It’s that time of year when we look back at the year that’s about to end and reflect on our successes, mistakes, good times and bad. At the Bright Ideas Blog, we’re pleased that we were able to share our knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics, including the latest website design trends, using social media to your advantage, and the importance of blogging.

With so much good advice that is still relevant, we decided to compile a list of our ten favorite blog posts of the year. So, in no particular order, here they are:

  1. Are you promoting the benefits of short grass? Or trying to sell a lawn mower?
    This one makes the list because it addresses one of the most common pitfalls among senior care marketers – focusing on the features of a product or service (76 beds, three full-time RNs, on-site physical therapist) instead of the benefits (faster recovery, greater health and well-being) and provides specific examples of how you can start promoting benefits instead of features.
  1. Maintaining a Strong Online Reputation
    Ninety percent of consumers said their buying decisions are influenced by online reviews. That’s why it’s imperative for senior care companies to actively monitor and respond to reviews and things being said about them online. This post provides specific and concrete examples of how to respond to negative reviews.
  1. How to Drive More Traffic to Your Website
    Everyone wants to increase the number visitors who visit their website. This post provides valuable tips on how to do just that – from creative, compelling content to writing a blog to using social media to promote your site.
  1. The Benefits of Blogging
    No surprise here. Of course we love articles about blogging! More importantly, this post discusses how creating and maintaining a blog can increase your SEO, drive new traffic to your site and position you as an industry leader.
  1. The Power of Email
    This one made the cut because email is a powerful tool that is greatly underutilized. By using this “push” method of marketing, you’re able to get your message in front of your target audience inexpensively. This post provides tips on how to create a strong email campaign.
  1. Using LinkedIn as a Lead Generation Tool
    Another overlooked marketing tool, LinkedIn generates the highest visitor-to-lead conversion rate of nearly all social media sites. Learn how to turn LinkedIn into a powerful lead generator.
  1. Keeping Your Website Fresh
    We’re often asked about the latest trends in website design and this post shares design elements that never go out of style.
  1. Google is Changing Search Criteria for Mobile Devices
    Google changed its search criteria in April to reward sites that are mobile friendly. This post shares some tips to create a site that uses responsive design to create a positive experience for all users, regardless of the device used.
  1. Yelp to add new data on the pages of over 25,000 medical facilities
    Yelp is one of the major review sites on the Web. This post discusses how Yelp is trying to increase the value of its ratings by adding objective data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It also discusses how to leverage the power of Yelp to create and maintain a strong online presence.
  1. IlluminAge Chosen as “Vendor of the Year”
    Okay, so we’re tooting our horn a little with this one. We were pleased to be recognized at the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers’ (now Aging Life Care Association) annual convention for our “dedication and devotion to furthering the Aging Life Care Manager profession.”