Search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO, is daunting. Totally. I get it.

But one of the things you need to think about when launching a new web site are the words you write, AKA the “copy.” Here are some things you can do to write copy that is SEO-friendly while keeping you naturally on-brand.

First, you should starting thinking about key words and phrases that you think people would search for to find your content. If you have gone through a branding exercise, you’ll have a good idea of the words and phrases to use. You should come up with a few (no more than half a dozen or so) for each page, because the key words for one page may not be the same ones you would use on another. (more…)

Meredith was recently featured as a “Daring Doer” on Tory Johnson’s Spark & Hustle. What’s a Daring Doer, you ask? According to Tory, they’re “incredible women who are daring to do great things to grow small businesses.” It’s definitely worth a few minutes of your time to get some great insights from Meredith’s experience starting Rich Life Marketing and a look into a bit of her business philosophy. Check it out!

There are many definitions of a brand. To be honest, “brand” is such a simple word, but defining it can sometimes be challenging. At Rich Life Marketing, we take a simple approach to branding by defining it as what people say, think or feel about you and your business. In other words, think of your brand as the space you hold in someone’s mind.

The thing about branding that people get confused about is that the process of branding starts on the inside and only then can it truly manifest in external ways – logo, business card, colors, textures, business name, tag line, speaking topics, client experience and so forth.

Your job in leading your brand is to ensure your marketing, the client experience and all other touch points people have with your company are “on-brand.” In other words, everything looks, feels and behaves in a way that is aligned with how you want to be perceived. And by “everything” I mean everything from your web site, the topics you speak and write about, how you greet clients or customers, your voice mail, your products and services, the words and phrases you use, the quality of paper that your business cards are printed on and all other touch points.

It’s a big job, isn’t it? And you may be wondering how to even get started. Here are a few steps you can take to discover your brand. These are the same steps I cover my new program called Stand Out Brand Discovery. The answers to these questions will help you to build a brand that is uniquely suited to you. This is the foundational work to what will eventually make you stand out in a sea of sameness. (more…)