A Brighter Web | Grow your business with digital marketing

In this episode, our guest Sanjay Parekh discusses the importance of privacy and security in our digital lives. We discuss the balance between convenience and security, the necessity of using strong passwords and unique email addresses, and the tools available to enhance online safety, including password managers and two-factor authentication. Sanjay emphasizes the need for individuals and small business owners to take proactive steps to protect their information and offers practical advice for implementing better security practices. Takeaways Chapters Links https://www.sanjayparekh.com/https://bsky.app/profile/sanjayparekh.comhttps://www.togetherletters.com/https://www.techtalkyall.com/https://edgewise.media/ Tech Recs https://bitwarden.com/https://www.yubico.com/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/https://www.usa.gov/credit-freeze

What are the most impactful web technologies of all time? We were inspired by another podcast to create our very own unscientific list. What tech made the cut? Show Notes Original Hard Fork podcast episode Our Top 30 Technologies List Honorable Mentions

It’s 2025! At the end of 2024, we recorded our reactions to an article predicting some of the biggest trends and ideas for the new year. Which of these will come true and which will flop? Only time will tell. Original article from LinkedIn: 25 Big Ideas that will change our world in 2025 Here are the items from the list that we discussed in depth: Which of these predictions do you agree with? What do you think is missing from the list? Email us with feedback at podcast@greenmellenmedia.com.

In this episode of the Brighter Web Podcast, we talk to Laura Beth Daws about the critical role of communication in team building. They explore the challenges of hybrid work environments, the importance of self-awareness, and the need for psychological safety within teams. Laura emphasizes that effective communication is not just about conveying messages but about fostering connections and understanding individual roles within a team. She also highlights the significance of listening as a leadership skill and the value of external perspectives in improving team dynamics. Links LBD CommunicationsLBD Communications on LinkedInLaura Beth Daws on LinkedIn Takeaways Chapters Quotes Keywords team building, communication, workplace dynamics, hybrid work, self-awareness, psychological safety, listening skills, leadership, consulting, corporate training

Diversity is an often discussed but just as frequently misunderstood topic—including in marketing. What does being inclusive in digital marketing mean, and why is it important? We invited a marketer with experience dealing with these questions to join us on the podcast. Let’s learn from Daniela Cintron how we can all be more diverse in our representation to reach wider audiences and connect with them more deeply and authentically.

YouTube is the second-largest search engine online and the largest video platform. Video is becoming an increasingly powerful way to reach people online; however, producing and sharing meaningful video content is a challenge. In this episode, we talk to video production professional Kendrich Disch about the basics of growing your following on YouTube. Links verticalriver.cotubeworks.cogrowthlab.tubeworks.cohttps://rode.com/en-us/microphones/wireless/wireless-me

Every small business owner understands that social media is meant to be part of your online presence. But which platforms should you be active on? How often should you post? What’s the goal with social media? Do you need to pay for ads? Liz Bachmann manages organic social media and more for small businesses and joins us on the podcast to answer these questions and more. Show Notes Wildflower Social Media websiteWildflower Social on InstagramWildflower Social on YouTubeLiz Bachmann on LinkedInMetriCool Social Media tool

Over 40% of websites are built using WordPress—the popular open-sourced content management system. But do you need to be a web developer to build an effective website using WordPress. To break this down, we invited our friend and WordPress web creator, April Wier, to the podcast. Links WordPress CMSApril Wier’s websiteApril on FacebookSugar Five DesignWoodstock WordPress Meetup

Communicating clearly is a cornerstone of effective marketing. But how do you maintain a consistent message across various digital platforms? It begins with great marketing copywriting. To unpack this underappreciated art, we invited freelance copywriter Jessica Fralin on the podcast. Links Jessica’s websiteSparked studioJessica on InstagramJessica on LinkedIn

Despite what you might think, effective digital marketing isn’t free. It takes time and knowledge, and it can often require paid advertising to reach new audiences. The digital ad landscape can be overwhelming, so we invited our friend Mike Scott from Manticore Marketing to walk us through how any small business can get started with ads. Links Manticore Marketing’s websiteMike Scott on LinkedInManticore Marketing on Instagram

Your company’s brand is built on how you’re perceived by the general public. Therefore, managing your reputation among consumers using public relations is a valuable practice in branding. Cindy Miller is a PR expert with years of experience and the CEO of Cindy Miller Communications. She spoke with Mickey about the value of public relations and how you can get started with PR at your small business. Links Cindy Miller Communications websiteCindy Miller on LinkedInCindy Miller Communications on Instagram

Even if it’s not in your job title or description, you’re likely somewhat familiar with project management. However, it’s not a responsibility everyone fully understands or embraces. This makes project management one of the most underrated and underappreciated parts of business and marketing. We invited GreenMellen’s project manager, Brooke Desmond, on to discuss how we can all improve our project management. Brooke Desmond on the GreenMellen websiteBrooke Desmond on LinkedIn

What is it like to start and run a marketing agency? Our co-host Mickey Mellen invites his co-founder Ali Green to the show to discuss building GreenMellen together. This is a peek behind the curtain of how a digital marketing agency works and what it takes to operate smoothly. Ali Green on GreenMellen's WebsiteAli Green on LinkedInThe E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Is SEO still relevant to marketers, especially with recent changes with technology? The short answer is yes, and we invited search expert Bobby Kircher to discuss why. Let’s make search optimization practical and achievable for small businesses like yours. Links https://bobbykircher.com/https://papayasearch.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbykircher/

Is your small business struggling with content marketing? In this episode, we invited on our friend Adam Walker to talk about repurposing content for different platforms. These simple tips will help you scale your marketing strategy to reach a wider audience and save time. Links https://adamjwalker.com/https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/techtalkyall/https://www.togetherletters.com/https://edgewise.media/https://adamjwalker.substack.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjwalker/

After 60 episodes of the Brighter Web podcast, we're changing things up. Starting in 2024, we're bringing guests to the show and talk about digital marketing topics. We'll be back in a few months with some new, slightly different-sounding episodes.

There’s no shortage of digital metrics to measure, but conversions are perhaps the most important. These are the actions that actually help your business to grow. But how do you measure and improve your conversions online? What are website conversions? What is conversion optimization? Why does conversion matter? How do you get people to convert more? How do you measure conversion rates? Do platforms outside of your website influence conversions?

The internet is about far more than just making money—but that’s certainly something you can do. Content creators have found plenty of ways to earn income from the digital stuff they make. This list is far from comprehensive, but here are 10 big buckets of ways to make money from the content you create online. TeachableSkillshareKajabiPost StatusMighty NetworksPatreonThrough FacebookKickstarterDirectly on AnchorGoogle AdSenseAmazon Affiliate linksYouTube monetization

Effecitve marketing requires an investment. For a business, this means creating and spending a marketing budget. But how much should you spend on marketing, and what return should you expect? There’s no one answer, so let’s examine the right approach. Where do I start with my marketing budget? How much should I be spending on marketing? What categories should I consider? How do I expand my marketing budget?

Digital marketing is useless without personal connections and word-of-mouth referrals. But is networking played out or ripe for you to take advantage of? It all depends on your approach. How does networking help my marketing? What kind of events can I network at? What are some networking best practices? Is it worth sponsoring networking events? What about speaking at events? Should I plan my own networking event?