Author: Black Raven Content Team
Agency Upshift: A Tech-Enabled Transformation
For the past couple of years, tech headlines have been declaring the end of marketing agencies. The story goes something like this: AI is here,
The 2:00 AM Audience Audit: Why Human Engine Optimization Beats Plain SEO
If you build your website strictly for search engines, you might win a spot on page one—and still watch your business go broke. Traditional Search
How We Keep Client “Homework” Minimal & Painless
Last time I checked, nobody hires a marketing agency because they are looking for a second job. You hire a marketing partner to buy back
The Engine Behind the Agency: How the Black Raven Flywheel Keeps Us Moving Onward and Upward
Most agencies treat client work like a transactional assembly line—a job comes in, the work gets dumped out, and an invoice goes home. We built
Your Brand Through a Prism
Here is a quick reality check for your next marketing meeting: you do not own your brand. You own your logo, your color palette, your
Confirmation vs. Conversion: What Is Your Website Actually Supposed to Do?
Most ineffective websites suffer from the same problem: they are trying to do too much. You might be surprised to hear that from us, but
Why Long-Term Digital Success is Actually About Relationships
I take my truck to the shop for routine maintenance. Outside of changing the occasional flat tire, I am fully aware that the mechanic under
The Prompting Trap: Why We Refuse to Let AI Atrophy Our Creative Muscles
I was recently watching an interview between comedian Hasan Minhaj and tech journalist Joanna Stern. Joanna spent an entire year surrendering nearly every aspect of
The Art of Not Being Hard to Work With
Before I got my degree and before I entered the world of digital marketing, I spent a good chunk of time working in low-wage, client-facing
Users are Turning to LLMs for Search. Here’s What That Means for Your SEO Strategy.
Over the past year, something fundamental has shifted in how people find information online: Large Language Models (LLMs) have become a vital search interface. People
Why Brand Messaging Breaks — and How Content Workflows Fix It
Brand messaging — Whether or not it’s written down, every brand has a story. Nevertheless, some struggle to translate their story into something consistent, compelling,
How Black Raven Builds for a Future That Won’t Slow Down
The Industry Is Moving Faster Than Agencies Can Adapt Marketing is experiencing the fastest operational shift in its history. AI tools evolve weekly. Entire workflows
The Attention Economy: Why Audience First is the Only Way to Win
As marketers chase engagement with clickbait and short-term tactics, it’s easy to believe that the key to success is manipulation. Many agencies have fallen into
You Don’t Have One Brand, You Have Eight Billion
Your brand is not a single, unified entity; it is a complex, ever-evolving idea that lives in the minds of every person who encounters it.
AI Slop vs. The Soul of Content Creation
I recently had a conversation that really made me think about the difference between making content and making connection. It boiled down to a simple
Why Your Brand Profile Doesn’t Exist Until You Write It Down
You’ve probably heard a hundred times that your brand really matters. It’s your logo, your colors, that catchy slogan you spent a great deal of
Why Funnels Can Still Help You Build a Marketing Strategy
In business, popular concepts go in and out of fashion, but certain principles remain constant. To find a successful path for your business, you need
Black Raven AFC Announces Acquisition of Meraki Hive Creative
PRESS RELEASE Black Raven AFC Announces Acquisition of Meraki Hive Creative The Combined Team Expands Creative Capacity and Adds a Second Location in Florida. Chesterfield,
Video Marketing: Tips to Create High-Quality Videos
Since social media and video platforms have made their way into everyone’s pockets, video has become an indispensable tool for businesses looking to effectively market
Don’t Miss Christmas: A Guide to Develop Your Holiday Content
The holiday season presents a golden opportunity for businesses to connect with their audience in compelling and memorable ways. In this guide, we’ll emphasize why
The Rise of Bing and How it Differs from Google
“Let me Google that.” You may have heard someone use this phrase. Just like “Kleenex” became synonymous with facial tissue, Google’s dominance in the search
What Is a Brand-Identity Video?
Leverage the power of video to make your brand stick in your audience’s mind. Every time you see an icon of a white apple with
Creating Content for Your Blog Strategy
Great content is audience-driven, keyword-optimized and visually inspired.
The Big 4 Social Media Platforms for Business
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram.
Customizing GA4: Benefits and Best Practices
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the latest version of Google Analytics, and it differs from Universal Analytics (UA) in several ways. Some of the key
The Most Important Pages on Most Websites (Besides Your Home Page)
Every web design is a little different, but nearly every site can benefit from these core pages.
Black Raven AFC Wins Web Excellence Award for Crucial Aviation Company Website Redesign
PRESS RELEASE Black Raven AFC Wins Web Excellence Award for Crucial Aviation Company Website Redesign St. Louis, MO, May 18, 2023: Black Raven AFC, a digital
Black Raven AFC Announces Eric Eiler as Solution Strategist
PRESS RELEASE Black Raven AFC Welcomes Eric Eiler as Solution Strategist Eric Brings Practical Experience and Communications Expertise to the Black Raven Team Chesterfield, MO,
GA4 To Replace Universal Analytics on July 1, 2023
It can be easy to ignore change when we are accustomed to our daily habits or fully committed to the systems we already use. This
The Difference Between a Logo and Your Brand
A logo is a graphical element. A brand is your company’s identity.
What’s Up with AI Writing Tools?
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has grown exponentially in recent years. AI is being applied in many industries, from healthcare to finance, and from
Powerful Tips for Email Marketing
How can you create compelling emails that convert? Understanding certain marketing strategies will help you make the most of your email marketing. Here are some
Black Raven AFC Announces Acquisition of The Net Impact
PRESS RELEASE Black Raven AFC Announces Acquisition of The Net Impact Black Raven acquires the marketing and website design division of the 13th largest St.
Why Websites Need Continual Care
Maintaining your business’s website is anything but a set it and forget it endeavor. Here’s why.
A CRM Guide to Getting Started
An exceptionally brief, delightfully simple guide to customer relationship management (CRM) software.
SEO 101: Getting Your Site on Search Results
You have a business. Your business has a website. You want that website to show up in search results for more queries. So…you need to optimize.
New Research Offers Insight on Dealing with Negative Online Reviews
I haven’t forgotten about the good old phone book. I know it’s nestled safely at the back of some kitchen drawer. But unless I’m suddenly
What You Need to Know About Twitter Professional Accounts
Twitter has recently been a popular topic of conversation in the mainstream news cycle. A piece of Twitter news that has flown under the radar
Use Your Brand Voice to Craft Your Social Media Message
Language can add value to your brand. Consistent language (your brand voice) gives your brand a personality that allows it to come to life. Thus,
Use Photography to Showcase the Human Side of Your Business
Every social media platform offers unique opportunities and experiences. But one thing they all have in common is how they favor images, photography, and videos
Do I Need to “Refresh” or “Redesign” My Website?
These days, most changes you make to your website can be done quickly and securely. Changes that go beyond regular content updates or minor layout
The Most Important Elements of Your Customer Persona
In marketing, a customer persona is a tool that allows you to inject EMPATHY into your marketing strategy. A well-sketched customer (or buyer) persona can
How Customer Feedback Can Help You Define Your Value Proposition
What do your customers love about your business? Customer feedback can help you discover aspects of your value proposition that you may not have recognized
Write Facebook Ad Copy that Connects With Your Audience
Imagine you put in the work to create eye-catching Facebook ads for your business. You get on Facebook, start setting up the ad, and at
Emerging Instagram Marketing Trends for 2022
Instagram remains one of the best social media platforms for promoting a business. With a cool one billion users, the platform is second only to
Why Every Local Business Needs a Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile is a free tool for local businesses that either have a location (coffee shop) or provide a service by meeting in another
How to Know if Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
It’s no secret that having a mobile-friendly website is more important than ever. Customers primarily browse on their mobile devices. As a result, Google now
Audience Segments in Email Marketing: How to Break Down Your Mailing List
Audience segmentation is the process of breaking down email lists into smaller pieces, or segments, to increase the quality of the targeting and conversion rates.
LinkedIn vs. Facebook: Which is Right for Your Brand?
LinkedIn is a popular social media network for professionals. With over 810 million users, the platform offers companies and professionals the opportunity to network, build
