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You’ve worked hard on your business. Now, you’re looking to hire digital marketing experts to help you spread the word. 

But, what qualities should you look for? What questions should you ask them? How can you tell if a marketing agency is good?

Explore these top nine qualities that will give purpose to your partnership.

Qualities Of A Good Marketing Agency

1. They Understand Your “Why”

A good internet marketing agency is intentional. 

As your partner, they should start with a strategic session to get to know what success looks like to YOU. Understanding your business’ story, mission, vision, goals, and audience shapes everything going forward — from goal tracking and analytics, to reporting and results.

Simply put, if they don’t share your vision, the work won’t be effective. 

Look for agencies who prioritize asking questions, perform in-depth audits and analysis, and research your business and competitors before the work even starts.

2. They Are Adaptable

Marketing is not stagnant. In fact, Google makes an average of 13 changes per day!

If you want to achieve internet marketing success, you’re going to have to think quickly on your feet, be flexible in decision-making, and pivot your strategy on a whim. 

What works today may not work tomorrow. Look for an agency that treats every situation in marketing as unique. They should be proactive in anticipating changes and flexible in strategy adjustments.

With the introduction of AI tools, privacy concerns, Google Core Updates, and the switch to an entirely new analytics tracking system (GA4) in 2023, you need an adaptable team now more than ever.

3. They Invest Time In Research

A desire to learn is part of what makes a successful marketer.

Your agency should embody a curious culture to stay on top of trends and news within the industry. Here are some example questions to ask your digital marketing agency to ensure they have a passion for learning in their field:

  • What sources do you get your news and information from?
  • Who are the most well-known influential people in your field (SEO, PPC, Content Writers, Designers, etc.) whom you take inspiration from?
  • What experiments do you currently have running to test marketing success?
  • How has your agency responded to recent changes in this industry?
  • What’s something you learned in the last month about internet marketing that has surprised you?

4. They Are Knowledgeable About The Competitive Landscape

Not only should they desire to learn about the industry as a whole, but they should also investigate the competitive landscape. Here are some questions to ask your digital marketing agency about your competitors:

  • What keywords are my competitors bidding on?
  • How much are my competitors spending on Google Ads?
  • Who are my biggest competitors in terms of traffic to the site?
  • How often are my competitors posting content?
  • What sections do my competitors feature on their sites (blogs, eCommerce, podcasts, services, products, etc.)?
  • Are my competitors using the most relevant social media channels?
  • Are they running both organic and paid social campaigns?
  • Are my competitors running paid social campaigns, or simply running boosted posts?

5. They Are Innovative & Propose Custom Solutions

Once they’ve analyzed your business, the industry as a whole, and your competitors, it’s time to find the best custom solution for you.

Your agency should provide you with detailed recommendations, backed by their data and research. 

A good internet marketing agency is knowledgeable about their craft, and you can trust their work. Their passion fuels them, and they should work hard to develop a customized, creative strategy specifically for your business. 

3 marketers collaborate and work hard at their digital marketing agency.

6. They Are Detailed In Reporting & Communicate Results Clearly

Attention to detail, transparency in reporting, and being able to communicate results clearly are just a few of the main qualities of a good marketing agency.

It’s not enough to simply do the work — they must analyze it in-depth to identify additional optimizations for marketing success. 

At first, your agency might appear critical. But, this is actually a good thing! 

Their insight helps you recognize your true potential and have the best marketing possible. They want to make sure you’re representing yourself to your customers in the best light.

Sometimes, the data that is being tested has surprising results. Whether it turned out as you hoped, or provided a different outcome, these insights will help you see which elements of your strategy to keep and which to adjust. 

Part of what makes a successful marketer is being able to analyze data, explain it reasonably, and suggest next steps.

7. They Offer A Full Range Of Services

When you hire a full-service marketing agency, you’re hiring a team of marketing professionals, not just one person. You’ll have access to experts in all departments, such as website development, graphic design, search engine marketing, social media, email marketing, content writing, and pay-per-click advertising.

One word to summarize all of that? Cohesion.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, it’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page and is aligned with the vision and the “why.” After all, they’re your partner.

Look for a full-service marketing agency that offers all of these services in-house. This simplifies the process, giving you one point of contact for all of your marketing needs. It also ensures consistency in your brand, from logo colors and fonts, to the tone of your content and ads.

If an agency collaborates well together, they will collaborate well with you.

8. They Take Responsibility 

An essential quality of a good marketing agency is taking accountability — for their work, for results, and for their own marketing strategy. 

Good internet marketing companies should lead by example, because how they market their own business is an indication of how they will market yours.

9. They Act With Integrity

The final quality of a good marketing agency that we want to highlight is benevolence. The ability to look beyond themselves to the needs of others is so important. Do they act with integrity in their work and beyond?

They should use white-hat strategies, and you should be able to trust the methods they choose. They are honest and transparent with results, even when they don’t turn out as planned.

They use AI tools responsibly and see it as a marketing strength, rather than shying away from it completely. They use AI ethically, as a tool, not as a replacement for hard work. 

Additionally, their selflessness extends beyond their work. They invest in the community, host charity events, and give other local business leaders a voice.

Three leadership team members at Tower Marketing discuss what makes a good digital marketing agency.

Where To Find A Good Digital Marketing Agency

If you’re looking for a marketing agency that embodies all of these qualities, reach out to the friendly marketers on Team Tower. We are a full-service marketing agency, ready to help your business rise above and achieve marketing success. 

If you’ve ever compared marketing in-house vs. agency vs. freelancer, you know there are many important factors to consider. Making the right choice for your business starts with defining your marketing objectives and weighing them against your strengths and weaknesses. In this blog, we’ll review in-house, agency, and freelancer marketing models to help you make the best decisions.

What is In-House Marketing?

With an in-house model, the bulk of your company’s marketing is handled by your own employees. Most businesses with an in-house team don’t use freelancers or agencies to supplement their marketing. Building a strong in-house marketing department starts with identifying the most important roles and filling them with experienced professionals who know how to achieve your goals.

Your in-house marketing team should include a marketing manager/CMO, creative director, and specialists in:

  • Internet marketing: SEO, local SEO, PPC, content, email, and social media
  • Web: design, development, UX design, eCommerce, hosting, and maintenance
  • Creative: branding, strategy, and print media

You may choose to supplement a small in-house team with the expertise of a marketing agency, which can handle areas outside of your strengths. We’ll take a closer look at the most common in-house marketing models below.

Common In-House Marketing Models

There are three main in-house marketing models: full competency, traditional, and hybrid:

  1. A full competency in-house team possesses comprehensive digital abilities and doesn’t require any external support.
  2. A traditional in-house team handles the bulk of your marketing efforts and only occasionally seeks support from third parties.
  3. A hybrid in-house team (or in-house marketing agency) is a separate in-house “agency” that works outside of your marketing team. They’re structured like a traditional agency, but their only client is your parent company. Hybrid teams typically take a more holistic look at overall marketing strategy and will occasionally outsource highly-specialized tasks to agencies.

Benefits of In-House Marketing

There are several pros of handling your marketing in-house vs. agency advertising. We’ll dig into each of these benefits in the following sections.

1. Brand, Product, & Service Knowledge

One of the biggest benefits of going in-house vs. agency is your existing employees’ familiarity with your products, services, and unique value proposition (UVP)/unique selling proposition (USP).

Your internal employees may also have a better grasp on your personas and where prospects and customers are in the buyer’s journey. With the right training, your in-house team can become resident experts who speak to your target audience using the most effective marketing channels.

2. Company Investment & Consistency

Your in-house marketing team is deeply invested in your success, as your fortune is also their own. Plus, rather than marketing several businesses, all of their attention is focused on your brand.

In-house designers vs. agency marketing can also help you ensure brand consistency and boost your team’s creativity. In fact, 56% of businesses feel they became more creative after consolidating their marketing under one roof.

3. Improved Communication & Flexibility

In most cases, marketing in-house vs. agency means faster communication and enhanced collaboration. Even if some of your team members are remote, you can connect instantly with them for important meetings and conversations.

More immediate communication allows you to make decisions quickly and respond to new trends. It also minimizes lengthy lead times because you can easily communicate with stakeholders. Additionally, you can make quick changes to time-sensitive assets and deliverables, rather than waiting on third parties.

4. Data Ownership & Transparency

Going in-house vs. agency can give you a better understanding of fundamental marketing data (like spend and results) to facilitate more informed decisions. And if you do choose to work with an agency from time to time, data ownership can help you select the right services since you know your strengths and weaknesses.

An awareness and clear understanding of your marketing data also promotes transparency across your organization. In fact, 59% of marketers feel bringing their advertising in-house contributed to increased transparency, better information/resource sharing, and enhanced communication.

Drawbacks of In-House Marketing

While there are benefits to marketing in-house vs. agency advertising, there are also several significant drawbacks to be aware of.

1. Creative Stagnancy & Routine

Focusing on the same topic(s) for extended periods of time can get old quickly, negatively impacting your marketers and creative team. This can make it more difficult to generate fresh ideas or get a solid grasp on what your competitors are doing. And if your team becomes too entrenched in routine, they may stop thinking outside the box.

2. Inexperience & Lack of Resources

Depending on how niche your industry is, new employees may not have the necessary experience and knowledge to produce high-quality work. Properly training new hires takes time and may end up diverting your focus from essential marketing duties. If you don’t have enough talent within your in-house team, you’ll want to hire a marketing agency to fill in the gaps.

3. HR Difficulties

Successful marketing requires a long-term strategy, so it’s very important to hire talent who will stay with your company. You’ll have to make strategic adjustments every time an employee leaves, which will slow down overall progress towards your goals.

Turnover also heightens pressure on remaining team members to pick up the slack, which can result in unsatisfactory work or cause other employees to leave. Plus, it takes much longer to hire and train new personnel than it does to partner with a marketing agency.

4. Pricey Software & Tools

Marketing and creative tools (e.g. SEMrush, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Adobe Creative Cloud) are an expensive proposition for in-house teams with limited budgets. Plus, you’ll need to vet potential tools to determine which ones are right for your business, which can be very time consuming.

What is a Marketing Agency?

Marketing agencies employ specialists who work with you to achieve your business goals. Their staff are experts in a variety of areas, including web design/development, content, and SEO, among others. Depending on your bandwidth and needs, you can outsource some or all of your marketing to an agency (like Tower!)

Benefits of Hiring a Marketing Agency

There are many pros of working with an experienced digital marketing agency vs. in-house advertising. We’ll review the most significant benefits of working with a digital marketing agency vs. freelancers or an internal team below.

1. Immediate Results

Agencies employ seasoned marketing experts who can usually deliver results more quickly and effectively than an in-house team. They can also efficiently scale up or down with your needs, which means you won’t have to let go of internal employees if you want to pause your marketing efforts. And as we mentioned above, it takes more time and effort to hire new team members than it does to partner with an agency.

2. Fresh Viewpoints

Agencies hedge against creative stagnancy by providing an unbiased assessment of your marketing and innovative plans for improvement. They may suss out opportunities that you’ve overlooked because they’re not as immersed in the day-to-day operations of your business.

If the agency you choose already has experience within your industry, they’ll probably have a solid grasp on what’s already been done and what’s trending. This frees up valuable time for you to focus on highly-specialized marketing that requires in-house levels of expertise.

3. Experience & Expertise

Agencies typically specialize in certain industries, so you’ll easily be able to find one with an in-depth understanding of your market’s challenges and opportunities. And because agency staff have experience across every area of marketing, there’s no need to build a large in-house team.

Most agencies also have established connections with trusted third-party vendors like photographers and videographers. Ultimately, partnering with an accomplished marketing agency helps ensure you get the best value and highest return on investment (ROI).

4. Lower Costs

Working with an agency is usually less of an upfront and ongoing investment than hiring and training a team of in-house marketers. You also won’t have to spend any time or money on training new internal employees. Plus, agencies already subscribe to the best marketing tools, so you won’t have to invest in pricey software.

Drawbacks of Hiring a Marketing Agency

There are many benefits of partnering with a digital marketing agency vs. in-house advertising, but there are also a few cons to keep in mind. However, these drawbacks can easily be negated by working with a client-focused agency that always keeps your best interests in mind. 

1. Different Locations

If your marketing agency is located in a different time zone than your business, it may be difficult to schedule video meetings or phone calls that fit everyone’s schedules. You may also be unable to meet in person, which can be valuable at the beginning of a client-agency relationship.

2. Less Attention

You may end up feeling neglected and out of the loop if your agency isn’t completely client focused. If your account executive doesn’t function as an extension of your in-house marketing team, it’s time to find a new agency.

You’re not working under the same roof as your agency, so communication and decision making typically take a bit longer. Additionally, your agency may sometimes be slower to address your needs depending on their workload, priorities, and internal concerns.

3. Lack of Control

Working with an agency requires you to give up some control over your marketing, since they work best with the latitude and freedom to make strategic decisions. It’s very important to find an agency you can trust to always have your best interests in mind. Giving their experts the space they need to make strategic choices will net you the best results while also reducing roadblocks and bottlenecks.

What is Freelancer Marketing?

Freelancers are hired on a contract basis and provide specific marketing services to clients on a project-by-project basis. In some cases, freelance marketers also have full- or part-time jobs at other companies. You’ll find freelance marketers that specialize in every aspect of marketing, from content creation and web design to local SEO and social media advertising.

Tips for Hiring a Freelance Marketer

There are several important items to keep in mind when hiring a freelancer vs. agency advertising or building an in-house team:

  • Review their portfolio to gain a sense of their experience and skill level
  • Closely examine their LinkedIn profile, resume, and cover letter (if applicable)
  • Request referrals and testimonials from their previous clients
  • Choose a freelancer with knowledge of and experience with your industry
  • Interview multiple freelancers and compare them based on skills, experience, and rates

Benefits of Hiring a Freelance Marketer

If you’re considering hiring a freelance marketer, there are several important benefits to be aware of. We’ll take a closer look at each one below.

1. Inexpensive Option

If you don’t have the budget to hire a marketing agency or build an in-house team, freelancers are probably your best option. In fact, 40% of businesses prefer freelancers because they’re a flexible and affordable way to quickly scale up or down.

Since they aren’t full-time employees, freelancers save you money because you don’t have to provide them with benefits. There are also no long-term commitments, and you only pay for the marketing and creative work you need.

2. Enhanced Agility

If you employ in-house marketers, freelancers can quickly step in when your team is overworked and their productivity is flagging. Plus, freelancers usually don’t have to give two weeks notice to a current employer, so they can start immediately and hit the ground running. And because you aren’t confined only to people in your immediate area, you have access to a larger pool of talent.

Like agencies, experienced freelancers can bring a fresh perspective that revitalizes your marketing and helps you think outside the box. Marketing trends are always changing, so agility and adaptability are key to success.

3. Low Maintenance

As we alluded to above, freelancers are much easier to hire, manage, let go, and replace than full-time employees. They also require less of an emotional investment from you as an employer. It can be difficult to fire underperforming full-time employees due to legal protections, but this isn’t an issue with freelancers.

Drawbacks of Hiring a Freelance Marketer

There are multiple cons to consider before choosing a freelancer vs. agency marketing or an in-house team. Here are the most important drawbacks to be aware of.

1. Longer Timelines

You’re probably not your freelancer’s only client, so it’s important to prepare for longer turnaround periods and project timelines. It may also be difficult to integrate freelancers into your existing systems and procedures, which can slow down the onboarding process. These impactful delays can be especially problematic if you’re in the early stages of developing your company.

2. Disconnected Schedules

If your freelancer is extremely busy or lives in a different time zone, it may be difficult to schedule phone calls and coordinate meetings. Plus, the flexible working hours associated with freelancing means they may not always be available during the traditional workday, unlike agencies or full-time employees. Be sure to consider who will coordinate freelancer schedules, oversee/review their work, and set deadlines to keep them on schedule.

3. Variable Quality

Anyone can freelance, so properly vetting candidates is crucial to making a wise investment. Some freelancers may not have the skillset to handle multiple marketing functions, which means you’ll have to hire several people. And piecemealing your marketing often produces disjointed, lower quality work than you’d receive from an in-house team or agency.

Deciding between marketing in-house vs. agency vs. freelancer? We’d love to discuss your goals and challenges and explore how Tower Marketing can help you achieve your business objectives.

It’s here. The day has come, the plot has been dug out, and net neutrality has been laid to rest. That’s right — net neutrality is officially a thing of the past. On June 11, 2018, net neutrality rules were repealed despite the fact that 83% of Americans didn’t approve of it.

So…now what? What is net neutrality and why did we have it in the first place? What makes it so important and how does the end of net neutrality affect the general population and the world of digital marketing? We’re taking a deep dive into net neutrality to get a better picture of what this big change means for our future.

What is Net Neutrality?

Also known as “open internet,” net neutrality is the standard that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) follow by providing consumers with access and free range to all content, apps, and websites on the internet. Net neutrality prohibits the favoring and/or blocking of one website or product over another.

There’s no denying that technology rules a majority of our lives. Have a question? Google it. Want to buy a product? Ask Siri or Alexa to search for it for you and add it to your shopping cart. The internet has been free for all to use. All websites were accessible and you could easily look up or navigate to any page. But now? Net neutrality is dead and the internet will have more regulations.

Why is Net Neutrality Dead?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been against net neutrality for some time now. Despite reluctance from many politicians and the general public, the FCC repealed net neutrality in order to get rid of “unnecessary regulations” that were previously set in the Open Internet Order of 2015 Act during the Obama-era. In its place, the Restoring Internet Freedom Order was initiated.

The Restoring Internet Freedom Order was designed by the FCC to protect the open internet while promoting a better, faster, and cheaper internet for consumers. However, contrary to its name, the order has ended public utility regulation and handed it over to large, money-driven corporations.

Net Neutrality vs. Non-Neutrality

Let’s get into the thick of it, shall we? Every story has two sides and we wouldn’t be giving this subject justice if we didn’t map out what net neutrality has done for us up until now, and what will be different without it.

With Net Neutrality

Versions of net neutrality have existed since the conception of the internet. Looking back, we can identify how net neutrality has affected the way our country works.

  • High Competition — Internet neutrality created competition between all types of businesses, both big and small.
  • Business Equality — Net neutrality promoted an equal marketplace so small businesses had a fighting chance against bigger businesses.
  • More Innovation —There was always the urge to produce the next best thing, so companies of all sizes and types worked as hard as they could, helping to amplify innovation and growth.
  • Minimal Start-Up Costs — Neutrality helped to keep prices low for both start-up businesses and consumers. If you were a new business owner looking to create an online store, you didn’t have much standing in your way.
  • Low Consumer Pricing — Customers reaped the benefit of companies competing for business since each company would try to provide the lowest prices for products or services. Some companies would even offer free information, resources, and items to generate traffic and pull in leads.

Without Net Neutrality

We aren’t psychics and we can’t predict exactly what will happen now that net neutrality is gone. However, we can speculate on some of the situations that may arise now that the internet is more regulated.

blocked webpage due to non-neutrality internet regulations
  • Required Payments— ISPs will be able to take control over the internet by requiring a payment from website owners and users looking to receive high internet speeds.
  • Bandwidth Throttling — ISPs will be able to throttle bandwidth (purposely slow down and speed up internet services) and favor large companies that pay high premiums over smaller, competitive companies with small budgets. The high speeds, also called “fast lanes,” will allow certain websites to load faster than others. That’s extremely important since it’s been reported that just about half of consumers expect pages to load within 2 seconds, and 40% will leave a website if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
  • Website Blocking — ISPs may begin blocking smaller or competitive sites from users just because they favor one over the other.
  • Less Competition — With net neutrality no longer helping to push for competitive pricing, the cost of goods and services will increase. If websites are being required to pay high premiums to have their site found, they will need to gain that revenue from another source, such as their profits from selling to consumers.
  • High Consumer Pricing — ISPs may require the general public to pay for higher-quality apps, large data plans, and fast streaming speeds. And don’t forget about pesky fees and taxes! They’ll increase as well.

How Non-Neutrality Will Change the Marketing Game

So, what does the end of net neutrality mean for marketers? Originally, net neutrality created a high demand for internet marketing services because they focused on increasing organic traffic. Without net neutrality, competition between businesses may be uneven. This means the use of high-quality digital marketing services will be more important than ever before.

If ISPs favor large companies that pay high premiums and the internet is flooded with those websites, superior internet marketing efforts will be necessary to keep other business websites relevant. Marketers will need to invest more time, energy, and money into the channels they can control or manipulate. In addition, marketing companies might have to charge more for their services if they want to guarantee that clients will be placed in the fast lane.

With all of that said, non-neutrality will not change how search engines such as Google or Bing display results. For example, if someone is searching for a burger joint, Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) will still show smaller restaurants that serve burgers first because they’re local.

Non-Neutrality & Content Marketing

Content marketers will have a harder time getting their content seen by their targeted audience. Unfortunately, if a website isn’t paying premium fees, it may be subject to slower load times and page blocking, which would keep users from visiting the site.

With that in mind, creating good, helpful, and insightful content will be vital for websites to be successful. If you want a shot at bringing in customers and keeping them coming back, you need to grab them from the get-go. Entice them with your content and make sure they know that your website is one they’ll want to keep coming back to for information.

Non-Neutrality & SEO

Net neutrality allowed websites to be ranked by content, keywords, and effective use of linking. With non-neutrality, SEO will be affected by content marketing struggles. Traffic may be limited at times due to ISPs blocking specific sites from potential users. Website blocking could also affect external linking since some of your users may not be able to access external websites.

The more satisfied users that visit your site, the higher your search ranking will be. Site speed, design, and ease of navigation also play a significant role in overall success. With the help of SEO tactics and strategies, you can ensure your website is found by more users despite any difficulties that may arise due to non-neutrality.

Non-Neutrality & Social Media

While most social platforms don’t currently charge you to use their services, ISPs may charge you to access them on devices or restrict the use of competitive apps. For instance, in Portugal, a country without net neutrality, users have to buy packages in order to access social media platforms.

Since users may be charged to view their own social accounts, some may stray away from social media altogether. Account followings could shrink and the cost to advertise on social media platforms would increase. However, with the aid of social media experts, your social media accounts can stay afloat and relevant to users that do stick with social platforms.

What Will Happen Now?

It will take a bit of time for the effects of non-neutrality to be felt across the U.S. However, the fight for net neutrality is far from over. Many Americans are still outraged by the prospect of being stripped of their internet freedom. In hopes of changing the final outcome, individuals opposed to non-neutrality are encouraged to make their voice heard by visiting Battle For The Net’s web page. There, you can easily write to Congress and find other resources to help in the fight to save net neutrality.

Do I Still Need Digital Marketing?

Yes! Actually, you need it more now than you did when net neutrality was alive. Impeccable content marketing, SEO, and social media skills will be necessary to ensure your website is the best it can possibly be. Digital marketing will push your business to the top, making your website the one users want to click on and navigate to. Become as successful as possible by placing content marketing, SEO, and social media specialists in the driver’s seat when it comes to your online presence.

What’s your take on net neutrality and the FCC’s Restoring Internet Freedom Order? Let us know your thoughts.

In the past, we’ve talked extensively about Google’s search engine, Analytics, Adwords, and more of what we consider the best Google tools for marketers to use. As a tribute to the Internet and technology giant’s upcoming birthday, celebrated on September 27, today we’re highlighting our team’s favorite Google tools to use on a daily basis, whether professionally or personally.

Google Drive - favorite Google toolsFor Collaboration & Organization: We Love Google Drive

If you’re part of a large team working on a big project, then you need to be familiar with Google Drive. With Google Drive, (previously called Google Docs) multiple users in far-off locations can access and edit the same documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, shared in a cloud environment. No more asking, “Wait!  Do I have the most recent version?” and, maybe even better, now you don’t have to beg (or threaten) a coworker to close out a file so you can access it to make your changes.

 

Google Calendar - favorite Googel toolsFor a Busy Social Life: We Love Google Calendar

Amethyst, our Social Media Intern offered up her favorite Google tool to use. Amethyst is young enough that she travels to fun places and does cool things. So she loves the fact that when she purchases plane tickets or concert tickets, the dates and events are automatically added to her Google Calendar.

 

 Google Alerts - favorite Google toolsFor Those Who Are “In the Know”: We Love Google Alerts

This one comes from me!  As a content writer, I need to keep current on numerous and varied industries that range from commercial construction to elementary education and personal finance to digital marketing. Using Google Alerts, I can have the latest industry news delivered to my inbox as it happens, daily or weekly. To create an alert, simply enter a keyword or phrase you want to monitor and you’ll begin to receive emails listing all the latest news and web pages on the subject.

 

Google Fonts - favorite Google toolsFor Artistic Souls: We Love Google Fonts

Our Web Designer, Ashleigh, warns us that not all fonts are appropriate for web use. For example, the font that was used to design your logo may not necessarily translate well into web design.  She uses Google Fonts when designing web pages because she can choose from a portfolio of web-friendly fonts that will provide an excellent user experience, all for free.  An added bonus – Google Fonts will inform you, based on the number and styles of fonts you choose, how your site’s load speed will be affected.

 

Google Maps - favorite Google toolsFor Building Web Sites: We Love Google Maps API

Almost every website that our developers build includes a Contact Us page with an interactive map, and this is where they turn to the Google Maps API.  With this tool they can build websites with rich map components like customized maps, accurate directions, and street views, all with minimal code.

 

Android - favorite Google toolsFor Google Haters: We Still Love Android

Our Web Developer, Tim, admits that he’s not a very big fan of Google. But even he appreciates their Android mobile operating system. He’s a fan of the fact that the Android operating system is open source code that can be modified and customized.

 

Did You Know Google Also Owns…

Zagat Survey

Google acquired Zagat in 2011 and quickly integrated its rating system and reviews into the Google Maps and Google + platforms, making your local searches even more rewarding.

YouTube

Google purchased YouTube in 2006, just one year after it was founded. It’s now the second largest search engine in the world, with 3 billion searches per month.

Blogger

Did you know you were reading some of your go-to blogs on a Google product? Purchased by Google in 2003, Blogger continues to be one of the most popular free blogging platforms on the web.

Waze

This rapidly growing crowd-sourced navigation app was purchased by Google in 2013. Unlike the traditional Google Maps app, Waze allows its users to add real-time information on traffic conditions, accidents, road closures, or obstructions along the road.

Nest

Talk about a hi-tech home! Nest Labs produces programmable, self-learning, sensor-driven, and Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, smoke detectors, and home security systems. They were acquired by Google in 2014.

What’s your favorite Google tool? Do you rely on the popular, heavy-hitters in the Google universe or have you fallen in love with a hidden Google gem? Tell us about it!