Do you ever click from one digital marketing blog to the next and still have trouble applying the information to your marketing techniques? The sheer amount of content these blogs offer becomes overwhelming.
You know you’ll fall behind if you don’t continue to learn, but where do you find the best tips and tactics for your digital marketing agency? You can start by staying ahead in digital marketing by narrowing your focus to only the most useful content.
That content must help you acquire new customers and scale your business. You need online marketing content that gets the basics right and deals in relevant new ideas, not distractions.
I’ve compiled a list of blogs that won’t waste your time with things you don’t need to know. They produce actionable content to help you and your customers. Whether you are a marketer for B2C or B2B companies, you’ll find the information you need on these blogs.
Find out here which marketing blogs I recommend for 2020 and beyond. While you’re at it, check out their top articles and the people behind the blogs.
Top Blogs for Digital Marketing Agency Owners
1. Seven Figure Agency
I live and breathe digital marketing, so I had to include my own digital marketing agency blog in the wrap-up.
In 2011, I started a niche digital marketing agency, Plumbing & HVAC SEO. Since then, it’s grown from the ground up to pull in annual revenue of over $4 million.
Seven Figure Agency applies the lessons I’ve learned and continue to learn about what works and what doesn’t in digital marketing. We aim to help other digital marketing agencies start or scale to 7-figure companies.
On my digital marketing blog, I use short videos to feature client case studies. It’s also full of practical advice and client acquisition tips.
What to read first: One of our strengths is helping digital marketing agencies implement simple steps for lead generation. In this article, we teach other marketers the simple 3-step funnel we use to sign up customers.
2. The Moz Blog
Moz is one of the most successful marketing tech companies in the world. Unusually for the tech world, this blog was founded by a mother and son team.
Rand Fishkin and Gillian Muessig started doing their own SEO when they ran a small digital marketing agency. The Moz blog began as a tool to share what they learned. It continues to do that today, as well as promote the powerful SEO tools that Moz has developed.
The best thing about this digital marketing blog is its easily digestible content. You can implement what you learn straight away, whether you’re an SEO novice or a seasoned professional.
Their popular Whiteboard Friday sessions have videos featuring one of their experts teaching SEO strategy. They even show a summary of the content on a whiteboard, hence the name Whiteboard Fridays.
Fishkin started filming these when Moz didn’t even sell software yet, and they’ve grown to be a valuable training tool for everyone in the industry. The fact that they happen on Fridays makes them the perfect food for thought before you head into the weekend.
What to read first: Check out Moz Blog’s comprehensive guide to SEO. It’s divided into chapters and even comes with a glossary.
3. Content Marketing Institute
Content Marketing Institute is the brainchild of Joe Pulizzi, the author of six bestselling books about marketing. He’s also a leading keynote speaker on the topic of content marketing.
Joe sold the company in 2016, but the Content Marketing Institute continues to deliver on its mission of advancing the practice of content marketing. The blog houses eight concise how-to guides. It also contains an impressive library of content marketing resources.
Check out the Content Marketing Institute for in-depth articles on a range of content marketing topics. Examples range from visual storytelling and brainstorming tools to creating exceptional webinars.
What to read first: Their guide to content marketing asks questions that all marketers should try to answer. For example, what if your customers look forward to receiving your marketing?
4. Marketing Land
Marketing Land is a sister publication to MarTech Today and Search Engine Land. Their digital marketing blog covers all aspects of the digital marketing industry.
Head to Marketing Land for up-to-date and well-researched articles about retail, display advertising, SEO, and more. You’ll also find a wealth of how-to guides and white paper reports.
What to read first: As more and more marketers dive into TikTok, they need to know how to work with influencers. This article covers the importance of consistency, creative freedom, and experimentation in marketing.
5. Convince & Convert
Content Marketing Institute ranked this blog as the best content marketing blog in the world. What makes it stand out? I’d say it’s their focus on showcasing the absolute best in customer experience.
Jay Baer founded strategy-consulting firm Convince & Convert in 2008. Baer is a best-selling author and keynote speaker who has worked in online marketing in 1993. His book, Talk Triggers, is a fascinating study of innovative companies that inspire word-of-mouth fame.
Their blog gives you a well-rounded look at digital marketing while keeping their tips rooted in customer experience. Articles feature topics like personalization in digital marketing, TikTok statistics, and stack optimization.
With clear and easy to follow writing, this blog features access to a host of extra content like workbooks and beautifully designed eBooks.
What to read first: One of Convince & Convert’s most popular articles is their comprehensive guide to Instagram influencer marketing.
6. The Social Media Examiner
Author and podcast host Michael Stelzner founded The Social Media Examiner. This digital marketing blog serves marketers struggling to keep up with ever-changing social media platforms.
Their weekly news section also reports on features that different platforms are rolling out, testing, or previewing. This resource makes the blog an invaluable place to learn about what works in social media today.
Every year, The Social Media Examiner produces a social media marketing industry study. The report covers all major social platforms and compares organic and paid promotions. It offers a comprehensive look at where marketers plan to direct their focus.
What to read first: These YouTube tips will help you and your clients produce more exciting and compelling videos.
7. Econsultancy
Econsultancy is a pioneer in the digital marketing space. It all started when founder Ashley Friedlein launched the company as an online community for marketers in 1999. Today they stick to their mission to help agencies achieve excellence in modern marketing.
Their blog represents the community they have built. It features interviews from a variety of digital marketing agency owners. It also features innovative campaigns from brands, plus articles about AI and e-commerce.
What to read first: Check out their article on paid search (PPC) and why you need it.
8. Unbounce
Unbounce is in the business of conversion intelligence. One of their products, Smart Traffic, uses AI to tailor landing pages to your visitors’ attributes. They also sell landing page templates.
It won’t surprise you, then, that many of their digital marketing blog articles focus on landing pages. Article topics include the best landing pages in 2020 and landing pages for SAAS businesses. They also discuss the role of e-commerce and the use of AI in digital marketing.
Visually, Unbounce stands out because of its attractive, minimalist design and beautiful graphics. With a fun, casual writing style geared toward young marketers, their articles work for absolute beginners, like those dabbling in e-commerce.
What to read first: This article clearly explains what a landing page is and its purpose, including the difference between a homepage and a landing page.
9. Hubspot
Hubspot founders Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah met while studying at MIT in 2004. The day after they graduated, they decided to go into business together.
The problem, as they saw it, was that consumers were tired of unsolicited advertising. People didn’t want to be interrupted by ads and salespeople; they just wanted to find help when they needed it.
Hubspot was founded on a concept that Halligan and Shah termed inbound marketing. In 2010 they wrote a book with that title. Today, Hubspot continues to teach the strategy of creating valuable content and experiences tailored to customer needs.
Their digital marketing blog is packed with valuable how-to guides, case studies, and free templates. Use it to infuse your marketing strategy with best practices in marketing trends.
What to read first: Try their ultimate guide to Instagram marketing for tips on how to use Instagram to grow your business.
10. PR Daily News
PR Daily News is owned by Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc., a trainer in PR communications for 50+ years. They began publishing the predecessor for PR Daily News, The Ragan Report, in 1970. The company founder, Lawrence Ragan, has since passed away, and his son, Mark Ragan, runs the company.
The site reports on news from a marketing and communications perspective. Much of the content deals with current issues and how marketers respond to them.
They lock some of their premium content behind a paywall. To unlock it, you’ll need to purchase a Ragan Insider membership for $299/year.
What to read first: Try their article on 10 books every PR pro should read to kick off your PR marketing techniques.
11. PSFK
PSFK is a blog for retailers and brands featuring analyses and opinion pieces that focus on customer experience. Many of their articles showcase innovation in customer care, like Zappos hotline, which answers questions about everything, according to their website.
Their blog posts go beyond the bottom line to talk about issues like sustainability and corporate responsibility.
What to read first: Access reports and white papers like The Digital Commerce Playbook to see help you build your brand with statistics.
12. Think with Google
Think with Google is more of a resource center than a traditional digital marketing blog. It’s a must-read for anyone in online marketing because of its mind-blowing selection of content.
Plus, it’s a lot of fun to play with. It features tools like the Real-Time Insights Finder Tool for discovering emerging trends and consumer insights.
What to read first: Check out this straightforward article explains the benefits of using Google Trends in your marketing.
13. Spin Sucks
Spin Sucks is easily one of the best digital marketing blogs around. Marketer Gini Dietrich founded the site in 2006, and she has a book and podcast of the same name.
This engaging blog features punchy, opinionated writing. It’s a match for Spin Sucks’s provocative title and its mission to change the perception of the PR industry. Spin Sucks believes the role of communication professionals is not to spin the truth, but to be truthful and authentic.
Spin Sucks has clear, helpful, and entertaining articles. While the blog is aimed at PR professionals, it also includes tips for social media and content marketing, making it a terrific resource for anyone in the marketing world.
What to read first: This article on nine media pitching tips directly from journalists will help you pitch the right people and get noticed.
14. TopRank
Lee Odden and Susan Misukanis founded TopRank Marketing in 2001. The company describes itself as smart, creative, and focused on results.
Their digital marketing blog embodies those qualities with data-driven articles that rub shoulders with purposeful content, like inspiring your marketing with gratitude. They have a huge focus on B2B marketing and a lot of content about influencers and podcasting.
What to read first: Seven examples of e-commerce brands rocking social media marketing will show you what successful marketing tactics look like.
15. SEMRush Blog
SEMRush is not only one of the best search engine marketing tools. They also produce one of the best digital marketing blogs in the business.
Check out their Data Studies section for slick graphic presentation of marketing research. This visual representation of information inspires anyone who creates content for agency blogs and wants to convey information quickly and aesthetically.
What to read first: Quora users ask thousands of questions per day. Read this article about using Quora for content marketing and keyword research to learn more about this often-overlooked tool.
16. Neil Patel
Neil Patel is a big deal in marketing and entrepreneurship. He’s the co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, Stride, and KISSmetrics. He’s also the creator of Ubersuggest, a keyword tool that rivals Google Analytics. Try it for free on his site.
Neil Patel’s digital marketing blog offers a wealth of information in email marketing, content marketing, and much more. As well as being a giant in the marketing software world, Neil’s a talented writer. I put this down to his avoidance of complicated terminology and lengthy explanations. Although he has many detailed and dense articles, they’re also well written and easy to follow. It’s perfect if you’re looking for tips you can implement immediately.
What to read first: Neil’s article on how to become a more productive blogger can help you learn to increase your efficiency through your blog.
17. Duct Tape Marketing
Duct Tape Marketing believes small business marketing should be like duct tape—simple, affordable, and able to solve a host of problems.
Marketing consultant and speaker John Jantsch founded the company. He’s also the author of Duct Tape Marketing and several other books, including The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur.
The Duct Tape Marketing blog features posts from Jantsch and several guest contributors. The articles favor a simple, scrappy approach with a focus on getting the basics right. This perspective makes the advice relevant for small business owners who don’t know a lot about digital marketing.
What to read first: This article about the five questions you should ask every customer to get accurate, actionable feedback helps a company work out its competitive advantage. These questions also get customers to describe their ideal buying experience.
18. Yext
Howard Lerman founded SaaS company Yext in 2006. It is now a publicly traded, global company with over 1,000 employees.
Yext helps B2C companies deliver the correct answers to people’s questions. Search has changed a lot in the last 20 years. People ask specific questions, and they expect equally specific answers.
Yext’s digital marketing blog features many articles about anticipating customer queries and addressing them through search tools. They also talk about the future of search powered by AI. The blog responds to marketing issues in the context of social and economic events.
What to read first: Check out this article about natural language processing for even more insight into how AI will change digital marketing and why you should know about it.
19. Search Engine Watch
Danny Sullivan founded Search Engine Watch in 1997. The blog features a comprehensive list of articles about SEO, PPC, and Analytics.
Search Engine Watch offers information on local SEO to help small businesses, as well as how to incorporate SEO into different types of content, like video.
What to read first: Their article about SEO on a shoestring budget addresses frequently asked questions about SEO and how to make it work for your business.
20. Search Engine Land
Search Engine Land features data-driven articles about SEO and search engine marketing (paid search). They also cover topics related to local search, retail, Google, and Bing. It’s an excellent resource for marketers who help businesses to maximize search traffic.
Recent stories include how brands should respond to social issues and communicating with customers via text.
What to read first: Their comprehensive guide to SEO includes a handy video so you can get the basics down fast.
What Should You Do Next?
Not every digital marketing agency will benefit from all the blogs on this list. Check out the ones that align with your goals, and start reading to get the marketing information and direction you need.
What’s your favorite digital marketing blog? If it’s not on this list, let me know.
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