Search engines will reward websites that contain relevant content related to a keyword search by ranking those websites higher in search results. A website will also want to use those targeted keywords in a way that will raise the page's visibility with various search engines.

Are you a digital marketing professional looking to advance your career? The Online Marketing Certified Professional (OMCP) certification is a premier, industry-recognized credential that reflects your mastery of online marketing concepts and best practices. 

There are three steps for earning your OMCP certification:

Have you ever purchased a product based on the recommendation of a friend, family member, or colleague? It's an accepted principle of marketing that consumers tend to trust and follow personal recommendations—usually from family and friends—more than they trust traditional advertising messages. And, in the digital age, a growing number of consumers are also following advice and recommendations from people they don't know but still trust: influencers.

This week, Skye Learning is excited to spotlight Ronald Couming, an expert in search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing. He’s also a subject matter expert who appears in numerous courses within Skye’s Certificate in Digital Marketing.

Couming is CEO and Founder of RCS Online Solutions, which helps business owners and entrepreneurs find, convert, and retain clients. He also hosts a weekly radio show called Internet Marketing and Business Solutions with Ronald Couming. Learn more at RCS Technology Solutions.

For entrepreneurs, a marketing plan is an essential resource, as it outlines the new venture's approach to attracting potential customers and convincing them to buy the products or services. It can also be used to obtain funding from investors.

Entrepreneurs rely on marketing plans to quantify expected marketing goals and results and provide a reference point for the organization; they also offer structure and direction for the marketing effort. In addition, a marketing plan can be employed to communicate marketing strategy and objectives to others in the organization.

Israel Kloss is Founding Principal of Findable Consulting, Co-Founder of Learn to Earn, and a Business Intelligence Insights Developer at Analog Devices. What’s more, Skye Learning is excited to announce that Kloss is a subject matter expert for Skye’s forthcoming Introduction to Google Analytics course.

This week, Skye Learning would like to spotlight Julia Campbell, a subject matter expert whose commentary is featured in numerous Skye courses: Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Modern Marketing, Social Media for Nonprofits, and Principles of Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations.

Campbell is a digital marketing consultant and strategist, as well as the Founder and Principal of J Campbell Social Marketing. She is also a keynote speaker and author of Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits. Campbell is passionate about training nonprofits to use digital tools to raise money and awareness for their organizations.

This week, Skye is following up again with Stephanie St. Martin, Senior Marketing Manager at Archetype Consulting and expert in all things marketing—including social media marketing, content marketing, and search engine optimization.

Below, Stephanie St. Martin explains the evolution of SEO and content marketing:

This week, Skye Learning is excited to spotlight Stephanie St. Martin, whose expert commentary appears in numerous Skye courses: Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, and Content Marketing.

St. Martin is a Senior Marketing Manager at Archetype Consulting and a board member for the University of South Florida’s Digital Marketing Advisory Board. St. Martin specializes in SEO, social media, content marketing, keyword research, querying, and more. She has also taught philosophy, was the featured Pet Blogger for Boston.com, and is known for sending handwritten thank you cards.

Creating an effective marketing strategy requires more than just putting together a plan. Evaluating your existing marketing efforts, setting clear goals, and establishing meaningful KPIs are just some of the things that you need to keep in mind. To learn more about how to develop an effective marketing strategy, check out the seven tips in our latest infographic.