The most important thing any business needs to do to survive is reach customers. Traditionally, this can mean cold calls, billboards, flyers, and a slew of other advertising means. However, inbound marketing allows businesses to create a web presence that encourages clients to seek out and make use of the company. Harnessing this ability can be difficult, so being aware of the options and goals of this type of marketing are vital to being effective.

Social Feeds

Social media is an amazing way to connect with clients immediately and intimately. Being able to post updates about your business and useful tidbits that would intrigue clients is a great way to connect with people and keep your name in the forefront of the customer’s mind. Moreover, your clients have a way to give praise and discuss concerns directly with you. As soon as they contact your business, you can reply and meet whatever needs they put forth, even if it’s just needing a thank you for a compliment.

Blogs

Blogs are a great way to share your expertise with your clients. You have knowledge about your field that is both useful and powerful. When you give that information in a simple and accessible way, your clients will be able to take advantage of your knowledge and you’ll be establishing your company as an expert in the field. When it comes time to buy product or start a service, those clients will be drawn to you.

eBooks

Though one of the most underutilized forms of inbound marketing, eBooks are a great way to find leads. In essence, an eBook is a source of information about something your clients want to know in depth. You can post the first page or two as a taste, then ask the client to download the eBook if they want to read the rest. In exchange for the download, you ask only for contact information. Every person who reads this free literature is someone who is interested in your company and someone you can reach out to.

Search Engines

For many people today, the first way they try to find a product or service is online. Making your company’s website appear on search engines is an absolute necessity to be found. There are many tactics that can accomplish this, but basically you want to create a site that has a significant amount of relevant content and keywords that people are likely to search for. You can also create a site map that helps search engines determine exactly what you offer and where it’s located.

Bringing customers to you is essential to thriving in today’s marketplace. Whether your company is a one person start up or a fortune 500, a social and content driven site will bring more people in. When you’re ready to see your leads and site visits increase, explore Leverage Marketing to see what they can do for you.

Everyone says technology is racing forward at lightning speed, so it sometimes seems impossible to keep track of what gadgets are available. Every week it seems there are amazing things that no one’s ever heard of, and Leverage Marketing wants you to know the best gadgets available today.

Magic Wand Remote

So maybe “coolest” isn’t the right word for this gadget, but it’s pretty great nonetheless. Rather than using buttons, you can change the channel with a flick of the wrist. You can program up to 13 commands to whatever wrist movements you want, and even record shows with a swish of the arm. For Harry Potter fans or just the mystically inclined, this remote is a must-have.

Embrace+

This device is a simple bracelet that is tied to your smart phone. When you get a text, call, email, or social media alert, the bracelet will light up. Each different alert will manifest as a different color, so you know exactly what your network is doing. Whether your phone is buried in the bottom of your purse or hidden away in your pockets, you will immediately know that someone is trying to contact you and you can be sure you won’t miss any more calls.

Google Glass

Taking instant communication one step further, Google Glass puts your smart phone screen literally right in front of your face. The screen is held by an eyeglass-like set up so that the tiny screen is directly in front of the user’s eye. This project has been in the works for the past two years, and it looks like it will be launched toward the end of this year.

“I’m Here” GPS Tracker

With a GPS in almost every car and every pocket, it seems like the next logical step is to pack one in all those items we value the most. The “I’m Here” GPS Tracker is a small tracker that can be attached to anything – a piece of luggage, a dog’s collar, even a child’s shoe. In an emergency, your phone can show exactly where the tracker is and help you locate what’s been lost.

Vibrating Fork

Amazingly, this may be the newest weight loss sensation. Scientists and dieters alike are well aware that it takes 20 minutes for your body to realize it’s full. The vibrating fork will be able to tell you when you’re eating too fast, letting you slow down and give your body a chance to process the food.

If all this fails to amaze you, it may be time to use your brand new iPhone case to open a bottle of your favorite beverage. Showing Apple’s priorities are squarely in line with college men across the country, the newest case has a built in bottle opener. Keep checking Leverage Marketing to find more on the most exciting in tech, advertising, internet, and everything else that’s changing the world.

Whether you’re a SXSW veteran or virgin, you want to make sure you take full advantage of all Austin has to offer this week.  Leverage Marketing is proud to have worked in Austin since 2003 and wants to help you find the best sets in town.

Music Showcases

First, test out some of the music showcases.  With a mixture of well-known and brand new names, there’s something for every taste.  The fun starts Tuesday night, though if you want to catch some behind-the-scenes action, you can start as early as Sunday.  You can even try to join the cast of some great music videos by visiting the open casting call Monday at 2 at the Austin Convention Center.

For those of us who would rather sit back and enjoy the show, you can pick your favorite spot and enjoy a night of music.  Rock lovers can park at 512 Rooftop, BD Riley’s, Buffalo Billiards, Elysium, or a whole host of other venues and see one fantastic band after another.  However, the fun spans all genres.  Country fans can go to Saxon Pub or The White Horse, Hip-Hop is at 404 Austin, Electronica at Barcelona, and just about every other sound is somewhere in Austin.  Check out the whole schedule at the SXSW Music Schedule.

Film Screenings

Film screenings are going on all week long.  You can pick your favorite type and fill the week with that video or take a taste of each.  Narrative features will display the art of storytelling, documentaries will capture real-world wonders and horrors, and headliners will show you some of the biggest stars from the red carpet.  You can also stop in on the fan favorites, risk-taking film makers will be highlighted in the “visions” category, or even see what can’t be shown in the daytime in the “midnighters” category.  For the full list of potential movies and types, check out the SXSW Film Schedule.

Interactive Sessions

You can take part of South by Southwest in one of their interactive exhibits.  Austin draws the best minds in technology, gaming, and innovative ideas and brings them together in a week of exhibitions.  There’s even a chance for networking in the Digital Creative Job Market.  The best professionals in the country will be looking for talented individuals, and you can celebrate your new career venture with the music and films going on all night.  Gamers will find their haven in Nintendo’s Gaming Expo, and professionals can find ways to increase their market share with new techniques to get their games to consumers using social media.

No matter why you came to Austin, South by Southwest has the perfect event for you.  Movies, music, games and networking are happening all week long.  For more tips on the best places in Austin, visit www.sxsw.com or talk to a Leverage Marketing professional today.

As odd as it sounds, the age of the wallet may be coming to an end.  That’s not to say that we’re entering a world where we no longer need to pay for things (though if wishing made it so…), but soon our phone may be the only payment method we need.  Downloading a few fantastic apps can let us throw away our wallets and use our phones to get us through the day.

Square Wallet

One of the most ubiquitous and useful apps is square wallet.  This app links to any credit or debit card, then helps you find retailers that allow you to pay with the square.  Using your location, it provides a list of nearby stores where you can pay simply by using this app.  The amazing thing about square is that this is not a simple scan set up.  Instead, you put your name and a picture of yourself on the app, which will appear on the retailer’s screen.  At check out, you give your name, the retailer checks your identity by glancing at the photo you’ve uploaded, and the payment is automatically deducted.  You don’t have to dig your phone out of your bag or even open this app.  Simply saying your name is enough.

Google Wallet

For those with Android phones, Google Wallet provides a method to store all your credit and debit cards in the cloud.  At retailers, you can pay with a single click and choose which card you’d like to use.  One incredible benefit to this is that the cards are stored online regardless of what interface you’re using.  This means you can go to a store and use your Android phone, then log onto your work computer and buy some much needed business supplies, and at home, use your tablet to plan and pay for your upcoming vacation.  You don’t have to re-enter all your information on every device.  Instead, Google Wallet maintains your information wherever you go.

Passbook

This application works with Apple Phones and is most useful for reward memberships rather than virtual payments.  Rather than carrying around a huge keychain filled with the various reward memberships you use nearly every day, you can tie the member numbers to passbook.  Once you scan your reward card onto this app, you can throw away the physical card, and instead store everything in one convenient location.  Even better, the Passbook will automatically downloaded coupons to those stores you frequent the most, so you never have to worry about having the right coupon on hand.  Some stores, like Starbucks, even tie their cards to Passbook so you can pay directly from the app.

To be sure, there is a lifestyle change that is quickly occurring in this country.  Smart phones are becoming easier to use than credit cards, and businesses are becoming part of the mobile revolution.  Soon, all you’ll need to face the day is a set of keys and your phone.

Online marketing has become massively more competitive and sophisticated over the past few years. This has come about not merely through the introduction of social and the proliferation of mobile, but through the increased integration of all of these elements and an improved understanding of how these elements behave.

A recent study released by iProspect in 2010 states that the likelihood of a site visit increases by 91% when Organic Search and Paid Search results are on the same page. This suggests that beyond just running an Adwords campaign for paid conversions, a smart marketing campaign will leverage both organic and paid to play off one another and increase brand recognition.

Below, our infographic expands upon this concept, providing information on the cost per click trends pertaining to a number of important industries. Read on below and leave a comment with your thoughts on what direction your industry should take or where you see online marketing going in general.