When running a small business in today’s digital age, it’s no secret that much of your marketing efforts will rely on the Internet. With so many people online, and using the web to research businesses and read product and service reviews, it’s extra important to employ a few local SEO best practices when implementing your digital marketing strategy
One of the biggest struggles for marketers in this digital age is the ability to successfully measure social media ROI. This is an issue for many marketers because it’s truly difficult to measure the financial value of all that social media provides. Increasingly, marketers are straying away from measuring ROI and showing an increase in revenue and sales when reporting success. Rather, they value things such as engagement: reactions, shares, comments, and page follows.
While 65% of managers believe that social ROI is important, 87% do not even try to measure it. This leaves 77% of 
CEOs believing that marketers are not talking about what really matters most to them: sales. So, when it comes to social media marketing and ROI, what matters most? Is it being able to measure financial gains, or is it the ability to show growth, engagement and an actively involved community that values your content and message via social media?
As a San Diego website design and search engine optimization firm, we can see how the value of measuring ROI would be important to most CEOs and marketing managers. Our social media marketing department also struggles with this question, as there is a delicate balance to be had when showing results. We want to highlight the growth and engagement of a successful social media following, however, there are limitations to proving that an increase in revenues is directly correlated with a specific social media campaign.
Just the same, here are some general—overall statistics surrounding social media ROI across all businesses and industries when done correctly. Companies who have a well-established social media presence have seen a 9% increase in revenues, are 26% more profitable than their competitors, and have a 12% higher market value. The key factor in these stats, is the fact that these are well-established social media platforms that are successful both in terms of engagement as well as ROI. In order for this to happen, it simply takes time. Social media may not translate into ROI for a company right away, but if they put in the time, effort, and energy into building a strong presence, it most certainly can benefit the company in terms of ROI in the long-run.
So how should marketers approach the topic of measuring social media ROI? Marketing managers and CEOs alike should look at entering the social media realm as a necessity in this day in age, as well as an investment that (if done properly) will result in a profitable return. However, like with most investments, it is going to take some time to see the fruits of one’s labor. It is going to take financial and time investments to build a following over social media. However, once you have that following, it’s an investment that will continue to bear profitable rewards and opportunities for years to come as long as it is upkept.
Would you like some help growing your social following for the future success of your business? Our social media marketing experts would love to help grow your brand and following over social media. For more information, or a detailed quote, call (619) 291-8181 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.
While it may feel like we just finished decking the halls, Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us, and we should all be adjusting our marketing efforts accordingly. Especially if we want to make the most out of this annual celebration. And with that, we’re gifting you 5 of our most useful pieces of content marketing advice this Valentine’s Day, so that your business will become as successful as possible.
Valentine Themed Email Blast
This is the perfect holiday for a custom designed Valentine’s Day e-card/email blast. Your clients/customers will love it, and you only need to send them out a few days ahead of time for maximum effectiveness. You could even set these to blast on Valentine’s Day, depending upon your industry.
Valentine Themed Custom Content
For content that you can update and reuse from one year to the next, it’s incredibly resourceful to indulge in creating some custom holiday themed content surrounding all major U.S. and audience relevant holidays. Valentine’s Day is no exception. You will want your content to focus on celebrating a certain aspect of a client/customer you admire, and to make them feel special during this holiday of celebrating love. Make your clients feel loved, and you’ll be sure to see some positive results in your ROI.
Create a Holiday Themed Microsite
By creating a separate microsite (or landing page) with a holiday theme, you’re not only adding space to share company relevant content surrounding Valentine’s Day that your following will likely enjoy; you’re also maximizing upon your SEO potential. If you’re not sure where to start, you may want to call your local San Diego website design firm to help.
Valentine’s Day Social Media Campaign
You will certainly want to create a social media campaign surrounding Valentine’s Day. You could highlight a client or customer you like, and say a bit about why. You could share your Valentine’s Day themed custom content, such as custom graphics and holiday themed blog posts. You could also tweet sweet messages that thank your customers/clients–making them feel special. Notify your following of any special holiday sales or promotions, and give them something of value that they find useful this time of year.
Spread the Love
To really make your clients/customers feel special, you could write a love story highlighting some of your favorite clients/customers, what they do, and why you appreciate them. You could also send out love from your employees to your clients/customers with a custom video or photo of your staff. Or you could simply share industry advice, and entitle it something to do with Valentine’s Day love from experts in your industry.
Any good search engine optimization firm can tell you that the following actions will not only give you a boost in your SEO efforts, but also an increase in ROI. For more information, or a detailed quote, call (619) 291-8181 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.
2017 is here, and that means there are sure to be a whole slew of brand new technologies, trends and innovative ways in which marketers will be promoting their business this year. We’ve scoured the web to find out more in terms of what we’re to expect this year, and we’ve found some exciting new trends that we’d love to share with you so that you too are in the loop with the latest and greatest in digital marketing to date.
AI Lenses for Instagram and Facebook
Much like the Snapchat filters, Instagram and Facebook are now working on AI Lenses for profile pictures that are sure to rival the ever-popular filters on Snapchat, according to Sprout Social. Thanks to the popular Snapchat stories, this trend isn’t going away anytime soon, and we should be seeing much more of it overall social media platforms this year.
More Growth for Snapchat
Last year Snapchat experienced an enormous amount of growth to reach a total of 150 million daily users in 2016, with 41% of US adults aged 18-34 being users.
Automation Turns into Social Media Management
Businesses are starting to see the value in real-time posting and engagement for their social media platforms across the board. This is showing business owners and marketers alike that there is much more value in hiring a social media management firm to actively manage all social media accounts in more real-time than setting up everything with automation, so that it is basically on auto-pilot. Opportunities for reaching more people, getting in on what’s most current, trending and up to date, and being more responsive to followers in real-time is going to be essential in 2017.
Paid Content is King
Navigating the ever-changing algorithms over Facebook and Instagram have forced marketers into boosting and promoting content in order to reach more people. This trend isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. If businesses want to reach more people, advertising their content over platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are going to be essential. It will also help to pair this effort with the expertise of a local search engine optimization firm to reach even more people over the Internet, and gain maximum exposure for not only your content, but your company website as well.
Social Media Expertise Demand at an All-Time High
Nine out of ten companies currently report that their employees lack the skill sets needed to effectively execute social media management and marketing in an overall effective way. This is going to push companies to start considering outsourcing their social media management to an experienced marketing firm. This will save companies time, and even money when it comes to managing their social media efforts in a manner that will not only drive sales, leads and ROI, but build a loyal following that is sure to stick with them for years to come.
Social media is constantly changing, which is also changing the way that businesses must market themselves. Gone will be the days of in-house marketing if companies truly want to get an edge above their competition and become power houses over social media and the Internet. For more information, or a detailed quote, call (619) 291-8181 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.
Photos, graphics and videos grab people’s attention. If you want to be a savvy marketer, it makes sense to learn how to make the most of Instagram to find your target audience, interact with them and sell to them.
Here is a look at 7 effective ways to use the power of Instagram for your small business.
Use Engaging Content
There is so much noise online, it can be hard to get noticed. The best way to stand out is with images and videos that are high quality, colorful and entertaining.
Give a behind-the-scenes look at your business with funny company photos highlighting employees and customers with your products.
Interact with Your Audience
You want to build a relationship with people online. Getting faithful followers makes the best use of Instagram for your small business.
Three good ways to get people engaged with your Instagram account are:
Start a Photo Contest
People love contests. Since over half of your customers are using smartphones and tablets, it is easy for them to take photos. Combine these two facts to drive customer engagement.
It works because people will need to follow your account in order to enter the contest and find out if they win. Make it a requirement that they “regram” the contest image in order to enter.
Learn the Art of #Hashtags
The creative use of hashtags can get your images shared all over the web. Use the symbol # in front of any word or phrase, without spaces between words. They provide a way to filter and categorize posts on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Be creative when you decide on a hashtag. The more imaginative it is, the greater the chance that followers will post their own on your company photos. Check out how effective they are by using the analytics feature to track your hashtags.
Use the Location Feature
Shoppers use mobiles even while in your brick and mortar store. By creating a location tag for your company, you let them post when they are checking out your products and what they are buying. This is an under-utilized method of marketing with Instagram for your small business.
Create Event Tags
At your next sale or an industry gathering, create an event tag. It notifies your followers that something special is going on. Using the tag, they can easily share it with friends and family. Ask people at the event to take a photo of their favorite moments and post them.
Post Videos
These don’t have to be professional. Use your smartphone to capture an aspect of your business or product. Aim for a 15-second video that is filter-enabled. Then be sure to embed your Instagram video in your blog or your website.
Instagram can help you build your brand and sell your products and services. But figuring it out can be complicated and take time. If you’d like some professional guidance, we can help. We are the go-to experts for using Instagram for your small business in San Diego.
Growing a small business may seem like a simple process, but that’s not always the case. The logistics may seem simple, yet it’s often times challenging for entrepreneurs to accomplish the growth they want on their own. With that being said, many entrepreneurs seek extra support—such as a coach or marketing team—to inspire them and build a marketing strategy designed to reach their goals and eliminate the hurdles that arise along the way. Whether it’s a coach you seek, or some guidance in growing your business in terms of profits and leads, we’ve highlighted three important methods for increasing profits and leads in 2016.
Hone your unique selling proposition
To bring in more leads and conversions, hone your unique selling proposition. Aim to be better, and aim to be unique. Using your imagination and creativity can distinguish your enterprise from competitors in the market. Often times companies within mature industries struggle to differentiate their company from the vast ocean of big players in the market, as everyone is using their marketing skills to convey many of the same strengths. Concentrating on what you do well, while keeping it well-defined and unique, can help set yourself apart from the crowd. It’s also important to convey this in an effective way to potential clients.
Once you’ve determined the lead generation proposition relevant for your market, identify the realistic amount of leads you’d like to bring in each month. This strategy may be outlined in an activity map or action plan. For instance, if you’d like to bring in 20 leads using telemarketing each month, list all of the actions required (or mini goals) leading up to the end goal of 20 new leads. This may involve determining the number of dials required weekly (if you’re doing it on your own), or outsourcing your marketing efforts for a specified number of hours. Once you’ve nailed down your plan, evaluate the performance of it periodically and make adjustments as needed.
Get into your clients’ shoes
Empathize with your client in an effort to understand their frustrations, fears, wants and aspirations. Your communication (written or verbal) in your lead generation techniques should target how your product or services will help alleviate your client’s fears and frustrations, while assisting them in reaching their desired end results.
Open new doors with your proposition
Use your proposition of differentiation to open new doors and leads with three simple steps. First, convert your prospects into clients by improving the degree of trust they place in you. Second, turn your customers into enthused fans by exceeding their expectations. Third, leverage your connections with your present clients to generate new leads by requesting referrals and introductions with other potential clients. When others know how well you’re able to handle the needs of your clients/customers, and have faith in you to deliver in a consistent manner, they’ll be much more likely to try your services and recommend them to their friends, family and business acquaintances.
Not everyone holds the skill set of bringing in referrals and introductions, or the notion of how to differentiate their company. As soon as you’re able to establish and communicate what it is that you do best, you’re likely to start seeing an increase in profits and leads. If you’d like some more advice on how to do this, or would like to outsource your marketing efforts to lead generation/profit boosting experts, we’d be happy to help.
Some of the busiest shopping days of the year take place during the holidays. Whether you run your business online, as a bricks-and-mortar-store, or a combination of both, marketing it online is essential. The following are a few of the top ways to maximize your digital marketing efforts this holiday season.
Advertise via Email
Email marketing is especially important during the holiday season. Consumers generally seem to check their email accounts more often at this time. This is partly due to the fact that people need to consult their email for confirmation of airline and hotel reservations. Additionally, many individuals communicate with their friends, relatives, and coworkers via email regarding holiday parties and other plans.
You can maximize your digital marketing efforts by reaching people in the place you know they are likely to go often (their email account). Consumers do a lot of shopping at this time of year, and they are generally looking for the best deals possible. Offering such deals via targeted emails could help you to generate much business throughout the season, as well as in the months that follow it.
Focus on Your Mobile Efforts
More people than ever use their mobile devices to search for products, services, and sales. Once they find what they’re looking for, they are just as likely to make their purchases by using their smart phones or tablets. Hopefully, your website and ads have been optimized for mobile devices (if they haven’t, then you are probably missing out on a great deal of business since Google made its recent algorithm change).
This is also a good time to streamline your emails to accommodate mobile shoppers. Be sure to utilize a template for your emails that is mobile-friendly. Make your email messages brief so that mobile shoppers don’t become frustrated when viewing them. Use a larger font than you ordinarily might – this will be easier for people to read on their mobile devices.
Feature Your Customers in Your Social Media Content
Another way to get the most from your digital marketing efforts is to provide your customers with user-generated content. When people log on to their social media accounts, they might automatically ignore overt marketing techniques. However, when you feature your users strategically, you may capture the interest of many other users, as well.
Try holding a contest to see which users can devise the most creative photos of themselves using your products or services. If you own a beauty salon, your customers might send photos of their hair and nails as they frolic at holiday parties. If you run an auto dealership, you could hold a contest to see who can send in the silliest vehicle-related selfie (not taken while driving!) – and the winner could receive a new car for the holidays.
The holiday season is the best time to step up your marketing campaign and increase your profits for the year. Consumers are looking for deals, so your business should reach out to them now and advertise your holiday promotions. If you wish to maximize your digital marketing efforts during the holidays, you may want to consult an expert for assistance.
Being in charge of management of social media for a company is a big responsibility, and whoever holds that post is expected to increase the company’s branding visibility within a desired market, as well as to raise overall internet presence. The results of this greater presence in the marketplace should then translate into increased sales and more profitable business. With so much at stake, the social media manager must take advantage of every opportunity provided by the social media. Here are five of the best ways to do that.
Audit your current social media presence
Before planning any changes to your social media presence, determine exactly what your current social media presence consists of now. In order to do this, you should create a spreadsheet which contains entries for each link on a social network that connects to your company profile. From this spreadsheet listing, you should then evaluate each social media profile, assessing whether that profile accurately reflects your company’s goals and objectives, and stays on brand.
Create a social media marketing plan
This plan should be include all goals and objectives you hope to achieve through the use of social media, and they should be as specific and achievable as possible. Using the spreadsheet you developed from your social media audit, determine which social media profiles should be kept, which should be altered, and which should be deleted altogether.
Use all available information from clients, marketplace leaders, and even competitors to enhance your social media presence and online content, while at the same time looking for ways to distinguish yourself from rivals.
Establish a presence on LinkedIn
Your company probably already has a profile on LinkedIn, but if not, this is an absolute must. Your LinkedIn presence announces to everyone your huge network of respected professionals, and adds credibility and stature to your business. It also provides a marketing platform from which you can bring your business to the world, which in turn is an excellent way to generate sales.
Schedule your tweets
Tweeting can be a valuable method of increasing company presence through the social media, but if done manually it often takes too much time to be truly cost-effective, especially if your company has multiple Twitter accounts. The solution to this is to have your tweets scheduled automatically by some software product like HootSuite to make the job much easier.
Avoid social media blunders
There are some traps that are easy to fall into with social media use, and these should be avoided like the plague. For instance, buying likes and followers is a much-used practice among businesses, but in truth those increased numbers mean very little. Purchased followers tend not to care about the company, its branding, or its products. This may also dilute the quality of your true base of followers, and lessen the impact of your posts. Speaking of posts, avoid posting too frequently – this waters down your message and tends to turn off followers. Do keep posts regular, but not so regular as to foster disinterest or disgust.
Do, however, boost posts on Facebook, and generate ads geared toward your current followers and their friends, or those who already express interest in your industry or services/goods your company provides. This will help to tip the algorithms in your favor, as not everyone who likes your page actually sees its content.
No time? No problem!
There are many ‘must-dos’ for your social media presence and strategy, which should be addressed by a social media manager. If you don’t have the time to do it yourself, try contacting a marketing expert.
In this age of rapid technological advancement the world of marketing is seeing many changes. Digital marketing is now essential in order to keep up with the changing times, and the biggest trend in digital marketing is going mobile. With that being said, we’ve put together a list of fun digital marketing facts essential for marketers and entrepreneurs. Enjoy!
Email Marketing
In the last 6 months email opened by mobile devices increased 80% worldwide.
Emails with no subject line were 8% more likely to be opened than those with.
Average yield for email marketing is $44.25 on the dollar.
85% would prefer leaving their email address for an e-book than a tweet.
42% of consumers say familiarity with the senders name influences whether or not they will open a promotional email.
Blogs and Content Marketing
Blogs have 63% more influence over purchasing decisions than the newspaper.
Companies that blog more than 15 times per month get 5 times the traffic.
The average length of a top ten page has 2000 words.
If a post is longer than 1,500 words it will likely have 68.1% more tweets and 22.6% more Facebook likes.
Posts with 10-18 word titles receive more likes.
Articles with photographs receive 94% more views.
Infographics allow companies to grow by 12% on average.
After increasing the number of pages on their site from 10-15, companies saw an average increase in sales leads of 55%.
47% of Americans say that Facebook is the number one influence over their purchases (social media today).
78% of CMO’s believe that custom content is the future of marketing.
Video
Using video on landing pages increases conversions by 86%.
Videos receive 267% more links than other posts.
58% of people will stop watching a video within the first 90 seconds.
20% of visitors read text on your page, 80% will watch a video.
A prospective customer is 144% more likely to buy when there’s a product video featured.
Mobile
50% of all searches begin on a mobile device.
88% of mobile searches are for local businesses.
46% of adults prefer to use their mobile devices to search for items before purchasing them over their desktops or laptops.
Mobile traffic has a growth rate of 125%, desktop traffic is growing at a rate of 12%.
By 2018 6.2 million people will have mobile devices.
173 million US consumers have a smartphone.
81% of smartphone users research products or services on their devices.
74% of mobile users make internet searches before making a purchase.
Now that you know that stats, would you like some assistance developing your online presence? If so, give us a call and our talented team of professionals will be happy to assist your business in achieving its goals.
With the expected growth of digital marketing in 2015, we thought it important to share with you our top 11 statistics taken from top digital marketing strategies this year. Enjoy. And as always, please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like some assistance with your own digital marketing efforts. 877.576.9766
