Kelsey Sizemore, Author at Work at Forge

Priceless SEO Strategy on a Local Business Budget

Are you looking for higher rankings and traffic through SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? Matt Spivak, Marketing Consultant with Uptick Marketing, recently taught a Forge webinar about SEO strategy for local businesses. You can view the recording here. Let’s hit the highlights for you!

Did you know Google receives approximately 63k searches every second?

And 3 out of 4 people searching don’t bother going past the first page.

Did you know that 3 out of 4 people who conduct a local search (“near me”) will visit a store within 5 miles of their current location?

Evaluating Your SEO

Step 1: Understand Your Current Situation

Ask yourself some questions:
- What marketing efforts are we currently doing? Is it generating much search volume? How do we know?
- Is our marketing actually making us money? How do we measure this?
- What is the lifetime value of a new customer?
- Where can we earn some easy wins?

Step 2: Is your site mobile friendly?

Is your mobile experience formatted in a way that generates user activity?
- Phone calls
- Chat conversations
- Contact requests
Are you tracking events in Google Analytics?

Step 3: Building a Strong SEO Foundation

How is your website’s load time?
Did you know that half of your website visitors will abandon their session if your website takes longer than 3 seconds to load?
How is your website’s user experience?
Is your website content engaging?
Is your website converting visitors into customers?

Step 4: Ensure Your Local SEO is Spotless

Reviews are one of the most important things you can do- social proof drives purchases!
Most customers don’t trust advertising but 9 out of 10 young consumers (18-34 year olds) trust online reviews
More reviews = more revenue

Step 5: EAT – Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness

What is Google’s product? Trust!
Google does its best to reward websites with high quality content
Provide a quality experience for your visitors and Google will reward you!

Your Next Step as a Business Owner: In House vs. Hiring an SEO Expert

At first an SEO expert can seem expensive. But ask yourself, what is it costing you NOT being seeing on the first page of Google while your competitors are?

If you are not able to hire someone to do your SEO right now, these are the top 4 things you can do on your own to improve your SEO…

Optimize your Google My Business listing- check out one of our webinar recordings on this very topic!
Get more Google Reviews, especially if you don’t have any recent reviews
Update the backend of your business website (think headlines, titles, descriptions, alt titles for pictures)
Increase your website speed

Thank you Matt for sharing your SEO wisdom with us! And be sure to check out Uptick Marketing. For more helpful marketing resources (and much more) see Forge’s Resource Page filled with webinar recordings, podcast episodes, blog posts and much more! If you’re tired of working from home, come take a tour of Forge and receive a free Day Pass to work from our space.

Bham Shop Small Gift Guide for the Holidays

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This year it feels more important than ever before to shop local for the holidays. Small businesses need our support in 2020 and thankfully there are so many amazing shops around Birmingham. We’ve curated a gift guide for everyone your list.

Just remember these are gifts and not meant for you (but we won’t tell anyone if you decide to gift yourself).

For Someone With a Sweet Tooth:

Birmingham Candy

Our neighbors at Birmingham Candy Company have created a hometown candy store that everyone in Birmingham can be proud of. They’ve got every sweet you can dream of from caramel apples to fudge and truffles. Buy someone special a gift card or stop in The Pizitz Food Hall and fill up a box of goodies!

Chocolata

Chocolata uses single origin chocolate that is ethically sourced 100% from Latin America and they have so many unique flavors for you to try! If you’ve never stopped by their quaint shop on 2nd Ave. N, it’s a must see. They even have holiday gift sets that you could easily grab!

Big Spoon

Big Spoon Creamery is a small batch, artisan ice cream company and you can tell they are seriously passionate about their craft. The Big Spoon menu always focuses on seasonal flavors with local ingredients.

For Someone Who Loves To Workout

Three15

THREE15 is a workout experience combining 15 minutes of cycling, 15 minutes of barre, and 15 minutes of strength training, into one, high-energy studio fitness experience. They have locations in both Homewood and downtown. Purchase a gift card for your exercise lover friend or family member!

Ignite

Ignite is Birmingham’s only boutique cycling studio! Their main studio is in Pepper Place but they are currently offering open air rides down the street at Sloss Docks. Ignite’s Home for the Holi-Slay Series is available to students and faculty in school outside of Birmingham. Choose from 6 weeks Unlimited Rides for $125 or 3 weeks for $69.

True40

True40 is a boutique fitness studio that provides a 60 minute balanced body, low-impact workout suited for all ages and fitness levels. True40 is located in The Battery and Cahaba Heights. They even have At Home Workouts available on their website!

For the Health Food Lover

Nourish

Nourish Foods is founded by Mary Drennen and Tiffany Vickers Davis- two chefs who wanted and saw a need for healthy, fresh, creative, direct-to-customer food choices. Buy a gift card and your loved one can enjoy chef prepared, southern inspired food that’s delivered right to their door!

Blueroot

Blueroot sells delightful, delicious, and nutrient-dense food for those on the move — because they believe no one should have to sacrifice quality or nutrition for convenience. Give the gift of clean, plant-forward food that can be grabbed on the go!

Harvest Roots

Harvest Roots recently opened their Avondale location and it is definitely worth checking out! Harvest Roots Kombucha is about ingredients, freshness, and innovation. Never too sweet, never too tart. But they don’t have just kombucha- they also have house kimchi, pickles, popcorn and much more. Gift a snack or a kombucha growler to a friend this holiday season!

For Someone Who Needs to be Pampered

FancyFace Bham

Fancy Face is a clean beauty facial bar located in Southside. Facials are designed to give you refreshed skin with no downtime in 30- 45 minutes so it’s an easy way for you to treat a friend! Purchase a gift card on their website or easily schedule a facial for them.

Life Touch Massage

Who doesn’t need a massage in 2020? Give the gift of relaxation and support a downtown Birmingham business at the same time! Life Touch Massage has a wide range of services from deep tissue massage to pregnancy massage and full body scrub!

Shea Shea Beauty and Brow

Shea works right here at Forge as an esthetician and makeup artist. We have seen first hand that Shea has a devoted clientele and lots of rave reviews for her work! Shea Shea Beauty & Brow is a great way to pamper yourself or a friend.

For Someone Who Loves Local, Unique Gifts

Square One Goods Co.

Square One Goods is filled with so many fun, local goods. You can find jewelry, stationery, cards, books, candles and much more. No matter who you’re buying a gift for, you can find something unique at Square One Goods.

Trove Design Shop

Located in Woodlawn, Trove offers a carefully curated selection of “treasures” with an emphasis on craftsmanship and design. If you’re looking for antiques, home decor, aromatherapy goods, books or jewelry, Trove has it all! Right now Trove offers curbside pickup and free local delivery so you can still safely shop.

For the Plant Lover in Your Life

Botanica

Botanica has an amazing selection of tropical and desert houseplants along with unique pots! One of the best parts: Botanica’s plants can be shipped nationwide so you can send them to friends and family who aren’t local. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful if you have any questions about which plant would work best for you.

House Plant Collective

House Plant Collective is Birmingham’s pop-up plant store! They are based out of a renovated (very Instagrammable) school bus with events throughout the city. HPC staff is eager to teach you about plant care and share their plant wisdom!

Shoppe

Shoppe is nestled in Forest Park- it’s the most quaint garden shop you’ll ever see! And they don’t only have plants- inside their shop you’ll find housewares, plant accessories, books and much more. You should also stop in their other store General next door.

For the Book Lover

Thank You Books

Thank You Books is a general interest independent bookstore in the Crestwood neighborhood. Curbside pickup is available during store hours, and they will ship within the US. We love that Thank You Books is woman-owned, community-minded, gratitude-driven. Go check it out if you haven’t already!

Little Professor

Little Professor is Birmingham’s oldest independent bookstore that recently came under new ownership! Stop by their shop in Homewood and browse the aisles of Little Professor for the book lover in your life. You could even gift someone a Little Professor membership- giving them 20% off purchases, 40% off weekly bestsellers, free local delivery and pick up and much more!

Forge is in the business of growing businesses. We care about supporting fellow small business in Birmingham and we hope you do too! Please shop local during the holidays whenever you can.

Better Together: Birmingham Coworking Collective

Forge News and Updates | 1 comment

Over several months Forge has been working with some awesome coworking spaces to build the Birmingham Coworking Collective! The BCC officially launched this week and even though the launch is much different than we expected (thanks COVID), we are still excited to strengthen the coworking community in our city.

Birmingham Coworking Collective is part of a beta program through the Global Workspace Association. GWA is the connection-based resource for shared space operators, workplace strategists, real estate investors and service providers to stay connected, current and competitive in the flexible office industry.

With the launch of the collective, we’re also launching a Coworking Passport as well! This gives you a chance to schedule one day of work at each of the participating spaces. You can learn more about the space, see what kind of perks there are and how it works for you.

What’s the mission of Birmingham Coworking Collective?

Build and strengthen the coworking community in Birmingham by growing awareness of coworking in our city
Empower those starting out coworking
Enrich the experience of those currently coworking
Connecting the creative engines behind each space into a diverse, vibrant network committed to good work
Provide resources to new coworkers
Promote collaboration and cross-programming among our spaces
Learn from one another as unique community spaces, we will make Birmingham a better place to work.

So besides Forge, who is part of the Birmingham Coworking Collective?

Worx : a workspace with 2 locations in the Birmingham area- offering over 40 private office suites and best in class amenities!

MAKEbhm: a community space, celebrating the passion to create. Rent space, access equipment or enroll in a class at MAKE!

Practice Works: working solutions for your wellness practice, coworking for all with option to drop in or rent a dedicated office!

The Hub: a close-knit coworking community in the centrally located West Homewood

Innovation Depot: 140,000 square feet of amazing office, lab, and coworking space – all designed for your startup

Social Venture: co-working space, meeting space and change-making space in the heart of Woodlawn that supports REV Birmingham’s work creating vibrant places across the city

If you or someone else you know are looking for coworking space, contact Birmingham Coworking Collective to claim your passport! The passport gives you access to seven coworking spaces in the greater Birmingham area, allowing you to experience each community and find out which space is best for you before committing to a membership.

Where Do Remote Workers Find Community in Birmingham?

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Coworking spaces don’t exist for entrepreneurs only- we know remote workers also need to get out of their home office and into a thriving community. It’s easy for remote workers to work from coffee shops but they are full of distractions, (usually) spotty wifi and you end up spending too much money on coffee and snacks. Not to mention, most coffee shops are only offering to-go in the era of COVID.

Forge provides stylish, modern workspaces, events, networking opportunities and access to an ever-growing support system. Not to mention, we also offer free unlimited Domestique coffee all day everyday.

“I work on a small team of co-workers based all over the U.S. Because of that, I spend quite a lot of time of my work week participating in conference calls and Skype meetings. Being a member at Forge not only helps me incorporate in-person socializing into each day, but it also motivates me in terms of outside-the-box thinking and gives me a network of people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to bounce ideas off of.”

Forge Member, Kellyn

A coworking membership at Forge is $189/month- giving you access to open workspace 24/7. $189 may sound like a lot but hear me out….

You are guaranteed a spot to work.

You don’t have to pay for coffee.

No more crappy wifi.

There are phone booths for phone calls.

Our space is spotlessly clean!

You have plenty of space to socially distance from fellow coworkers!

You are no longer alone- you can be part of a community of friendly faces at Forge.

“With events for members every week, at varying times of the day, there are opportunities for everyone to feel connected. I travel every other week for my job and Forge provides that consistency of a place to work when I am home. Also, having the Pizitz Food Hall downstairs is always convenient. I would highly recommend this to anyone that is constantly looking for a good place to work and coffee shops or their house just won’t cut it.”

Forge Member, Alex

Everyone at Forge is here to get work done. When you think about it, the majority of people in a coffee shop aren’t there to work. The music can be distracting- along with the many conversations you overhear from strangers! Don’t be tempted by your bed any longer- get out of your home office and be your best self.

If you need more convincing, read some reviews from current Forge members who are remote workers.

“Since starting to work out of Forge in 2019, I quickly realized the environment that Forge has to offer its members is like nothing else I’ve experienced in my career. Forge and The Pizitz have developed a community that provides multiple opportunities to meet other professionals in the Birmingham area. As an Atlanta native, this has been very beneficial for me to grow my network and engage even more with this city.”

Forge Member, Jessica

“Being a remote employee, it is hard to establish a sense of community and productivity working from home. The Forge has afforded me many opportunities to network and build relationships with other business professionals in the Birmingham market, while providing the structure of an office environment to help me maintain a high level of productivity. Working at Forge is one of the best career decisions I’ve made.”

Forge Member, Eric

“Forge has been such a blessing for the past two and a half years! Because I work remotely for a company in based Nashville, I had a tendency to feel very isolated at first – which is not a great thing for work ethic let alone mental health. Since I joined Forge, I am not only more efficient but am also reenergized by the people surrounding me. It reminds me that though I am working alone, I can still be surrounded by an great community of people who inspire me in my own job.”

Forge Member, Ginny

Are you a remote worker looking for a more productive place to work? Email us at info@workatforge.com!

Emotional Health in the Midst of Distancing- Advice from a Bham Pastor

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Yes, there are emotional affects of social distancing during the COVID pandemic. Our friend and Forge member Gary Purdy of City Church Midtown and Culture Care recently taught a webinar addressing this issue. We found Gary’s teaching and vulnerability so helpful and wanted to share with you.

Our society is in a collective state of trauma. Unlike Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which surfaces after a trauma has ended, the country is only startling to grapple with the pandemic’s psychological fallout now.

Jonathan Porteus, licensed clinical psychologist, Crisis & Suicide Hotline, Sacramento, CA

What are the emotional affects of social distancing?

Loneliness
Anxiety
Depression

Gary continued to emphasize that loneliness, anxiety & depression feel like our enemy, but these emotions may become our teacher. If we can acknowledge our loneliness, then we can learn from it.

It’s important to consult a doctor, focus on doing some kind of energizing exercise each day (even if it’s just a walk), eat healthy and take time to practice slow breathing at least once a day.

What are some helpful mental practices when you are feeling depressed?

Learn about your personality patterns
Be kind to you
Talk to yourself when you usually listen to yourself
Phone a friend when it gets too heavy

When you have nagging negative thoughts, do you listen to yourself or talk to yourself?

Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts coming to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday. Somebody is talking. Who? Your self is talking to you….You must stand up and say, ‘Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you.’

D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Spiritual Depression

The wiring of your emotional health can be affected by the psychological history in your family tree- if you haven’t already explored this with your own family it can be helpful to look back and ask questions about your family tree. Gary suggests doing a genogram of your family tree. A genogram goes beyond a traditional family tree by allowing you to analyze hereditary patterns and psychological factors that affect relationships.Then identify the sub-text or operating principle from your family of origin.

Life throws us so many hardships: heartbreak, illness, injury, death, abandonment. Though we may share similar experiences, every hurt is personal and affects our emotional health. We encourage you to examine your own emotional health and feel free to reach out to Gary with any questions. Gary Purdy is the pastor of City Church Midtown but he is also launching Culture Care– ongoing, confidential conversations about personal barriers to healthy work teams.