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Should You Be Spending More on Google or Meta Ads

Discover whether Google Ads or Meta Ads is better for your business. Learn how first-party data, smart budgeting, and the right platform choice can maximize your ROI.

Cory Doucette

April 28, 2025

Tags: Ad BudgetingAds AutomationGoogle Ads

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Winning the New Game: AI Strategies to Dominate Google in 2025

SEO is evolving faster than ever. If your business is still relying on outdated tactics, you’re risking a sharp drop in visibility and rankings. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how AI is reshaping SEO in 2025, the mistakes to avoid, and the strategies your business must adopt now...

Cory Doucette

April 22, 2025

Tags: Artificial Intelligenceseo

Young woman in red hugging a giant red piñata shaped like a social media notification with a heart and the number one, standing against a solid red background, symbolizing love for social media engagement.

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Why Your Social Media Isn’t Generating Sales (And What to Do About It)

You're showing up on social—but the sales just aren’t coming. The truth? Posting alone won’t grow your business. Without strategy, engagement, and strong calls to action, you’re not converting—just entertaining. This guide breaks down exactly why your social media isn’t selling—and how to fix it with content that converts, ads...

Cory Doucette

April 16, 2025

Tags: Customer Engagementsocial mediaSocial media strategy

A couple reviewing their website performance together at home, considering expert marketing help.

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The 5-Second Test How Many Customers Are Leaving Your Website Right Now

Your website has just five seconds to make an impression—or risk losing more than half your visitors. In this guide, we break down exactly why users bounce, how to run a 5-second test on your site, and the most common design, messaging, and trust mistakes that quietly kill conversions.

Cory Doucette

April 9, 2025

Tags: lead generationweb design

Stressed woman at laptop with sad face icon, illustrating marketing frustration.

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The Hidden Costs of Bad Marketing: How Much Money You’re Actually Losing

Most businesses focus on what they spend on marketing—but the real cost is what's lost when campaigns under perform. From missed SEO traffic to unqualified ad clicks and poor conversions, the leaks add up fast. Growth Shark’s free audit shows you exactly where your marketing is falling short—so you can...

Cory Doucette

April 3, 2025

Tags: marketing strategysmall business marketing

Logos of Deepseek (whale) and ChatGPT side by side.

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ChatGPT vs Deepseek: Choosing the Right AI for Real-World Results

Artificial intelligence isn’t just evolving—it’s diverging. In one corner, you’ve got ChatGPT: polished, powerful, and widely adopted. In the other, Deepseek: open-source, raw, and rapidly gaining ground.Whether you're a business leader, developer, or creator, understanding the strengths of each could define how you leverage AI next.

Cory Doucette

March 28, 2025

Tags: AI ToolsArtificial Intelligence

3D illustration of a rocket launching around a shipping box, symbolizing fast e-commerce growth, innovation, and delivery acceleration.

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Top 10 Marketing Techniques For E-Commerce in 2025

The fastest-growing brands aren’t chasing trends or lucky breaks. They’re building experiences that connect, convert, and last. If you’re ready to refine your strategy, attract high-intent shoppers, and scale without burning out your budget, this guide breaks down 10 proven marketing techniques driving real growth right now—from SEO and influencer...

Cory Doucette

March 4, 2025

Tags: content creationE-commerceE-mail Marketing

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What Google’s Site Reputation Abuse Policy Means for You

Google’s latest update to its Site Reputation Abuse Policy is shaking up the digital landscape, leaving businesses, publishers, and SEO professionals scrambling to adjust. If you’ve been relying on third-party content to boost rankings, affiliate marketing, or white-label content partnerships, this is your wake-up call. Google is going after what’s...

Cory Doucette

February 25, 2025

Tags: Google Policies and Algorithm UpdatesMarketing Newsseo

Swift Printing team collaborating at the front desk.

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Swift Printing and the Importance of B Corp Certification for the Community

Swift Printing, a B Corp in Grand Rapids, MI, delivers high-quality, eco-friendly printing services for businesses and individuals, balancing sustainability, community impact, and premium craftsmanship since 1950.

Cory Doucette

February 11, 2025

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Mini shopping cart filled with packages placed in front of a laptop displaying an online store, symbolizing e-commerce growth and digital shopping trends.

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E-Commerce SEO Strategies For Increased Organic Traffic

If your e-commerce store isn’t ranking, you’re losing sales—plain and simple. With 53% of website traffic coming from organic search, relying solely on paid ads isn’t sustainable. The key to success? Targeting high-intent keywords, optimizing product and category pages, and structuring your site for maximum visibility.

Cory Doucette

February 3, 2025

Tags: E-commerceorganicseo

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The Power of Purpose: Building Brand Recognition Through Social Impact

Purpose-driven marketing strengthens brands by fostering trust, emotional resonance, and loyalty. Aligning with social causes boosts recognition, builds meaningful connections, and ensures sustainable growth for modern businesses.

Cory Doucette

January 15, 2025

Tags: cause-related marketingsocial impact

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TikTok’s Future in America: Legal Battles, Security Concerns, and What’s Next

TikTok's future in the U.S. faces uncertainty amid legal challenges over national security. Discover the latest updates, key voices, and what it could mean for users, businesses, and the tech industry.

Cory Doucette

January 14, 2025

Tags: Marketing Newssocial media

Toy trucks spelling 'SEO' with white letters

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Top SEO Strategies For Masonry Contractors

Boost your masonry business with effective SEO strategies. Rank higher in local searches, attract targeted leads, and showcase your expertise to grow your client base and stand out from the competition.

Cory Doucette

January 2, 2025

Tags: Masonry Contractorsseo

Image showing the word bold website surrounded by SEO, marketing, and related terms.

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Why Masonry Contractors Should Invest in a Professional Website

Establishing a professional online presence is critical for masonry contractors looking to grow their business. A well-designed website not only showcases your craftsmanship but also builds trust and credibility with potential clients.

Cory Doucette

December 5, 2024

Tags: Masonry Contractorswebsite development

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What Makes a Successful Cause Marketing Campaign?

Creating a successful cause marketing campaign is more about building a brand community than increasing sales. When you have a loyal community of customers, they will be by your side through all your endeavors.

Cami Macias

December 13, 2023

Tags: brandingbusiness developmentcause-related marketingdigital agencymarketingmarketing strategy

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Historical Climate Change in Art and Literature

Embark on a captivating journey through the canvases of artists and the pages of literature to uncover the subtle, yet profound, depictions of historical climate change. Explore how art and literature have mirrored the evolving relationship between humanity and the environment, offering insights into the past and inspiration for a...

Cami Macias

December 7, 2023

Tags: history of climate change

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How to Market a Beverage Product

Knowing how to market a beverage product is a process that starts with a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. The competition is fierce, and the industry keeps changing. You must keep up. With the proper tactics, you can find success in marketing your product to the widespread public and gaining a loyal...

Cami Macias

November 8, 2023

Tags: brandingbusiness developmentdigital agencymarketing strategy

How to create online cause marketing strategy?

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Online Cause Marketing Strategy - How Do I Create My Cause Marketing Plan?

Creating a cause marketing plan is more than just a strategy, it's about weaving your brand values into the fabric of social responsibility. The power of cause marketing lies in its ability to foster trust and loyalty among consumers. Read on to learn more.

Austin Miller

October 11, 2023

Tags: brand communitybrandingbusiness developmentcause-related marketingdigital agencymarketing strategysocial impact

Building meaningful digital marketing partnerships

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The Growth Shark Founder to Speak at Digital Summit Detroit on Building Meaningful Partnerships

Detroit, MI – Cory Doucette, Founder and Creative Director of The Growth Shark, is set to take the stage at the highly anticipated Digital Summit Detroit, the most innovative digital marketing conference series designed to sharpen your marketing skill set through workshops and sessions that address tactical, practical, and strategic...

Cami Macias

September 15, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingdigital agencysocial impactThe Growth Shark

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Cause Marketing SEO: SEO Tips to Excel at Cause Marketing

Cause marketing SEO is a powerful tool that can help businesses foster teamwork, execute successful campaigns, and make an impact in their communities. Learn more about SEO for cause marketing.

Austin Miller

August 9, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingmarketingmarketing strategyseo

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Ozone Understanding: The Montreal Protocol Journey

Learn about the zone odyssey that is the Montreal Protocol. Meet the heroes, navigate the twists of science and diplomacy, and witness how a united world tackled the ozone crisis. Join the journey for a resilient and ozone-friendly future.

Cory Doucette

July 20, 2023

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Cause marketing strategy. What it is, examples, and how to develop your own.

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What Is Cause Marketing Strategy? A Comprehensive Guide

What is cause marketing strategy and why does it matter? Explore successful examples and campaigns, then get tips for creating a winning approach for your mission-led business.

Cami Macias

July 12, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingmarketing strategy

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How to Use Google's "People Also Ask" & "More Searches" for Cause Marketing SEO

Did you know you can use Google's "People Also Ask" and "More Searches" Features to supercharge your presence on search engines? Dive int to explore proven tactics for mission-led businesses to amplify their online presence and expand their audience reach.

Cami Macias

May 31, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingcontentcontent creationseo

Transforming Communities through Cause-Driven Marketing: Empowering Change with Socially Conscious Initiatives

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Does Cause Marketing Work? Analyzing Strategies & Impact

Is cause marketing actually worth pursuing in 2023 and beyond? If you want to resonate with your target audience, yes. Explore the remarkable potential of cause marketing to elevate your brand equity.

Cory Doucette

May 24, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingmarketing strategysocial impact

Discover 12 reasons you need a digital marketing strategy for your cause-related campaigns and purpose-driven business in 2023

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12 Key Benefits of a Cause Marketing Strategy in 2023

How can you get ahead in the today's competitive business landscape while making a deeply meaningful impact on the world around you? Discover the incredible power of cause marketing.

Cami Macias

May 10, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingmarketingmarketing strategysocial impact

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What Is Cause Marketing Definition?

What is cause marketing and how can it be used to skyrocket your business growth? Read more to discover the future of marketing for mission-driven business.

Cory Doucette

May 3, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketinggreen businessmarketing strategysocial impact

green terminology for small business, eco friendly words to use in marketing, eco friendly word list, eco friendly vocab

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Green Terminology for Small Business: Understanding and Incorporating Proper Terms

Eco-friendly terminology for small business can include eco-sustainability, fair trade, and other ethical business and daily practices. Read more on how to incorporate green terminology and practices as you build your brand.

Cami Macias

April 26, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketinggreen businessgreen terminologysmall business marketingThe Growth Shark

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Marketing Fundamentals: How to Get Started Marketing Your Brand Online

The possibilities are endless when it comes to advertising your brand online. So how can you maximize your marketing plan to return the best conversion rates? Let’s look and learn how to get your brand out there with digital marketing fundamentals.

Trey Sprye

February 22, 2023

Tags: marketing

Here are great examples of Cause-Related Marketing that you can implement in your business

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3 Real-Life Effective Examples of Cause-Related Marketing You Can Steal

Your marketing strategy should focus on connecting with your target audience. That's what makes cause-related marketing such a powerful tool for your brand. Read on to see a few power examples you can use in your business.

Samantha Lee

February 15, 2023

Tags: cause-related marketingmarketing

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Practicing What You Preach Is Vital in Creating a Cause-Driven Brand

Cause-driven companies find new ways to connect with customers by bonding over a common purpose. When you build a foundation based on the bigger picture than just making a sale, your employees and potential clients will be drawn to your vision and want to join your cause. Read more about...

Cory Doucette

January 25, 2023

Tags: brand communitybrandingbusiness developmentmarketing

These are some of the most important marketing performance metrics to track in your business

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10 Marketing Performance Metrics All Marketers Should Be Tracking Closely

In this world where everything is digital, it is possible to track almost anything. Discover what digital marketing strategies are converting to sales and which are stagnant.

Trey Sprye

December 14, 2022

Tags: business developmentmarketingmetrics

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Building a Brand With 3 Words

Why do you need to build a brand? You’ve got a logo and design that makes your company easy to identify. Is that enough? Building a brand is creating an identity that gives your company personality. Continue reading…

Samantha Lee

November 23, 2022

Tags: brand communitybrandingbusiness developmentmarketing

Eating a nutritionally dense foods will help you perform well at work

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How Eating Green Can Help You Improve Your Work Efficiency

The food you eat provides the energy you need to make it through the day. Some foods make you feel tired and lagging, while others give you a pep in your step to fly through your to-do list. Many people wonder, what foods can I eat to promote work efficiency?...

Cory Doucette

November 9, 2022

Tags: peak performancepersonal development

What to look for when hiring a web developer in Detroit, Michigan.

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The Top 3 Things to Look for When Hiring a Web Developer in Detroit

Your website is essential to your business. However, if one thing goes wrong on the website, whether it is slow to load or a button does not work, this could cost you in orders and sales. Having an experienced web developer to call on when these troubles come up will relieve loads...

Riz Khurshid

October 26, 2022

Tags: marketingseoweb designwebsite development

Discover what The 5 AM Club is all about and how it'll transform your work life balance

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The 5 AM Club: Transform Your Work-Life Balance

Time – people would pay to buy more time in their lives to get their work done and have extra hours in the day to spend with friends and family. Enter The 5 AM Club: your solution to time management and the implementation of a schedule practiced by many successful CEOs...

Cory Doucette

October 12, 2022

Tags: peak performancepersonal developmentpopular

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SEO Crash Course

SEO is the process of gearing online content towards the algorithms used by most major search engines. Basically, it’s about getting your posts to check all of Google's (or whoever’s) boxes so that they will put your content in front of as many viewers as possible. Sound complicated? Read this...

Reilly Riddle

September 28, 2022

Tags: contentcontent creationkeyword researchmetricsorganicseosocial media

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What is Effective Altruism and Why Does it Matter?

It’s possible you’ve never heard of Effective Altruism. Despite some high-profile champions (Bill Gates and Warren Buffet among them), it remains a relatively obscure topic. And yet, those who do learn about it often find their lives changed forever.

Cory Doucette

September 14, 2022

Tags: brand communitybusiness developmentmarketing

Here are all the top marketing terms that will help you market and grow your business

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Digital Glossary of Top Marketing Terms You Need to Know

Just like any industry or field of expertise, digital marketing has its own terminology, jargon, and even slang. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the more common internet marketing terms with a brief explanation of what they mean and how they relate to marketing your business.

Cory Doucette

August 31, 2022

Tags: marketing

How to hire the right marketing agency for your business

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How to Hire the Right Marketing Agency for Your Brand

Marketing is weird. On the one hand, most business owners don’t really see themselves as marketers. But to the public what a business represents will largely be presented to them in the form of marketing.

Melissa Gutierrez

August 24, 2022

Tags: business developmentdigital agencymarketing

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Master the 5 Stages of the Website Development Process

It’s easier than ever for the layperson to make a website that looks pro-grade—often in a matter of minutes. But to actually develop a website—to make sure that it has the features and content required to bring people in and keep them there takes work. In this article, we highlight...

Riz Khurshid

August 10, 2022

Tags: brandingweb designwebsite development

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Millennials to Gen Z: Are You Marketing to Them?

There are often stigmas associated with millennials and, in my personal experience, they can be fairly augmented. Gen Z’ers along with millennials are the two most influential generations when it comes to branding now.

Trey Sprye

July 27, 2022

Tags: contentgen zmillennials

Creating a custom tailored social media marketing plan

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Social Media Strategy: Create a Tailored Social Media Plan

The entire planet is on social media. Billions of users log on every day for what can often equate to significant amounts of time. Marketers couldn’t ask for a better platform to get their message across. Take a look at how to create a tailored social media marketing strategy that...

Hannah Murphy

July 20, 2022

Tags: brandingcontent creationsocial media

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People Don't Care About Your Brand, They Care About Themselves

Try not to take it personally. People are busy. Why should they spend time worrying about the social vibe your little coffee shop is trying to establish when they have their own problems to worry about? This isn’t the same thing as saying that branding doesn’t matter. It simply means...

Cory Doucette

July 13, 2022

Tags: brand communitybrandinglead generationtarget personas

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Generating Leads vs. Building a Brand Community

Generating leads versus building a brand community are two sides of the same marketing coin. We'll identify what is the best way to find leads, what makes a good brand community, and how you can use both to improve your marketing efforts.

Cory Doucette

June 29, 2022

Tags: brand communitybrandinglead generation

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Two Crucial Questions to Ask When Creating Content

Often playing a significant role in inbound marketing campaigns, content creation is a necessary part of doing business in the digital space. Over 80% of marketers are actively moving into the online content creation space.

Reilly Riddle

June 22, 2022

Tags: brandingcontentcontent creation

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10 Most Important SEO Metrics to Track Organic Performance

There are many different ways to look at visitor behavior, all of which can help you better understand the performance of your content. In this article, we look at the top SEO metrics to track organic performance.

Cory Doucette

June 8, 2022

Tags: metricsorganicseo

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How to Use SEO to Reach Page #1 of Google

In a world where virtually anyone can start a business at the touch of their fingers, it becomes difficult to stand out amongst the crowd. An incredible idea doesn’t mean much if no one knows about it. That’s where marketing comes in, SEO and SEM in particular...

Cory Doucette

March 16, 2022

Tags: a/b testingcontent creationkeyword researchpopularsemseotarget personas

Meet the Team

Every full service digital marketing agency needs a content marketing expert to power client growth

Team

Meet Cami – Content Writing Lead

About team member

From science studies to content writing, discover Cami's path into becoming the expert writer she is today.

Cory Doucette

June 14, 2023

Tags: contentcontent creationThe Growth Shark

Meet Mel! Our Business Development Strategist at The Growth Shark.

Team

Meet Mel – Business Development Strategist

About team member

Meet Mel, our Business Development Strategist. Now with just over 8 years of experience in marketing, garnering a multitude of experience in Email Design, HTML, SEO, and Data Analytics, Melissa takes these skills to The Growth Shark!

Cami Macias

May 17, 2023

Tags: The Growth Shark

Team

Meet Cory – Creative Director, Founder

About team member

Meet Cory, Creative Director and Founder of The Growth Shark. Learn about his extensive experience in marketing and how he created a company that values people over profits while prioritizing cause-driven elements.

Cami Macias

April 12, 2023

Tags: business developmentcause-related marketingdigital agencypersonal developmentThe Growth Shark

A client success manager is an essential part of a efficient and effective digital marketing agency

Team

Meet Samantha – Client Success Lead

About team member

Meet Samantha, Client Success Lead at The Growth Shark. With extensive experience as a marketing manager, Samantha brings immense value to each of our clients.

Cami Macias

March 15, 2023

Tags: The Growth Shark

This is Hannah Murphy, Creative Design Lead at The Growth Shark. She's in charge of making brands visually

Team

Meet Hannah – Creative Design Lead

About team member

Meet Hannah, Creative Design Lead at The Growth Shark. Hannah brings a wealth of experience and passion to the team, helping our clients stand out through eye-catching visual design.

Cami Macias

February 8, 2023

Tags: The Growth Shark

Reilly heads up content creation and SEO at our full-service digital marketing agency

Team

Meet Reilly – Digital Marketing Manager, Content & SEO

About team member

Meet Reilly, Digital Marketing Manager in charge of content and SEO at The Growth Shark. Reilly is passionate about bringing marketing results to all of our clients through top notch content and the latest search engine optimization techniques.

Cami Macias

January 11, 2023

Tags: The Growth Shark

Trey, our business development strategist, enjoying a ball game

Team

Meet Trey – Business Development Strategist

About team member

Meet Trey, Business Development Strategist at The Growth Shark. After growing and selling his own marketing business, he's the ultimate strategist to have on the team.

Cami Macias

December 28, 2022

Tags: The Growth Shark

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