Most people know and understand traditional or outbound marketing -- after all, we're inundated with it in the form of radio and television commercials, print advertising, billboards and constant online advertising.  But how many companies really know what inbound marketing is, and have a deep understanding of how to effectively generate loyal customers and convert "lookers" into buyers? 

Link building should be a regular and important component of your inbound marketing strategy.

Content marketing seems to be the buzzword these days. It's certainly an easy term to throw around. Exactly what tactics and techniques does content marketing encompass? And why should your company invest in creating content?

Part of an inbound marketing strategy is optimizing your content so that it can be found in search engines. Another major part of the strategy is link building from outside sources.  

Quick Response (QR) codes are being used in businesses to expand their reach. It seems like you can't go anywhere without seeing a QR code on a label, wall, or even on t-shirts. I've even seen QR codes on ketchup bottles, telling you about the product and business. The reason QR codes are so effective is because they are able to hold information and are easy to use. They connect people to other people, businesses, and online content. Here are this week's QR code articles, explaining how to use QR codes for all types of businesses.

It’s all about getting found. How you go about getting found is the real test. Search engines, social media, and blogs have revolutionized lead generation. Consumers spend most of their time online for shopping research, reading reviews and blogs, and just using search engines. Because of this, businesses are making the transformation from outbound to inbound marketing. To remain competitive with their websites, businesses should create an engaging online atmosphere for their customers, to make it more readily available to sell products and services. Here are steps, strategies, and advice from lead generation experts.

As 2010 ends, let's reflect on how many B2B corporations have been made aware that their online presence is losing out to competitors who "get" inbound marketing and social media.  For many of these corporations, the focus in 2011 will be to grow social networks, drive more quality leads online, and be able to measure and track their inbound marketing campaigns.

Here are four key topics that every marketing department will be discussing in 2011: