Marketing

10 Digital Marketing Terms Every Successful Entrepreneur Knows

There are a million digital marketing terms, acronyms, and lingoes that get thrown around all over the web. These can become so commonplace that it’s almost embarrassing to ask what they are at this point. 

Don’t worry, pretty much everyone is unsure about at least one of these terms, and there’s nothing wrong with missing out on one or two. 

We’re here to give you 10 must know terms so you’re up-to-date.

10 Digital Marketing Terms You Need to Know

Some of these terms are absolutely essential, so you may already know them. That said, we’ll have to cover them just in case. 

1. SEO

Search engine optimization is one of the most important elements of digital marketing. It’s the process of making your site look good in the eyes of a search engine so that you can rank highly in the results. 

Many of the terms in this article will be related to SEO.

2. Keywords

You probably know the general term “keyword.” In terms of optimization, though, it relates to the words that users put into search engines. 

You should research the most popular keywords in your niche (we’ll cover that term next), and create your content with those keywords laced throughout your writing. 

3. Niche

This term is another one that has meaning outside of digital marketing. Generally, a niche is an area of content. 

So, your niche will generally pertain to the kind of content you have on your site and the other sites that also create that sort of content. You should look to the successful sites in your niche for inspiration on how to market your own site. 

4. Backlinking

Backlinks are links to your site from another site. If search engines were like a democratic election, backlinks would serve as votes in your favor. Links from high-power sites have more influence than those from unpopular ones. 

Further, sites in your niche will give more valuable backlinks.

5. Search Engine Algorithms

The search engine algorithm is the formula that search engines like Google use in order to select the most relevant sites for their search results. 

These are very complicated formulas, but SEO is ultimately the process of trying to understand them and using what we learn to make our sites fit better into the algorithm to rank higher. 

6. PPC

PPC stands for “pay-per-click” advertising. This is a form of advertising that can be used in a number of different spaces. Social media and search engines are just two of the primary places where PPC is used. 

The great value of PPC comes from the fact that the platforms it’s used on are highly specific when it comes to placement, and you only have to pay when your advertisement is clicked.

That way, you know that each advertising dollar you put in is one that went toward visibility for your site. When thinking about the platform to employ your PPC dollar into, you should think about doing some customer research. 

Some niches have users that frequent different social media sites or search engines. You should also consider your end goal before you start to put money into PPC. Users who frequent Pinterest, for example, are more inclined to make purchases as they browse through the site. 

People using Facebook, on the other hand, are more likely to make downloads and provide social shares. Depending on your marketing goal, you would want to choose one site or the other. 

7. Conversions

A conversion is an instance where one user follows your marketing platform down to the point where it’s time to make a download or finalize a sale, and it actually goes through. 

A conversion can ultimately be thought of as a success. They can come in different forms, as different businesses have different goals for their users. Maybe you want to sell a product, maybe you want to get a download, whatever your goal is, a conversion is when it becomes realized. 

Follow the link if you want to learn more about how to use SEO and PPC to lead conversions. 

8. Long and Short Tail Keywords

Not all keywords are made the same. Short tail keywords are those that have only one or two words. Long tail keywords are those that would be more considered to be phrases. 

So, “football cleats” could be considered a short tail keyword. “Pink football cleats for youth athletes” would be considered a long tail keyword. When it comes to ranking for these words in the results pages, you’re typically going to have more luck when it comes to the long tail phrases. 

These are more specific and less likely to have a lot of competition. If you were to search “buy trucks,” you’d probably find that the results were bogged down by industry leaders. 

It’s difficult to compete with companies that have millions of dollars for marketing at their disposal, so you’ll want to be more specific. “Buy super cool trucks with disco balls installed” would be a keyword with less competition that you could likely rank for. 

9. CTR

The CTR, short for “click-through rate,” is a measure of the number of clicks that a particular ad or post gets. This is a relatively simple term, in that it simply shows you how many clicks your item has gotten. 

That said, the acronym “CTR” is very commonly used in blogs and articles relating to digital marketing.

10. SERPS

SERPS stands for “search engine results pages.” This is another one that seems really common and intuitive, but it’s crucial that you know what the acronym means. 

This is exactly what it sounds like. SERPS are the pages that come up when a user types in specific keywords and generates a response page. Ranking highly in the SERPS is one direct path to online success for a business. 

Want to Know More About Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing terms are just the doorway to a huge industry. It’s essential that you understand a little bit about the ins and outs of digital marketing if you’re trying to find success online. 

Visit our site for more information about how to start making moves in SEO, PPC, and ranking highly in the SERPS. 

Millennial Marketing 101: What is Video Marketing?

Americans spend, on average, almost six hours per day watching video. People watch video on their TVs, on their computers, and on mobile devices.

So it only makes sense, as marketers, to use consumer’s love for video in order to sell your product. This idea is known as video marketing, and it has become extremely popular over the last few years.

But, what is video marketing? Why is it so popular and how can it help your business? 

We’re here to answer that question and more in this blog. Read on to learn all about video marketing and the benefits it’ll bring your company.

What Is Video Marketing?

87 percent of businesses use video as a tool for marketing. If you aren’t using video marketing to drive traffic to your site and increase sales, you’re getting left behind your competition.

The goal of video marketing is the same as any other type of marketing: to increase sales and improve customer relations. With video marketing, you’ll create videos that attract customers and get them interested in buying what you have to offer.

These videos can consist of any of the following:

• How-to’s
• Brand promotion
• New services or products
• Customer testimonials
• Live events
• Entertaining and informative content
• And more!

If you’re looking for more creative video marketing ideas, check out this page for additional information.

What Are the Benefits of Video Marketing?

So now that you know what video marketing is, it’s time to answer the most important question. What are the benefits? How can video marketing help my business?

Here are just a few of the benefits of video marketing for business.

Improves Your Google Ranking

Google loves when websites have video content. Videos keep viewers on your site longer, which shows Google that your site has something positive to offer people.

By including video on your website, you’ll be much more likely to rank on the front page of Google than sites in your niche without video content. 

Boosts Web Traffic and Sales

Because your Google ranking will improve, you’ll increase the traffic for your site. And increased traffic, especially when it’s being done by interested consumers, leads to sales. 

Appeals to Mobile Users

Mobile users love watching video content instead of straining their eyes to read written content. Nearly 60 percent of searches are done on mobile, so it’s important to appeal to those mobile users by having video content available.

Engages More People 

Some people cannot focus on a piece of written content for more than a few seconds. They rely on video information instead of written info. If you aren’t making quality video content, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of the consumer pool.

By using video marketing, you can attract all of the people who don’t have the patience, time, or focus to read a long blog on your website. 

Start Using Video Marketing Today!

Now that you know the answer to “What is video marketing”, it’s time to say “action”! You will quickly begin to reap the rewards that video marketing has to offer.

Looking for more digital marketing tips to boost web traffic on your site? Check out our blog today!

Packaging in Marketing: Five Things Product Packaging Must Do

In life, looks aren’t everything. But in marketing, it’s a whole different story.

First impressions are made within the first 7 seconds. That means your business only has one shot at attracting consumer attention and converting mild interest into a sale.

The packaging of your product is a key component of this process. After all, it’s the first thing customer’s see and what most purchasing decisions are based on.

So, how do you create a package that’s appealing and helps close the deal? Read on to learn the importance of packaging in marketing and the 5 elements it needs.

The Importance of Packaging in Marketing

Before we get into what quality brand packaging should look like, let’s discuss why it’s important.

We live in a world of instant gratification and impulsive decision making. Which is why most consumers spend less than 10 seconds thinking about the product they’re buying.

They rarely take time to read labels or research product reviews. Instead, they choose the item that’s visually appealing. This is usually based on the size, shape, color, and design of the label or packaging.

If you want to make a sale, you need to create packaging in marketing that is eye-catching. But it also needs to have a clear point of view and purpose.

How is it done? Let’s take a look at 5 tips for creating packaging people can’t resist. 

1. Simple but Direct

Simplicity goes a long way. Customers don’t need (or want) overly complicated packaging or labels to weed through. 

We live in a world of overstimulation, people are drawn to simple visuals that don’t require too much thought. Packaging in marketing should be direct and to the point.

The product you’re selling is designed to solve a problem. Make sure the solution is clearly stated on your packaging. Customers should be able to look at your product and instantly tell what it does and how it can help them.

We live in a fast-paced society. Value the consumers time by making their shopping experience simple. When it comes to packaging in marketing, less is more.

2. Stand Out

While simple packaging is important, your brand design still needs a “wow” factor. Your package sits beside countless others on the shelf, all vying for the customer’s attention. So, what makes yours stand out?

The way you design your package is key. You need to find a balance between a design that’s too “busy” and one that’s too boring.

Using certain shapes can help achieve this. Cusps are popular in brand packaging. These are sharp, pointy shapes that catch people’s attention and also elicit feelings of urgency. 

Color schemes are another great way to make your product “pop”! Base your color selection on a few, key things:

• Customer mindset (age, gender, demographics)
• Your message and the end goal
• Your CTA (call to action – what do you want customers to do?)
• Customer emotions (how do you want consumers to feel?)

Here’s a brief breakdown of the feelings associated with certain colors:

• White – innocence, equality, and purity
• Black – power and authority
• Red – stimulating and exciting
• Green – balance and harmony
• Orange – fun and adventurous

Blue is considered a “safe” color, appealing to both men and women. When packaging products, always keep your target audience and your purpose in mind.

3. Tap Into Buyer Emotions

80% of the decisions we make in life are based purely on emotion. Which is why your brand packaging should create an emotional connection with buyers. 

One of the best ways to do this is through eye contact. When you make eye contact with someone, it usually means something. You linger for a moment to search for meaning and to better understand what the connection is.

Your product packaging should do the same thing. Cause buyers to pause and take a second look. It’s in this moment that you capture their heart and attention and make the sale. 

Incorporate certain colors in your product design to elicit specific emotions. People love adorable animals and babies but are also drawn to strong, edgy designs. The purpose of your product will dictate which emotions you focus on.

4. Capitalize on Classic Design

If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Turning to iconic packaging can help spark ideas for your brand packaging. After all, Coca Cola has been around for 127 years and is still worth $74 billion.

Looking at classic packaging designs for inspiration isn’t stealing, as long as you put your own creative spin on it. Coca Cola packaging is a beautiful symphony of the best design elements.

It uses red to stimulate customer excitement. The classic font curves beautifully down the purposefully shaped bottle. And if you look closely, there are two cusp shapes that bring attention to the words themselves.

The white font is appealing to adults and kids alike. But Coca Cola also backs their expertly designed packaging with a quality product. In business, both elements are needed.

It’s also crucial you stay up to date on current trends, which is why market research in product design is so important. SmashBrand explains more about this.

5. Pass the Five-Year-Old Test

This is one of the most classic tests in marketing. Your product packaging should be simple and clear enough that if described to a five-year-old, they could easily find it on the shelf.

Think of Mr. Clean. He is an iconic figure and one that is recognizable. Described as a smiling bald man wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, a five-year-old would have no problem finding this product on the shelf.

Why is getting into the mind of an adolescent so important? Because most kids focus mainly on visual cues. They may not know what Mr. Clean products do or why we need them, but they’ll have no problem picking them out in a lineup. 

Your brand packaging needs to be equally simple and iconic. 

Design to Sell

Packaging in marketing is all about appealing to your target audience. You also need to stand out in the crowd, but for the right reasons.

Combining elements of classic design, emotional engagement, and simplicity may just be the recipe for success.

Need more marketing tips? Check out this page that covers video marketing to real estate and more!

10 of the Worst Marketing Fails That You Should Avoid at All Costs

Have you ever seen an ad that made you vow off the product or service forever? If so, then you’re not alone.

What makes a marketing campaign go viral, and what makes them flop?

Keep reading to learn about the top ten worst marketing fails that you never want to replicate.

1. Making Insensitive Products or Statements

One of the worst marketing failures is making a tone-deaf comment or product that can’t be unsaid or unseen. If you think a product or statement could be offensive, then it’s better not to make it or say it.

The recent fallout after Gucci made a controversial sweater resembling blackface proves this. Gucci admitted they didn’t understand the sensitivities of the black community.

Now, they’ll have to pour hundreds of dollars into sensitivity training. They’ve also outraged countless individuals.

2. Tossing Support at a Popular Cause

Bad marketing doesn’t have to be insensitive. It can happen by misreading a popular cause or social movement.

No one knows this better than Pepsi who failed at this in 2017. In their ad, Kendall Jenner joins a protest before giving Pepsi to a policeman.

This all happened during the height of Black Lives Matter protests, so it didn’t go over too well. After overwhelming criticism, Pepsi pulled the ad and apologized.

3. The Art of Online Trolling

Traditional marketing has taken a backseat to the newest method: troll marketing.

What is it?

It’s when a business imitates an online troll to deliver hilarious tweets or posts. Why? Posts that are controversial and strike up conflict get more attention.

If you haven’t heard about Wendy’s Twitter account, then you’re missing out.

Online trolling is an art, and it’s a thin line to walk on. IHOP learned that the hard way when they suffered a terrible marketing fail last year.

They tried to troll everyone by pretending to change their name to IHOB. They thought the prank would draw attention, but it ended up flopping hard.

Be careful with the latest trend of troll marketing. You don’t want to become another example among bad marketing campaigns.

4. Failing to Handle Customer’s Reviews

When looking for products or services online, reviews make a major impact. The worst thing a company can do is fail to handle these reviews in a proper way.

Companies with bad marketing don’t realize the power of testimonials and polls. You need to find ways to highlight and promote positive reviews.

At the same time, you’ll need to manage the negative reviews. A bad review, even when fabricated, can have serious repercussions.

5. Spray and Pray Marketing Fails

The spray and pray method means throwing everything at your target and hoping for the best. In the past, businesses used cold calling and mailers.

Today, these methods are ineffective. Millennials are 44% more likely to disengage with companies that use these tactics.

Instead, you should direct your marketing efforts towards a specific target of customers.

If you want to learn more about the disadvantages of the spray and pray approach, then read more here.

6. Relying on Social Media Ads

Using social media for marketing purposes is very effective. Companies with bad marketing strategies think that means relying on ads.

Don’t make this mistake. Your social media strategy needs to be much bigger than that. An effective social media ad must be:

• Creative
• Targeted towards the right audience
• Powerful enough to move your customer to action

Don’t think you can make an ad, publish it, and get massive results. Social media marketing takes a lot of work.

You’ll also need to have a relevant profile that links to any advertisement. That builds trust between you and your customers.

7. Don’t Break the Law

It kind of goes without saying, but never break the law with your marketing tactics. Guerilla marketing is a new method that involves walking that thin line.

Understand that getting involved in such antics could result in jail time or fines.

During the 2004 Olympics, one man used these guerilla marketing techniques. He adorned a purple tutu and wrote “GoldenPalace.com” on his stomach.

He jumped into the Olympic pool and caused such a stir that he got arrested.

8. Watch out for Deceptive Advertising

You have to be careful when advertising your product or service. You never want your marketing campaigns to be misleading or construed as deceptive.

Todd Davis became infamous during the Lifelock disaster. He had an idea to publish his own social security number to promote his security services.

In the end, Davis became the victim of identity theft and he faced several lawsuits.

9. Never Exploit a Tragedy

Associating your product or brand with a tragedy is never a good idea.

Mark Zuckerberg found that out during a live broadcast. He was showing the power of the Oculus Rift technology by “visiting” Puerto Rico.

The problem was that he did this right after the Hurricane Maria disaster. Seeing Zuck’s avatar floating around the ravished areas wasn’t a good image.

10. Giant or Unrealistic Promotions

Giving away free stuff always boosts sales. Do not make the mistake of underestimating the power of free things.

The promise of free things unfulfilled can lead to riots, deaths, and an all-out war against your brand.  Don’t believe me? Ask Pepsi about their Philippines “Number Fever” promotion.

Each can of soda had a unique code printed on it. A random draw would determine the winning number and who would receive one million pesos.

The problem? There were over 480,116 people who had the winning number in the end. To put it in simple terms, Pepsi is not welcome in the Philippines anymore.

Avoiding Marketing Pitfalls

Marketing in the modern-day era is no easy task. You’ll have to avoid these ten marketing fails and more to be successful. 

Don’t get discouraged if you do make a marketing blunder. Many successful brands have made a comeback after such missteps.

Are you interested in learning more valuable marketing tips? Head over to our digital marketing blog now to access dozens of articles for free.

Bite Into Better Business: 9 Masterful Dental Marketing Tips

Let’s face it. Nobody likes visiting the dentist.

In fact, worldwide, 1 in 5 people are afraid of going to the dreaded dentist! 

Because of this stigma, more than any other field, dentists need to market their practice well. If they don’t, potential patients may look for somewhere that seems more up to date. Or they may avoid going to the dentist altogether.

Dental marketing is more than just sending an appointment checkup postcard and having an ad in the local newspaper. But what are the latest dentist marketing ideas for 2019? We’ve done all the research, so you don’t have too.

Brace yourselves, it’s time to bring your dental practice into the 21st century.

1. Begin with a Brand

Before you start creating a marketing strategy, you need to define your brand. A brand is like a trademark. It will run throughout your entire marketing venture both now and in the future.

It all begins with a logo and design palette that is unique to your dental practice. This design should run throughout your website, merchandise, printouts, clinic decor, and more. When a person sees your branding, they should be able to recognize your practice without needing a double take.

2. Picture Perfect Printouts

Although many of these dentist marketing ideas are online, printed handouts still have their place. Nothing can replace the convenience of sticking an appointment card to the fridge, after all.

Send postcards to new potential clients in the area. Or remind existing patients of their appointments. You could also send announcements of new procedures or services available.

You can also use business cards, flyers, and other printed items to market your brand. It is always beneficial to have a few printed items for older customers who may not be online savvy too.

3. Straight to Their Inbox

Another dental marketing idea is emailing. Emailing is a great (and cheap) way to keep in contact with current and potential patients.

Send out a monthly e-newsletter. But don’t make it all about you. Add dental tips, new technologies, research, discounts, and funny dental jokes. 

Emails sent in this way work as gentle reminders without being overly pushy.

4. Get Your SEO On

Have you ever wondered why your website isn’t coming up high on Google search engines? It’s probably because your website isn’t SEO friendly.

SEO (search engine optimization) is content that drives people to your website by listing your page in search engines. To get noticed, make sure your website is full of SEO content.

For example, when searching for a dentist many will type “Dentist in (location)” into Google. If they see your website listed on the first page, they will be more likely to choose your clinic. But how high you feature in Google depends on your SEO score.

5. A Killer Website

One of the most vital dental marketing tips is to have a killer website.

Your website is the online version of your customer lobby. If it looks dated, disorganized, and unwelcoming, the customer will walk right out. The same applies to your website.

Setting up a website isn’t as easy as you might think. As mentioned, there is SEO to think about. There are also keywords, blogs, mobile optimization, bots, and more.

Can you handle all that?

It’s always best to hire a dental marketing specialist to create your website. Marketing firms, like Somnowell Marketing, are experts in creating websites for dental practices. They can help you to stay ahead of the game and not get left behind.

6. More Than Words

More than reading, people love watching videos. Bring your dental practice down to earth by using videos featuring real people. Here are a few trending video ideas:

• Patient testimonials (a powerful word of mouth method)
• Dentist answers commonly asked questions
• How-to videos
• Behind the scenes
• Meet the team (make it real)

This is one of the best dental marketing ideas that can help you develop a personal connection with your clients. This personal relationship will then lead to trust, recommendations, and loyal patients.

7. Go Viral

No dental marketing plan is complete without using social media to the full. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, and more. There are so many different ways to use social media to grab attention.

Here are a few dental marketing ideas you can use on social media:

• Behind the scenes snapshots
• Update patients about events, deals, and more
• Dental quotes, puns, and jokes
• Create a printed Instagram-sized frame so your patients can have a photo after their session.
• Social media contest with a cool prize. For example, a “best smile selfie” contest.
• Facebook Ads (targeted towards specific audiences)

Social media is a cost-effective approach to market your dental practice. It’s one of the best ways to engage with old patients and new.

8. Word of Mouth

Every customer that walks into your dental clinic is a potential marketing opportunity. People love to talk and recommend places (or warn them where not to go).

And it works. 92% of consumers believe recommendations from people they know over other forms of advertising. Make sure to encourage those recommendations!

You can do that by giving referral bonuses. For every referral that makes an appointment through their recommendation give the patient a bonus. This could be a discount or a gift.

The benefits are two-fold. As you’ll have new patients flocking in and old patients staying engaged and connected with the clinic.

9. Online Reviews

Online reviews are another dental marketing idea that plays on word of mouth. Encourage your clients to write online reviews. This will build up your online reputation, and you may also find areas to improve.

There are many online tools that can help you manage reviews. But sometimes the patient can forget to review when they get back home. Try a kiosk feature in the customer lobby so that they can fill in an immediate review before they leave the practice.

Don’t Get Left Behind: Follow these Dental Marketing Tips

It’s clear to see that dental marketing has jumped headfirst into the 21st century. To make sure your practice doesn’t get left behind make sure to follow these 9 dentist marketing ideas. If you do, you’ll have new patients lining up at the door.

Now you know the drill with marketing, what’s next? An important step is getting yourself up and running on social media. Check out this article to find out how to start a killer social media campaign.

The Power of Text: What Is SMS Marketing, and Is It For Your Business?

Did you know that the open rate for SMS is nearly 98%?

Because SMS can offer such incredible open rates, it can be one of the best ways to reach your target audience. But if you want to use SMS to market your business, you may have doubts about where to begin.

You might be unsure of how to get the phone numbers for your campaigns. You may also worry about the kind of messages you should send people, once you have their phone number.

This post aims to provide you with some clarity on how SMS marketing works. Once you’ve read this post, you’ll be able to comfortably answer the question “What is SMS marketing?”

Let’s begin!

What Is SMS marketing?

SMS marketing is a means of marketing that’s based on you sending text messages to people. SMS (short message service) is just another way to describe a text message, and the two terms are interchangeable.

This method of marketing works well, as people carry phones with them everywhere they go. This then makes it easy for you to reach your target audience, no matter where they are. 

Additionally, a text message often demands more attention than an email. This is usually down to the fact that not many other companies are using SMS marketing to contact customers.

It’s also worth noting that the notification for a text message often differs to the notification for an email.

SMS notifications are often more audible and can cause the phone to vibrate, whereas emails might not allow for this to happen. Following this, SMS marketing can produce better levels of engagement. That’s because people will quickly check their phone, upon receiving a promotional text message. 

What Can You Do with SMS Marketing?

The way you use SMS marketing is going to depend on your business and the kinds of services you offer.

For an offline business, SMS marketing can be an incredible way to increase foot traffic.

You can use SMS marketing to notify customers of new products you might have in store. Once customers are aware of these new products, they may visit your store to see what is on offer.

You could even use SMS marketing as a means of distributing coupons.

For instance, if you own a pizzeria, you could use SMS to send people a coupon every weekend. In doing so, you may be able to increase the number of people that order a pizza from you, instead of a competitor.

Of course, the concepts mentioned above can also be applied to an online business too.

You can use SMS marketing to promote the release of a new product within your eCommerce store. Or you can use SMS marketing to generate sales, during certain events. An example might include promoting a coupon that’s associated with a particular time of year, such as valentines day.

Finding a Good SMS service

The SMS Marketing platform you use can have a big impact on deliverability rates and how much you can customize your campaigns. 

Ideally, you want to pick a service that caters to your needs.

So, if you deal with a business audience, it might be better to use a business text messaging service, rather than a generic one. Or, if you’re a restauranteur, try to find one that’s designed specifically for restaurant owners. 

By taking this step, your SMS marketing campaigns will be more effective, as the service will offer features that are a good fit for your needs. You can then use these features to create campaigns your target audience will resonate with.   

Building Your Contact List

Before you can run an SMS marketing campaign, you first need to get a list of phone numbers you can send messages to.

But you can’t just buy a list, as you need to acquire explicit consent before you send people SMS marketing messages. Failure to obtain consent may result in you breaking the law. 

One of the best ways to build your list of contacts is by getting people to send you a text message, so that they can join your list.

You might ask people to text a keyword to a specific phone number. Once people do this, they’ll be on your list and you can send them relevant marketing messages.

If you want to improve your odds of success, it’s essential you give people an incentive to join your list.

You can do this by providing people with a special offer, should they join your SMS list. So, if you own a restaurant, you might say that people can get 10% off their next order if they text “offer” to your designated SMS marketing number.

You can promote this incentive to your email list or even on your social media profile. 

How to Get Results with SMS Marketing

Though SMS marketing is relatively foolproof, you may struggle to see results if you ignore certain fundamentals.

You need to make sure you include a call to action in each of your marketing messages.

Though it might sound odd, a lot of people will just ignore your marketing if you don’t tell them what to do. Thus, whenever you send out a message, be sure to tell people what you have on offer and what people need to do if they want to benefit from this offer.

You also want to pay attention to the timing of your messages. If you’re trying to get people to order pizza, you’ll probably get better results by sending a message around 6 PM as opposed to 1 PM.

The Value of Experimentation

If your results with SMS marketing reach a plateau, it’s worth conducting some experiments to see how you can take things to the next level.

You could do this by sending out a range of different offers and then observing which one generates the most engagement.

You might even want to experiment with the time you send your messages. In doing so, you may be able to find a ‘sweet spot’ wherein you’re able to generate the most engagement.

If you’re struggling to come up with marketing experiments, consider taking a look at what your competitors are doing.

By signing up to their text message marketing lists, you may discover a range of tactics that’ll help improve your campaigns.

Of course, it’s worth noting that you can also learn from companies that aren’t your competitors. For instance, if you run a B2C company, it could still be a good idea to sign up to a B2B list.

By studying the tactics used in other industries, you may be able to uncover tactics that nobody else in your sector is using. If you use these tactics, you may experience great results, as your methods will be ‘cutting edge’ when compared to your competitors.

So – What Is SMS Marketing?

Now that you’ve read this post, you should find it easy to answer the question “what is SMS marketing?”

Like all forms of marketing, you’ll need to run many campaigns before you understand the ins and outs of SMS marketing. As you do this, you’ll understand how to get people to join your list and how you can write text messages that’ll generate a response.

SMS marketing isn’t easy, and so you’ll definitely hit some snags along the way. But if you keep going, it won’t be long before you start to wonder how you managed to make money without SMS Marketing. 

Need some help attracting customers to your business? Check out this post to learn how PPC marketing can help you reach your target market. 

How to Get Your Business Out There? Content Marketing 101 Guide

Launching a new business online? Good luck – the competition is tight.

You’ll need to learn how to get your business out there. You need to fight tooth and nail to grab higher ranks on Google’s search results.

The good news is there is a legit solution. Whatever business you have, we’re sure that content marketing can get your name out.

70% of businesses that perform content marketing are more successful now than last year. Brands know that online content marketing is a powerful strategy.

Even then, what is content marketing? Why use content marketing and is content marketing effective?

Don’t worry, we’ve got all the answers you seek.

Want that extra visibility and a business that people come back to? Keep reading below to discover more:

1. What Is Content Marketing?

There are many definitions of content marketing that look like they’d work on books. If you’re a business, you don’t need that. Here’s a more precise explanation that you can use in your business.

What is content marketing? Content marketing is a long-term strategic technique that emphasizes customer relationship. It lets you focus on your target audience with high-value content that they can use day to day.

Your content should have a few crucial elements for it to work. These are:

• Relevant customer content
• Consistent value over time
• Care to your audience

At the end of the day, your goal is to choose you over the competition. By using your content for long-term value, you remind people that they need you. This content is a way for you to foster loyalty, which then gives you better lifetime customer value.

2. Understanding Pain Points

The primary strategy for online content marketing revolves around three specific points. These are not the end-all. Rather, these core concepts will help you make a custom style for your content marketing business.

The first point is to understand the customer’s pain points. Customer pains are the problems that they experience every day. These pain points keep them up at night, looking for a way to solve them.

As an example, if you’re doing Veterinary Marketing, you would focus your content in reminding people of their daily pet pains. It sounds weird, but knowing people’s pains and reminding them is a way to tug their interests.

Why use content marketing like this? That points out to the next step.

3. Resolving Customer Pains

Why is content marketing effective? It’s because of this second point.

Once you know people’s pains, the next step is to resolve their problem with your content. This may be in the form of a guide, a step-by-step overview or a recipe.

Online content marketing revolves around being helpful. You want people to keep coming back. If you’re a vet, this can be how to treat dog mange or potty-training cats.

What is content marketing good for is making content that resolves problems. If people deem your content helpful, you build trust and loyalty in them.

Once you create a good reputation and expertise with customers, that’s where you go to the next step.

4. Leading To The Buying Cycle

Why use content marketing? Here’s the thing.

The end-point that you want in content is to convert or sell your product. Your goal is for people to see you as a premier authority within your niche. Your content accomplishes that for you.

Once your target audiences are in their prime, you want your content to lead to your buying cycles. You would want to present your product offers as a solution to their problem. By doing so, you’re creating a desirable product.

5. Is Content Marketing Effective?

Is content marketing effective? That depends on how you treat the entire process. You would want to make sure your first steps are useful.

To understand your customer’s problems, you need to create a buyer’s persona. In online content marketing, a buyer’s persona is your avatar for your ideal customer. This includes:

• Age Range
• Gender
• Geolocation
• Income bracket
• Family Size
• Wants
• Needs
• Problems

The idea is to create the ideal customer that you think would buy your product, whose problem you can resolve with your content.

6. Creating Valuable Content

Once you know the people that will be your target audience, the next step for your content marketing business is to generate appropriate content. You would want to list as many topic points as possible.

You would want to make them long and informative. You aim to guide people on how to resolve their problems. You want content in varying lengths, depending on what you want to provide.

1000 words should be your bare minimum for listicles. You also want 1500 words or more for comprehensive guides. These blogs, videos, and images tend to get more traffic due to their comprehensiveness.

7. Other Forms Of Online Content Marketing

There are many more types of content that work. Why use content marketing like these? That’s because not all people like reading.

In this case, use different vehicles to convince your customers that you can help them. Use social media to reach out to them.

Use instructional videos and video marketing content to engage your customers. Use paid advertising to create an active outreach to your target customers.

Attract people to your website, using your helpful content as the motivator. Track how your content is performing with analytics from both Google and social media. This is a way for you to know what works.

Create different versions of your ads and pitches and test which one works the best. A/B testing is a good method of testing your campaigns.

This Is How To Get Your Business Out There

What is content marketing? It’s how you use your content to build ties with your target audience. If you want to know how to get your business out there, you need online content marketing in your repertoire.

Are you looking for more helpful articles on how to grow your business? Feel free to check out our other guides! From optimizing your PPC tactics to the best wealth building strategies of the super-rich, everything is here.

It’s Poppin’ Off! The 5-Minute Guide to Event Marketing

If you’re looking for new ways to reach your customers, you have to think beyond commercials and TV spots. Think experiential marketing, which goes beyond advertising a product.

With experiential marketing, the focus is on delivering unique experiences that engage consumers. A live event that boosts your brand’s fun image, for example, is a great way to do experiential marketing.

But before you hold a concert or a workshop, you need to know the basics of event marketing and promotion. Here, we’ll discuss in detail the things you need to pull off a successful marketing event.

Event Marketing Must-Have: A Plan

You wouldn’t think about launching an online marketing campaign without a plan. The same applies to events. If you want your event to go well, you need to have a plan that details your ideas, strategies, and promotion tactics.

To create your event marketing plan, first, set your goals and budget. And then identify where you will hold the event. Are you going to offer the event online, offline, or both? 

Of course, your plan should also define your target audience and how your event is going to benefit them. Once you’re clear on the why and for whom you’re doing this event for, you can begin refining your plan.

Fine-Tuning Your Plan with the Right Strategies

Your event marketing ideas are no good if you don’t pair them with the right strategies. You know your target audience. But do you know where to find them and how to get them to attend your event? 

And if you try to entice them to check out your event, how will you convince them that yours is better than the ones your competitors offer? What is so awesome about your brand that will make potential customers flock to it? 

You’ll also have to figure out your pricing and sales strategies. Will you give out discounts for those who buy their tickets early? Are you going to give out freebies with every ticket bought? 

Where you’ll sell the tickets and how you’ll handle refunds and complaints should also be part of your overall strategy.

Executing Your Event Marketing Plan

Depending on the scale of your event, you could hold it yourself or work with an industry expert. For example, if you’re staging a concert, you might want to work with a company like King Sixteen, whose expertise involves booking bands. 

It’s also at this stage where you’ll work the marketing channels best suited for promotion before, during, and after the event. Email, social media, digital ads, and a series of blog posts are great options for pre-event marketing.

During the event, you can go for digital signage or print ads. You could also use live videos to stream portions of your event.

Of course, you can’t forget about post-event evaluations, which could mean sending out surveys or newsletters. What you’ll do after the event is just as important. You want to keep your brand fresh in the minds of those who attended and make others curious about checking your future events. 

Ready to Promote Your Event? 

Now that you know the basics of event marketing, you can start drafting your event marketing plan. Make sure to be as detailed as possible with your event promotion ideas and strategies. 

To execute the plan, assign each marketing channel to a member of your marketing team. Or if it’s a big-scale event, think about working with an experienced agency.

For more articles on marketing events, you can check out our posts on marketing/promotion with t-shirts and face-to-face marketing strategies.

High-End Photography: Why Quality Digital Marketing Images Are So Important

High-quality photos are critical to an effective marketing strategy. Did you know that the inclusion of quality photographs generates a 30 percent increase in Twitter engagement?

This means that social media users, or prospective clients, are more likely to like, retweet, or comment on your post. Ultimately, quality imagery yields leads that your team can convert to sales.

Read on to learn why you should invest in high-quality digital marketing images. Explore why imagery is so important in marketing and how to take your game to the next level.

Photos Do Not Lie

The truth is that consumers trust photos more than any other type of sales pitch. Take a technical description as the perfect example.

Shoppers know that companies talk up their products and write about them in the most favorable way. On the other hand, a photograph says 1000 words. It gives consumers a baseline to set expectations and determine if they like it.

The product description and characteristics are still important. However, a high-quality photograph sets a great first impression and makes the shopper want to learn more.

Quality Is Important

Every business plays lip service to producing quality products or service. Some of the best companies go to great lengths to deliver the highest quality in their industry.

Either way, using low-quality photographs to market a product or service is detrimental. What kind of message do you think a low-quality picture gives to shoppers?

It tells them that management is willing to overlook quality. Perhaps most important is that it inserts doubt into the shopper’s mind about quality assurance.

Images Affect a Shopper’s Mood

There is clinical proof that imagery affects a person’s mood. Depending on the tone of the picture, an image can make a person angry or sad.

When trying to sell a product or service, the goal is to generate a positive mood. Simply put, a happy or motivated shopper is more likely to make a purchasing decision than an angry one.

Photos Are Compatible With Mobile Web Browsing

The old days of consumers diligently reading through a catalog are over. In the 21st century, consumers are on the go and have little time for time-consuming sales pitches.

The truth is that most people quickly scan an article or scroll down a social media timeline. While doing so, they are bombarded with advertisements and other content. Most users are averse to clicking on something that redirects their focus.

Only an extraordinary photograph can quickly catch a browser’s attention. If the photo is good enough, it can stop a shopper in his or her tracks.

At the end of the day, a great photo is going to outperform a clickbait article title every time. The good news is that there are companies like A.T.G Photography & Marketing that can help you integrate photography into your marketing campaign.

A Recap of the Importance of Quality Digital Marketing Images

In the digital age, it is imperative that you set your company’s product or service apart. There are millions of blog posts and images on the web and social media. One effective way to stand out is grabbing consumers’ attention with an extraordinary photograph.

If you enjoyed this article about quality digital marketing images, make sure to check out our blog for other great content.

Marketing 101: 4 Digital Marketing Basics Everyone Needs to Know

Did you know that the advertising industry is over $100 billion?

Huge numbers like this are what drives plenty of people away from marketing. It sounds complex and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

But you do have to be good at marketing to make it work. And if you haven’t had any education on digital marketing before, strap in. We’re going to marketing school.

In this article, we’re going to break down the basics of digital marketing. After reading, you’ll be ready to pass your Marketing 101 exam.

Read on to learn more!

1. SEO

If you’ve ever looked into digital marketing, chances are that you’ve heard of SEO. Many people think the two terms are synonymous!

While they aren’t the same, SEO is one of the bigger parts of digital marketing. And many businesses are just now starting to learn what it is.

SEO is telling Google more about your website so that it ranks you higher when people look for information about your topic. This sounds complicated, but it’s actually quite easy.

You tell Google about yourself when you write content about your industry or use headlines with keywords in them. When you update your meta descriptions or title your photos, you’re giving Google valuable information.

With this information, Google learns what your website is about. That way, they know when to show people your site. If you write about interior design, Google will be more likely to rank you for interior design.

Backlinks and Consistent Posting

This isn’t all that SEO is though. It’s also about getting backlinks, updating regularly, and more.

Backlinks, links on other sites that point back to your site, are one of the quickest ways to boost your SEO. This tells Google that you are a reliable source. It’s almost like a referral on a job interview.

Updating regularly tells Google that your information is contemporary. The last thing Google wants to do is send someone to a page that has outdated information. The more often you post on your blog, the more Google will see you as reliable. 

SEO is complex though, and this short description was not enough to get you started. Make sure to learn more information about how you can start ranking first.

2. Influencers 

How would you like to reach 10,000 or more potential buyers for a low fee?

It’s easy with influencers on social media. With thousands to millions of followers, you can be sure to reach a specific demographic with influencers.

For example, if you’re trying to reach a younger health community, you simply contact someone like an athlete or blogger who already interests them.

You send them your product and pay them to promote it, and voila! You have a few thousand potential leads. 

If you’re a local store or don’t do eCommerce, you don’t have to feel left out. Micro influencers can be of help to you too. They have a local following that will let you advertise to people in your area at a much lower price than TV or radio ads.

Micro influencers can also be helpful when your product is for a niche audience. There aren’t many farming influencers, but if you find one, they can be quite valuable.

3. Social Media

Social media is another giant of digital marketing. If this isn’t part of your marketing game, it needs to be. 

Why?

It’s free, and it’s easy. And most of all, it works. While it may take some time to build a following, social media can all but ensure that you grow your business.

But before you get started with social media, you need to make sure your target audience is there. Some platforms work better than others depending on your goals.

If your target audience is younger, chances are they are on Instagram. If they’re professionals, go to LinkedIn. Older? Facebook’s your best bet. 

Many marketing pros make the mistake of trying to be on every platform. This means they often post the same thing on every social media channel, but what works on Facebook doesn’t always work on Instagram.

Instead, focus on one or two channels that your target audience is on. Becoming a jack of all trades should not be your goal with social media.

4. Content Marketing

Content marketing is arguably the lifeblood of all other types of digital marketing. No matter what you’re doing, this inbound marketing strategy can help.

In short, content marketing is creating content that your potential customers read r watch online. Whether it’s a video, infographic, or article, this content should give your consumers free yet valuable information.

This makes them feel like they care about your brand. And it also educates them about what you’re doing. When they come to your business again, they’ll know that you are an expert and will want to work with you.

Content marketing helps you with your social media and SEO strategies too. Instead of tweeting random thoughts, you can tweet articles and infographics you’ve created on your site.

And when you’re trying to improve your SEO, a weekly blog is the way to do it. This can work hand-in-hand with your content marketing strategy.

Ready to Graduate from Marketing 101?

Now that you’ve read this article, you should be ready to move on from marketing 101. Take these types of marketing and start promoting your business as much as you can.

Remember that there are more ways to do this, and some might work better for your business than others. 

Want to learn more about how to utilize digital marketing? You’ll want to read our article on digital marketing trends.