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In this episode of the Foremost Media Marketing Chat podcast, Jon Ballard, Evan Facinger, and Christian Martin Romero dive into the evolving landscape of search engines, particularly focusing on AI-generated search results. They explore the implications for businesses, SEO strategies, and the ongoing importance of content quality and authority. THE EVOLUTION OF SEARCH ENGINES AND AI Jon, Evan, and Christian talk about how AI is transforming search engines, from Google's RankBrain to the emergence of new AI-driven search platforms. The team addresses concerns about zero-click searches, where users find answers directly on search results pages without visiting websites, and how this impacts visibility and traffic. Despite these changes, the importance of maintaining high-quality, authoritative content remains critical and the role of authorship and E-E-A-T ( Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) principles in ensuring that content is trusted and prioritized by search engines has not diminished by any means. SEO STRATEGIES IN THE AGE OF AI While AI is changing how search results are generated, traditional SEO practices still hold value. Modern website owners and marketers need to double down on content creation, focusing on long-tail queries and informational content that meets users' needs. Optimizing website performance is still important as well. From load times to crawl budgets, ensuring that sites are easily indexable by search engines. Businesses can and should leverage AI not only for SEO but also as a tool for content creation and market research. AI has the potential to analyze and summarize large amounts of data, such as customer reviews, to help businesses make informed decisions. While we acknowledg the need to "trust but verify" AI-generated content, we recognize the time-saving benefits AI can provide when used correctly. TIMESTAMPS: * 0:00 Intro * 1:15 Google's RankBrain and Machine Learning * 4:22 The Rise of AI-Generated Search Results * 6:05 The Impact of AI on Website Visibility and Authority * 8:30 Understanding Zero-Click Searches * 10:15 SEO Strategies in the Age of AI * 12:05 The Importance of Quality Content and Authorship * 14:10 Leveraging AI for Content Creation and Market Research * 16:25 The Future of Search Engines and Potential Market Shifts * 18:40 The Role of Traditional SEO Practices in AI-Driven Search * 20:10 Optimizing Website Performance for AI and SEO * 22:05 The “Trust but Verify” Approach to AI Content * 24:15 Final Thoughts on Preparing for the Future of Search * 29:00 Outro Find more marketing insights and show notes here [https://www.foremostmedia.com/resources/blog/posts?category=foremost-podcast]

In this episode of the Foremost Media Marketing Chat podcast, Jon Ballard and Evan Facinger discuss the unique challenges and necessities for school district websites. They discuss the importance of user experience [https://www.foremostmedia.com/web-design-ux/ux-analysis], ADA compliance, and how to effectively organize content to meet the needs of several different unique audiences. THE IMPORTANCE OF FLEXIBILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY Proprietary content management systems (CMS) are often far too limiting for what school districts need. We advocate for the flexibility of open-source platforms like WordPress. School websites need to be functional, easy to navigate, and tailored to the specific needs of students, parents, staff, and the community. There are several critical features of school district websites that need to be considered, including calendar integrations, news updates, and mobile-friendly design, ensuring that the site serves all users effectively. MARKETING AND BRANDING FOR SCHOOLS Jon and Evan also discuss the often-overlooked aspect of marketing in the education sector. They share examples of how schools, including virtual, private, and public institutions, can benefit from strategic marketing to drive enrollment and community engagement. They also touch on the importance of branding consistency, suggesting that schools develop clear brand guidelines to maintain a professional online presence. TIMESTAMPS: * 0:00 Intro * 0:46 Organizing Information for Several Audiences at Once * 5:26 Which Management Platform is Best? * 8:45 Calendar Integration * 10:28 Content Plugin for News & Updates * 11:38 Misc Integrations: Links, Document Management, & Social Media * 13:27 The Importance of Digital Marketing for School District Websites * 14:59 Planning is Key * 16:18 Have Consistent Brand Guidelines * 17:07 Foremost Selected as UW's Primary Pre-Approved Vendor * 18:21 Outro Find more marketing insights and show notes here [https://www.foremostmedia.com/resources/blog/posts?category=foremost-podcast]

This episode walks through how website privacy laws are changing and why businesses should get user consent for cookies. It emphasizes compliance is not just legal, but ethical and expected by users. THE IMPORTANCE OF SEO AUDITING IN 2024 In this episode, Jon Ballard and Evan Facinger discuss privacy consent laws that have already existed in Europe and are starting to increase in specific states across the US. These laws are complex and vary by state, but generally they require websites to get user consent before using cookies to track user activity. The price for non-compliance in fines can be as high as $7,500 and that's just per site visitor. Companies shouldn't just comply with these laws to avoid fines, but also because it's the right thing to do and what users expect. We also recommend that companies update their privacy policies and cookie consent [https://www.cookieyes.com/welcome/?ref=yjviodq] forms to reflect the latest laws and technologies. All websites across the internet are affected by this so we urge anyone who owns a website for their business to tune in. NEED HELP BECOMING COMPLIANT? Are you a website owner unsure if your site meets the latest privacy compliance laws? You could be at risk of hefty fines for non-compliance. The world and laws are changing and many already have changed. Contact Foremost Media [https://www.foremostmedia.com/contact-us] for a free consultation and we can help you understand whether or not your site is compliant. If it isn't, we offer the very services to fix this for you potentially saving you thousands of dollars in the future. TIMESTAMPS: * 0:00 Intro * 2:12 US States That Are Already Affected * 3:12 What is a Cookie? What is Cookie Consent? * 5:41 What Privacy Consent Laws Cover (And Their Consequences) * 6:42 Trying to Find Loopholes is a Bad Idea * 8:53 How Compliant Technology Has Evolved * 11:12 Future-Proofing Your Website * 14:41 Outro Find more marketing insights and show notes here [https://www.foremostmedia.com/resources/blog/posts?category=foremost-podcast]

In this episode, Evan Facinger and Jon Ballard guide you through the March 2024 Google Helpful Content Update. With Google is cracking down on scaled content abuse, particularly AI-generated content lacking original insights, and manipulative linking practices, they're here to ensure your website isn't negatively impacted and where you can find opportunities to take advantage of this update. THE IMPORTANCE OF SEO AUDITING IN 2024 Hosts Evan Facinger and Jon Ballard walk through the impact of the March 2024 Google Helpful Content Update which doubled down on the September 2023 updates, aiming to elevate content quality across the web. This update emphasized original, user-focused content over content that is only created to manipulate search engines which will massively negatively impact AI-generated and spammy content, parasite SEO, and manipulative linking practices. Now more than ever, experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are necessary for creating high ranking content in the eyes of Google. Listeners will gain valuable insights into maintaining high rankings or recovering from losses post-update. Jon and Evan also discuss the role of high-quality backlinks, how the Core Web Vitals have changed, and trusted author attribution for content. If you're a marketer or website owner navigating these changes, this episode is packed with essential tips and strategies to ensure your content remains relevant and competitive. Tune in for expert advice and actionable steps to adapt and thrive amidst Google's ongoing updates. RESOURCES REFERENCED: Google Feedback Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf76Nm3Xsd5NoOPzFajem2sIdwgeewlqAH7XknhycaqP6myRA/viewform?pli=1] Google Search Central Content Article [https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content] TIMESTAMPS: * 0:00 Intro * 1:03 The March 2024 Google Helpful Content Update * 2:06 What Unhelpful Content is to Google * 6:03 Trusted Authors will be More Important in the Future * 7:22 Google Search Central Content Article [https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content] * 8:04 How Important are High Quality Links? * 10:03 What is Parasite SEO? * 11:24 What to do if You've Been Negatively Impacted * 14:00 Additional Google Updates * 15:05 Outro Find more marketing insights and show notes here [https://www.foremostmedia.com/resources/blog/posts?category=foremost-podcast]

Hosts Evan Facinger and Jon Ballard discuss geo-fencing in this episode, discussing its use in targeted advertising for trade shows, competitor customer targeting, and recruitment. COMPETE LOCALLY & TARGET ONLY THE BEST LEADS In this episode of the Foremost Media Marketing Chat Podcast, hosts Evan Facinger and Jon Ballard delve into the intricacies of geo-fencing, a location-based marketing tool that allows businesses to target ads to individuals entering or leaving a specific area. They clarify common misconceptions about geo-fencing, differentiating it from broader geo-targeting capabilities offered by platforms like Google Ads and Facebook. The discussion covers practical applications of geo-fencing, such as enhancing visibility at trade shows, targeting competitors' customers, and corporate recruiting. They emphasize the importance of choosing the right platform for geo-fencing, crafting compelling ad creatives, and optimizing mobile sites for conversions. The episode underscores geo-fencing's value as a cost-effective, highly targeted advertising strategy that, when integrated with a comprehensive marketing mix, can significantly boost brand recognition and campaign success. TIMESTAMPS: * 0:00 Intro * 1:10 What even is Geo-fencing? * 3:05 Tradeshow Marketing * 5:01 Partnering with other platforms and apps * 6:11 Seeing location based targeting in person * 6:31 Corporate Recruiting with Geo-fencing * 9:28 Using geo-fencing to compete locally * 10:59 Understanding the data collection * 12:02 Design ads and campaigns for mobile users * 14:21 Outro Find more marketing insights and show notes here [https://www.foremostmedia.com/resources/blog/posts?category=foremost-podcast]