--- title: About Classy Inbound | Markelle Harden description: Classy Inbound delivers first-class content marketing strategies for lead generation in partnership with agencies, in-house marketing, specialist freelancers, & software. --- [![classy inbound marketing](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png?width=188&height=125&name=logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png "classy inbound marketing")](https://classyinbound.com/?hsLang=en) - [About](https://classyinbound.com/about) - [Contact](https://classyinbound.com/contact) - [Services](https://classyinbound.com/services) - [Blog](https://classyinbound.com/blog) [Strategy Session](https://classyinbound.com/meetings/mharden/consultation?hsLang=en) [![classy inbound marketing](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png?width=188&height=125&name=logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png "classy inbound marketing")](https://classyinbound.com/?hsLang=en) [Strategy Session](https://classyinbound.com/meetings/mharden/consultation?hsLang=en) [![classy inbound marketing](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png?width=188&height=125&name=logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png "classy inbound marketing")](https://classyinbound.com/?hsLang=en) - [About](https://classyinbound.com/about) - [Contact](https://classyinbound.com/contact) - [Services](https://classyinbound.com/services) - [Blog](https://classyinbound.com/blog) [Strategy Session](https://classyinbound.com/meetings/mharden/consultation?hsLang=en) [![classy inbound marketing](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png?width=188&height=125&name=logo-white-transp%20(600%20x%20400%20px).png "classy inbound marketing")](https://classyinbound.com/?hsLang=en) [Strategy Session](https://classyinbound.com/meetings/mharden/consultation?hsLang=en) - [About](https://classyinbound.com/about) - [Contact](https://classyinbound.com/contact) - [Services](https://classyinbound.com/services) - [Blog](https://classyinbound.com/blog) [Strategy Session](https://classyinbound.com/meetings/mharden/consultation?hsLang=en) [know more](https://www.hubspot.com/) ## What We Do Classy Inbound serves business owners, marketing leaders, and digital agencies who know they need help but aren't sure where to begin, or who are spending money on marketing with very little return. We have experience improving tech stack connections, automating lead follow-up and nurturing, and improving communication between marketing, your CRM, and sales. When needed, we recommend tools and software, reporting dashboards, and more. ## Our Clients B2B Marketing Leaders / Digital Marketing Agencies - Website optimization for lead generation (including technical SEO / AI Search) - In-depth competitor research with full digital marketing audits and 12-month digital roadmaps - Analytics implementation or audits for better tracking and reporting - Content strategy, creation, and promotion for inbound marketing and lead generation (owned media + Digital PR) - Advertising strategy, audits, and implementation for specific campaigns or goals Small Business & Local Services - Small Business Therapy: If you aren’t reaching your revenue goals or need to improve marketing and sales operations to grow, scale, or sell your business, I can help. Sometimes marketing is working just fine; it’s the lack of ROI analysis on your expenses. Sometimes it's the lack of defined processes and you need help moving leads to sales without so much time and effort. - Local Marketing Optimization & Training: If you don’t need  full service agency, but you need a better system or training for your employee, I can help. - Local SEO, AEO, & Social Media: You know what you need to do, but you don’t have the time to implement it. - Event Marketing: Support for digital marketing to drive sponsorships, partners, and attendees.   I have experience collaborating with enterprise B2B teams, fractional CMO's, and small business owners who need a strategic partner, not just a checklist vendor. ## The Team Great outcomes don't come from one person; they come from the right people. Behind every Classy Inbound strategy is a vetted network of partners and certified providers, specialist freelancers, and proven software built to move your business forward All of our clients get boutique attention with the reach and resources to compete with the biggest players in their space. ## The Classy Inbound Difference > Impressions, views, and clicks aren't the finish line. We build marketing engines that keep adding value long after the campaign ends. [Explore Services](https://classyinbound.com/services?hsLang=en) ![MH](https://classyinbound.com/hubfs/M-Portrait-27.png) Principal, Content Strategist ### Markelle Harden Online competition is growing. Ad budgets are up, leads are down. Attention spans are shrinking, and AI search is changing everything. If you’re feeling the pressure, you’re not alone; I get it. And I have good news: You don't need to triple or quadruple your ads budget or marketing activities. I specialize in identifying the pillars that clear the path to your ideal audience, the metrics that will drive revenue, and I have the experience to help you (or your marketing team) implement and measure for impact. I’ve spent 20+ years in marketing for lead generation, and 15+ years building marketing strategies and systems that drive more than visibility. (My first marketing campaign pre-dates Google. My first website launched before the smartphone. I don't miss the yellow pages.) I know marketing can do more than build online visibility; it can add value and build trust with your audience, create better lead pipelines for sales, and generate revenue for long-term growth.  [Let's Talk](https://classyinbound.com/meetings/mharden/consultation?hsLang=en&uuid=2f16c5fc-a03d-4ad1-af4b-9e8c06613e7c) ## Background, Education, Experience My background blends psychology, business ownership, technical website training, and data analytics. ###### Education & Roots Bachelor of Science, Psychology. University of Pittsburgh (Go Steelers!). After graduation, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where I jumped into Entrepreneurship.  ###### Sole Proprietor & Transition to SEO Industry In 2006, I transitioned to a business that served the real estate industry. When a cross country move to the Charlotte, NC area aligned with the housing crash of 2008, I had to pivot, FAST. Websites like Zillow and Trulia were killing my marketing placements, I had to learn SEO, quickly.  ###### Agency Experience I joined one of the top SEO Agencies on the East Coast, and I obtained a Web Design Certificate from UNC Charlotte. I built a solid technical foundation of search engine optimization skills, Google Analytics expertise, and I managed lead generation campaigns for businesses in multiple sectors and various sizes.  ###### Tech Stack & Software My experience with marketing technology is a mix of the best software available: **Website CMS Platforms** HubSpot, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix **SEO / AEO / Advertising** Sitebulb Site Crawler, Screaming Frog, SerpStat, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, etc. Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Microsoft Ads, Retargeting on social media platforms. **Content Creation, Promotion, Reporting** Social Media for brand trust and visibility (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google Business Profile), Digital PR software & media lists, Press Release Distribution, Google Data Studio **Customer Relationship Manager (CRM), Marketing Automation Tools** HubSpot, Nutshell, Get Jobber, SquareSpace & Wix Automations, WordPress Automation Tools, Claude and ChatGPT prompts for content marketing & audits, Slack automations, Zapier, Jotforms ###### Business Philosophy I ascribe to Marie Forleo's philosophy: [Everything is Figure-out-able](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43706482-everything-is-figureoutable) with my own addition at the end: ***If it's worth it.*** Not all marketing is worthy of your time. And not all marketing channels will generate revenue. Marketing tools and tech can easily create busy-work without real value; and that's not how I operate. I've been part of campaigns where marketing that actually generates sales takes off, and it's incredible to watch: more sales create more jobs, more jobs create stability and growth, and thriving businesses lift the people and communities around them.  I ascribe to Maown addition at the end: **If it's worth it.** Not all marketing is worthy of your time. And not all marketing channels will generate revenue. Marketing tools and tech can easily create busy-work without real value; and that's not how I operate. I've been part of campaigns where marketing that actually generates sales takes off, and it's incredible to watch: more sales create more jobs, more jobs create stability and growth, and thriving businesses lift the people and communities around them.      ## Latest Articles ![mobile optimization](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Mobile.jpg?height=245&name=Blog-Mobile.jpg) [Business](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/business?hsLang=en) , [Optimization](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/optimization?hsLang=en) , [Mobile](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/mobile?hsLang=en) ### [Mobile Optimization: The First 3 Seconds Decides Everything](https://classyinbound.com/blog/mobile-optimization-strategy?hsLang=en) Mobile users aren’t just browsing differently; they’re experiencing your content in bite-sized moments between meetings, during commutes, and while... [Read more](https://classyinbound.com/blog/mobile-optimization-strategy?hsLang=en) ![small business marketing](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/small_business_marketing.jpg?height=245&name=small_business_marketing.jpg) [Business](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/business?hsLang=en) , [Local Business Marketing](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/local-business-marketing?hsLang=en) ### [Small Business Digital Marketing Strategy: What's Driving Sales](https://classyinbound.com/blog/marketing-strategy-small-business?hsLang=en) Successful small businesses use a data-informed digital content strategy to meet business goals for growth.A data-informed strategy helps small... [Read more](https://classyinbound.com/blog/marketing-strategy-small-business?hsLang=en) ![Digital Micro-Communities](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/micro-communities.jpg?height=245&name=micro-communities.jpg) [Business](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/business?hsLang=en) , [Local Business Marketing](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/local-business-marketing?hsLang=en) , [B2B Marketing](https://classyinbound.com/blog/tag/b2b-marketing?hsLang=en) ### [The Rise of Digital Micro-Communities: Discord, Reddit, and Facebook](https://classyinbound.com/blog/digital-micro-communities?hsLang=en) In a world where 67.5% of the global population—over five billion people—are connected to the internet, how we interact online has undergone a... [Read more](https://classyinbound.com/blog/digital-micro-communities?hsLang=en) ## TESTIMONIAL Markelle Harden is an absolute gem to work with! As the owner of Classy Inbound, she brings professionalism, clarity, and genuine care to every interaction. Her knowledge and problem-solving skills are top-notch. Markelle goes above and beyond to support her clients, and it shows. I highly recommend her and Classy Inbound to any business owner needing expert guidance and real results! [Holly B., Health & Wellness Provider](https://share.google/fmAs33uHjWVFNLK9M) ## TESTIMONIAL Markelle has wonderful skills in helping clients. She understands Search Engine Marketing...I was impressed by her abilities not only in SEO, but in Google AdWords. She is especially effective in determining tasks to be done and following through to completion no matter who needs to be involved. She is an absolute pleasure to work with. I definitely recommend her.  [Corey C., Business Owner, Marketing Leader](https://www.linkedin.com/in/markelle-harden/) [![classy inbound](https://classyinbound.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CI-white-on-purp.png?width=150&height=150&name=CI-white-on-purp.png "classy inbound")](https://classyinbound.com/?hsLang=en) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ClassyInbound) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.youtube.com/@ClassyInbound) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.linkedin.com/company/classyinbound/?viewAsMember=true) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/classyinbound/) ##### Services - Search Engine Marketing - B2B Enterprise Marketing - Small - Local Business Marketing --- © Classy Inbound  | All rights reserved. - [Privacy Policy](https://classyinbound.com/privacy-policy) - [Terms of Service](https://classyinbound.com/terms-of-service) ![back-to-top](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/7712601/back-to-top.png)