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How to set and achieve Smart Marketing Objectives

One of the most important aspects of any business is to set smart marketing objectives and then meet them. Far too often, businesses will set their sights too high or too low, which can doom a campaign from the start. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to correctly set and achieve your marketing objectives so you see tangible results from your efforts.

How to set SMART marketing goals

A SMART goal is a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. Let’s break down each element around goal setting so you can see how to apply it to your own business. 

Specific

A specific goal has a clear target. It answers the questions of who, what, where, when, and why. For example, “I want to increase website traffic by 10% in the next quarter” is a specific marketing goal. 

Measurable

A measurable goal can be quantified so you can track your progress. Using the same example as above, you can measure your progress by looking at website analytics to see if traffic has increased by 10% in the desired time frame. 

Attainable

An attainable goal is one that is challenging but possible. You don’t want to set goals that are out of reach because then you will only be setting yourself up for disappointment. At the same time, you don’t want to set goals that are too easy because then you won’t see any growth. 

Is increasing website traffic by 10% in the next quarter an attainable goal? It depends on your current traffic levels and how much marketing you are doing. If you currently get 1000 visitors per month and you do very little marketing, then a 10% increase might be achievable. However, if you already get 100000 visitors per month from aggressive marketing campaigns, then a 10% increase might not be realistic.

Relevant

A relevant goal is one that aligns with your key business objectives. For example, if your objective is to increase brand awareness, then a relevant goal would be “I want to double my social media following in the next 6 months.”

Time-bound

A time-bound goal has a deadline associated with it so you can track progress and keep yourself accountable. Using our previous example, if you want to double your social media following in 6 months and you have 2500 followers, then you know that you need to average adding 100 new followers every week for 25 weeks straight. 

Why should your digital marketing goals be SMART?

There are a few benefits to using the SMART criteria to set SMART goals for your marketing strategy.

  1. It helps you stay focused on the most important tasks that need to be accomplished.
  2. It helps you measure progress and track results so you can adjust your strategy if necessary.
  3. It’s easier to set realistic expectations so that everyone involved knows what success looks like.

Set clear key performance indicators (KPIs)

KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, are measures that help you track your progress towards a goal. Here’s how to set clear KPIs.

What is a KPI?

Before we dive into how to set KPIs, it’s important to understand what they are. A KPI is a quantifiable measure that you can use to track and assess the performance of your business. Generally speaking, KPIs fall into three categories: financial, customer, and operational. 

Some examples of financial KPIs include measures like revenue, profit margin, and cost per acquisition. Customer KPIs might include things like customer satisfaction rate or customer churn rate. And finally, operational KPIs could include measures like employee productivity or average order value. 

How to set clear KPIs 

There are four steps you’ll need to take in order to set clear KPIs for your business:

Define your goals

The first step in setting clear KPIs is defining your goals. What exactly do you want to achieve with your KPIs? Do you want to increase sales, reduce costs, or improve efficiency? Once you’ve decided on your goals, you can move on to choosing the right metrics. 

Choose the right metrics

Not all marketing metrics are created equal; some will be more impactful than others when it comes to measuring progress towards your goals. When choosing metrics, it’s important to consider things like alignments with company strategy and data availability. You’ll also want to make sure that you choose metrics that you can actually influence; there’s no point in setting a KPI that’s out of your control! 

Set targets

Now that you’ve chosen your marketing metrics, it’s time to set targets. Targets should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely (SMART). In other words, they should be attainable goals that will help you achieve your overall marketing objectives. 

Track your progress

The final step is tracking your progress towards meeting your targets. Regularly monitor your chosen metrics and make adjustments as necessary. Remember, the goal is not necessarily to meet your targets at all costs; rather, it’s to use them as a guidepost to help ensure that you’re headed in the right direction. 

Set SMART marketing objectives for your team

Marketing teams are responsible for a lot of different tasks, from creating ad campaigns to analyzing market trends. As a result, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what your team’s objectives are before you start working on any marketing projects. 

Here are a few tips for setting SMART objectives:

Determine your marketing targets by channel

The first step in setting marketing objectives is to determine your targets by channel. This means breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, if your goal is to increase brand awareness, you might break that down into targets for social media, email marketing, and content marketing. By doing this, you can measure your success and adjust your strategy as needed.

Break down your goals into monthly and quarterly targets

Once you have determined your targets by channel, the next step is to break down those targets into monthly and quarterly targets. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you are making progress towards your goals. For example, if your goal is to increase brand awareness by 20% over the course of six months, you would break that down into a monthly target of 3.33%. 

Create a visual marketing plan 

The third step in setting marketing objectives is to create a visual marketing plan. This means putting all of your goals and targets into a visual format so that you can see them at a glance and track your progress over time. There are a number of ways to do this, but we recommend using a marketing roadmap template. 

Set a single sales target that aligns with your marketing goals 

The final step in setting marketing objectives is to set a single sales target that aligns with your marketing goals. This will help ensure that all of your efforts are focused on driving revenue for your business. For example, if your goal is to increase brand awareness by 20% over the course of six months, you might set a sales target of 10 new customers during that time period. 

Measure success for SMART marketing objectives

How will you know if you’re on track to achieve your marketing objectives?

You’ll need to set up a tracking system that monitors your KPIs and gives you insight into how you’re progressing. and to use these metrics to understand what’s working and what needs to be improved in order to achieve success.

First, your metrics should be aligned with your objectives. It’s important to take the time to ensure that your metrics are actually reflective of the progress you want to make. For example, if one of your objectives is to increase brand awareness, then some relevant metrics might include website traffic or social media engagement.

Establishing baseline metrics will give you a point of reference against which you can measure progress over time. For example, let’s say that you want to increase website traffic by 20% over the course of three months. In order to do this, you need to know how many website visitors you currently have.

Marketing tools for tracking progress

Here are two of the most common methods for tracking: Google Analytics and Excel. Let’s take a closer look at each tool.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free website tracking tool that provides detailed insights into your website traffic. It can track how people find your website, what they do while they’re there, and how long they stay. This information can be very helpful in understanding what is working well on your website and what needs improvement. Google Analytics is relatively easy to set up and use, and it integrates with other products such as Google AdWords.

Excel spreadsheets

Excel spreadsheets are a great way to track your progress towards meeting SMART goals. You can create spreadsheets for each of the metrics you’re measuring and use formulas to automatically calculate your progress. This is helpful because it lets you quickly identify areas where you need to improve or adjust your strategy. Plus, if you have multiple people working on the same project, it’s easy to share and collaborate on the data.

Examples of SMART marketing objectives

To give you a better idea of what SMART objectives look like in action, here are some examples:

  • Increase website traffic by 25% over the next 3 months
  • Double email list subscribers within 6 months
  • Reduce cost per lead by 25% within 1 year
  • Achieve an average open rate of 20% for emails within 3 months
  • Increase social media followers by 20% within 6 months
  • Generate a 10% increase in sales revenue within 1 year

Summary

Setting SMART marketing objectives and tracking progress towards them is essential for any successful marketing effort. By clearly defining your goals and KPIs, you can set yourself up for success and track progress to ensure that you’re achieving the results you want. Additionally, by using tools like Google Analytics and Excel spreadsheets, you can easily track and measure progress over time. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your marketing objectives are SMART and that your marketing team is on target for success.

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The Beginner’s Guide to Effective Email Marketing

With the right strategy, email can be a powerful tool to reach new customers and engage existing ones. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create your first email marketing campaign and help you to build a relationship with your audience. From crafting compelling subject lines to creating content, you’ll learn all the tips and tricks to make your email marketing successful.

The basics of email marketing

Email marketing for businesses can be a great way to connect with customers and promote your product or service. Here are some of the key things you need to know in order to get started with email marketing for your business.

Choose an email marketing service provider

The first step in setting up your email marketing system is to choose an Email Service Provider (ESP). There are many different email service providers to choose from (Constant Contact, MailChimp, AWeber, etc.)., and they all offer different features and pricing plans. Choose the one that best fits your needs.

Build an email list

The first step in starting your first email marketing campaign is to build an email list. An email list is a database of email addresses that you can use to send informational content. There are a few different ways to build an email list, but the most common is to collect them yourself through signups on your website or through contact forms. 

Create content

Once you have a list of email addresses, you’ll need to start creating content to send to them. Your content can be anything from promotional messages about your product or service to educational articles or blog posts. The important thing is that your content is relevant and interesting to your target audience. 

Launch a campaign

After you’ve created some great content, it’s time to start sending out emails! You’ll want to make sure that you’re using a good email service provider that can help you automate and manage your campaign.

Creating an effective email campaign

Luckily, crafting an effective email campaign is not as difficult as it may seem at first. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when creating a successful email campaign:

Personalize your messages

Personalizing your messages is one of the most important aspects of effective email marketing. You should make sure that each email you send is tailored specifically to the recipient, as this will help increase engagement and open rates.

Write great subject lines

A great subject line will pique the recipient’s interest and encourage them to open your email. Here are a few tips for writing great subject lines:

  • Keep it short and sweet: Ideally, your subject line should be no longer than 6 words long. Anything longer risks getting cut off in recipients’ inboxes, and anything shorter might not give them enough information to decide whether or not they want to open your email.
  • Make it actionable: Verbs like “discover,” “learn,” “get,” and “start” can help turn passive readers into active ones. Actionable subject lines are more likely to persuade recipients to open your email than those that are vague or nonspecific.

Create compelling content

Keep the following things in mind as you’re creating content for your email campaign: 

  • Be clear and concise: Just like with your subject line, you want your email content to be direct and to the point. No one wants to wade through paragraphs of text just to find out what you’re trying to sell them so get straight to the point and avoid using flowery language or excessive jargon. 
  • Be helpful: Your goal with any email campaign or any other marketing strategy should be to provide value to recipients. This could come in the form of helpful information, coupons or discounts, or even just entertaining content. As long as recipients walk away from your email feeling like they’ve learned something or gotten something out of it, you’re on the right track. 

Design eye-catching emails templates

Email template design can seem daunting at first, but there are plenty of simple (and free!) tools out there that can help you create beautiful, professional-looking emails without having to hire a designer. Here are a few tips for designing eye-catching email templates:

  • Keep it simple: Don’t let your template design overwhelm the content of your email. Stick to a single color palette and limit yourself to one or two fonts. This will keep the focus on the text and make sure recipients don’t get distracted by complicated visuals. 
  • Use visuals wisely: Visuals can be a great way to add interest and depth to your emails. Just make sure they’re relevant to the content of the email, or else you risk coming off as spammy.

Include a call-to-action

A well-crafted CTA gives recipients something tangible to do with the information they’ve just received, which makes them much more likely to actually act on it. Make sure the CTA stands out from the rest of your email by using a different font, color, or size and make sure it clearly states what action you want them to take (e.g., “Sign up now!”). For example, if you have a blog post that you want to share with your readers, include a CTA at the end of the email that links directly to the post.

How to design an effective email

An effective email should be well-designed, engaging, and informative. Here’s how you can design an email that will get results.

Know your purpose

Before you start designing your email, take a step back and think about why you are sending it. What is the purpose of the email? Are you trying to promote a product? Are you sharing important news? Once you know the purpose of the email, you can start to design with that goal in mind.

Incorporate branding elements

Your email should reflect your brand identity in some way. Whether that means using your company’s logo or colors, or simply maintaining a consistent style throughout all of your marketing materials, make sure that your readers will be able to identify your email as coming from your business.

Make it mobile-friendly

In today’s world, it’s important to make sure that your email is accessible on all devices, including smartphones and tablets. More people than ever before are checking their emails on their phones, so it’s important to design an email that looks good on a small screen. To do this, use a responsive template or design your email using a single-column layout.

How to get sign-ups onto your email list

Building an email list is key to successful email marketing. Here are some tips for getting people to sign up:

  1. Use a sign up form: Use a landing page on your website so visitors can easily join your mailing list. Make sure you make it easy for them to sign up and let them know exactly what they’re signing up for.
  2. Leverage social media marketing: By leveraging the reach and engagement of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you can promote your opt-in form and drive more people to sign up for your email list. And when used in conjunction with other marketing channels, you can create an even more effective email marketing campaign.

How to write compelling content

From social media marketing to email marketing and other marketing channels, the one thing they all have in common is content. If you want your business to succeed, you need to have great content. That’s because compelling content is what keeps customers coming back for more. It’s also what helps you attract new customers and grow your business. So, how do you write great content? Read on to find out.

Know your audience

The first step to writing great content is understanding who your audience is. What are their pain points? What are they interested in? What kind of language do they use? Once you have a good understanding of your audience, you’ll be able to write content that resonates with them and that they’ll actually want to read.

Keep it short and sweet

No one wants to read a 5,000-word article these days. In fact, studies have shown that people are more likely to read something if it’s shorter and easier to digest. So, when you’re writing content, keep it concise and make sure each sentence packs a punch. Get rid of any superfluous words or phrases that don’t add anything of value.

Use visuals 

Visuals are another great way to engage your readers and add interest to your content. Be sure to use high-quality images, infographics, videos, etc., and make sure they complement the text. Don’t just throw them in for the sake of it. Visuals should always be used sparingly and only when they genuinely add value to the piece. 

Testing and measuring your results

Any business owner knows that marketing is essential to the success of their company. But what many don’t realize is that it’s just as important to test and measure the results of your marketing campaigns as it is to implement them. By doing so, you can fine-tune your email marketing strategy, making sure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck. But how do you go about testing and measuring your results? Here are a few tips.

Set up Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track your website traffic. This is valuable information, as it can tell you how many people are visiting your site, where they’re coming from, what pages they’re looking at, and how long they’re staying on each page. All of this information can be used to improve your email marketing.

A/B test your email campaigns

A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method of comparing two versions of a piece of content (such as an email or landing page) to see which one performs better. This is done by showing one version of your email to half of your audience and the other version to the other half. Whichever version performs better is the one that you should use going forward. A/B testing allows you to fine-tune your email marketing campaigns so that they’re as effective as possible. 

Summary

Effective email marketing is essential for any business looking to succeed. It takes time and finesse to create an effective email campaign, but with the right knowledge and strategies, it can be done. From writing compelling content to designing visually engaging emails and testing and measuring results, there are many components that go into creating an effective email marketing campaign. With dedication and hard work, you’ll be well on your way to success with email marketing.

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7 web marketing trends you need to know for 2023

If you’re running a business, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest web and digital marketing trends. In this blog post, we will discuss 7 of the top digital marketing trends that you need to be aware of. By understanding the latest digital marketing trends, you can create a digital marketing strategy that is effective and relevant for your business.

1. A world-class customer experience

A world-class customer experience is one that is tailored to the individual needs of the customer and provides them with an exceptional level of service.

Why world-class customer experience important

In today’s day and age, customers have more choices than ever before. If they’re not happy with the level of service they’re receiving from one company, they will quickly switch to another that can better meet their needs. Because of this, it’s become more important than ever for businesses to focus on providing a world-class customer experience. 

How you can provide a world-class customer experience

There are a few key things you can do to make sure your customers have a world-class experience with your business: 

  1. Get to know your customers – Take the time to understand who your customers are and what they’re looking for. The better you know them, the better you’ll be able to provide them with the services they need. 
  2. Train your staff – Make sure your staff is properly trained in how to deal with customers. They should be friendly, helpful, and attentive at all times. 
  3. Pay attention to detail – The little things matter when it comes to providing a great customer experience. Return phone calls promptly, keep your promises, and always follow up after an interaction. 
  4. Be responsive – In today’s digital world, people expect companies to be responsive 24/7/365. Make sure you’re meeting those expectations by being available when your customers need you. 

2. Native advertising

Native advertising is a form of online advertising that is designed to blend in with the surrounding content. It can take many different forms, but some common examples include sponsored posts on social media channels or in-feed ads on a website. Here’s what you need to know about this digital marketing trend. 

You can reach a wider audience

One of the main benefits of native advertising is that it gives you the opportunity to reach a much wider audience than traditional online ads. That’s because native ads are often featured on high-traffic websites or popular social media platforms with millions of users. If your ad is well-designed and relevant to the page it’s appearing on, there’s a good chance that it will be seen by plenty of people.

There is increased engagement

Native ads are designed to blend in with the surrounding content so readers are more likely to actually pay attention to them and click through to learn more about what you’re offering. If your ad is helpful and informative, there’s a good chance they’ll remember your brand next time they need something you offer.

It can improve brand reputation

If done well, native advertising can also help improve your brand’s reputation. That’s because readers who see a helpful and informative native ad are more likely to have a positive view of your brand. On the other hand, though, if your ad is misleading or spammy, it could damage your brand’s reputation.

3. Short-form video

Short-form video is any video that is typically one minute or less in length and is perfect for social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

Why is short-form video so popular?

There are a few reasons why short-form video has become so popular in recent years.

  1. Social media platforms have made it easier than ever for users to watch and share videos.
  2. People have shorter attention spans than ever before
  3. Short-form videos are often more engaging and entertaining. They usually tell a story or make a point in an interesting way, which can help capture people’s attention and keep them engaged.

How you can use short-form videos for your business

Now that you know why short-form video is so popular, you might be wondering how you can use it to benefit your business. There are a few different ways to do this: 

  • Create awareness about your brand: Create fun, entertaining videos that introduce your brand in an exciting way. This can help increase brand awareness and get people interested in what you have to offer. 
  • Show off your products or services: Use short-form video marketing to showcase your products or services in action with quick, informative videos. This can help give potential customers a better idea of what you have to offer and how it can benefit them. 
  • Drive traffic to your website: Include links back to your website in your videos so that viewers can easily find out more about your business. You can also include calls to action in your videos (such as “visit our website” or “subscribe to our newsletter”) to encourage viewers to take action. 

4. Story-driven content visualization

Story-driven content visualization is exactly what it sounds like: using visuals to tell a story. The story can be about your brand, your product, or your customers.

Content visualization is one of the most effective ways to tell a story as it can help you build trust with your audience, differentiate your brand, and drive results. Here are a few more of its benefits:

Increased engagement 

When data is presented in an engaging and visually appealing way, people are more likely to pay attention and actually understand the message you’re trying to communicate. This is especially important in today’s attention-deficit world, where people are bombarded with information from all sides.  

It simplifies complex data

By presenting data in a visual format, businesses can highlight key takeaways and provide context that might otherwise be lost in a sea of numbers and charts.

Provides actionable insights 

By putting data into a context that is easy to understand, businesses can identify areas where change is needed and develop digital marketing strategies for addressing those issues. Additionally, story-driven content visualization can help businesses track progress over time and make adjustments as necessary to continue moving forward.

5. Social commerce

Social commerce is the integration of social media and eCommerce, and it’s a powerful tool that businesses can use to reach and engage potential customers. Here are three ways you can use social commerce to boost your business.

Use product pages on social media platforms

One way you can use social commerce to boost your business is by using product pages on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. These pages provide potential customers with all the information they need about your products in one place, including pricing, product descriptions, images, customer reviews, and more. 

Offer exclusive deals and discounts on social media

This is a great way to drive traffic to your online store and encourage potential customers to make a purchase. Just be sure to make your deals and discounts appealing and clearly visible on your page so that people don’t miss them.

Implement social shopping features on your website

Social shopping features allow visitors to your website to share products they’re interested in with their friends and followers on social media. This is a great way to increase traffic to your website and promote your products either organically through conversational marketing or as part of an influencer marketing campaign.  

6. Voice search

With the rise of smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana, more and more people are using their voices to as a search engine to search the internet. So what does this mean for your business? Let’s take a look.

Most voice searches are powered by artificial intelligence (AI), which can understand natural language so you can ask your question just as you would if you were asking a person. For example, you can say something like, “What’s the best sushi restaurant in town?” and your voice assistant will understand what you’re looking for. 

Voice searches are convenient 

With a busy lifestyle, it’s not always easy to type out a search query. Voice search saves time by allowing you to get the information you need without having to type a single word.  

Voice searches are more accurate

This is because you can speak your query exactly as you would say it aloud. This reduces the chance of errors and ensures that you get the most relevant results possible. 

Voice searches are more personal

This is because you can add a personal touch to your queries by using colloquialisms and slang. For example, you might say something like “Where’s the nearest coffee shop?” rather than “coffee shop near me.” This makes your interactions with your voice assistant feel more natural and human. 

7. Podcasts and audio content

Podcasts and other audio content keep growing in popularity. You can create podcasts or other audio content and use content marketing to provide valuable insight into your industry and helps you stand out from the competition.

Here are 3 benefits of using podcasts and audio content:

Audio content is incredibly versatile 

As we mentioned before, one of the best things about audio content is its versatility. Unlike visual content, audio doesn’t require any screens or special equipment to consume. All you need is a pair of headphones and you’re good to go. This makes it easy for people to listen to audio content while they’re doing other activities like driving, working out, or even doing chores around the house. 

You can reach a wider audience 

Another great thing about audio content is that it has the potential to reach a global audience. Unlike visual content, which can be difficult to consume for people with visual impairments, audio is accessible to everyone. This makes it an excellent way to reach new audiences who might not be able to engage with your visual content. 

Audio content is more engaging 

One of the best things about audio content is that it’s more engaging than other types of content. When people are consumed by what they’re listening to, they’re less likely to multi-task or get distracted than if they were watching a video or reading a blog post. They are also more likely to retain information and be engaged with what they’re hearing. For businesses, this increased engagement can lead to better brand recall and more sales.

Summary

These 7 digital marketing trends are the ones to watch. Businesses can stay ahead of the competition by combining these strategies with their marketing messages. They will also allow businesses to better connect with their target audience and increase sales. This way, businesses can ensure they remain competitive in the ever-evolving digital market by leveraging these important digital marketing trends in an effective manner.

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The Future of Internet Advertising: Where Are We Headed?

Internet advertising has come a long way in a short period of time and it is far more sophisticated than it was a decade ago. As technology continues to advance, so too does internet advertising. So where is the future of internet advertising headed? In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the latest trends in online advertising and discuss what the future holds for internet advertising.

Here are a few of the biggest trends in internet advertising.

  1. Increased personalization
  2. Identity-based pay-per-click marketing
  3. Programmatic advertising
  4. Native advertising

What increased personalization means for businesses

In today’s world, it seems like everything is getting more and more personalized. From the ads we see on social media to the content in our inboxes, businesses are using data to deliver tailored experiences to consumers. And this trend is only going to continue in the future. But what does this trend mean for businesses? Let’s take a look. 

Better targeting with advertising

One of the most immediate implications of increased personalization is better targeting with advertising. With more data comes better insights into who our customers are and what they want. We can now create ads that are more likely to resonate with our target audience and less likely to be ignored or skipped over.

Improved customer retention rates

Another benefit of increased personalization is improved customer retention rates. When existing customers feel like a business understands them and is catering to their specific needs and preferences, they are more likely to stick around.

Increased engagement with customers

When customers feel understood and valued by a business, they are much more likely to engage with that business on a deeper level. This could manifest itself in things like social media interactions, online reviews, or even word-of-mouth advertising. And all of this leads to one thing: more customers!

Identity-based pay-per-click marketing is on the rise

You may have noticed a new trend in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising: identity-based PPC. Identity-based PPC marketing is a type of targeted advertising that uses information about a user’s online activity to serve them relevant online ads.

How is identity-based pay-per-click marketing different from traditional PPC?

Traditional PPC advertising relies on keywords to target ads to users. For example, if you own a business that sells pet supplies, you would use keywords like “dog food,” “cat toys,” etc., to target your ads to users who are searching for those terms. With identity-based PPC, businesses can target ads to users based on their past interactions with the business, even if they’re not actively searching for those terms. This allows businesses to reach users at different stages of the customer journey and improve the chances of conversion. 

Benefits of identity-based pay-per-click marketing

There are a couple of benefits of identity-based PPC marketing: 

  1. More targeted advertising: With traditional PPC, businesses can only target ads based on keywords, however, with identity-based PPC, businesses can create ads that are specific to each user’s interests and needs. This results in a better user experience and increased conversions. 
  2. Improved ROI: Identity-based PPC also has a higher ROI than traditional PPC because it results in more targeted advertising and higher conversion rates. When done correctly, using identity-based marketing as one of your marketing strategies has the potential to dramatically increase your business’s bottom line. 

Programmatic advertising is changing the game

You may have heard the term ‘programmatic advertising’ thrown around quite a bit lately and there’s a good reason for that. In short, programmatic advertising is a type of advertising that uses algorithms to target specific audiences with laser precision.

How programmatic advertising works

Programmatic advertising relies on data in order to function. Advertisers will use first and third-party cookies and other data in order to identify potential customers and target them with ads that are relevant to their needs and interests. This data is then analyzed by algorithms, which create ad placements that are customized for each individual user. In other words, businesses will no longer have to guess which demographics they should be targeting. They’ll know for sure. 

The benefits of programmatic advertising

There are numerous benefits associated with programmatic advertising. Perhaps the most significant benefit is increased ROI. Because programmatic advertising allows businesses to target their ads so precisely, and on multiple platforms, they are far more likely to reach users who are actually interested in what they’re selling, which ultimately leads to more conversions and sales. 

Programmatic advertising also provides businesses with increased transparency and control. Businesses will know exactly where their ads are being placed, who they’re reaching, and how much they’re spending, all in real time. This level of transparency is unprecedented in the world of online advertising, and it gives businesses more control over their campaigns. 

Why native advertising matters

You’ve probably heard the term “native advertising” before, but what is it, exactly? Native advertising is a type of online contextual advertising that blends in with the surrounding content on a website or app. It’s designed to look like normal content, which makes it less intrusive than other forms of advertising such as banner ads.

Native advertising matters and can benefit your business because it’s an effective way to reach your target audience with relevant, unobtrusive ads. Unlike banner ads and other forms of online advertising, native ads don’t interrupt the user’s experience; instead, they blend in and provide value. For example, if you’re a travel company targeting young adults through content marketing, a native ad on a popular travel blog might take the form of an article about “5 Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations for Young Adults.” Not only is the ad relevant to the reader, but it also provides value by giving them useful information.

The future of digital advertising: a glimpse into what’s to come

We are now living in an era where digital advertising within digital marketing is the norm. With the emergence of programmatic advertising, businesses can now target their ads with a level of precision that was once unimaginable. So what does the future hold for businesses that rely on this form of marketing to reach their target audiences? Here are a few predictions.

More automation

One of the biggest changes we can expect to see in digital advertising is an increase in automation and increasing reliance on software programs to create, place, and track ads. While this may sound like it takes the human element out of marketing, it actually frees up marketers to focus on strategy and creating compelling ad copy, rather than being bogged down in logistical tasks. Additionally, automation will allow businesses to place their ads in more places than ever before, making it easier to reach their target audiences no matter where they are spending their time online.

Increased personalization

With more businesses automating their advertising, they will also have access to more data about their target audiences than ever before. This data can then be used to create highly personalized ads that speak directly to the needs and interests of individual consumers. We can expect to see ads that are specifically tailored to our unique demographics, interests, and even purchasing behaviors.

Greater use of interactive elements  

Digital ads are becoming more interactive and immersive as technology advances. We’re already seeing this trend with the rise of video content and “ad experiences,” like quizzes and polls that allow consumers to engage with brands on a deeper level. This trend is likely to continue as businesses strive to create ad campaigns that break through the noise and really capture people’s attention.

As digital advertising continues to evolve and grow, it starts to merge with the programmatic nature of television. According to Statista, the global TV ad revenue was $162 billion dollars in 2021 and as the TV advertising industry becomes increasingly more programmatic, it may be wise to talk with an agency to see if it will be a good fit for your marketing strategy.

What does the future hold for video advertising?

Video is already one of the most popular forms of digital advertising, and we can expect that trend to continue. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting changes on the horizon.

More AR and VR integrations

As 5G becomes more widespread, we will see even more opportunities for AR and VR integrations. This will allow businesses to create more realistic and interactive experiences for their customers. For example, imagine being able to try on a piece of clothing before you buy it or test-driving a car from the comfort of your own home. The possibilities are endless!

Video advertising will become more interactive

Interactive video ads will become more common as well. This type of advertising allows viewers to control the outcome of the ad by making choices throughout the duration of the video. For example, a viewer might be asked to choose which product a character uses or what action they take. This type of ad is more engaging for viewers and can lead to higher conversion rates for businesses.

The future of mobile advertising is brighter than ever

Trying to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of mobile advertising can feel like a full-time job. Here are a couple of trends in mobile advertising, so you can stay ahead of the curve.

Location-based targeting

Thanks to GPS and other location-tracking technology, businesses can target ads specifically to users who are located in a certain area. This is especially effective for businesses with brick-and-mortar locations, as it allows them to reach consumers when they are nearby and more likely to make a purchase.

Programmatic advertising

This refers to the use of algorithms to place ads on websites and apps based on user data (such as demographic information, browsing history, etc.). This allows businesses to target their ads more effectively, and has made mobile advertising more efficient and cost-effective.

Summary

The future of digital advertising is ever-evolving, and businesses must stay ahead of the game to remain competitive. As personalization, identity-based pay-per-click marketing, and programmatic advertising are changing the way that ads are placed and targeted, in the future businesses must be ready to embrace new technologies and strategies in order to stay ahead of the curve. By keeping up with these advancements, businesses can make sure that their digital advertising efforts are always effective.

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Types Of Video To Use At Each Stage Of Marketing Funnel

Video is one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal. It’s a great way to engage new visitors and establish trust with them before they convert into customers. Apart from being a great way to build a relationship with your audience, it’s also one of the most effective ways to get more traffic. In fact, video content has been shown to attract 157% more organic search traffic than text-based content.

So, what is the best type of video content to create? You’re probably wondering what kind of video you should make, when you can publish it, and how often you should update your portfolio. In this guide, we’ll cover all of these questions in detail to help you create a video marketing strategy that will get results!

What Is A Marketing Funnel?

A marketing funnel is a tool used to help businesses understand the process of acquiring new customers. It’s often used as a visual representation of how people move through different stages of your product or service before becoming a paying customer. Each step in the funnel represents an opportunity for you to generate more leads or sales by targeting people at that stage with relevant content. The product goal of a marketing funnel is to collect as many leads as possible from your content and turn them into paying customers. Your overall goal is to make more money, which means you need to increase the number of people who buy from you. This can be achieved by increasing traffic or sales at each stage of the funnel. There are three parts to a marketing funnel:

Top of Funnel (ToFu):

These are people who have never heard of your company or product before. They may have some basic awareness about what it is, but they haven’t taken any action yet.  In this stage, you want to build awareness of what you do and get people engaged with your brand.

Best Videos on Top of Funnel

  1.  Brand Videos

The first step in building your brand awareness is creating a video that will introduce potential customers to your company and product. These videos should be short and sweet, but they should also convey the value of what you offer.

  • How-to Videos

How-to videos are perfect for generating leads at the top of your funnel. They can help you educate potential customers about their pain points and how you can solve them with your product or service. These videos are also great for creating a community around your brand.

  • Animated videos

Animated videos are perfect for entertaining your audience and helping them visualize your product or service. They can be used to show how something works, but they can also be used to tell a story about your brand or product.

Middle of Funnel (MoFu)

These people have some knowledge or awareness about your business and its products/services. They might be familiar with your brand or have interacted with you in some way (like visiting your website). At this stage, your customers are starting to get a little more serious about making a purchase. You need to be sure that your content is compelling enough to keep them engaged.

Best Videos on Middle of the Funnel:

  1. Product Videos

Product videos are used to showcase your product or service. They can be helpful for viewers who are still at the top of the funnel (i.e., they don’t know much about your business), but they also work well for middle-funnel consumers who want a closer look at what you have to offer.

  • Testimonials

Testimonials can be a powerful way to build trust and credibility, especially when you have a lot of competitors vying for attention. They also help prospects visualize themselves using your product or service, which can be especially important if they’re still at the top of the funnel and need more information about what it might look like in real life.

  • Customer Success Stories

Customer success stories are similar to testimonials, except that they focus on the results your customer achieved after using your product or service. Their goal is to help potential clients to visualize themselves and how much better their lives will be once they become customers.

Bottom of the Funnel (BoFu)

People at this stage have already taken action towards purchasing something from you, whether that means signing up for an email list or making their first purchase!

Best Videos on Bottom of the Funnel:

  1. Demo videos – Demo videos are designed to show prospects what your product or service looks and feels like. A customer can be shown how a product works, how this product will improve their lives, or even just how it works in general. Demo videos are great for helping people visualize themselves as a customer who has already made a purchase from you.
  • FAQ Videos– FAQ videos are designed to answer the most common questions people have about your product or service. They help prospects feel more confident about making a purchase by showing them that they’re not alone in their concerns and that others have had the same questions before. FAQ videos can also be used as a lead generation tool by asking viewers to submit their own questions or comments at the end of your video.
  • Personalized Videos – Personalized videos are great for people who are looking for a more personal touch. They help you stand out from the crowd by showing prospects that you care about them as individuals and want to provide them with the best service possible. Personalized videos can be used in many different ways, including sending thank you messages after sales or giving customers an update on their product after it’s been shipped.

Tips For Creating The Best Videos For Each Funnel

Now that you know the different types of videos you can use, it’s time to start creating them. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

1. Focus on your audience

Your main goal should be to provide value to your audience so they can get the information they need and become customers. If you’re creating a video to promote your product, focus on showing people how it works and explaining why they should buy it. If you’re creating a video for an ad, focus on what problem your product solves and why your customer can benefit from using it.

2. Create authentic content

Make sure that everything in your videos is true, whether it’s about the product or not. Your audience will be able to tell when something seems out of place or fake and it can hurt your brand. Whether you’re creating demo videos, how-to videos, lyric videos or other types of videos, it’s important to make sure that the content is authentic and real. If you want people to believe what you’re saying, make sure that it’s true and not just a marketing ploy.

3 .Keep your videos short

If you want people to watch your video, keep it short and sweet. A lot of businesses make the mistake of creating long videos that nobody wants to watch because they think they need all the information on their product or service in order for people to buy it. The truth is that most people don’t have time for long-winded sales pitches; instead, focus on what benefits your audience will get from using your product or service and make sure that information is delivered in a quick and concise manner.

4. Use high quality visual

Videos are a great way to show off your products or services. However, if your video is low quality it can hurt the credibility of what you’re selling. Make sure that all of your videos are shot with professional grade equipment so that they look good enough to watch from any device or screen size. Use an online video editor to make your videos visually appealing and easy to understand.

5. Make sure that everything on your website is mobile friendly

People these days spend most of their time online using their smartphones and tablets. In fact, some people use both devices at once! If your website isn’t mobile friendly, people won’t be able to view it properly and will get frustrated trying. You can use a video compressor tool so that they take up less space and load faster when people view them on their phones or tablets.

Conclusion

When you’re looking for the right type of video content to share with your audience, remember that there are many different options available. You don’t have to stick with just one or two types of videos—you can make use of as many different techniques as possible!

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Master Facebook Marketing: 10 Expert Tips for Success

Facebook is the perfect platform for businesses of all sizes to market their products and services. With over 2.9 billion monthly active Facebook users, Facebook provides an incredible opportunity to reach a large and diverse audience. However, marketing on Facebook can be tricky. To see success with Facebook marketing, you need to understand the platform and use the right tactics. In this blog post, we will provide 10 expert tips for mastering Facebook marketing!

Understanding Facebook marketing best practices

Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when creating your Facebook marketing strategy.

Keep your page updated

Regularly post fresh content, respond to comments and messages, and keep your information accurate. Out-of-date pages are a turnoff for potential customers, so make sure you’re staying on top of things.

Engage with your customers’

Engaging with your customers is a great way to build relationships and show that you truly care about their opinion. Ask questions, respond to comments and messages, and use the ‘like’ button liberally to show appreciation for their engagement.

Use visual content

People are more likely to engage with posts that include images or videos, so make sure you’re using visuals in your posts. You can also use Facebook ads to reach even more people with your visual content.

Run A/B tests with Ads Manager

Why Should you use A/B testing? A/B testing is a great way to improve your Facebook ad performance because it allows you to systematically try out different elements of your ads and see which ones work best for your business. By constantly testing and tweaking your ads, you can gradually improve your results over time.

What should I test?

There are a few different elements that you could test with A/B testing: 

  • Images: Try testing different images to see which ones capture people’s attention and get them to click on your ad. 
  • Copy: Write two different versions of your ad copy and see which one performs better. 
  • Call-to-action: Try out different call-to-actions (e.g., “Learn More,” “Sign Up Now,” “Buy Now”) and see which ones get people to take action. 
  • Targeting: Try targeting different groups of people with your ads and see which group responds best. 

Know the best bid strategy

Let’s discuss the main bid strategies and when you should use each one.

Cost-per-click (CPC)

With CPC bidding, you pay each time someone clicks on your ad. This is a good option if you want to drive traffic to your website or landing page.

Cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM)

With CPM bidding, you pay for every 1,000 times your ad is shown, regardless of whether someone clicks on it or not. This is a good option if you want to increase brand awareness or reach as many people as possible.

oCPM

oCPM bidding is similar to CPM bidding in that you pay for every 1,000 times your ad is shown. However, with oCPM bidding, Facebook optimizes your ad delivery to help you reach your desired objective (such as clicks, conversions, etc.). oCPM bidding is only available for certain objectives and is only available if you are using Conversion Tracking.

Cost-Per-Action (CPA)

With CPA bidding, you pay each time someone takes an action that you have specified (such as clicking on your ad or filling out a form). This is a good option if you want people to take a specific action on your website or landing page.

You can set a maximum CPC, CPM or CPA bid or let Facebook automatically set your bid for you.

Run a targeted advertising campaign

Creating and running successful Facebook ad campaigns through your Facebook business manager involves five steps.

Define your objectives and choose your target audience

Are you trying to increase brand awareness? Drive traffic to your website? Boost sales of a particular product? Once you know your objectives you can target your ads to very specific groups of people by using the targeting options to narrow down your audience by location, age, gender, interests, and more.

Create your ad

Now it’s time to create your ad! Start by choosing the format that you want to use: single image, video, carousel, or slideshow. Then, upload your content and add a headline and description. Make sure that your ad is creative and eye-catching since you want people to stop scrolling and take notice!

Set your budget and bidding options

When running a Facebook ad campaign, you can either set a daily budget or a lifetime budget. You will also need to decide which bidding option you want to use: cost per click (CPC) or cost per thousand impressions (CPM).

Monitor your results 

The Facebook Ads Manager in your Facebook ads account provides detailed insights on how your ads are performing, including information on reach, frequency, clicks, conversions, and more. Use this data to fine-tune your Facebook campaign and ensure that you’re getting the best results possible.

Use Facebook’s dynamic features

Facebook live

You can use Facebook Live to stream events, give product demonstrations, or even just give a behind-the-scenes look at your business. And because people can comment and ask questions while you’re live, it’s a great way to start a conversation with your audience and get feedback from them in real-time.

Custom audiences

Facebook has a custom audience feature where you can target ads directly to people who have already shown an interest in what you’re selling and then target those people with ads specifically tailored to them.

Expand your reach with lookalikes

Lookalike audiences can help you expand your reach on Facebook by targeting people who share similar characteristics to your current customers.

How to use lookalike audiences

There are two primary ways to create lookalike audiences: from scratch or from an existing customer list. If you’re starting from scratch, Facebook will use its algorithms to find people who share similarities with your target audience. If you’re using an existing customer list, Facebook will find people who share similarities with the people on that list.

Update your landing page

Your landing page is the first thing people see when they visit your website, so it’s important to make a good impression. Here are a few digital marketing tips for updating your landing page so that it’s modern, relevant, and engaging.

Keep it simple

In today’s attention-span-deficient world, people are more likely to bail on a page that’s cluttered or confusing. A good rule of thumb is to include only one main message or call-to-action (CTA).

Make it mobile-friendly

Your landing page should be just as mobile-friendly as the rest of your site. To make sure your landing page is mobile-responsive, use a tool like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Simply enter your URL and Google will tell you if your page passes their test.

Use high-quality images

People are visual creatures, so using high-quality images on your landing page can be very effective in getting people to stick around and learn more about what you have to offer. Just make sure the images you use are relevant to your business and accurately reflect your brand identity. 

Use persuasive copywriting techniques

Your landing page copy should be clear, concise, and persuasive. You want people to stick around long enough to convert into customers or clients! To write persuasive copy, focus on benefits over features, use simple language, and create a sense of urgency.

Prioritize conversion events

There are many factors to consider when deciding which conversion events to track on Facebook.

If you’re trying to increase online sales, for example, tracking the “Add to Cart” event would be more important than tracking the “Page Like” event.

If you’re selling a high-priced item, for example, tracking the “Purchase” event would be more important than tracking the “Add to Cart” event.

If you’re trying to increase leads, for example, tracking the “Lead” event would be more important than tracking the “Page Like” event.

Attribution

Attribution is the process of attributing conversions to different campaigns, ads, or sources. An example would be if someone sees your ad and then clicks on it and converts later, that’s attributed to your ad. If someone sees your ad and doesn’t click on it but converts later, that’s attributed to organic traffic.

Choose the right optimization event

There are two main types of optimization events: link clicks and conversions. Link clicks are when people click on a link in your ad that takes them to your website or landing page. Conversions are when people take an action on your website or landing page, such as filling out a form or making a purchase.

So, which type of optimization event should you choose? It depends on your goals. If you’re looking to generate leads, then you should optimize for conversions. If you’re looking to increase brand awareness or drive traffic to your website, then you should optimize for link clicks.

Learn how to do competitor analysis

Identify your competitors

The first step in conducting a competitor analysis is to identify who your competitors are. When it comes to Facebook, your competitors can be other businesses in your industry that have a presence on the platform. For example, if you sell women’s clothing, you would search for “women’s fashion” or “women’s clothing.”

Gather data about your competitors’ pages

Start by looking at social media marketing metrics such as Facebook page likes, post engagement, and audience demographics. You can also look at which types of content they post and how often they post it. Successful Facebook pages tend to have a lot of engagement.

Use your competitor analysis to improve your page

Once you have an understanding of your competitors’ pages, use that information to make improvements to your own page. Think about what posts are working well for them and how you can create content that is even more engaging. Analyze their audience demographics and look at the types of ads they’re running using the Facebook Ads library so you can get an idea of which types of ads might work well for your own page.

Summary

Facebook marketing is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes increase their visibility and reach. With the right strategies in place, businesses can effectively use this platform to engage with customers and drive conversions. By following these 10 expert tips for successful Facebook marketing, you can ensure that your Facebook campaigns are as effective as possible and create lasting results for your business.

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Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Growth Agency

Are you looking to take your business to the next level? If so, then you may want to consider hiring a growth agency. Growth agencies can help you achieve explosive growth for your company by implementing effective marketing strategies. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about hiring a growth agency.

Identify your goals before hiring a growth marketing agency

Without clearly defined goals, it will be impossible to measure the success of your marketing campaign. So how do you go about defining your goals? Below are a few questions to get you started.

What are your overall business goals?

Before you can start setting specific marketing goals, you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. What are your overall business goals? Are you looking to increase brand awareness? Would you like more traffic to your website? How about increasing your traffic through search engine optimization? Once you have a good understanding of your overall business goals, you can start working on specific marketing goals that will help you achieve those objectives.

Who is your target audience?

Another important question to ask yourself is who is your target audience? Once you know who you’re trying to reach, you can start developing marketing strategies that are tailored to that specific audience. For example, if you’re trying to reach stay-at-home moms, then advertising in parenting magazines might be a good idea. On the other hand, if you’re trying to reach small businesses, then advertising in trade publications or on business websites might be a better option.

What can you realistically achieve in the short term?

It’s important to set realistic goals that can be achieved in the short term. There’s no point in setting a goal that’s so lofty that it’s impossible to achieve. Not only will this leave you feeling disappointed and discouraged, but it will also make it difficult to measure the success of your marketing campaign. So start small and then build on your successes over time.

Seek references for growth marketing agencies and consider industry expertise

There are so many growth marketing agencies out there, and it can be hard to know which is the right growth marketing agency for your business. Here are some tips.

Get referrals from people you trust

Talk to other businesses in your industry and see who they use for their marketing needs. You can also ask your friends or family members if they know of any good digital marketing agencies. Getting referrals from people you trust will help you narrow down your options and find a firm that is more likely to be a good fit for your business.

Do your research

Check out the websites of the firms you are considering and read their blog posts or articles to get a feel for their marketing style and areas of expertise. You should also look to see if they have experience working with businesses like yours. Doing your research will help you make an informed decision about which marketing firm is right for your business.

Consider industry expertise

You want to make sure that the firm you choose has experience working in your industry and understands your unique needs. Ask each firm about their experience with businesses like yours and what kind of results they have been able to achieve for their clients. Choosing a firm with industry expertise will help ensure that you get the best results from your marketing efforts.

Make a shortlist of growth marketing company candidates

Here are some tips on how to make a shortlist of growth marketing company candidates so you can find the perfect partner for your business.

Consider your options

There are dozens of marketing companies out there, so take some time to research each one. Read reviews, check out their portfolios, and visit their websites. This will help you get a better sense of their work and whether or not they’re a good fit for your business.

Know your budget

The next step is to know your budget. Marketing campaigns can be expensive, so it’s important to have a realistic understanding of how much you’re willing or able to spend. This will help narrow down your options and make it easier to find a company that’s a good fit for your budget.

Ask for work samples from marketing companies on your shortlist

Asking for work samples may seem like an unnecessary step in the decision-making process, but it’s important.

It allows you to see the company’s capabilities firsthand

The best way to get a feel for what a company is capable of is to see its previous work. By looking at work samples, you can get a sense of the company’s style, approach, and overall quality. This will help you determine whether or not they’re a good fit for your needs.

It allows you to see how well the company communicates

One of the most important aspects of any business relationship is communication. When you ask for work samples, pay attention to how well the company communicates with you. Do they respond in a timely manner? Are they easy to understand? Do they answer all of your questions? The way the growth marketing team communicates with you now is likely indicative of how they would communicate with you if you were to hire them.

Consider online customer reviews about potential marketing companies

A quick Google search will reveal a long list of options, along with customer reviews for each one. But what weight should you give to those reviews? Are they reliable indicators of quality, or are they easy to manipulate? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of online customer reviews.

The pros of online customer reviews

The most obvious benefit of online customer reviews is that they provide a wealth of information about potential marketing companies. You can get a sense of what others have liked and disliked about each one, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and what kinds of results they’ve been able to achieve. This can be invaluable when you’re trying to make a decision about which company to use.

Another benefit of online customer reviews is that they level the playing field between big companies and small ones. In the past, it was difficult for small businesses to compete with well-established brands because they didn’t have the same kind of name recognition or reputation. But now, thanks to review sites like Yelp, small businesses can easily get their foot in the door and compete on a more equal footing.

The cons of online customer reviews

Of course, online customer reviews aren’t perfect. One downside is that it’s easy for companies to game the system by paying for fake positive reviews or posting negative reviews about their competitors. This means that you can’t always trust that what you’re reading is 100% accurate.

Another downside is that online customer reviews tend to be skewed towards extremes. People are more likely to leave a review if they had a particularly good or bad experience, which means that you might not be getting an accurate picture of the company’s overall performance.

Request a detailed service agreement before hiring a marketing company

When you’re ready to hire a growth marketing company, it’s important to have a detailed service agreement in place. This document ensures that both you and the marketing company are on the same page regarding expectations, the scope of work, and deliverables.

Why you need a service agreement

There are many benefits to having a detailed service agreement in place before hiring a marketing company. For one, it sets clear expectations for both parties. You’ll know exactly what services the marketing company will provide, how they will provide those services, and when you can expect to see results. Additionally, a service agreement protects your investment by specifying what happens if the marketing company is unable or unwilling to meet its obligations.

Another benefit of a service agreement is that it can help prevent misunderstandings about the scope of work. By clearly outlining the services to be provided, as well as any deliverables, you can avoid any confusion about what is included in the scope of work. This is especially important if your project requires multiple stages or phases, as each stage should be clearly defined in the agreement.

Finally, having one in place gives you peace of mind knowing that both you and the marketing company are clear on the terms of your relationship. This way, you can focus on running your business while the marketing company handles your marketing needs. 

Sign a short-term contract with a marketing company and reassess regularly

What are the benefits of a short-term marketing contract?

Flexibility

One of the biggest benefits of a short-term contract is that it gives you flexibility. You’re not locked into anything long-term, so if you’re not happy with the results you’re seeing, you can always end the contract and try something else. This is especially helpful for businesses that are just starting out with a growth marketing strategy and are still trying to find their footing.

Cost-effective

Another benefit of a short-term contract is that it’s cost-effective. You’re only paying for the services you need for the duration of the contract, so you’re not wasting money on things you don’t need or won’t use. This is especially helpful for small businesses that have limited budgets.

Trial period

A short-term contract also gives you a trial period of sorts. You can test out the waters and see if the marketing company is the right marketing agency for your business before committing to anything long-term. This way, you can avoid any potential headaches down the road.

Summary

Hiring a growth agency can be a great way to take your business to the next level. They can fast-track your business’ growth and avoid many of the common mistakes that fledgling businesses make. However, it’s important to do your research to choose the right agency for your business so you can set it up for success.

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7 Email Marketing Best Practices to Boost Your Campaigns

Email marketing is a great way to connect with your customers and promote your products or services. However, if you want to see the best results from your email marketing campaigns, you need to follow some best practices. In this blog post, we will discuss seven of the most important email marketing best practices. If you implement these tips into your campaigns, you could see a significant increase in your success rate!

Segment your audience

Segmenting your audience allows you to better understand your customers and tailor your marketing efforts to appeal to each specific group. Here’s why it’s important.

Better targeted marketing

One of the main benefits of email segmentation is that it allows you to create a more targeted and effective email marketing campaign. When you know who you’re marketing to, you can create messages and content that are more likely to resonate with them. This leads to higher conversion rates and more loyal customers.

Improved customer service

Segmenting your audience can also help you improve your customer service. When you know who your customers are, you can anticipate their needs and address any pain points they may have. This will lead to happier customers and fewer support issues down the road.

Increased sales

Ultimately, segmenting your audience will lead to increased sales. When you have a better understanding of who your customers are and what they want, you can close more deals and boost your bottom line.

Use consistent, on-brand design with emails

Consistent, on-brand design will help create a lasting first impression with your subscribers and keep your business top of mind. Here’s what you need to know about on-brand email design.

Why on-brand email design is important

There are several reasons why on-brand email design is so important for businesses. For one, it helps you stand out in a crowded inbox. Inboxes are overflowing these days, which means subscribers are quickly scanning and deleting emails that don’t interest them.

On-brand email design can also help increase click-through rates and conversions. If subscribers trust your brand and are familiar with your products or services, they’re more likely to take action when they see an offer or discount in their inbox.

How to create on-brand email design

Now that you know why on-brand email design is important, let’s talk about how you can create it. The first step is to choose colors that reflect your brand’s overall look and feel. If you already have branding guidelines in place, this should be easy. If not, take some time to experiment with different color schemes until you find one that feels right for your business.

Next, choose two or three fonts that you will use consistently in your emails. Again, if you have existing branding guidelines, this should be easy. If not, try experimenting with different font combinations until you find something that feels on-brand for your business.

Finally, Including a recognizable logo in every email will help build name recognition over time and make it easier for subscribers to find your emails in their inboxes. 

Set up automation through a CRM

Setting up automation through a CRM can save you a lot of time and If you’re like most business owners, you know that customer relationship management (CRM) is important. After all, happy customers are the key to a successful business.

What is CRM automation? 

CRM automation is the process of using email marketing software to automate repetitive tasks related to customer relationship management. This can include tasks such as sending follow-up emails, scheduling appointments and managing customer data.

Benefits of CRM automation 

There are many benefits of CRM automation for businesses, including: 

  • Improved Customer Relationships: By automating repetitive tasks related to customer management, businesses can improve their relationships with customers. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Increased Efficiency: CRM automation can help businesses become more efficient by freeing up time and resources that can be better spent on other areas of the business. 
  • Improved Customer Retention: By improving their relationships with customers, businesses can retain more customers. This can lead to increased revenue and profitability. 

How to setup your CRM for automation

When it comes to setting up your CRM for automation, there are a few things you’ll need to do: 

Choose the right CRM

Not all CRMs are created equal. When choosing a CRM, be sure to consider your specific needs and find a CRM that offers the features and functionality you need.

Import your customer data

In order to automate your customer relationships, you’ll need to import your customer data into your CRM. This can be done manually or through a CSV file.

Setup your automation rules

Once your customer data is imported, you’ll need to set up your automation rules. These rules will determine when and how your CRM will automate your customer interactions.

Test your automation

After you’ve set up your automation rules, Be sure to test your automation rules to ensure they’re working properly. This will help you avoid any potential issues down the road.

Optimize your email subject lines

A great email subject line is the key to getting your email opened. Here are a few tips to help you optimize your subject lines.

Keep it short and sweet

Your subject line should be brief – ideally, no more than 60 characters. This may seem like a tall order, but it’s important to remember that people will be reading your subject line on their mobile devices. A long, complicated subject line is likely to get truncated, which means your recipients will only see part of it. And if they can’t understand what your email is about from the subject line alone, they’re not going to bother opening it.

Use keywords wisely

Just as you would with your website content or blog posts, carefully select keywords for your subject lines. But beware of keyword stuffing. Instead, focus on using one or two well-chosen keywords that accurately reflect the content of your email.

Make it actionable

Your subject line should inspire recipients to take action – whether that’s clicking through to read your blog post, downloading your white paper, or taking advantage of a special offer. Use strong verbs such as “discover,” “learn,” or “save” to encourage recipients to take action.

Create engaging email copy for your brand

How do you write email copy that engages your audience and gets them to take action? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when writing email copy.

Keep it clear and concise

Use active voice and short, concise sentences to get your point across quickly.

Make sure your email copy is visually appealing

Include images and use formatting techniques like headings and bullet points to break up the text. This will make your emails more visually appealing and easier to scan, which will help engage your readers. Just be aware that too many images can distract the reader from your message.

Use a strong call to action

Your email campaign copy should always include a strong call to action that encourages the reader to take the desired action. For example, if you’re promoting a new product, your CTA might be “Buy now!” or “Learn more.”

Send personalized emails

Here’s how to send personalized emails that will get opened and read, without seeming like junk mail.

Start with a catchy subject line

First, keep it short and sweet and try to be creative. If you can make your subject line humorous or eye-catching, even better. And lastly, avoid using too many exclamation points or other types of punctuation; this will just make your email seem spammy.

Personalize the body of the email

Here, you’ll want to personalize the message as much as possible without coming across as creepy or stalker-ish. Mention something specific that you think they’ll be interested in based on their previous interactions with your company. For example, if they recently visited your website but didn’t purchase anything, you could mention a sale that’s going on for items similar to what they were looking at.

Perfect your call to action

Email marketing is an effective way to reach your target audience. But are you making the most of your emails? One important way to make the most of your emails is to include a strong call to action (CTA).

Why you need a CTA in your email

Including a CTA gives your email purpose and makes it more likely that the recipient will actually do something with it. After all, if you’ve taken the time to write and send an email, you probably have some sort of goal in mind, whether that’s getting more website visitors, generating leads, or making sales. A CTA can help you achieve those goals by encouraging the reader to take the next step.

How to write a good CTA

  1. Be clear and concise: Your CTA should be short and to the point. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for the reader to understand what you want them to do.
  2. Use strong verbs: Verbs like “download,” “buy,” and “sign up” are powerful and will prompt the reader to take action.  
  3. Make it relevant: Your CTA should be relevant to the rest of your email content. For example, if you’re sending a newsletter, your CTA might be “Sign up now” or “Subscribe here.” If you’re promoting a new product, your CTA might be “Learn more” or “Buy now.” 

Test your emails

Sending an email is easy. But sending an email that looks good, reads well, and doesn’t get sent to the spam folder? That’s a whole different story.

Here are the four steps you need to take to test your emails before sending them:

Check the subject line

A good subject line should be short and give recipients a preview of what’s inside the email.

Review the from name and email address

The recipients see the “From Name” before they even open your email. That’s why it’s important to choose a “From Name” that will make recipients want to open your email. An example would be your brand name.

Preview the email in different programs

When you send an email, it will look different depending on the email clients the recipients’ use (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, etc.). That’s why it’s important to preview your email in as many different programs as possible before sending it out for real.

Test any links in your email 

If your email contains links (which it probably does), you need to make sure those links go to the proper landing page before sending out the final version of your message. The last thing you want is for someone to click on a link and end up on a 404 error page because that link is broken.

Summary

Email marketing can be a great way to boost your campaigns and improve your email marketing strategy. From creating an on-brand design to including strong calls to action, these tips will help you take your email marketing to the next level. You’ll be able to create email campaigns that are more effective and efficient while still reaching your target audience and achieving your desired results.

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How to Dominate Your Competition With Effective Internet Marketing Services

If you want to dominate your market, you need to have an effective internet marketing strategy. Luckily, there are a number of internet marketing services that can help you get ahead of your competition. By using the right mix of search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and social media, you can reach more customers and generate more sales with your internet marketing efforts. In this blog post, we’ll give you an overview of some of the most effective internet marketing services that can help you dominate your market.

Why digital marketing is important for small businesses

In the past, small businesses could get by with a simple print marketing campaign. However, in today’s digital world, that just isn’t enough. To be successful, small businesses need to take advantage of every digital marketing tool at their disposal. Here are just a few reasons why digital marketing is so important for small businesses:

  1. Digital marketing techniques allow businesses to reach a wider audience than ever before. With digital marketing, you can target potential customers from all over the world.
  2. Digital marketing is more cost-effective than traditional marketing methods. With digital marketing efforts, you can reach a large number of people without spending a lot of money on advertising.
  3. Digital marketing is more flexible than traditional marketing. With digital marketing, you can easily change your digital marketing tactics if you’re not getting the results you want. For example, if you’re not getting enough clicks on your website banner ads, you can quickly switch to a different type of ad or try a different approach altogether.
  4. Digital marketing allows you to track your results and make changes accordingly. With digital marketing, you can use analytics to track your progress and see which digital marketing tactic is working the best and adjust accordingly.

Niche selection

There are three key components to finding your niche: identifying your target audience, defining your unique selling proposition, and understanding your competition. Let’s take a closer look at each of these in turn.

Identifying your target audience

The first step in finding your niche is to identify your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your product or service? What needs or wants do they have that you can address? What demographics do they fit into (age, gender, location, etc.)? Once you have a good understanding of who your target audience is, you can start to think about how to reach them.

Defining your unique selling proposition

Your unique selling proposition (USP) is what sets you apart from your competition. What do you offer that nobody else does? Why should potential customers buy from you instead of someone else? Answering these questions will help you develop a USP that will make you stand out in the marketplace.

Understanding your competition

Finally, it’s important to understand who your competition is and what they’re doing well (or not so well). What are they doing to reach their target audience? How are they positioning themselves in the marketplace? What can you learn from their successes (and failures)? By understanding your competition, you can make sure that you’re always ahead of the curve. 

Keywords and on-page search engine optimization (SEO)

If your website isn’t optimized for search engines, people may never find it, and if you aren’t talking about the right topics and using the right keywords, they won’t stick around once they do find it. In other words, you need to make sure you’re doing both if you want to be successful online.

Keyword research

One of the most important things you can do when optimizing your website is to carefully select your keywords. Keywords are the words and phrases that people use when they search for something online. If you want your website to appear in the search results for a particular keyword or phrase, you need to make sure that the keyword or phrase appears prominently on your website.

Think about what words or phrases someone would use when searching for a business like yours online. Make a list of those keywords and then use a tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner to see how popular they are. You want to choose keywords that are popular enough that people are actually searching for them, but not so popular that you’ll never be able to rank for them.

On-page optimization

On-page optimization is all about making sure your website is structured in a way that makes it easy for search engines to find and index your content. There are a few different things you need to do when optimizing your pages: 

  • Use keyword-rich titles: The title of each page on your website should include at least one of your target keywords. 
  • Use keyword-rich meta descriptions: Meta descriptions should be clear and concise, and they should include at least one of your target keywords. 
  • Use keyword-rich headings: Make sure each page has at least one heading, and try to use target keywords in each heading. 
  • Use keyword-rich URLs: URLs should be short, descriptive, and easy to read and should also include at least one of your target keywords. 
  • Use keyword-rich alt text: It’s used by screen readers for people who are blind or have low vision. Make sure all images on your site have alt text that includes at least one of your target keywords. 

Email marketing

Creating marketing campaigns through email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach your target audience. Here are some email marketing tips and tricks that will help you increase your ROI.

The subject line

A good subject line should be clear, concise, and to the point. It should also be attention-grabbing without being too gimmicky. Avoid using phrases like “free,” “limited time only,” or “act now!” as these will likely trigger spam filters. Instead, focus on benefit-driven language that will entice your subscribers to open the email.

The content

Your content should be well-written, relevant, and valuable to your target audience. If you’re including links in your email, be sure to use anchor text that accurately describes the destination page. And always test your links before sending! Nothing kills credibility like a broken link.

The call to action (CTA)

Every email should have a clear CTA, whether it’s to buy a product, sign up for a free trial, or simply learn more about a topic. Your CTA should use actionable language that compels subscribers to take the next step (e.g., “Download Now,” “Start My Free Trial,” etc.). 

Content marketing

Content marketing is a form of marketing that focuses on creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract your target audience.

Here’s a quick overview of what you need to do in order to create and execute both content creation and a digital marketing strategy.

Plan your topics

Think about what your target audience needs help with and then create content that addresses those pain points. Not sure what topics will resonate with your target audience? Try surveying them! This will give you valuable insights into the types of information they’re looking for.  

Do your research and create content

When conducting your research, be sure to consult multiple different sources so that you can get a well-rounded view of the subject matter.  

When writing your blog posts (or designing your infographics or videos), be sure to keep your target audience top of mind—and make sure each piece of content is relevant and valuable.

Distribute your content

Social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn are great for sharing content; alternatively, consider emailing your list or reaching out to industry thought leaders in order to get some additional exposure for your work. 

Social media marketing

Social media marketing (SMM) is a type of digital marketing that involves creating and sharing content on social media platforms in order to achieve your marketing and branding goals. Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the top benefits of social media marketing.

Increased brand awareness

When you create and share high-quality content on social media, people who see it will start to become more familiar with your brand. 

If you consistently create content that is valuable and relevant to your target audience, you’ll eventually start to develop a strong following of loyal fans and followers. As your follower count grows, so too will your brand’s reach and influence. And as more people become aware of your brand, you’ll have a better chance of generating leads and sales.

Improved customer relationships

Social media provides businesses with an opportunity to interact directly with their customers in a way that is informal and interactive. 

When you respond to comments and questions from customers on social media, you’re showing them that you care about their experience with your brand. This can go a long way in building loyalty and trust among your customer base. Additionally, by monitoring what people are saying about your brand on social media, you can quickly address any negative feedback or misconceptions about your products or services. 

Increased website traffic 

When you include links to your website in your social media posts, you’re giving people a direct path to your site. 

If your content is relevant and valuable, there’s a good chance that people will click through to your website. And the more traffic you can generate to your site, the better chance you have of generating leads and sales. 

Not only that, but every time someone shares or likes one of your posts, their followers will see it as well—and if those followers are also interested in what you do, they may click through to your site as well.  

Summary

Digital marketing strategies are important for small businesses because they provide a way to reach out to potential customers and build rapport with them. By utilizing digital marketing tools, businesses can connect with their target audiences in a more personal and engaging way, which can lead to increased sales and conversions. Additionally, digital marketing can help small businesses to build their brand awareness and reputation, which can further increase their chances of success. Therefore, digital marketing is an essential tool for small businesses competing in today’s digital world.

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9 Tips for Achieving Your Business Marketing Objectives

Are you having trouble achieving your marketing objectives? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of businesses find it difficult to create a successful marketing strategy. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this blog post, we will discuss 9 tips that will help you achieve your marketing objectives. By following these tips, you can create a successful marketing strategy that will help your business grow!

Define your marketing objectives

There are endless possibilities when it comes to marketing goals. But, most businesses will fall into one (or more) of the following categories:

Generate Leads

If your goal is to generate leads, you’ll want to focus on content marketing. Content marketing or inbound marketing allows you to attract potential customers and encourages them to provide their contact information. This could come in the form of ebooks or white papers, or it could be something as simple as a lead capture form on your website.

Drive Sales

If your ultimate goal is to increase sales, then your marketing objectives should be focused on generating leads and converting them into customers. In addition to lead generation tactics, consider using retargeting ads and abandoned cart emails to convert leads as well.

Research your target audience

In order to create an effective marketing strategy or marketing strategies, you first need to understand who your target audience is. Here are a few ways to reach your target audience:

Look at your existing customer base.

If you already have customers, they’re a great starting point for understanding who your target audience is. Look at who is already buying from you and try to identify any patterns or commonalities.

Use social media listening tools

Social media listening tools like Hootsuite Insights or BuzzSumo allow you to track what people are saying about your brand online. This is a great way to get insights into what people think about your company and what type of messaging resonates with them.

Conduct surveys

Another great way to learn about your target audience is to ask them directly. Conducting surveys can give you some valuable insights into who your target audience is and what they’re looking for from a company like yours.

Set measurable goals

By setting measurable goals, you can track your progress and make sure you’re on track to achieving your objectives.

Define Your Overall Objective

Before you can start setting measurable goals, you need to define your overall objective. What is it that you hope to achieve with your marketing efforts? Are you looking to increase brand awareness? Drive traffic to your website? Boost sales? Once you’ve identified your main objective, you can start brainstorming ways to measure it.

Brainstorm Specific Tactics

Now that you know what you want to achieve, it’s time to brainstorm specific tactics that will help you get there. For example, if you’re looking to increase brand awareness, some tactics might include creating social media posts, writing blog articles, or running paid ads. If you’re looking to drive traffic to your website, on the other hand, tactics might include optimizing your website for search engines or running targeted ads online.

Here are some other examples:

  • Generating a certain number of leads per month
  • Increasing brand awareness by 10%
  • Increasing sales by 20%
  • Converting 20% of leads into customers

Create a plan of action

An action plan is a document that outlines the steps you need to take in order to achieve a specific goal. It includes all of the resources, tasks, and timelines necessary to complete the goal. In short, an action plan is a road map that will help you get from point A to point B. Here is how to accomplish what you set out to do.

Identify the steps necessary to achieve your goal

Once you’ve defined your goal, it’s time to start thinking about the steps necessary to achieve it. What needs to be done in order for you to reach your target? Make a list of all of the tasks that need to be completed, then prioritize them by order of importance. If some tasks are dependent on others being completed first, make note of that as well.

Assign timelines and resources to each task

Now that you have a list of all of the tasks necessary to complete your goal, it’s time to start assigning timelines. When will each task need to be completed? What resources are required? Be as specific as possible. This will help you to stay on track and ensure that all of the necessary steps are being taken.

Create high-quality content

Creating high-quality content may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple if you break it down into these two steps.

Research

Before you start writing, it’s important to do your research. This will help you ensure that your content is accurate and informative. It will also help you come up with new ideas and angles that you may not have thought of otherwise. When researching, be sure to consult a variety of sources so that you can get a well-rounded understanding of your topic.

Structure your article well and use visuals

Your headline is often the first thing people will see, so it’s important to make it count. Write headlines that are clear, concise, and make use of strong keywords. Your headline should also be reflective of the main theme of your article.

When structuring your article, be sure to include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should give an overview of what the article will be discussing. The body paragraphs should each focus on one main idea or point.

Including visuals in your articles can help break up large blocks of text and make your content more visually appealing.

Use effective marketing channels to reach your target audience

It can be tough to figure out which marketing channels are the best fit for your company. If you’re looking to reach your target audience, it’s important to use channels that they actually use and engage with. For example, if your target market is young adults, you’ll want to focus on channels like Snapchat and Instagram. On the other hand, if your target market is middle-aged adults, you’ll want to use channels like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Assign tasks and responsibilities and execute the plan

Assigning tasks and responsibilities can help you get more done in less time, freeing you up to focus on the bigger picture.

How to assign tasks and responsibilities

The first step is to identify which tasks need to be done and who is best suited to do them. This is generally someone working in one of the sales and marketing teams.

Once you’ve done that, you can start assigning tasks and responsibilities. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Be clear about what needs to be done. The person you’re assigning the task to should know exactly what is expected of them. Be specific about deadlines, expectations, and any other relevant details.
  • Choose the right person for the job. When assigning tasks, consider each person’s strengths and weaknesses on the sales team and/or marketing team. Assign tasks that play to their strengths and what they will be doing.
  • Delegate, don’t micromanage. Once you’ve assigned a task, trust that the person you’ve assigned it to will be able to do it without your constant supervision. If you find yourself wanting to micromanage, ask yourself if the task really needs to be done by you in the first place. Chances are, it doesn’t.

Implement tracking around key performance indicators

There are a variety of metrics that you can track in your business, but some are more important than others. Here are a few key metrics that you should focus on:

  1. Revenue: You should track both overall revenue and revenue by product or service so that you can identify which areas of your business are performing well and which need improvement.
  2. Customer Acquisition Costs: Knowing how much it costs to acquire new customers is critical for any business. This metric will help you determine whether your marketing campaigns are effective and whether you’re spending too much money on customer acquisition.
  3. Churn Rate: The churn rate is the percentage of customers who cancel or do not renew their subscription with your company. A high churn rate can be indicative of a number of problems, such as poor customer service or a lack of features that customers find valuable.
  4. Lifetime Value: This metric allows you to see which customers are most valuable to your business and where you should focus your retention efforts.

Evaluate results and make changes as necessary

After you’ve implemented your existing marketing plan, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate the results. Are you seeing the results you wanted in your marketing or sales strategy? If not, what changes do you need to make?

Is your messaging on point?

Your messaging should be aligned with your brand and what you’re trying to sell. If it’s not, then it’s time to make some changes. Take a look at your website, social media profiles, and any other marketing materials you have. Does everything look and sound cohesive? If not, it may be confusing your target audience.

Are you getting enough leads? 

There are a number of ways to generate leads, so take a look at what you’re doing and see if there are any areas that need improvement. You may need to try new tactics or adjust your marketing budget.

What’s your conversion rate? 

Once you have leads coming in, it’s important to convert them into customers or clients. If your conversion rate is low, take a look at your sales process and see where things might be going wrong. It could be that you’re not following up with leads in a timely manner or that your pricing is off. Whatever the case may be, address the issue so that you can start getting more sales.

Summary

As a business owner, it’s important to have a solid marketing strategy in place in order to achieve your objectives. However, knowing which tactics to use and how to implement them can be tricky. By following the 9 tips in this article, you’ll be on your way to developing a successful marketing strategy that will help you achieve your desired results. Just remember to keep track of key metrics, evaluate your progress regularly, and make changes as necessary.