×
  • Leading Digital Marketing Agency
  • 900+ Websites Launched
  • $100M+ Client Revenue Generated








    855.686.4649 ext.707 Get A Proposal

    Blog

    What is Google shopping and how does it work?

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    Google Shopping

    While there are many digital marketing tools that business owners can use to find advertisement opportunities online, investing in Google Shopping is a very advantageous way to display your product right at the origin of a customer’s search. After all, since many people use Google as their primary search engine when they’re on the hunt for a particular item, it seems like an appropriate way to get ahead of your competition. Needless to say, although Google Shopping is incredibly popular, it’s crucial to understand how this tool should be used to drive sales, leads and overall website traffic.

    What is Google Shopping?

    Google Shopping is a service that’s provided by Google which allows customers to search for, view and compare product pricing. It’s powered by two platforms, Google Merchant Center — where your product feed lives — and AdWords — where your shopping campaigns live, as well as where you set your budget, manage your bids, gain insights and make optimizations based on the performance of the campaign.

    What makes it so unique?

    Google Shopping is quite a bit different from traditional text ads. The setup and management that triggers your ads are determined by the feed, the site, and the bids that you make. While there are some strong similarities to SEO, success in the field of Google Shopping boils down to the following areas.

    • Feed creation and optimization: The diversity of your product data, product images and the price are all included in this area. After all, the more relevant your ad is to the searched keyword, the more likely that Google will display your product on that given search.
    • Bidding: If you bid too much your campaign will not work efficiently, but if you bid too little it will not be able to gain traction. When considering the amount that you’re going to spend consider the price of the product, your profit margin and the e-commerce conversation rate. Keep in mind that you want to make a profit, so, it’s important to find a sweet spot where you’re able to slowly increase your bids over time as they prove to be profitable.
    • Monitoring and Optimization: An added benefit of Google Shopping is the ability to keep tabs on your campaign performances. It’s important to monitor your data frequently so that you’re able to make adjustments to your strategy throughout the cycle of the campaign.

    How does Google Shopping work?

    The best part about Google Shopping is that initially, you don’t have to pay anything. Once a Google user searches your key term, if they happen to click on your product ad a payment will then be made. Following the click, the user will be directed to your online store in the hopes that they will follow through with a purchase.

    How can you set up Google Shopping?

    Before you’re ready to start promoting your products on Google you will need to set up an AdWords account and follow a series of steps to launch your campaign. If this sounds too complicated for you it’s best to speak with a digital marketing team that’s experienced with campaign management so that they can set up, launch and manage your Google Shopping campaign moving forward. Best of luck!

    Are there any disadvantages with Google Shopping over other digital marketing advertisement methods? Please drop a comment below to start a conversation.

    Why great websites should include an SEO plan

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    search engine optimization

    You can have a beautifully designed website and a stellar marketing team backing up your products and services on social media but if your businesses website is lacking search engine optimization it won’t be getting the attention that it deserves. Needless to say, if you understand the importance of SEO implementation, you’re well on your way to creating the right traction to get noticed in your niche industry.

    Why do so many e-commerce businesses lack SEO?

    There are many reasons that a startup e-commerce business may lack an SEO strategy:

    • They don’t have the extra income: There are a lot of costs that go with operating an online business and it’s possible that when a company is just getting off the ground, they won’t have the extra funds that are needed for search engine optimization.
    • They don’t have the time: While this point is only applicable if they’re doing their own in-house SEO, if you’re a business owner who is juggling multiple tasks it’s possible that SEO is something that can and will be forgotten.
    • It’s hard to keep up with the progression: An SEO specialist has the incentive to follow what’s changing in the landscape of the industry, whereas a business owner may find it hard to know all the grooves of search engine optimization.
    • You don’t have the resources: Small businesses aren’t able to invest enough into the tools that may be needed, such as better analytics, keyword research, reporting tools and conversion optimization tools. 

    Design your website with SEO in mind

    Regardless of whether you already have a fully functioning web design or if you’re in the process of starting one from scratch, just keep in mind that there are always ways you can keep your design SEO-oriented. That being said, the most important thing you can do is to build a plan for how your target audience is going to notice you. Creating brand awareness should be an essential part of growing your business and your SEO strategy is crucial when it comes to generating leads. So, if you want your website to flourish, considering content marketing. Content marketing entails many digital marketing elements, such as blogging, creating videos and sharing social posts across your channels. Consider using this as an opportunity to flaunt your SEO knowledge and use industry keywords within all of your content to increase your chances of being ranked organically on various search engines.  

    So, why should you invest in SEO?

    You already know that there are tons of companies out there that are competing with you that also have products just as innovative and budget-friendly as yours are, so, why wouldn’t you want to invest in the opportunity to stand out from the competition? SEO allows you to design and create content using industry-specific keywords. Then you’re able to start attracting traffic from people who are already interested in what you’re selling. After all, they typed in a particular set of words and BAM there was your site conveniently awaiting their future click. So, now instead of only being an information portal, your website is a place where people can come to find exactly what they’re looking for.

    Do you have any positive experiences with search engine optimization? How has it changed the ranking of your business? Tell us in the comments section below.

    Which social media channel will attract your target audience?

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    social media marketing

    It won’t matter how creative, innovative or aspiring your product or service is if it’s not being marketed to the right target audience. Many business owners make the mistake of taking over their own marketing efforts when they first start out. Although they should never feel discouraged to learn and grow in their in-house abilities, working with a professional digital marketing team will allow them to persuade and engage with their customers in a receptive way. After all, instead of simply marketing to anyone and everyone, a team in charge of your social media marketing strategy will start their efforts firstly by breaking down your target audience and curving the appeal towards that demographic. So, if you want to get noticed in your industry, you must first work towards identifying which social media channel will attract the right customers for you.

    Who uses Facebook?

    Facebook still holds onto first place as the most widely used social media platform across the world. With a monthly log in of over 2.23 billion users, 30% of which are aged between 25 through to 34, beginning your social media marketing campaigns on Facebook is always a safe bet. Once you create your business page remember to post regularly, promote your page, engage with your followers and contrive your page layout and content to appeal to your target audience. After all, if you’re hoping for a high level of engagement, your Facebook profile needs to be geared to attract the right shoppers.

    Who uses Twitter?

    The nice thing about Twitter is that the demographics of its users tend to possess a smaller age gap in comparison to the vast age range of Facebook users. With roughly 326 million people engaging on Twitter monthly, 37% of users are between 18 and 25, while 25% of them are 30 and 49-years-old. This means that young adults make up over 60% of the audience on Twitter. So, if your product or service would appeal to this age range, it might be worth setting up a Twitter account and regularly tweeting to the users compelling them to click.

    Who uses Instagram?

    Instagram has quickly made its way to one of the most active social media channels worldwide, especially among young women. This photo-sharing, smart-phone app is plentiful within the millennial generation (1982 – 2004) and allows business owners to get a little creative by sharing enticing visuals, using engaging hashtags and taking advantage of the story feature to promote their business. Considering so many people make purchases based on things they see through their Instagram feed, it’s a great way to exploit social media marketing to get your products or services noticed.

    What are a few tips to help attract your target audience?

    Now that you’ve narrowed down your essential social media platforms you might need a little help reaching out to potential shoppers. The following tips can help you to entice your business’s target audience.

    • Survey your customers to find out what they like
    • Determine your audience size do you know how often to post
    • Find a connection to your audience
    • Reach out to customers through the use of other social media groups
    • Tailor your content to appeal to your audience
    • Balance out your content plan to include something for everyone
    • Use visual quotes for motivation
    • Boost your content with promotional posts
    • Share education content from within your niche

    Which social media channel do you use to target your company’s demographic? Tell us in the comments section below.

     

    3 ways you can digitally market your travel brand?

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    travel marketing

    Since pretty much everyone loves when they get to escape on a dream vacation, it may seem silly that you need to put to effort into travel marketing at all. However, spring is the time of year when many people start their researching and booking for upcoming getaways and you want your travel brand to start out from the rest. Whether you’re gearing towards an audience looking for a budget hotspot, some family-friendly deals, exotic flight packages or an easygoing cruise line, you need to be equipped with the right advertising tools to stand out above your competition. That being said, do you know of any digital marketing weapons that you can use to win over consumers?

    Email marketing

    Email marketing is a great digital marketing tactic to use if you’re wanting to create some noise about your travel brand. So, if you possess a subscription list, perhaps it’s time to start sending out some emails to inform potential customers about any exciting buzz or promotions that your company has going on. Not only is email marketing an effective way to improve sales conversions, but it also helps to improve brand awareness, build a relationship with your ever-growing audience and increase visibility within your industry. Start your email marketing strategy by sending out two carefully crafted emails per month. These emails could include a special promotion code that will give them a discount if they proceed through with a booking or even a simple email highlighting some of the excursions your brand may be offering at a hotspot destination. If you sell products rather than accommodation services, endorsing a sale is always an effective way to stimulate your marketing strategy.

    Social media marketing

    Social media marketing is one of the easiest, stress-free and profitable digital marketing platforms that a business can use to increase their visibility. Needless to say, if you possess time constraints with managing the social strategy of your travel brand, you may be missing out on heightening the experience of your target audience. Successful travel marketing is all about advertising through social channels. Whether you’re geared towards customers on Instagram through the sharing of a creative video story or you post insightful, relatable memes on Facebook about flight delays, each social media channel has something very unique to offer your brand. Don’t miss out on the channeled potential of your business by not utilizing social media marketing!

    Blogging

    Although blogging should be a digital marketing must, it’s often an overlooked element even though it’s probably the most effective way a business owner can build brand awareness. People who enjoy travel usually also enjoy reading and researching all about their aspired destinations, which is why you’re able to utilize this to create relevant and useful content geared towards your target audience. If you’re a suitcase company looking to selling your luxurious products to upper-class businessmen, then perhaps you could write an article such as, “15 things every businessman needs to pack into his suitcase”, outlining how easily it would fit into whichever model(s) you’re wanting to promote. On the other hand, if you run a cute Bed and Breakfast in the Amalfi Coast of southern Italy, then perhaps you could write a story about authentic Italian cuisine, highlighting a few local vineyards and cafes that are must-visits for travelers coming to that particular region. Blogging is all about telling your customers a story without sounding too pushy. It also allows you to create a connection and assert your knowledge within your niche.

    Have you found any of the above suggestions effective for your marketing strategy? Tell us in the comments section below.

    Aside from SMM, how else can you build brand awareness?

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    brand awareness

    When it comes to creating brand awareness, social media marketing is a powerful tool that many businesses use to utilize their influence. However, although various social media platforms possess vast advantages to reach a company’s target audience, when it comes to building a brand, the more you diversify your strategy, the quicker and more effectively you will be able to spread the world. That’s why in addition to SMM you may also want to consider the following effective brand building options.

    Blogging

    While blogging can take a long time to generate traction in terms of conversion rates, it has the ability to help spread brand awareness. Not only is blogging a free and easy tool to use but when it’s done right it can be an extremely powerful way to draw customers to your e-commerce website by educating the general public and creating a connection to potential buyers through the expression of your niche expertise. That being said, blog posts should follow a regular blogging schedule and discuss an array of subjects, such as upcoming promotions, how to use your products and other various industry discussions that are taking place on social media platforms or in the news. Blogging isn’t just a weekly journal, it’s a tool to establish a professional feel with your target audience.

    Email Marketing

    Email marketing is a marketing strategy that’s known for its intense ability to generate sales. After all, people are constantly checking their emails and if they receive an exciting, generous promotion, it may give them that little extra nudge to finish placing their aspired orders. That’s why you should offer an email subscription as a way to build up your brand awareness and as a reward to your loyal customers. Email marketing allows subscribers to receive sales, promotions and giveaways as well as establishes a strong, branded connection between the business and each individual customer.

    The Extras

    While social media marketing, blogging and email marketing are all insightful digital marketing tools there are a few other options that you can use to help assist with your brand awareness.

    • Enhancing your customer service: Customers are the beating heart of your business and although having quality products and good marketing is important, an active voice in dealing with questions and concerns will also help you to gain an enhanced brand reputation.
    • Knowing your target audience: Although you want anyone and everyone to buy your products or services, knowing the demographics, values and needs of the audience you’re targeting is essential if you’re going to be able to effectively build your brand. Reaching out to your target audience will create a “quality over quantity” approach to your digital marketing strategy.

    Are there other tactics that you’ve personally used to build the brand awareness of your company? Tell us in the comments section below.

    Two effective ways to strategically market law firms

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    marketing strategies for law firms

    Living in a world that is increasingly connected through the use of the internet has forced businesses to change their way of reaching their target audiences or simply disappear with the times. So, just like other marketable businesses, the legal profession is changing its advertising dynamics in order to resonate with the ongoing trends. This is why if you’re hoping to successfully boost your online campaigns you should take a look at these marketing strategies for law firms.

    Use pay-per-click marketing

    Pay-per-click marketing (PPC) is a business model that allows you to create innovative ads and place them on various webpages and platforms with the hopes of directing the traffic towards your business. Whenever a potential customer clicks on the displayed advertisement, the host website will then charge the business owner according to their agreed-upon budget limit. Google Ads, Facebook and LinkedIn are a few host platforms that are able to extend business popularity by attracting a new, attentive audience. The reason that PPC advertising should be one of the many marketing strategies for laws firms is that it allows you to reach the people out there that are searching for your service before they are reached by your competitors. Also, over time you’re able to analyze all of your campaigns and refine your approach based on the information that’s provided by the click-through rates and conversions.

    Use social media

    You probably hear this all the time, but social media is the powerhouse behind any digital marketing strategy and it would be silly not to use it to develop a relationship with your clients. We recommend starting your new social strategy by regularly posting content that you feel would interest people who enjoy all aspects of law, who have/are studying law and maybe even those seeking help with legalities. It’s best to do this through the use of a social media calendar in order to provide consistency with your page. Then, engage with your followers through conversations, comments and emojis, answering any questions they have promptly and efficiently. This will help you to gain trust with them on a professional level. The best part is your social media channels also offer you analytics which shares what times your audience is most active and which posts are gaining the most traction. Then you’re able to gather some notes and optimize your time so that you can dedicate a reasonable amount of it towards your social strategy. After all, marketing strategies for law firms should include the facets of many social media platforms in order to build an online presence and uncover new leads and clients.

    A digital marketing company can help you get started on either of the above state-of-the-art digital marketing strategies.

    Have you been successful in marketing your legal practice using other digital marketing strategies? Drop a comment below to share with our readership!

    Owned, earned or paid social media tactics

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    social media marketing

    When was the last time that you revamped your social media marketing strategy? While maintaining a regular posting schedule might create a small amount of traction for your brand, an intuitive update to the tactics you’re using within your social channels, especially in today’s fiercely competitive world, could help beat out your online competitors. So, before you fork over the money to have your social strategy managed, it’s important to discuss the options that you have.

    Social media tactics to consider

    Regardless of whether you’re new to the world of business or you’ve been in it for quite some time, it’s important to know the wide selection of social media tactics that you have available when you’re trying to reach your target audience. Here are a few that you may have already tried:

    • Posting at an optimal time (9 a.m. on weekdays, noon on weekdays).
    • Sharing engaging content (articles, blogs or fun facts about your industry niche).
    • Creating a conversation (asking your followers to comment or start a debate).
    • Sharing visuals (videos, memes or cartoons).
    • Creating a poll (followers like that this feature is interactive).

    Although all of the above social media tactics are a good start to get the word out about your products or services, there are some more in-depth approaches that you can also test out.

    • Social media customer service: This allows you to combat any issues a customer may be having or to promptly answer questions.
    • Utilize your photo upload sections: Whether it’s your cover photo or profile image, you can use these sections to promote sales, upgrades or discounts that are available.
    • Posting surveys: They’re easy to conduct and organize and provide you with a lot of relevant, valuable feedback.

    What’s the difference between owned, earned and paid social media tactics?

    Now that you’ve got some innovative, new social media marketing tactics, it’s time to put your ideas to good use. As a business owner, you will need to analyze your owned and earned tactics and determine if you have a budget to allow for a certain amount of paid posts as well.

    • Owned: This category of social media tactics refers to the messages that appear organically. This means that the people who follow your page will only be able to see what you post to your channels.
    • Earned: If you have established a popular following, your customers and followers may choose to share your social posts simply because they enjoy the content or because they feel the need to promote a product. You can also reach out to devoted customers and ask them to become a social influencer in exchange for some exclusive perks.
    • Paid: If it’s in your budget you can pay to boost your social posts or written content. You’re also able to pay people to influence your brand on social media if you want to gain access to their widespread following.

    Which social media tactics have worked well for your company? Share your lessons with our readers in the comments section below.

    Tune into these inspiring 4 marketing podcasters

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    marketing podcasts

    Staying involved in your niche can prove to be a challenging task when your time is already split up between other business ventures and commitments. However, if you’re on the hunt to up your marketing game or in need of some help understanding new, trending strategies, then they’re some innovative marketing podcasts out there that will allow your team to gain some further insights into the world of marketing and business developments. 

    Moreover, for those of you who may not be technologically savvy, a podcast is a collection of digital audio files that are made available for listening or downloading to your computer or mobile device. They are personalized series that feature regular installments about a wide range of interesting topics. Now, that you’re in touch with the lingo, let’s take a look at some marketing podcasts that you absolutely must keep up with.

    Call to Action

    This marketing podcast focuses on highlighting online marketing success stories and how these real-life achievements can be de-constructed and used on your own marketing campaigns. The weekly show consists of candid interviews with digital marketing professionals and leaders and features tips for improving your conversion rates, optimization, content marketing and more.

    Social Media Marketing Podcast

    As the title of the podcast suggests this podcast helps you learn to engage with your customers through the use of social media profiles. There’s a lot to learn about social media marketing and this talk show podcast breaks down the barriers of the marketing genre and makes it easy for you to listen on-the-go to success stories and interviews as well as some in-depth insight from industry pros.

    Marketing Over Coffee

    Just like the title of this marketing podcast suggests, it’s best to tune into this ingenious discussion and get your creative juices flowing with your morning coffee. After all, the host of the show does. That being said, the show primarily likes to focus on traditional marketing methods that work as a good foundation for your marketing strategy and branch off to other topics such as rebranding.

    Copyblogger FM

    If you’re an aspiring copywriter, an entrepreneur or even a digital marketing manager, you would be able to benefit from this particular marketing podcast. The show analyzes the trends of digital marketing and talks about the challenge of changing practices in content marketing, copywriting, email marketing, conversion optimization and so much more.

    If you need help developing your digital marketing strategy, Trek, alongside these amazing marketing podcasts, can help get you on the path to increase your brand’s recognition.

    Are there any other marketing podcasts that you enjoy? Drop their details below to share with our readers.

    How do you digitally engage with your hotel guests?

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    hotel digital marketing

    Digital marketing for hotels is more than simply advertising your accommodation online — it’s about building a relationship with potential and prior hotel guests. In most cases, an engaged patron can often become a recurring guest because they have found value in sharing their experience. By taking the time to build up a committed engagement strategy, you’re upholding the standard within your industry and giving people an opportunity to feel appreciated. So, if you’re looking to power-up your guest engagement, the following tools can help you deliver superior results within your hotel digital marketing.

    Offer a mobile check-in & check-out

    Sometimes the first steps towards guest engagement begin before your visitors even make it through your doors. Giving them the option to check-in through their mobile device has many advantages like speeding up the check-in process, reminding them about their check-in times so that you can ensure their hotel room is nicely groomed and it also gives you an excuse to request their email during the booking phase. In other words, your guests will value the convenience of bypassing the front desk and seizing a full day of opportunity.

    Build a digital guest survey

    Engaging with your guests starts from the moment they book their accommodation and should aim to continue well after they check-out from their stay. It’s all about finding a helpful, yet, not annoying balance. When you’re experiencing with hotel digital marketing, sometimes the most effective way to advertise your business and build a report with your guests is by encouraging a survey at the end of their stay. Often when you leave a physical survey sheet in hotel rooms it can get misplaced, go unnoticed and even be forgotten, but when you email your guests an interactive survey, it gives them the opportunity to choose a time and a place that works best for them.

    Utilize your social platforms

    The best part of social media, other than the fact that most people have it, is that it’s less intrusive and in-your-face than other hotel digital marketing strategies. While a reminder email for some people is a simple nudging gesture, for others it’s a bothersome way of networking. Posting across your social accounts allows you to reach the right audience and also gives you opportunities to create connections long after your visitors have checked-out. It’s even possible to reach people that are interested in accommodation at your location but haven’t quite made a reservation yet.

    Implement a loyalty program

    When you’re looking for innovative ways to promote your hotel, a great way of encouraging engagement, and future bookings, is by implementing a loyalty program for your guests to sign up for. Once they have stayed at your hotel, send them a coupon with a discount that can be used towards their next stay. While they may not be in the area anytime soon, this strategic move simply shows that you appreciate their support and that you’re looking forward to being their first choice in the future.

    If you’re looking for a team to manage your hotel digital marketing strategy, we can help you get started on the road to success.

    Are there any other pressing ways that you can digitally engage with your hotel guests? Tell us in the comments section below.

    Good Grammar Is a Marketing Must

    Posted on by Alex Wilks

    blogging and content creation

    You can start out with a fantastic business idea, develop some state-of-the-art products and increase the connection with your customers, but if you don’t take the time to cultivate your grammar skills, your business’s respectability will appear incredibly sloppy. That being said, if you’re the one writing for your business, a red flag will rise in regards to your professionalism if you aren’t taking the time to proof-read your blogging and content creation. So, in the spirit of National Grammar Day (March 4), we want to emphasize a few tips to keep in mind when you’re trying to catch your typos and dangling modifiers. 

    Proofread your writing

    It can be incredibly easy to just hit publish after you finish writing your blogging and content creation without taking any additional time to re-read and edit. So, if you’re wanting to promote expertise in your writing style, it helps to take the time to check over your work in order to catch any stray punctuation errors or misspelled words. After all, the content on your website should embellish an experienced image.

    Another way to tackle proofreading is to have a second set of eyes look over your work. Often times it can be difficult to catch our own mistakes so having another person, preferably someone with writing experience, will leave you with some sharper, more refined diction.

    Needless to say, if you don’t have anyone that’s available to help you immediately, try using a grammar and punctuation tool to help proofread over your work. Nobody’s perfect, so it’s important to condition your time to allow for quality checkups.

    Keep an eye out for any malapropism

    The word malapropism is used to refer to the use of an incorrect word in the place of a word with a similar sound — there are several examples to consider when you’re keeping an eye out for these grammatical errors. For example, you could have accidentally used a word that sounds the same as the word you meant to use, but means something completely different, like the words “tandem” and “tantrum”.

    Another example that’s commonly mixed up is the definitions of the following speech words “there”, “their” and “they’re”. These contractions mean very different things and can easily be incorrectly interchanged when you’re rushing to finish blogging and content creation. Take the time to re-read your writing and perhaps even say it out loud so that you can catch these tedious, incompetent mistakes.

    Watch your apostrophes

    In case you’ve forgotten your elementary school English lectures, here’s a quick primer. An apostrophe should only be used after a noun to make either a possessive (Jack’s sandwich) or a contraction (Sally’s going to the park, a contraction of “Sally is going to the park”). Always remember that an apostrophe should never be used to make pronouns possessive (hers, its, theirs), but they can be used it to make a pronoun into a contraction (It’s sunny, you’re awesome, they’re angry).

    Well, there you have it! A little refresher on some common grammatical copy mistakes. If you’re still stuck when it comes to grammar and feel as if you need some advanced help, considering consulting with a professional digital marketing team and sort through your writing with a fine-tooth comb before it’s published for the world to see.

    In your opinion, what is the most frustrating part of grammar? Tell us in the comments section below.