Think Big Partners Spins Off Digital Startup Marketing Company Inboun

We've built a lot of great things at Think Big Partners.  From Kansas City-based startup companies to the production of large events, we have become experts in the entrepreneurial field.  And with that, we have learned a lot of interesting marketing tactics along the way--marketing tactics that have led to recognition by publications such as Sprouter and The Social Media Bible.  Startup marketing is something we excel at--and it's time for us to get serious about it.

That's why Think Big Partners has split off its marketing unit as a separate business known as Inboun, which specializes in digital marketing for startups as well as small and mid-sized businesses.

Inboun currently focuses on inbound marketing consulting, strategy development, public relations, audio/video development, digital marketing analytics and measurement, as well as social media, content, event, custom engagement and startup marketing services.

Inboun’s client list includes The North Face, The Roasterie, Hitch Fit Online Personal Training, Coaches vs. Cancer, The College Basketball Experience, Ruckus, Think Big Partners and other local (Kansas City-based) and national companies.   

Inboun also specializes in marketing many of Think Big Partners’ startups involved in the accelerator program, the incubator and in the coworking space.  As Inboun’s niche market, these Kansas City-based startups and early-stage companies utilize the company’s digital marketing services in order to promote their brand, drive traffic to their new websites, establish a voice in the community and market innovative products that are new to the industry.    

“We enjoy helping entrepreneurs because we are entrepreneurs too,” said founder of Inboun, Herb Sih.  “Throughout helping so many startups during our experience of building Think Big Partners, as well as working closely with entrepreneurs during events like Think Big Kansas City, The Gigabit Challenge and iKC, we realized that one of our biggest strengths is helping these startups market exactly what they do and how they do it.  Marketing for startups requires a very different approach than marketing for established brands.  Lucky for us, we excel at both.” 

In addition to working with startups, Inboun also works with established brands through an integrated inbound marketing strategy.  By collaborating with other marketing agencies, developing both short- and long-term marketing campaigns and assisting brands with social media marketing, Inboun’s client base has grown quickly since its inception in mid-2011.

"Working with Inboun has been a great experience," says Diana Chaloux-LaCerte, co-owner of Hitch Fit and client of Inboun. "They have aided us greatly in developing effective marketing strategies, in addition to creating loads of valuable, traffic driving, custom content to our websites and social media networks. The team is fun to work with and extremely responsive to all of our requests and needs. They obviously have our best interest and growth in mind, and we look forward to a continuing relationship as we expand our company." 

One of Inboun’s most sought-after services is event marketing, also referred to as experiential-based marketing.  By connecting constituency groups to brands as well as utilizing events as a marketing tactic, Inboun has helped various startups and established brands not only market their events, but to use events as a promotional technique.  Events that Inboun has been involved with include the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, The College Basketball Hall of Fame Weekend, iKC, The Gigabit Challenge, Treasure You Retreat and upcoming Kansas City innovation competition, HackovateHealth. 

At Inboun, we are thrilled to work with some of Kansas City’s most sought-after brands as well as some of the nation’s growing businesses.  Whether it’s developing the next creative campaign, developing a strong PR strategy, promoting an upcoming event or teaching our clients the power of social media marketing, Inboun's focus is to teach progressive companies and innovative startups how to develop powerful customer relationships that lead to revenue and measurable results.

Want to learn more about Inboun?  Visit online at www.inboun.com or on Twitter @Inboun.

Top 10 Ways Your Startup's Blog Will Fail

#BlogFail.  It's a hashtag that is used almost every day by a handful of people on Twitter.  That's because it is very, very common for a blog post, or even an entire blog website, to completely fail.  At the end of 2011, there were 109 million blogs on just Tumblr and Wordpress alone.  With the millions and millions of blogs on the Internet, many are bound to fail.  

Will your startup's blog be one of them? 

Fingers crossed you're doing everything you can to keep your blog on the fast track to success.  But if your blog struggling to capture the attention of readers, there are 10 huge mistakes you could be making in the blogosphere. 

1. No Keywords & No SEO 

No one said SEO was easy, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to create a keyword-driven headline and optimized content. Many novice bloggers enter the blogosphere with a "if I write it, they will come" attitude.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  Every blogger should do his or her best to incorporate effective keyword and SEO strategies.  How so?  Look up some strong keywords in the Google Keyword Tool by Google AdWords.  The keywords with low competition and high local/global monthly searches should be prominent in your blogs.  In addition, it's important to link your blog content out to other websites.  Share the Internet love (but remember, only incorporate 1.5 link per every 100 words, or Google will consider you spam!).  Build your SEO and your readership numbers will increase!  

2. A God Awful Template 

You've seen it before, haven't you? A really ugly blog?  Of course you have.  Many bloggers care so much about the content they produce and spend very little time on the blog's template.  Although a blog template isn't the most important piece of a blog (remember, content is king!), it sure doesn't hurt to be visually appealing.  Pump up your blog's appearance by hiring a graphic designer, web developer or just play around with the templates yourself! 

3. Irrelevant Content

If your blog is titled "Startup Marketing for Dummies", why would you blog about the health care system (unless for some reason, your post relates to inbound marketing somehow)? Your startup's blog should stick with a general theme.  At the same time, don't be afraid to let current events and trending topics become a piece of your blog.  If the Presidential debate is a hot topic on the Internet, but your blog is about social media, write a blog about how the Presidential debate is utilizing social media effectively (or ineffectively).  There's always a way to add a twist--just make sure it stays true to your blog's area of expertise.  

4. Lack of Pictures

Sure, we usually visit blogs to read content, but it doesn't hurt to have pictures incorporated as well.  A stimulating or interesting picture at the top of a blog post can actually do wonders (just look at what we did at the top of this one!  Did it draw you in?).  Much like your blog's template, your posts need to be visually stimulating as well.  Incorporate pictures when you can to truly paint a story.  

5. Inconsistent Posting

Nothing kills a blog like inconsistent posting.  If you post on your blog a lot in the beginning (let's say, 4-5 times a week), and then leave it deserted for 2 months, people are not going to continue to visit your startup's blog.  As a matter of fact, it's frustrating for readers to find that one of their favorite blog sites has gone completely dark.  Don't do that to your readers!  Keep your blog posts consistent--even if that means just one post a week.  It's better than going dark for 6 months!   

6.  Forgetting Social 

Remember that blog readers spend a lot of time on the Internet.  That usually means that they also spend a lot of time on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  Always incorporate social media buttons that link your blog to your startup's social pages so that readers can follow you and post your blog to their social media accounts.  Now that's how you generate more readers! 

7.  No Call to Action

Many bloggers write their thoughts, feelings and expert opinions on a blog and leave no call to action at the end.  What can the reader actually do with the blog post?  Should they share it with their coworkers?  Vote in a poll?  Visit a website?  Call a number?  Tweet to their readers?  Like you on Facebook?  Be sure to instruct the reader on what to do after they have read the blog--even if that just means to sit and think about your content.  Every blog post should be written for a reason.  

8.  Unorganization

Is there anything worse than reading a bunch of blabber in an email?  It's all unorganized and we can hardly keep up with the run-on sentences, the scattered thoughts, the lack of periods.  The same goes for blogs. Keep your blog posts organized.  Use the miraculous paragraph, for example.  Space your blog out into a bulleted or numbered list (like this one--FYI, people LOVE lists).  Check your grammar and spelling.  And of course, don't write like you speak.  Make it easy to read! 

9. No Comments Allowed

One of the biggest mistakes a blogger can make is to not incorporate a Comments section.  A Comments section not only allows your readers to interact with your blog and voice their own opinions, but will also provide you with direct blog feedback!  Nervous that someone will post something unrelated or nasty in your comments section?  Many blog platforms allow you to approve or delete comments.

10. No Purpose 

As mentioned earlier, every blog post should be written for a reason.  The same goes for blogs as a whole.  A blog should have a purpose--whether that's to inform, vent, solve a problem, educate, make people laugh, drive traffic to a website, advertise or promote.  Make sure that your startup's blog has a purpose and define that purpose before you even write the first word.  

So the next time you think about sitting down to start a blog or write another Bloggies-worthy blog post, take a step back and see if you're committing any of these 10 startup blog sins! 

Freelancers University Presents The Art & Science of Marketing Your Company

Let’s face it. Today’s prospective client is inundated with more marketing messages than ever before. You, as a startup, need to stand out...and attract the right clientele. Between all the media options out there, it’s no surprise that interruption-based marketing is fighting harder than ever for a slice of your target’s attention. And of course, there are unique challenges to marketing your company when you’re facing rapid growth, small budgets or are entering an already-crowded marketplace with your service.

That's why Freelancers University is hosting The Art and Science of Marketing your Company, a 2 hour seminar to teach entrepreneurs and startups the ins-and-outs of traditional marketing, integrated marketing and inbound marketing (and how they work both separately and together).  Instructed by Herb Sih, co-founder of Think Big Partners and up-and-coming marketing agency Inboun, this class will get down to the marketing nitty-gritty that you really need to hear.

In this class, you’ll discover:

• The difference between traditional marketing and integrated, inbound marketing (and why they work differently)
• Key considerations for identifying your business goals that will drive your marketing strategy
• Specific tactics to employ based on your business goals
• Ways to research your marketplace for marketing insight
• The importance for mining your marketing feedback loop to produce the best service in your niche market
• 10 things you must do when creating a successful, integrated, inbound marketing plan for your company

Join Think Big, Freelancers University and tons of entrepreneurs, startups and marketing professionals for this event on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 5:30-7:30pm.  The event will take place at bizperc (1800 Baltimore in KCMO).  Cost is $20 before September 12th and $25 after.  Register today!

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

What Class Do You Wish Schools Would Add?

Ever sit down at a coworking space next to a frantically-coding entrepreneur and think, "I wish I knew how to code"?

Ever browse Twitter, just for kicks, and wonder what in the heck that # symbol is for?

Ever attend a networking event and find yourself huddled in the corner, not sure how to approach the industry leaders you're surrounded by?

Let's face it: business school didn't teach us everything we need to know about starting a business.  And when entrepreneurs have to wear many different hats to run a business, sometimes, we wish we knew what we didn't know.  

That's why, in honor of going back to school, we're asking you to answer our August poll: Which class should high schools, universities and even elementary schools start adding to their curricula?

1. Social Media 101
2. Coding/Programming 101
3. SEO 101
4. Inbound Marketing 101
5. Networking 101
6. Web Development 101
7. Content Creation 101

Vote above today and voice your opinion, then share your vote on Twitter...that is, if you know how to use Twitter...

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

003 Think Big Radio: Inboun with Allison Way

Think Big Radio interviews senior copywriter for Inboun, Allison Way.  Inboun is an inbound marketing startup that offices in Think Big’s coworking space, bizperc.  As a client of Inboun, Think Big Partners utilizes the marketing company for content development, web development, inbound marketing consulting and strategy assessment.  Inboun proclaims that interruption marketing is dying and that it’s time to for brands to play a more engaging and empowering role in the marketing world.  

003 Think Big Radio: Inboun with Allison Way

Blogging for Bucks: How Your Startup's Blog Can Bring in Cash

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Blogging brings in a lot of benefit.  Not only do blogs direct potential customers to a startup’s site, but they can also help sell a product, inform readers about a service, or act as a megaphone for thoughts and opinions. 

But did you know that blogging can bring in the bucks too?

It’s true.  If done effectively, blogging can generate extra cash for your startup.  And when you’re first starting out, any money is better than no money at all!

Many startups may already have an established blog (but if you don’t, be sure to read this article before you get started: The Blog Brawl: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Enter the Blogosphere).  Blogs can be easily set up through sites like Blogger, Wordpress or even Joomla. 

Once your blog has been created, generating interesting and consistent content is key.  When you write about topics that people are interested in reading, more users will visit your blog.  And when more users visit your blog, you have more potential customers in your market.  With patience, a blog can bring in thousands and thousands of viewers a month (or even a week!)—and that’s a lot of potential new customers. 

Once your blog has built a strong readership and is well-received by the public, it may be time to look into generating blog bucks.  But how?

1.  Blog Ads

Blogs can make money through the display of advertisements.  Many bloggers use Google AdSense, a service that pays based on how many readers have clicked on a blog’s advertisements (and it’s free!).  Other bloggers use CPM-driven tools that pay by the total number of impressions the advertisements receive.  For this, a startup can use ContextWeb, AdClickMedia, Adbrite or Adify. 

If you’re interested in taking your blog advertisements a step further, look into BlogAds.  BlogAds hook bloggers up with would-be advertisers and levies a commission in return for ad placements. 

The biggest concern that most startups have about advertising on a blog is that the advertisements will not match up with the blog’s theme or topic.  But tools such as AdSense account—the service pinpoints certain words in the blog so that the content matches the advertisements. 

2.  Direct Ad Sales

Selling space directly to advertisers can be a challenge, but it is possible!  With a highly-accredited blog, many advertisers may want to “buy” space on your blog, much like a newspaper or magazine.  Find services and products that tie into your niche market in order to place direct ad sales on your blog.

3.  Affiliate Programs

Blogs can serve as a conduit between readers and online sites that offer goods and services.  One of the best affiliate programs out there today comes from Amazon.com (Amazon Associates on Blogger).

When a blog mentions or reviews a book, it can link to the Amazon.com page so that readers can buy the book with a few clicks of the mouse.  When people find the book on your blog and then purchase them from Amazon.com, you get paid!

Other companies with great blogging affiliate programs include FlexOffers, LinkConnector, Commission Junction, Shareasale, E-Junkie, LinkShare, ING Direct, Ebates, Perkstreet Financial, Mint.com and Sharebuilder.

4.  Inbound Marketing

Many blogs exist just so that users can shout their opinions and thoughts to the world.  But what about using your blog to generate business?  That’s what inbound marketing is all about.

A startup can expand blog thoughts and opinions by talking about how a particular service or product can create solution or solve a problem.  By providing a call-to-action at the bottom of the blog, readers may feel a sense of urgency to look at your website or call your new startup.  Use effective search engine optimization, link building and keywording to bring more people to your blog—you never know; this could produce more customers! 

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

On the 11th Day of Coworking bizperc Gave To Me...

This holiday, bizperc is hosting the 12 Days of Coworking.  For the next 12 business days, bizperc will be giving away awesome prizes in order to encourage entrepreneurs to celebrate the holiday season.  Watch the video above to learn about the 11th day of coworking...and win 11 days of free inbound marketing! 

"Like" bizperc on Facebook and share this video with your friends.  One lucky person will be randomly selected to win 11 days of inbound marketing.  Does your Facebook page need to be beefed up?  Are you lagging behind on Twitter?  Could the SEO on your blogs be improved?  If so, this is the Facebook contest for you!  Inboun will provide you with 11 days of marketing to amp up your business's online presence! 


Requirements: your company MUST already have a website in order to win this prize. Inbound marketing will include Twitter, Facebook, blogs and articles (setup and maintenance) for 11 business days.

Good luck and Think Big!

Follow bizperc! @bizperc

Unlock the Social Media Rockstar Within!

Are you ready to unlock the social media rock star within you? Next Tuesday's Entrepreneur Bootcamp will focus on creating an effective inbound marketing platform to launch your business for less. This interactive session will be presented by Think Big Partners' cofounder, Herb Sih; web designer, Blake Miller and senior copy editor, Allison Way.

"I am looking forward to teaching other Kansas City entrepreneurs about the importance of social media for small business and startups. It has become an extremely important part of marketing strategies," says Allison.

The traditional marketing landscape is changing, and it is important that businesses and marketers adjust with it.

"We have been conducting social media consulting and inbound marketing services through Think Big Partners and inboun for quite some time. We have so many companies that want to learn more about how to effectively execute social media efforts that we knew that this bootcamp was a must," says Allison.

Inbound marketing combines the tactics of social media marketing and content marketing all into one platform to achieve important business marketing goals. Stop interrupting and start getting your customers to reach out to you when they are ready to do business. Those attended next weeks bootcamp will learn:

• An overview of major social networking platforms and how to use each one
• How to evaluate your market (audience) and create a content strategy that will get people to engage with you and your brand
• How to understand the "recipe" to integrate your social media and content marketing efforts to maximize results
• How to create the right image and profiles that demand attention on the 3 top social networking platforms
• How to create an actionable social media marketing playbook that you can execute on your own
• An understanding of the difference between earned media, paid media, and placed media and the benefits of each
• How to create compelling content that will reinforce your brand, optimize your website and support your business goals
• Real case studies that showcase tactics you can use to achieve your marketing goals

Join Think Big Partners and bizperc on November 8th at 3:oo and learn how to master the art and science that is inbound marketing. This will be an interactive session, so be sure to bring your laptop! Register today!

Follow me! @LauraGThinkBig