Posts Tagged ‘online marketing’

Q: Should you be using social media? A: Yes. Q: Should you be selling through social media? A: Yes. Q: Should you be connecting and engaging with your customers/audience through social media? A: Yes. Yes, social media is a great way to connect, engage with your customers, find new clients and promote your business. But many businesses fall at the first hurdle because they use it solely as a promotional tool. By constantly tweeting or updating fans about your latest promotions, news, what you're up to and a few more promotions, you'll lose followers hand over fist. Why? Because you'll come across as being 'spammy'.   Social media as a marketing tool   Through social media you can encourage people to sign up to your newsletters, promote your eBooks and give-aways and encourage them to visit your website. But if that's all you do, people will get fed ...

For those of you who are still not convinced about having your business on Facebook, take a look at a few of these stats that show the levels of engagement with customers you could be enjoying: Worldwide, 175 million people log onto Facebook every day 66% of comments on company pages are from consumers (34% are from other businesses) 35% of consumer comments on company Facebook pages are compliments 8% of consumer comments on company Facebook pages are complaints 17% of company responses to consumer comments call consumers by name 15% of company responses to consumer comments invite further conversation 89% of consumer replies on company Facebook pages go unanswered Stats from Socially Awkward Media Having a business page on Facebook makes sense as it's where your customers hang out. So, if you want to engage with them, you've got ...

You're probably aware of what a QR Code is. If not, they are those curious boxes, filled with black and white squares that are popping up all over the place these days. Basically, you scan them with the QR Code reader on your smart-phone and they'll either direct you to a website, voucher, sign-up box etc. But before you think you must have one, think carefully about how your customers will use it. In fact, are your customers tech savvy enough to know how to use one? If you suddenly use them as a way of accessing special offers, or as a way to sign up to your newsletter, will you be limiting your market reach? I'm not suggesting that you shun them completely, just make sure whatever they offer is available through other means too. So, before ...

Search engine optimisation usually makes you think of things like: SEO copywriting Keywords Title tags Headings and subheadings These are all very important when it comes to boosting your website's SEO, but there's a lot more that also has to happen 'behind the scenes'. What is off screen SEO? There are 3 main elements that make up off screen SEO. Let's look at each in turn to see how they can affect your SEO effectiveness. 1. Website Your website shouldn't just look nice, although that will obviously help draw people to it. It is essential you choose your web designer carefully. Make sure they understand SEO - and I mean really understand it. If you're unsure, ask to see some examples of good websites they've put together that are achieveing great things in the SEO arena. The structure of your website is key when it ...

Nothing stays the same, especially Google. As an internet marketer, you'll understand the need for keeping up to date with the latest techniques and news if you are to keep your website in the eye line of your customers. Google changes it's search algorithms, not to be difficult, but to improve the quailty of its search results. Here's what Google said about the latests change: “The “Panda” algorithm change has improved rankings for a large number of high-quality websites, so most of you reading have nothing to be concerned about. However, for the sites that may have been affected by Panda we wanted to provide additional guidance on how Google searches for high-quality site. Think about… Would you trust the information presented in this article? Is this article written by an expert or enthusiast who knows the topic well, or is it shallower in nature? Does the site have ...

    Google has been a God send for shopaholics everywhere. No longer do you have to spend hours trudging around over-heated stores. Now, you can sit and relax in the comfort of your own home and shop to your heart’s content. But as an online business, are you making the most of these leads when they come to you? Considering how most people shop today, once they’ve fired off an email to you, they will want a reply ASAP. So how quickly do you respond?   According to a recent survey by Insidesales.com and Omniture, it would appear that you don’t respond very quickly at all: Average email response time: 19 hours, 31 minutes (the optimum response time should be within an hour) Average phone response time: 36 hours, ...

  Content marketing online, gives you the power to educate, communicate, influence people and attract a continuous stream of potential customers. But you must have a strategy. Jumping in without thinking rarely works. You must be realistic and understand that results won’t happen over night. To make it work you need patience and perseverance. As a freelance copywriter, I’ve been content marketing since 2007 and it does work – you just need to understand the process and have a plan. What’s your content marketing plan? If you want readers to read what you write, you must have empathy for them and the problems they face. Writing ...

  Are you being tempted by the dark side? Are you looking for great results without the hard work? If you are, you are heading for a very big fall because the grass most certainly isn’t greener on the dark side. As an online marketer, search engine optimisation is vital for your survival. But the only effective way to boost your visibility is through an effective, white hat SEO strategy. It’s not a quick fix, it’s a long term solution that needs constant nurturing. So if that sounds like too much like hard work to you, perhaps you’d better rethink your online marketing  career. Creating a winning SEO strategy If ...

  Most people will either love social media or hate it – with the odd few thrown in who simply don’t ‘get it’. But the problem is for those who hate or don’t ‘get it’, social media is here to stay and it will continue to grow. We’ve already seen Google join the party with Google+ so your days of keeping it at arms length are numbered. It’s time to join in. Personally I love it. Working as a freelance copywriter it has helped me not only gain new clients but its also enabled me to meet great people, boost my online exposure and find people to ...

  Internet marketing is vitally important for your business. Not convinced? OK, utilising activities such as article marketing, social media, blogging and other content creation will have a dramatic effect on your business’ online visibility and exposure. Just in case you are still sitting there shaking your head, take a look at a few facts and figures that were compiled earlier this year by Pingdom about internet usage, social media, email etc. So if you’re ready, prepare to be blown away. Email Whether you use email as a marketing medium or simply as a method of communication, it is a vital part ...

  As a website copywriter, I have been know to harp on about your website copy should address the needs of your reader. What do I mean? Basically, your content must focus on the benefits of your product/service to the reader rather than focusing on your company and its accomplishments. That may sound easy but it isn’t. To create great copy that’s compelling, you have to distance yourself from your business which is why many companies opt for the services of a professional copywriter. Writing for your reader is the way to go but that doesn’t mean you have to totally forget about yourself. You still need an outlet on ...

    Does this look familiar? This is the Google 10 box that appears at the top of your search results. It shows 10 local businesses that relate directly to your search term (so in this case it is builders). Ever wondered how companies get listed here? Or haven’t you given it much thought because you thought it was bound to be expensive? Well here’s a news flash for you – your Google Local listing is free. If this is old news to you and you’ve already claimed yours, well done you’ve taken the first step to boost your online visibility. But how are you using it? Have you just claimed it and left it at that? This listing is a great free ...

  Despite living in a virtual age there are still many businesses out there resisting the urge to have a website. Some of the common arguments about not buying into virtual real estate are: It wouldn’t suit our customer base We get enough customers without having an expensive website I don’t understand all that computer stuff It’s too expensive I don’t want to sell online I don’t have time for one of those The problem is just about everyone else is online, especially your customers. So when they search for a supplier ...

  Online marketing – love it or hate it, if you’re a business owner you have to get to grips with it. As the vast majority of the population use the internet to search for products and services these days, if you you don’t have an online presence you will be missing out on a massive marketplace. But that doesn’t mean you can just lob any old website into cyber space and people will come running with open wallets. Being online badly can seriously damage your business The first thing to remember when starting out in the online world is that the internet isn’t a static entity. It ...

  Loads of companies are now using social media – applications like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and blogs are transforming the way they interact with their market. Are you using social media? Are you monitoring its effectiveness? I’m guessing you answered yes to the first question and went quiet, or whispered no to the second. Blindly using social media without monitoring it is a bit like driving your car blind folded – your message is delivered quickly but it’s likely to hit a brick wall any second. In the olden days you only discovered there was a problem with your products or services when someone picked ...

You've heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover", well I hate to say it but people do. Not only that, but they'll also judge you and your company by your written content whether in emails, on your website, blog, articles or brochures. Going back to your school days, wasn't it always the best looking kids that got to be Head Boy or Girl, or head of the sports team? Looks do matter (even though we try to convince ourselves that in today's 'equal' society it doesn't) so you have to make sure all your marketig materials are as good as they can be - in content and aesthetic appeal. Be attractive To me, as a copywriter, the copy on your website or blog is paramount. Of course, your website designer will tell you it's your sites design and your ...