marketing? This is your chance to get your questions answered directly from Google. About the event If you’re hungry for comfort food and insider info about the latest in digital marketing, you’re in luck. seoplus+ is hosting an exclusive Google event, Lunch with Google, and you’re invited. This is your chance to …
Our Content Marketing Specialist is Now AdWords Certified
In order to become a certified Google partner, you must demonstrate your expertise with a series of intensive exams on the following topics: AdWords Fundamentals, Search Advertising, Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising, and Display Advertising. Additionally, you can demonstrate your knowledge of Google Analytics best practices with the Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ) exam. We are …
Webinar: Preparing for “Mobilegeddon” on April 21 – Google Mobile Search Changes
Mobile site? Responsive Design? New website? AAAH! Have you heard about “Mobilegeddon”? It’s the most significant algorithm change in Google history, and will be catastrophic to businesses who aren’t prepared. Let us make sense of all the buzz and relay it in terms that you’ll understand. In this 30-minute webinar, we will cover three items: …
How To Create a Call-to-Action Button on Your Facebook Page
Facebook recently introduced some additional features for anyone using a Facebook for Business Page. This is a great way to drive your social following back to your website to increase conversions. We hope that other Social networks will follow-suit (think LinkedIn, Twitter etc.) Are you wondering how to create a call-to-action button on your Facebook …
6 Killer Ways to Drive Sales with LinkedIn
LinkedIn can be a powerful resource when looking to drive sales, particularly for business-to-business (B2B). Here are 6 ways you can increase your sales with LinkedIn: 1. Build your profile Having a fully-fleshed out profile is the best way to communicate your strengths and proven abilities. You need to convey all of your relevant skills …
Don’t Waste Your Budget on the Yellow Pages – Invest in Digital Marketing Instead
Long gone are the days when a business named themselves AAA in order to be the first company listed in their Yellow Pages category. Now businesses are rallying to get the coveted top rated spots on Google search engines in order to be the first company people call when they need a service. So what does this …
6 Creative Ways Content Marketing Can Increase Your Sales
So many small businesses make the mistake of building a website under the misconception that “if they build it they will come”. Unfortunately, the world on the web is just as competitive as the world of business. If you are not actively seeking customers you will not generate leads or attract business. Content marketing is the …
Why Social Media is Important for Local Businesses
With the emergence of technology as the end-all-be-all for better business recognition and development, it seems silly for businesses to thrive reputably without the implication of social media marketing. As many people in the dawn of the technological age are still resistant towards social media integration for their own business, here’s a few reasons why …
Google+ Rolls Out Vanity URLs to All Linked Pages
Google has finally rolled out vanity URL’s on all Google+ linked pages. This has been long overdue with users being forced to access pages consisting of up to 16 characters. See below for a tutorial on how to activate your Vanity URL! Step 1 Access your Google+ Page. If you are eligible for a vanity …
Building an Effective Digital Marketing Strategy
With the rise of Google and the fall of the Yellow Pages, small and medium size businesses are quickly learning that to attract new clientele they must allocate marketing budget towards online marketing, such as Search Engine Optimization. Gone are the days of posting an ad in a phone book and waiting for the phone …
seoplus+ Gets a 3D Logo
Thanks to our friends at 3D Printler we now have our very own 3D logo! This amazing Ottawa-based company offers 3D design, build, print and consulting. In case you’ve never heard of 3D printing, according to Wikipedia: “3D printing is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital …
6 Ways to Make Your Content Go Viral
With the rise of social media and blogging, content marketing has become an integral part of any online marketing campaign. So what is content marketing? According to CopyBlogger.com “Content Marketing means creating and sharing valuable free content to attract and convert prospects into customers, and customers into repeat buyers. The type of content you share is …
SEO and Social Media: A Beneficial Symbiosis
The two most prominent tactics in online marketing today revolve around SEO and social media. Learning how to combine them to feed off of each other will help you achieve a better online presence as well as to reach your customers and keep them engaged. Getting the low down Nothing gets people talking more than …
Local SEO in Ottawa: A Guide to Success
When it comes to local SEO there is more to the formula than key words and phrases cleverly placed throughout well written content. There has to be an SEO strategy that encompasses all of the online marketing tools you have at your disposal and use them to apply grassroots tactics in a new world of …
Social Media for Business Marketing
Social media allows us to connect and build relationships with both current and potential customers. Unlike traditional media, social media is a two-way street. It allows for everyone to contribute to the conversation. Social media also levels the playing field. The cost for small businesses to participate is much lower than other traditional marketing initiatives …
What are the Different Types of Content – And Which Can Boost Your SEO Efforts?
When we talk about content in the context of your search engine optimization strategy, we’re actually talking about multiple types of content. Today we’d like to look at four types and how they can help (and harm) your SEO efforts. The first type is good old fashioned plagiarism. This is when you appropriate someone else’s content as …
How Google’s Author Tag Adds an Element of Authority to Your Blog and Brand
The predominant mantra around search engine optimization success is that “content is king.” After all, powerful and compelling content is the cornerstone of your blog and, in turn, your SEO efforts. Yet as anyone who’s received a spam email can attest “content” alone isn’t enough, and that’s because “content” is relative. A more accurate manta …
SEMPO Canada Roadshow Meetup – May 29th
Come out and see Brock Murray present at the next SEMPO Canada Roadshow Meetup on 5 Ways Your Blog Will Complement Your SEO Efforts. While it may sound like a daunting task, one of the best strategies to aid your SEO campaign is blogging. Why? Because regularly publishing company blog posts produces fresh shareable …
Tracking the ROI of Social Media
When dealing with social media marketing, a business needs to carefully balance embracing the more humanistic aspects of the medium while still keeping an eye on the bottom line. Social media marketing costs money. Even if social media marketing is budgeted as part of the PR department, at some point it still must demonstrate some …
We have just launched Herzing College Ottawa’s blog!
We have just launched the blog for Herzing College Ottawa! Check it out at http://www.collegeinyourcommunity.ca About Herzing College: Herzing College, Ottawa is conveniently located in the east end of Ottawa in the St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Tailored to meet the demand for Health Care, Business and Technology professionals in the nation’s capital, Herzing’s curriculum is designed to …
What’s the Most Efficient Way to Gauge the Health of Your Firm’s SEO Efforts?
A common misconception around search engine optimization is that it’s an add-on or a secondary consideration to your online marketing efforts. But at the end of the day, SEO is just as important as any traditional marketing channel, be it print advertising or e-mail marketing, and should be treated as such. This means …
Still Not Sold On SEO? Perhaps These Staggering Numbers Will Change Your Mind.
Are you not sold on SEO? When thinking about your online marketing strategy, you have many tools at your disposal. A recent study has shown that one tool in particular – search engine optimization – can yield disproportionately positive results. Research from eConsultancy found that 94 percent of Web users, when given the choice, select organic search results …
New York Times Looks at the State of Search Engine Marketing – A Must-Read
If you’re looking for a helpful article to help frame your online marketing and search engine optimization strategy, look no further than this piece in the April 3rd edition of the New York Times. The article looks at Google’s continued dominance in the search field as well as the types of challenges the Mountain View …
Facebook Graph and the Future of Search
When it comes to searching for content on the internet, there are giants who are known to dominate the business. For instance, Google is known to be the most popular search engine with other players in the market content with competing for the ridiculous market percentage left by dominating Google. Despite all these innuendos to …
What’s the Most Effective Metric in Measuring Your SEO Campaign’s Success?
When it comes to understanding the impact of your search engine optimization efforts, measurement is key. After all, you need some sort of quantifiable assessment to objectively gauge the potential return on your investment. So what is a good metric for success? It can vary by the company, but one metric is irrefutably powerful: the …
With an Eye on the Mobile Market, Google Changes its AdWords Campaign
Big news coming out of Mountain View, California, where Google recently announced it would alter its popular AdWords program. These changes could have a profound impact on your PPC management, and online advertisers aren’t too happy about it. Basically, Google is transitioning towards what it calls “Enhanced Campaigns,” whereby the advertiser provides specifics around the …
What are Social Media Sneezers?
Back before social media conquered the world, there was the esteemed “taste-maker.” The taste-maker could make or break a company, movie, or an idea with a mere sentence or public proclamation. They could be the Arts Editor at the New York Times or the Publisher of Consumer Reports. Regardless of the industry, there were a …
