We aren't exactly teaching kids these days not to judge a company by its website. When it comes to your Web presence, you might have great content, but your design has the greatest impact on how your clients perceive your business. And it's not just about captivating your clients—it's about trust.

When it comes to passing security, clothing can slow you down. Some accessories sound alarms; others merely look suspicious. To ensure smooth travels through Transportation Security Administration airport screening lanes, consider nixing these from your travel outfit.

When you're vying for the attention of clients in a noisy social marketing world, social media can feel like a competition. Luckily, a little bit of strategy and focus can ensure your social success. Switch up your post styles and leverage your existing presence to gain some ground.

Lately, I've had some great conversations with businesses and organizations about marketing. When I ask what made them successful, I hear some inspiring stories. I love these stories, because they are great examples of what my 20-plus years in marketing has taught me: Developing strong brands requires passion, dedication and consistency.

Grassroots branding efforts can be awesomely successful. There's nothing like face-to-face time to make a connection and create long lasting relationships. The challenge is that they require staffing, time, resources and—more often than not—a good chunk of change. Here's where more traditional methods of marketing and advertising step in.

The start of a new season is a great reason to rethink old habits and see if they're still working for you.