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The world of SEO moves pretty fast, and in the words of Ferris Bueller, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. That's why we put together a weekly roundup for you.

Up this week? The top SEO news we think is the most share-worthy. Read on for everything (important) that happened this week in the mysterious, wonderful world of SEO.

These days, if you aren’t marketing your brand, you’re going nowhere, fast.

There’s a saying: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and we think nowhere is this more applicable than in marketing.

So what’s the latest in the world of digital marketing? Don’t worry if you haven’t had time to keep up on your marketing news this week (we get it, holiday week and all…).

We’ve got you covered with our weekly roundup of the top news in digital marketing. 

Can your brand benefit from influencer marketing? (Forbes)

Wondering if all the influencer-hype is worth your time? All signs point to yes, according to this Forbes recap. Check out what SocialPublic CEO and co-founder Ismael El-Qudsi thinks about this latest trend in marketing your brand. (Hint: he’s into it).

SEO is a game you don't want to lose. Want to keep up with the ever-changing news in the confusing world of Search Engine Optimization? We've got'chur back with our weekly roundup - check out our picks for the top five SEO news stories that came out in the last week. 

1. A checklist: Important SEO points to cover in a content campain (Search Engine Land)
   You know we love a good checklist...this week Search Engine Land's handy list is a must-read. Anything you're missing in your content campaigns? (Shameless plug: Flair can help...).
2. How to conduct pre-research for SEO keywords (Forbes)
   If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Learn the down and dirty of getting ready to conduct your keyword research. One of the most misunderstood aspects of SEO, and a step we find so many clients totally missing, keyword research is an absolute MUST in your SEO efforts. 

Good marketing makes the company look smart.

Great marketing makes the customer feel smart"

~ Joe Chernov

Which is more important to you? How your brand LOOKS? Or how you make your customers feel?

It's an interesting question, and one that Joe Chernov sums up nicely - because while good marketing isn't actually all that hard to do, GREAT marketing isn't something you can just wing. There's a sort of formula you can follow, a recipe to create and implement a great marketing strategy - whether you're launching a website, rebranding, creating packaging, blogging, email marketing, or really, anything else, you simply need to:

• Research
• Write/create
• Post
• Promote
• Rinse
• Repeat

Are you attending any great events coming up in the next few months? Here's a look at our top five marketing events in August. Think of it like our wish list of events...if we didn't have to work, we'd hit them all! 

What? DigitaLatest
When? August 6-9, 2018
Where? Industry City, NY

Targeting CMOs and senior marketers, brand leaders, agencies and media partners, DigitaLatest was designed to keep marketing executives and leaders in the know with the most up-to-date technology and tools in the industry.

What? Digiday's Content Marketing Summit
When? August 6-8, 2018
Where? Vail, CO

Digiday's content marketing summit has it all...stellar speakers, engaging activities and networking opportunities galore. Throw in the morning yoga sessions and you will NOT want to miss this event. See how content marketing has changed and what your brand needs to do to keep up. 

Each week we do a roundup for you, covering the top five articles that came out on a specific, digital marketing-related topic. This week's roundup is on SEO news. So if you had a crazy weed and weren't able to keep up on the SEO news that came out, don't worry – we've got you covered. Read on for the top five SEO-related articles that came out over the last week. 

1. How to Optimize Content Efforts for SEO (MarTech Advisor)
   One of the best articles "summing it all up" I've come across in a long time. Learn quick, easy ways to use SEO to its fullest potential. 
   
   

2. How to project SEO traffic levels and avoid saying, ‘It depends’ (Search Engine Land)
   So often we see our clients struggle to prove the validity or worth of content management to the higer-ups. I know it works, you know it works, but how do you prove to the boss that it works? Simon Heseltine helps you figure it out.  

Coming at you with the must-go-to marketing events of July. 

What?  MozCon

When? July 9-11, 2018

Where? Seattle, WA

The showstopper event that has something for everyone, from content marketing to SEO to social…MozCon is one of the most-anticipated industry conferences of the year. And if you need more convincing? This three-day event even has a friendly hugging robot, Roger – I mean, what more could you want from a marketing conference?

What?  Facebook Ads Summit

When? July 9-13, 2018

Where? ONLINE

We love online events, because packing your bags in the summer should be for vacation, not conferences. So put your suitcase back in the closet and post up at your desk for this online summit geared toward any marketer or biz looking to fine-tune their Facebook ad strategy. The live online training, put on by none other than our fave social media gurus at Social Media Examiner, will leave you in awe. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of the power and capacity Facebook has to offer, so you can generate revenue and further your brand-promotion through your Facebook ads.

If you're into inbound marketing even just a little bit, you should know the name Tom Fishburne. Founder and CEO of Marketoonist, which parodies the world of marketing in the form of comics, Tom delights with his creative take on various marketing ideologies and subtopics.

But of my many favorite Fishburne-isms, it's something he says in a recent CustomerThink interview that rings truest of all for me:

"The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing"

I couldn't agree more. In a world of research-at-our-fingertips and Google-searches-galore, consumers are savvier than ever. In-authenticity reeks, and brands that aren't true to their mission (or those who haven't taken the time to explore what their mission actually is) are going to have an increasingly harder time finding marketing that works.

Worse? Those same savvy consumers are also unforgiving. Making the wrong move with your inbound strategy could just mean the death of your brand. Don't get me wrong, we all make honest mistakes, and the brands who make them (and get caught), if they're smart, will own up and charge forward. But the brands who think they can scheme their way into the hearts and wallets of their consumers are in for a rude awakening. 

Marketing, inbound marketing, is about taking the time to:

• Understand your audience
• Think about how you can help them
• Figure out what problem you'll solve
• Create content that speaks to them
• Publish on a dependable schedule 

SEO moves faster than a speeding bullet - what works one month may hurt you the next. And with Google's never-ending updates to their algorithm and ranking factors, you can't afford to not keep up with the times. Did you miss out on the top news stories this week? Don't you worry...Flair's got your back. Read on for the top five SEO news articles we thought were worth pointing out from this last week. 

1. Best ways to improve your SEO and why you need to do it (Forbes)
   Forbes regularly posts on the most current and updated SEO news, and this article (coupled with the noteworthy contributors) doesn't disappoint. Get tips and thoughts from 15 members of the Young Entrepreneur Council - they're some of the brightest minds in biz. And they make some quick-hit-win suggestions that reinforce what we say all the time (like create authoritative content, post consistently and flesh out your meta data).
2. Supercharging your SEO with AI: Insights, automation and personalization (Marketing Land)
   AI is here, and it's not going away any time soon. So whether you think it's creepy or cool, check out Marketing Land's exposé on how tech companies are fully embracing AI to become power-houses with their automated robotic SEO strategies. Side note: if you're in the "it's creepy" camp, this article is definitely worth the read, as it has some pretty interesting (not to mention calming) stats and thoughts on the subject. You listen to Pandora? Watch Netflix? You're already deep in the throws of AI.
   

Check out these not-to-be-missed marketing events in June. 

What? SearchLove: Boston

When? June 7-8, 2018

Where? Boston, MA

Focused on current data/research for analytics, content, search, site optimization and more, SearchLove Boston is two full and inspiring days with leaders in the industry.

What? SMX Advanced

When? June 11-13, 2018

Where? Seattle, WA

An exclusive gathering just for experienced search marketers, SMX Advanced is chock-full of fast-paced, informative sessions that will up your search marketing game.