[THE LATEST] Google teases featured snippets with multiple links, what a business website really costs in 2021, and yes, virtual selling can work in any industry

Here's THE LATEST digital sales and marketing news, so you can do your jobs better and make smarter decisions faster.

Google teases featured snippets with multiple links, what a business website really costs in 2021, and yes, virtual selling can work in any industry ...this is THE LATEST! 🗞️ Extra, extra! Read all about it! Calm down, Google 😡: Google teases featured snippets with multiple links (and we're not happy about it) Update your budgets, people: What a lead-generating, money-making business website really costs in 2021 Stop saying you can't: Virtual sales can work for any business in any industry and here's why... 🎁 Give yourself the gift of digital sales and marketing education. Now through December 31, you can get an IMPACT+ PRO account for 50% off! You'll get access to 15+ marketing and sales courses, all of the on-demand recordings from our virtual events and more. Sign up today! There are few things in life one might consider truly essential. For example, if you run a business, you need to invest in a swoonworthy business website without cutting corners.  Or, if you're like me and you're within 24 hours of your first blizzard as an official New Englander, you need to invest in a consumer good that out ranks cleanliness in its proximity to Godliness: If I'm being perfectly honest, this is one of four bottles I purchased of this divine hot sauce tonight at my local Target... in addition to an ice scraper for my car. Could one say that my approach to hot sauce is a little "aggressive" given that it is highly unlikely I will be snowed in for nine months? Possibly.  But that sounds like quitter talk, and I'm no quitter. I'm a big-picture thinker, you see. More than that, I'm not afraid of commitment. I'm not afraid of investing in my future, planning for life's unknowns and its endless possibilities.  In unrelated news, next week, I will be hosting a socially-distanced taco soirée, and all guests will receive a mandatory to-go shot glass (or three) of hot sauce as a party favor. And now, here's THE LATEST. 👉 Google is testing out featured snippets with multiple links, and we're not thrilled about it (2-minute read) At this point, it should come as no surprise to anyone when the contents of a search engine results page (SERP) changes from one search to the next. Recently, Australia-based SEO consultant Brodie Clark noticed Google added multiple links within a single featured snippet. You read that right. Multiple links. One snippet. Is this a bad thing? Very much so. But before you start panicking, take a quick read of this rundown of Google's testing of this multi-link featured snippet in SERPs from IMPACT Account Executive Nick Bennett. 📚 Related reads and resources: DOJ lawsuit: Google search engine 'anticompetitive,' partnerships 'illegal' Google weighs in: Is the importance of exact match keywords decreasing? IMPACT+ course: How to completely optimize your Google My Business listing 👉 How much does a peak-performing, lead-generating business website cost in 2021? (9-minute read) Your website is the most important sales and marketing tool you have. It's the hub of your inbound marketing strategy and it's the number one thing your prospects want to explore before making a purchase, or even talking to a human. Now that most businesses understand the value of inbound marketing, business websites overall are getting better. But how much should you be spending on your website as you plan for the new year? IMPACT Director of Web Services Vin Gaeta weighs in with this comprehensive, detailed look at how much business websites cost (really) going into 2021, as well as what factors drive that cost up and down. 📚 Related reads and resources: How much does a business website strategy cost? (+ video) Do you need a full website redesign or a simple facelift? (+ video) IMPACT+ course: Self-selection and the touchless website buying experience 👉 Yes, any business sales team (regardless of industry) can embrace virtual selling, and here's why (4-minute read) Marcus Sheridan wants to clear something up: It's not virtual sales or face-to-face sales. Virtual selling is face-to-face selling. Sure, your sales team would benefit from training on best practices and technology, but they need not be wary of jumping into selling online — no matter your industry, service or product, or sales process. And in this interview with Marcus from IMPACT Revenue and Features Editor John Becker, get the inside scoop on why, even with promising COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, virtual selling is here to stay... for every industry.  📚 Related reads and resources: Virtual selling: 6 essential tools and tech you need for video sales calls The ultimate getting started guide for video in the sales process IMPACT+ course: Assignment selling content is the greatest sales tool 🎬 What's new on the Digital Sales & Marketing Channel Why you 100% need a content manager on your marketing team We're releasing new educational content for digital marketers, business leaders, and sales pros every single week on our YouTube Channel. Don't miss out and subscribe to our channel today!  ⚠️ In case you missed it... Here are a few of my favorite recent reads you may have missed: Inbound marketing benefits explained (updated for 2021) 11 pricing page examples for business websites (updated for 2021) What kind of in-house website specialist do we need? (+ job description) 🌶️ Hot topics in Elite IMPACT Elite is our exclusive Facebook group for the brightest minds in digital sales and marketing. Here's a recent discussion that caught my eye for those who work in non-profits: Microsoft Dynamics vs HubSpot Enterprise: Which do you prefer? 👽 Weeklong nonsense With everything going on in the world, you now get nonsense in every single issue of THE LATEST... Toodles, noodles!🍝 Liz "Cholulua Is a Love Language" Moorehead Editorial Director @whatlizsaid Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe Sent with 💙 by IMPACT  470 James Street, Suite 10, New Haven, CT