Unbeknownst to most, social media isn’t only limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. In fact, there’s a host of new and exciting platforms that, unless you’re an industry expert or work at any one of America’s many marketing agencies, are rarely heard of by those of the general public.
Seriously, seeing as how social media marketing couldn’t be bigger than it currently is, it’s no surprise that young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs and their host of competitors are doing all that they can to latch onto the craze.
Meerkat and Periscope, for example, are two of those newer platforms through which both users and marketers are looking to interact with others. Both are innovative smartphone apps which allow for live video streams to be both shot and shared with others. That being said, with all of their similarities, which is better? The following infographic seeks to settle that very debate:
As far as marketing agencies are concerned, the world of professional communications is no stranger to change. What was once very much a field built upon yellow legal pads and ink pens is currently digital in every facet of its existence.
As a direct byproduct of such a change, public relations—and the innumerable specialists and managers who work in said field—have had to adapt their communicative tactics to account for the transformation.
Long gone are the days when traditional reporters, direct mail and simple phone pitches earned proper media placement. Interested in a few more of the specifics? Take a look at the following infographic to see what’s presently going down in the world of PR:
Both inside and outside of Utah, content marketing, more than just about any other advertorial practice, has gained a great deal of respect with both advertisers and consumers. Focused largely on the needs of consumers and providing them with helpful information, content marketing differs from traditional advertising with its genuine focus on audiences, as opposed to the force-feeding of intrusive material.
While traditional marketing and its tactics still exist, more marketers than ever before are finally opening their minds to the idea of using top-tier websites, social media and digital public relations—all practices firmly built upon the generic foundation of content marketing—to build rapport with their respective target demographics. Are you looking to make the switch? If so, take a moment or two to see how the world’s most modern companies are using content marketing to their advantage:
To be honest, coming to fully understand Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is difficult enough as it is without having to take worry about the differences between white-hat and black-hat SEO techniques. That being said, there’s a reason for which the distinctions between the two are of the utmost importance: Google’s lead search algorithm.
Both here in Utah and elsewhere, if confidence is to digitally be built with the Wide World Web’s top search engines—namely Google, truthfully—Organic SEO tactics will need to be used. As is the case with most things in life, corners can’t be cut if real SEO results are to be produced. With all of this in mind, what is Organic SEO and how can it help you and your brand? Fortunately, we’ve got just the infographic to help:
These days, from Utah to the most remote of locations out on America’s East Coast, there are few digital marketing trends as big as SEO. While the practice might be seen as a bit of a pseudoscience by those of a more traditional marketing background, SEO is here to stay. Simply put, as long as search engine continue to be used by consumers, the industry promises to remain a constant for professional product and service pushers.
However, seeing as how the Internet is an ever-changing changing entity, so too must the SEO practices with which experts arm themselves. Currently, long-tail SEO takes the proverbial cake as being of the utmost importance for brands hoping to build rapport with Google’s mysterious search algorithm.
At a loss for what long-tail SEO is and how you can use it? Take a look at the infographic below to better understand what your company desperately needs for complete and total dominance out on the World Wide Web:
Professionally, just about everything is sales. Regardless of your field of interest or money-making niche, if success is to come about, you’ve got to be able to understand what consumers want and help them understand how your product or service helps them accomplish such a desire. Likewise, when creating a reputable website and its design, it’s important to consider what target audiences want more than just about anything else.
While it’s true that each industry carries with it a specific set of differentiating factors, generally speaking, when digital interfaces are involved, there are a handful of factors that any and all visitors will hope to find. The following infographic presents five things that any successful website, especially in today’s digital age of communication, will have present. How well does your current site stack up?
Whether it be here in Utah or elsewhere, in recent years, content marketing has become the poster child for innovative product and service pushing. With a current digital focus, nearly all successful content marketers are set on providing engaging, meaningful information to consumers without bombarding them with cumbersome buzzwords, calls to action and—worst of all—clickbait.
However, with content marketing constantly being thrust into the limelight of advertorial genius, the so-called “rules” of the practice have lost their formative roots amidst the clamor of wannabe advertisers hoping to solidify themselves as “industry experts.” Needless to say, we’re tired of it and are ready to set the record straight. Take a moment or two to look over the following infographic to know what really brings about successful content marketing:
More than likely, ever since you were first able to open a Word document on your own, you’ve taken the time to examine the innumerable font types that Microsoft makes readily available for its users. While many of them are practical and have their rightful place in meaningful document creation, truthfully, there are quite a few that—outside of lemonade stands and birthday party invitations—have no place being used.
Drag digital marketing and web development into the mix and it becomes even more paramount that proper font selection be taken seriously. Still confused? No need to worry; the following infographic presents the eight most unacceptable fonts for those serious about their website design and development:
When it comes to assessing one’s digital marketing strategy, most companies look almost exclusively to their PageRank to gauge success. Has their site moved up in Google’s search results? Then things are going well.
However, many marketing agencies would be quick to note that while PageRank is of extremely high value in the digital age, there are other factors that should also be taken into consideration. After all, having a high PageRank is great, but without other signs of success, it’s not as useful as one might think.
A successful digital marketing campaign produces quality content that not only improves PageRank, but also draws in new visitors to the site and keeps them coming back for more. Quality content provides site visitors with valued information or entertainment, which also results in more time being spent on the site and positive word-of-mouth that can bring in new visitors as well. As more time is spent on the site and the number of new visitors increases, Google recognizes the page as a source of quality information, and SEO continues to improve.
Of course, the ultimate measure of success for marketing agencies and their clients is an increase in sales leads generated by a digital marketing campaign. Ideally, digital marketing efforts will combine an SEO and conversion-friendly website, engaging content marketing and other methods with this end goal in mind. An increase in sales (or sales leads, depending on one’s business model) is perhaps the greatest measure of success.
Successful marketing agencies across the nation know that these factors are what ultimately contribute to a successful digital marketing campaign. As a company’s PageRank, number of visitors and sales leads increase, they can rest assured that their advertising efforts are getting the job done.
Asking people for money is not just uncomfortable—it doesn’t always go well either. People usually don’t donate just for the sake of giving away money; they need a purpose. Although many crowdfunding campaigns have a good purpose, it is not always clear to the public.
Using advertising can help spread the purpose behind crowdfunding campaigns out to the general public. This way they won’t just see a company asking for money, they will see an opportunity to contribute to a great cause.
There are specific advertising techniques that showcase crowdfunding at its best. It’s finding those techniques that can often be a struggle for an agency. Below are some tips for specific types of advertising to use in your next crowdfunding campaign.
Start With Social Media Advertising
This is a free and easy way to kick start your campaign. However, make sure to not use every social media channel out there. Hone in on a select few based on the audience at hand and dominate those outlets.
Social media also provides a chance for an agency to not only advertise, but interact with the public. People are much more likely to support a cause when they feel part of it. Asking questions, requesting opinions and seeking out stories can turn originally uninterested people into loyal donators.
Make sure to customize the promotion so that it reflects a common purpose across each social media outlet. This is a personalized way to bring the purpose of a campaign to an audience’s attention.
Target a Specific Public
While it may seem more logical to advertise a campaign to the entire world since that would provide more donating hands, it is not the best way to get donations. Choosing one or a few specific key publics to reach out to is a much more successful technique for any agency.
When choosing the publics, make sure that they are either already a supporter of your brand or have a reason to be interested in the campaign’s purpose. Who would be most likely to donate? Who would care about the cause at hand?
Think about these things and choose a few publics to target. You may be surprised that this type of advertising receives more response than general advertising.
Create a Personal Connection
Once you have found the best audience for your advertising, try and build a personal connection with them. This means using those social media channels for frequent communication. It also means giving the company a face. Introduce team members who truly believe in the crowdfunding cause.
Integrate both personality and humor into a campaign for increased success. Using the team as part of a campaign or funny advertising stunt will pull in more interested donators. People feel connected to people. That is a large motivator for donations.
Wait a While to Ask For Money
With that connection in mind, don’t ask for money right away. This will make people second guess your intentions and feel pressured. Simply create a connection with important publics and let them know about the crowdfunding cause.
From there, donations will naturally occur as people begin to feel a sense of duty to an agency and want to be a part of their efforts. Make sure the public can see how the money from the campaign will be used upfront. This way they know that although they may not get their money back, it is beingused for something they support.
Use Video In Advertising
Another technique that will ensure those donations keep coming is to use video. This goes back to the connection principle because people are more stimulated by video rather than text. Use this to your advantage by creating a connection with a video that plainly portrays the purpose behind the campaign.
This not only builds trust between the public and an agency, but it is an advertising technique that is known for catching the eye of the public and keeping it there.
Start Big
Any agency that receives money during the first three days of a campaign is more likely to reach their target goal than those that don’t. This means that a big start is a big part of any crowdfunding campaign. Don’t shyly put the word out there and hope that maybe someone cares. Plan out advertising techniques ahead of time and launch them loudly with the start of a new campaign.
Using all of these advertising techniques can be the thing that makes crowdfunding go from an impossible attempt to an easy way to raise money for an agency. Remember to keep a connection with a select audience and build trust from there. Donations will follow.
