12 websites every SME needs to know about

When you’re a small to medium business keeping up with the Joneses can be hard. Especially when the Joneses are mega brands with uber-budgets. Unlike them, you probably don’t have think tanks, strategists and analysists keeping track of business, tech and digital marketing trends.

A lack of an insight department isn’t the end of the world, though. Getting updates from expert websites can help you keep abreast of the latest developments and advice in all of the above areas.

At the tsoHost blog, we keep an eye on trending topics in areas from SEO and business best practice to email marketing and blogging to help you stay up to date with the most news-worthy developments. We cherry-pick the news that’s most relevant to SMEs and start-ups.

However, if you have time to delve a little deeper into each field, here are a few websites to bookmark.

Best for online marketing

HubSpot

At the heart of HubSpot is a company that sells marketing and sales software like CRMs and customer service tools. However, it supports its customers with a suite of informational and insightful blog articles, eBooks, guides, research studies and reports. Its research analyses concepts like consumer expectations, Google trends, and content trends.

Jeff Bullas

Forbes refers to Jeff Bullas as a top influencer of chief marketing officers and the world's top social marketing talent. His personal website is loaded with resources for online businesses such as downloadable eBooks like 101+ Tips to Grow Your Web Traffic. There is also a blog on his website that he regularly updates with articles on everything from digital marketing tools to brand integrity.

StreetFight mag

Featuring breaking news, case studies and commentary, StreetFight mag is dedicated to all the topics that affect local businesses with both an online and real-world presence. What’s particularly useful about this site is that it often breaks its advice down by industry. So, you’ll find articles specific to the restaurant business one day and features relating to the retail industry the next, for example.

Best for SEO

Search Engine Land

A library’s worth of advice is available on the topics of SEO and martech – marketing technology – at Search Engine Land. Daily news coverage includes breaking stories, industry trends, feature announcements and product changes at popular platforms used by search marketers to reach consumers online. It also produces regular white papers on subjects like B2B content marketing and mobile marketing, plus scheduled webinars.

Bright Local

As a company, Bright Local sells tools to help local businesses improve their SEO, and to help digital marketing specialists to analyse and report on SEO better. In addition to this, however, the company offers a blog that is full of stats and analysis of SEO trends and news about changes to search engines and what that means for businesses.

MOZ

Moz is arguably the biggest gun in the world of SEO advice. It offers paid for and free software, tools, and resources for better SEO and digital marketing. Its blog is not really for beginners. This is where those familiar with digital marketing go for in-depth analysis and reports. Its White Board Fridays offer tutorials and hands-on guides on the latest advice and techniques for improving SEO.

Best for business tech

TechCrunch

In a nutshell, TechCrunch reports on tech news, how tech is used in business, emerging trends in tech, and new tech products and businesses. A section of the website is dedicated to telling the story of start-ups and how they are harnessing technology to succeed. Other areas are focussed on apps, gadgets and events.

Best for business general

Forbes

Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle. It has sections on innovators, leaders and billionaires as well as news on money, consumer trends and concerns, and technology. It’s also full of opinions, advice and interviews with experts on issues like branding and management.

Best for social media

Social Media Examiner

Social Media Examiner refers to itself as ‘the guide to the social media jungle’. Its pages include how-to guides, advice on tools, expert interviews, updates on events, and advice for beginners. It also produces an annual social media industry report. Released around springtime every year, this report offers the latest insight on social media trends, platform usage, and social media ROI.

Best for Artificial Intelligence

Tech Emergence

Tech Emergence has its finger well and truly on the pulse of AI. It features interviews with companies at the vanguard of AI development, looks at how businesses have implemented AI solutions practically, and investigates questions such as ‘will robots replace humans’. It also produces regular podcasts on all these topics.

Best for Google updates

Google’s main blog and Think with Google

Of course, nobody knows Google better than Google. So, it stands to reason that the most up-to-date Google news comes from the horse’s mouth. The Google blog offers updates on the projects Google is carrying out and the products it’s investing in. Think With Google, meanwhile, delivers insight into the latest marketing research and digital trends using data reports, guides, infographics, and articles.