# INLocal Marketing > Are you IN? --- ## Pages - [Home Page Cities Toggle](https://inlocal.marketing/home-page-cities-toggle/): INLocal Marketing is a Digital Marketing and SEO Agency based in Portland, Oregon. Portland Metro East Side Portland (646,101) SEO... - [Business Listing Management Service](https://inlocal.marketing/services/business-listing-management/): We offer a digital knowledge management platform that allows you to manage your public information across multiple online services. You... - [Website Accessibility Statement](https://inlocal.marketing/website-accessibility-statement/): Accessibility Statement for our website: inlocal. marketing Our provider, EqualWeb, is committed to promoting web accessibility for people with disabilities.... - [AI Social Media Marketing with Marky.ai](https://inlocal.marketing/marky-ai/): Social Media Marketing with Marky. AI Get 30 Days of Content in 5 minutes! Posts created by marky. ai get... - [Online Reviews / Reputation Management](https://inlocal.marketing/services/online-reviews-reputation-management/): Online Review Generation & Reputation Management Do you manage your Business Reviews and online reputation? Did you know that 67%... - [Reviews / Testimonials](https://inlocal.marketing/reviews-testimonials/): Reviews & Testimonials for INLocal Marketing (Some reviews have been edited for grammar and length) - [Google Pay Per Click Ads / PPC Management](https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-pay-per-click-ads-ppc/): Full Google PPC Management. Expert PPC strategies. Optimized PPC campaigns. Best Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Agency in Portland Oregon. - [Digital Marketing Services](https://inlocal.marketing/services/): Digital Marketing Services INLocal Marketing is based in Portland Oregon but serves the entire US. Digital marketing, also called online... - [Google Local Service Ads (LSA) Management](https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-local-service-ads-lsa/): We manage and optimize your Google Local Service Ads in Portland, Oregon. Google Guaranteed LSA are listed at the top of Google Search. - [Google Page Speed Optimization](https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-page-speed-optimization/): Google Page Speed is now a MAJOR ranking factor. We're EXPERTS at page speed optimization and can quickly help your site reach blazing-fast speeds. - [Why Choose a Digital Marketing Agency](https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/why-choose-a-digital-marketing-agency/): What is a Digital Marketing Agency? The Way It Used to Be Not that many years ago, if you wanted... - [Getting Found in Search](https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/getting-found-in-search/): Would you Rather SEARCH for Customers -OR- Have READY TO BUY Customers SEARCH for you? As a business you can... - [Digital Marketing Channels](https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/digital-marketing-channels/): What Is Digital Marketing? The Eco-System of DIGITAL MARKETING Using ONLINE Digital MARKETING we can promote your brand and achieve... - [Build Your Brand](https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/build-your-brand/): If you have a business there is one thing you need over everything else... You need people to BUY your... - [Website Accessibility Compliance with the ADA](https://inlocal.marketing/services/website-accessibility-compliance-with-the-ada/): ADA accessibility for websites is not new, but a wave of lawsuits have started to emerge across a range of industries. - [Digital Marketing 101](https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/): Market your Business - Marketing & Advertising Basics https://inlocal. marketing/wp-content/uploads/two. png Two Categories of Customers Those that KNOW you Repeat... - [Search Engine Optimization (SEO)](https://inlocal.marketing/services/search-engine-optimization-seo/): Pay Per Result Search Engine Optimization, or Pay Per Performance SEO Packages with Website Design, Maintenace. You don't pay until you rank. - [Do It Yourself DIY Websites](https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/do-it-yourself-diy-websites/): Website Redesign Rebuild and Re-launch https://inlocal. marketing/wp-content/uploads/rocketman. jpg Tired of do-it-yourself Websites? - [Local SEO / Google My Business (GMB) / Google Business Profile (GBP) / Maps](https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-business-profile-gbp-maps-section/): Google Business Profile Management Services. We are a Digital Internet Marketing Agency offering Affordable SEO Solutions. - [Digital Marketing & SEO Agency](https://inlocal.marketing/): INLocal Marketing is a ✔️ Digital Marketing & SEO Agency offering ✔️ Search Optimization. INternet + INformation + INnovation = RESUTLS! - [Contact](https://inlocal.marketing/contact/): Contact INLocal Marketing & SEO to make an appointment for a phone consultation. We would be happy to help with your internet marketing needs - [About INLocal Marketing](https://inlocal.marketing/about-inlocal-marketing/): IN Local Marketing About INLocal Marketing - [Google’s Ranking Factors](https://inlocal.marketing/googles-ranking-factors/): Are there really 200+ Google Ranking Factors? Are you curious --- ## Posts - [6 Big Things You Can Do on New Year’s Day to Kickstart Your Marketing Journey](https://inlocal.marketing/6-big-things-you-can-do-on-new-years-day-to-kickstart-your-marketing-journey/): New Year’s Day is here! While some people are relaxing - [What Tool Got the Most Buzz in 2024? AI-Driven Personalization](https://inlocal.marketing/what-tool-got-the-most-buzz-in-2024-ai-driven-personalization/): In 2024, the digital marketing world had a new superstar: - [Why LinkedIn’s AI Tools Need a Little Human Touch](https://inlocal.marketing/why-linkedins-ai-tools-need-a-little-human-touch/): LinkedIn’s AI tools are on a mission to make life - [New Influencer Trends: Revolutionize Your Marketing Agency in 2025](https://inlocal.marketing/new-influencer-trends-revolutionize-your-marketing-agency-in-2025/): As we approach the close of 2024, influencer marketing continues - [Avoiding LinkedIn’s Outbound Link Penalties (and Keeping Your Content King)](https://inlocal.marketing/avoiding-linkedins-outbound-link-penalties-and-keeping-your-content-king/): LinkedIn isn’t just a networking platform—it’s the internet’s watercooler for - [What does it take to get ranked in google Search?](https://inlocal.marketing/what-does-it-take-to-get-ranked-in-google-search/): What does it take to get ranked in google Search?. 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They can seem like a bit of a beast, but trust me, once... - [Settle the Social Media Score for Better Marketing](https://inlocal.marketing/settle-the-social-media-score-for-better-marketing/): Choosing the right social media channel for different demographics can - [How to Maximize DMs: Social Media’s Latest Engagement Trend](https://inlocal.marketing/how-to-maximize-dms-social-medias-latest-engagement-trend/): The social media scene is always changing, with new ways - [Plan Your Holiday Email Marketing Campaigns Now: A Comprehensive Guide](https://inlocal.marketing/plan-your-holiday-email-marketing-campaigns-now-a-comprehensive-guide/): The summer’s half gone, and time’s a wastin’! 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Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - [2024 Marketing Trends: What to Expect](https://inlocal.marketing/2024-marketing-trends-what-to-expect/): 2024 Marketing Trends: What to Expect Another year has almost gone. It’s time to review what strategies worked for your... - [Search Engine Optimization Value shown by the Numbers](https://inlocal.marketing/search-engine-optimization-value-shown-by-the-numbers/): Search Engine Optimization Value shown by the Numbers . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - [The Difference between SEO Strategy and Tactics](https://inlocal.marketing/the-difference-between-seo-strategy-and-tactics/): The Difference between SEO Strategy and Tactics . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - [Decoding Google Search Intent & Search Behavior](https://inlocal.marketing/decoding-google-search-intent-search-behavior/): Decoding Google Search Intent & Search Behavior . 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Portland Metro East Side Portland (646,101) SEO Portland | Web Design Portland Vancouver WA (200,000) SEO Vancouver WA | Web Design Vancouver WA Gresham (113,525) SEO Gresham | Web Design Gresham Lake Oswego (Population 40,457) SEO Lake Oswego | Web Design Lake Oswego Oregon City (Population 37,418) SEO Oregon City | Web Design Oregon City West Linn (Population 27,167) SEO West Linn | Web Design West Linn Happy Valley (Population 24,381) SEO Happy Valley | Web Design Happy Valley Milwaukie (Population 21,195) SEO Milwaukie | Web Design Milwaukie Canby (Population 18,127) SEO Canby | SEO Canby Oak Grove (Population 17,535) SEO Oak Grove | Web Design Oak Grove Gladstone (Population 11,996) SEO Gladstone | Web Design Gladstone Damascus (Population 10,555) SEO Damascus | Web Design Damascus Clackamas (Population ~ 10,000) SEO Clackamas | Web Design Clackamas Sunnyside (Population 8,057) SEO Sunnyside | Web Design Sunnyside Portland Metro West Side Hillsboro (106,612) SEO Hillsboro | Web Design Hillsboro Beaverton (97,554) SEO Beaverton | Web Design Beaverton Tigard (55,161) SEO Tigard | Web Design Tigard Aloha (53,532) SEO Aloha | Web Design Aloha Forest Grove / Cornelius (41,215) SEO Forest Grove / Cornelius | Web Design Forest Grove / Cornelius Bethany (30,983) SEO Bethany | Web Design Bethany Tualatin (27,804) SEO Tualatin | Web Design Tualatin Wilsonville (25,992) SEO Wilsonville | Web Design Wilsonville Sherwood (20,286) SEO Sherwood | Web Design Sherwood Cedar Mill / Cedar Hills (19,151 / 9,076) SEO Cedar Mill / Cedar Hills | Web Design Cedar Mill / Cedar Hills Additional Oregon Cities Salem / Keizer (179,043) SEO Salem / Keizer | Web Design Salem / Keizer Eugene / Springfield (382,353) SEO Eugene | Web Design Eugene Bend / Redmond (260,919) SEO Bend / Redmond | Web Design Bend / Redmond Washington State Seattle WA (Population 797,700) SEO Seattle WA Bellevue WA (Population 151,505) SEO Bellevue WA Tacoma WA (Population 225,030) SEO Tacoma WA Spokane WA (Population 553,170) SEO Spokane WA --- - Published: 2024-02-16 - Modified: 2024-02-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/business-listing-management/ We offer a digital knowledge management platform that allows you to manage your public information across multiple online services. You can control your business listings to ensure that your location, hours of operation, and services are consistent and accurate across search engines, social networks, maps, and apps. You will have access to tools that will help analyze customer interactions and optimize our local search performance, which will help you improve your brand engagement and visibility on the internet. --- - Published: 2024-02-14 - Modified: 2024-02-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/website-accessibility-statement/ Accessibility Statement for our website: inlocal. marketing Our provider, EqualWeb, is committed to promoting web accessibility for people with disabilities. We continually improve the user experience for all site visitors and apply the relevant accessibility standards. EqualWeb has taken careful measures to ensure an excellent user experience, regardless of the assistive technology used to access this site. This website conducted a process to implement an automatic accessibility tool to conform as closely as possible to the standards set by the WCAG 2. 2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2. 2) at the AA level. The use of an automatic accessibility widget per our Terms of Service (AS IS). Measures taken to make this website more accessible EqualWeb's automatic accessibility tool implements the following measures to websites on which it is installed: Enables keyboard navigation Fonts - Ability to increase and decrease the site font, adjust, align, etc. Change color contrast based on a dark background Change color contrast based on a light background Change the Site's colors Matching and monochrome option for color-blind people Change the font for readability Increase the cursor and change its color to black or white Increase the display to 200% Highlight links on the site Highlighting headers on the site Display an alternative description of the images Increase the content chosen by the cursor, shown in a tooltip Describe words by mouse selection Displays the site's contents in a new window clearly and readable Enables users to type content using the mouse Stops blinking and flashing of moving elem Compatibility with browsers and assistive technology Our mission goal is to be able to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies possible. We have therefore invested efforts to support popular systems with high market share, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari VoiceOver on a MAC. We have also addressed JAWS and NVDA assistive technologies for Windows and MAC. Technical Specifications Accessibility of this website relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browsers and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer: HTML WAI-ARIA CSS JavaScript These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used. Use of Third-Party Sites & Components When 3rd party components or websites are used on the website, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, chats, and others, which are not statement-controlled by us, it may present challenges for individuals with disabilities that we cannot remedy. Here are samples of Accessibility Policies provided by some 3rd party sites: Facebook accessibility policy YouTube accessibility policy Instagram accessibility Twitter Accessibility LinkedIn Accessibility Physical location accessibility services Our company considers it very important to provide quality, professional, equitable, and accessible service to all our customers, including people with disabilities. Contact details of a Compliance Officer We intend to resolve any complaint to your satisfaction. However, should you have any questions about our accessibility policy, including any requests to exercise your legal rights, please get in touch with our Compliance Officer: Glenn Earls - Owner glennearls@inlocal. marketing Contact us link Feedback Despite our efforts to make site browsing accessible for people with disabilities, some pages may yet be accessible, or the appropriate technological solution has not yet been found. Some pages or sections on this website may have Human mistakes for various reasons. We are dedicated to improving the accessibility features and interface of our product. Notice something wrong? You are most welcome to reach out to us at: INLocal Marketing Glenn Earls - Owner glennearls@inlocal. marketing Notes Despite our efforts to make site browsing accessible for people with disabilities, some pages may yet be accessible, or the appropriate technological solution has not yet been found. We continue to improve site accessibility as much as possible, with the belief and moral commitment to enable the site to be used by the general population, including people with disabilities. You can contact us using the “Feedback” button and completing the form. You may also reach out to us by email at glennearls@inlocal. marketing Date of accessibility statement generate: 14 Feb 2024, 16:52 --- - Published: 2024-02-09 - Modified: 2024-11-08 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marky-ai/ Social Media Marketing with Marky. AI Get 30 Days of Content in 5 minutes! Posts created by marky. ai get 3. 4x the engagement of industry standards Get Marky. ai NOWSorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. Welcome to cutting-edge social media content creation. marky. ai is your AI-powered ally, designed to amplify your online engagement and streamline your content strategy. Marky. ai is a game-changer for creators and marketers alike. The Benefits of marky. ai Engagement Growth - Create content that captivates your audience and grows your following. Operational Efficiency - Free time to focus on strategy and analysis while marky. ai handles content creation and scheduling. Marky. AI is the Go-To Social Media Solution Tailored Content - Experience content that speaks in your voice, aligns with your brand and engages your specific audience. Intuitive Design - Navigate the platform easily, thanks to its user-friendly interface and dedicated customer support. Optimized for Platforms - Whether it's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter, marky. ai ensures your content is primed for each unique environment. Key Features That Set marky. ai Apart: Customization at Your Fingertips - With advanced editing tools for colors, fonts, and logos, your content will always match your brand's style. Seamless Integrations - Connect marky. ai with your CRM and social media platforms for a harmonious and impactful online presence. AI-Driven Hashtag Recommendations - Boost your reach with intelligent hashtag suggestions tailored to your content and audience. Get Marky. ai NOW Get Marky. ai NOWReal Results, Real Testimonials Time and Cost Savings - Users rave about the efficiency and effectiveness of marky. ai, leading to increased followers and engagement. Exceptional Support - Our responsive support team is always on standby to ensure a smooth and successful experience for you. Integration Powerhouse - From TikTok to CRM systems, marky. ai integrates with many tools to automate and enhance your content strategy. Diverse Use Cases Small Businesses to Large Agencies - Whether you're targeting Gen Z on TikTok or managing multiple client accounts, marky. ai adapts to your needs. Success Stories - From doubling engagement rates to reducing workloads, our users' experiences speak volumes about marky. ai's impact. Learn with Demos and Tutorials Comprehensive Demos - Get up to speed with marky. ai's features and how they can revolutionize your content strategy. In-Depth Tutorials - Master the platform with guides on everything from hashtag optimization to CRM integration. Get Marky. ai NOWReady to Transform Your Social Media Strategy? Give marky. ai a whirl with our FREE Trial and witness firsthand how AI can elevate your content game. Join the satisfied users who have seen their social media thrive with marky. ai. Get started now and prepare to be amazed! Get more in-depth info about Marky. ai Get Marky. ai NOWGive Marky. ai a test run on a FREE Trial. --- - Published: 2024-02-09 - Modified: 2024-03-20 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/online-reviews-reputation-management/ Online Review Generation & Reputation Management Do you manage your Business Reviews and online reputation? Did you know that 67% of people will not buy from a business with less than a 3-star overall review ranking? Get more 5 Star Reviews We make it easy to get more Google reviews, boost your star rating, improve your online visibility, and connect with your customers. Maximizing Business Success: The Impact of Strategic Review Management Maximizing Business Success Through Review Management: Learn how effective review management strategies can help businesses build a solid online reputation, attract a loyal customer base, and enhance visibility, credibility, and revenue. The Importance of Review Management Online reviews are a cornerstone of modern business success, significantly influencing consumer perceptions and purchasing decisions. Review management involves actively monitoring and responding to customer feedback on various online platforms to cultivate trust, credibility, and a positive brand image. Research indicates that online reviews impact consumer behavior, with 93% of individuals considering reviews when purchasing. For example, a study found that businesses with excellent reviews can expect consumers to spend 31% more on their products or services. This underscores the pivotal role of reviews in shaping consumer preferences and highlights the necessity for businesses to adopt effective review management strategies. The power of online reviews in consumer decision-making cannot be underestimated. Consumers heavily rely on reviews, with 93% acknowledging their influence on purchasing decisions. Businesses with positive reviews can attract consumers willing to spend more, as evidenced by a 31% increase in consumer spending on companies with excellent feedback. Additionally, the action-driven nature of consumers is evident, with 72% taking steps only after reading a positive review. This exemplifies how positive reviews can trigger consumer engagement and drive business growth. Strong Reviews Generate TRUST 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. 88% of consumers claim that reviews impact their buying decisions. 88% of consumers say reviews with good rankings make them trust a local business more. 92% of B2B buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a trusted review. 94% say an online review has convinced them to avoid a business. Companies risk losing as many as 22% of customers when just one negative article is found by users considering buying their product. To convert visitors to leads and sales, they need to TRUST. To a large degree, people decide whether or not they can trust your business based on online reviews. Benefits of Review Management Strategies for Businesses Attracting New Customers and Driving Revenue Positive reviews are not only instrumental in attracting new customers but also in driving revenue for businesses. A study revealed that businesses with positive reviews can generate 31% more revenue than those with negative feedback. Reviews are trusted as much as personal recommendations, with 87% of consumers placing their faith in online feedback. Responding to reviews can lead to a significant 116% increase in conversion rates, emphasizing the direct correlation between review management and customer engagement. For example, a local restaurant encourages satisfied customers to leave reviews on popular platforms like Yelp and Google. By doing so, the restaurant not only garners positive feedback from patrons but also boosts its online visibility and credibility. As a result, the restaurant attracts new customers influenced by the glowing reviews, ultimately driving revenue growth and enhancing its reputation in the competitive dining industry. Maintaining customer loyalty is crucial to business success, and positive reviews play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. Research shows that 70% of consumers are more likely to trust a business with positive reviews. Additionally, 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as recommendations from friends and family, highlighting the importance of positive feedback in retaining customer loyalty. Businesses can bolster trust and credibility by promptly addressing negative reviews and showcasing a commitment to customer satisfaction, leading to increased customer retention rates. Addressing negative reviews promptly can significantly impact customer satisfaction and loyalty. For instance, a retail store that responds to a customer's complaint about a product issue by offering a solution and expressing genuine concern showcases its dedication to customer service. By addressing negative feedback in a timely and empathetic manner, businesses can retain existing customers and demonstrate transparency and a customer-centric approach that resonates positively with their clientele. Enhancing Online Visibility and SEO Success Establishing a robust online presence is essential for businesses seeking to expand their reach and attract a broader customer base. Positive reviews are crucial in enhancing a company's visibility on search engines. Businesses with a high volume of positive reviews are more likely to rank higher in search engine results, increasing their chances of attracting new customers. The visibility gained through positive reviews is critical to driving organic traffic to a company's website and improving its online performance. Search engine algorithms prioritize user-generated content like reviews when ranking search results. This means businesses with positive reviews benefit from higher visibility and improved search engine optimization (SEO) outcomes. For example, a study found that reviews account for 15% of how Google ranks local search results, highlighting the significance of positive feedback in boosting a business's online presence. By actively managing and cultivating positive reviews, companies can enhance their online visibility, attract organic traffic, and ultimately increase their revenue streams. Investing in review management strategies that foster positive customer feedback can bring tangible benefits regarding SEO success and enhanced online visibility. By leveraging the power of positive reviews, businesses can strengthen their digital footprint, outperform competitors in search results, and drive business growth. Automatically generate ongoing high-ranking reviews. INLocal’s review generation solution can connect to any CRM and automatically request clients to review your business (or product/service) via email and SMS. You may also send review requests whenever you want. One-click takes customers to top review sites. Automate one-click review generation on leading sites while controlling the right review balance across all the sites that are important to you. We work with all publishers. Address negative feedback privately. If customers provide negative feedback, you can manage... --- - Published: 2024-01-06 - Modified: 2024-05-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/reviews-testimonials/ Reviews & Testimonials for INLocal Marketing (Some reviews have been edited for grammar and length) First Class ProfessionalsGlenn and his team at INLocal Marketing are first-class professionals and always go above and beyond to make sure that the job is done right! I highly recommend them! Andy FFirst Page MagicThey applied some first-page magic to my business and I haven’t steered away from them ever since. Show ChandraProfessional, Accountable, and ConsistentGlenn has been phenomenal throughout this entire marketing campaign. He’s professional, accountable, and consistent, which are highly valuable traits for someone in charge of most of the marketing for your business. Glenn knows his local SEO and has proved it with the results he has brought me. To say I’m impressed is an understatement. Carmella ZartmanHave Helped our Business TremendouslyHave helped our real estate flipping business tremendously with their local support to our SEO and website development. Their team is easy to get in contact with and their managers update on the status of campaigns every month. The reports are detailed and allow us to see where we are performing the most effectively. This enables us to target the audience that gives us the most engagement and strengthen it even more. We also know where we are lacking and can build foundational ground for improvement. Special thanks to INLocal Marketing for shedding light on this information. Jared S. I highly recommendI’ve known Glenn for over four decades. He exhibits high integrity, product knowledge, attention to detail, and personal attention. I highly recommend him. Craig D. Wonderful to work with such a Professional Group of PeopleIt is wonderful to work with such a professional group of people. I would recommend them to my family and friends and not be worried they would tarnish my name. They have backed up everything they promise they would. It is a pleasure to work with them and I will continue to in the future. Jeffrey John SandersComplete ProfessionalismI hired Glenn to create and effectively manage my business website. The return on my investment since working with Glenn can be summed up with one word: Outstanding. Everything from the most complicated development processes to ongoing updates and changes he acted with complete professionalism. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Kathryn A. MesserThey can be Trusted. Some of the most effective marketing strategies I’ve ever seen put to use is from INLocal Marketing. They get results and actually prove to you what they’re doing month to month. They can be trusted. Serena MichelsenFast, fair friendlyFast, fair friendly and outstanding in their field. Shawn Jenson Jenson General Contracting IncThey Blew my Expectations Out of the WaterI hired this SEO company for complex web design. They blew my expectations out of the water. I didn’t expect it to be so well engineered for my audience and targeted to my local market. They certainly understand how to properly construct a website that has all the necessary functions to acquire new prospects for a service or product. My website has been receiving organic traffic at a pretty considerable pace in a short period of time. I don’t think that’s blind luck! I was able to communicate with a service representative any time I had a question or needed assistance. I felt like I was valued as a customer and taken seriously throughout the entirety of this project. With that in mind, this is an SEO company I would recommend for your web design project, whether you’re local or non-local to them. Lissa S. Innovative ThinkerGlenn is an innovative thinker and a networking go-getter. His interpersonal skills are remarkable and his energy is impressive. Travis Rogers Jr. The Sentinel & Rural NewsKnowledgeable and Does Quality WorkI’ve known Glenn for years and he is a man of integrity who is knowledgeable and does quality work. Jerry SPhenomenalMy experience with Glenn has been phenomenal. His work in setting up a public website for my books, articles, and audio resources was outstanding. Glenn is both creative and responsive, a rare combination. My jaw dropped at the final product. I heartily recommend his services. Richard MurrayHighly RecommendVery easy to work with and very knowledgeable. Our Website went from being on the second and third page to the top of the first. I highly recommend to anyone trying to increase web traffic! ColtonChevs of the 40sGreat to work withGreat SEO work, outstanding human being. Great to work with. Mikki Meisner Kangen Water StoreI Remain on the First PageI appreciate the leaps and bounds this company has gone through to ensure the success of my small business. I remain on the first page of my niche and because of it, I’ve been able to make more than enough money to start looking in a different direction. Before it was the same old stresses, but since hiring Glenn, things have turned around for the better. I look forward to a continued partnership. Hogsetto DessaCustomer Service... Second to NoneThe customer service I receive from Glenn is always second to none. He’s very reliable and knowledgeable regarding favorable information that’d usually kept hidden. SEO and digital marketing are like an entirely different beast in this day and age, so getting someone competent to manage it is no easy task. I finally found the right fit with Glenn of INLocal Marketing. Nannie CutchinHappy to RecommendHappy to recommend INLocal Marketing to anyone looking for web design or SEO help. They have been helping me set up an online presence for my small business. They have walked me through the process of online marketing and have really dumbed down a lot of the technical information so that it’s comprehensive for me. My website has started giving me that professional presence, and it makes me feel confident when servicing my customers. I have INLocal Marketing to thank for this. I recommend their services to anyone looking to get established in the online space. Kristen E. Exceptional ServiceSince 2010 INlocal has been my exclusive internet marketing company. They built my website and have managed... --- > Full Google PPC Management. Expert PPC strategies. Optimized PPC campaigns. Best Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Agency in Portland Oregon. - Published: 2023-12-18 - Modified: 2023-12-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-pay-per-click-ads-ppc/ Crafting a Winning Strategy with PPC Google Ads Harness the power of PPC Google Ads and propel your business to new heights. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising with Google Ads is a dynamic way to place your brand in the spotlight and capture the attention of potential customers precisely when they're searching for what you offer. What are PPC Google Ads? PPC Google Ads is an online advertising model where you can display ads for your products or services on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs). You only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it a cost-effective way to drive targeted traffic to your website. The Advantages of PPC Google Ads 1. Targeted Reach: With PPC Google Ads, you can target your audience based on demographics, interests, location, and even the time of day. This means your ads are shown to people who are most likely to be interested in your products or services. 2. Measurable ROI: Google Ads provides robust tracking and analytics tools, allowing you to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. You can track conversions, determine your return on investment, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your ad spend. 3. Flexible Budgeting: Whether you're a small local business or a large corporation, PPC Google Ads allows you to set your own budget and adjust it at any time. You have complete control over how much you spend on each campaign. 4. Immediate Impact: Unlike organic search strategies that take time to build, PPC Google Ads can provide immediate results. As soon as your campaign is live, your ads start reaching potential customers, driving traffic, and increasing the chances of conversions. 5. Brand Exposure: Even if users don't click on your ad, they still see your business name and what you offer. This increases brand awareness and keeps you top of mind for future purchasing decisions. Crafting Your PPC Google Ads Campaign To make the most of your PPC Google Ads, it's essential to craft a well-thought-out campaign. Here's where our expertise comes into play. We'll help you: - Select the right keywords to target the customers who are looking for your services. - Create compelling ad copy that speaks to the needs and desires of your audience. - Design landing pages that convert visitors into customers. - Continuously test and optimize your ads for better performance. Ready to drive more traffic and generate more leads? Let's talk about how PPC Google Ads can transform your digital marketing strategy. Contact us today to get started on your journey to PPC success. Remember, while PPC Google Ads can be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal, it's also important to consider a holistic approach that includes various strategies. INLocal Marketing is a full-service Digital Marketing Agency we have many strategies to help your business see the greatest return on marketing investment. Not all digital marketing agencies get this right. Don't forget to explore our Saatchi AI tool to enhance your social media presence and engage with your audience effectively. Together, we can design, delight, and deliver exceptional results for your business. --- - Published: 2023-12-16 - Modified: 2024-10-31 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/ Digital Marketing Services INLocal Marketing is based in Portland Oregon but serves the entire US. Digital marketing, also called online marketing, is the promotion of brands to connect with potential customers using the Internet and other forms of digital communication. This includes not only email, social media, and web-based advertising, but also text and multimedia messages as a marketing channel. Professionally Built Websites Content Marketing Blog / Newsletters E-commerce / Online Stores Articles / Ebooks Case Studies White Papers Website Accessibility (ADA) AI Chatbots Search Engine Marketing (SEM) - Google Search Results Page (SERPs) Google Ads (PPC) - Pay Per Click Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Google Local Service Ads (LSA) Search Box Optimization (SBO) Local SEO / Google My Business (GMB) / Google Business Profile (GBP) / Maps Google Display Network Social Media Ads Facebook Advertising Linkedin Outreach Brand Building Google Business Profile (Maps) Bing Business Profile Review Generation Reputation Management Social Profiles & Social Posting Influencer Marketing Business & Voice Search Listing Online Press Releases Company Communication / Prospecting Email Direct Marketing Text Only (SMS) Text Multi-Media (MMS) Direct Message Marketing Video INLocal Marketing Portland 100 SW Main St. Portland, OR 97204 Portland OR | Beaverton OR | Hillsboro OR | Gresham OR | Lake Oswego OR | Tigard OR | Tualatin OR | Wilsonville OR | Happy Valley OR | Oregon City OR | Salem OR INLocal Marketing Vancouver WA 4400 NE 77th Ave #275 Vancouver, WA, 98682 Vancouver WA INLocal Marketing Seattle 801 2nd Ave. Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98104 Seattle WA | Bellevue WA | Kent WA | Renton WA | Federal Way WA | Tacoma WA INLocal Marketing Spokane 601 W 1st Ave Suite 1400, Spokane, WA 99201 Spokane WA | Spokane Valley WA INLocal Marketing Salt Lake City 222 S Main St. 5th Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Salt Lake City UT | Ogden UT | Orem UT | Provo UT | West Jordan UT | West Valley City UT INLocal Marketing Denver 1400 16th Street, 16 Market Square #400, Denver, CO 80202 SEO Denver CO | Arvada CO | Aurora CO | Boulder CO | Colorado Springs CO | Fort Collins CO | Longmont CO INLocal Marketing Sacramento 980 9th St. 16th floor Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento CA | Elk Grove CA | Stockton CA | Modesto CA | Fresno CA INLocal Marketing San Jose 99 S Almaden Blvd. Suite 600, San Jose, CA 95113 San Jose CA | Santa Clara CA | Sunnyvale CA | Fremont CA | San Francisco CA INLocal Marketing Santa Ana 901 W Civic Center Dr. Suite 400, Santa Ana, CA 92703 Santa Ana CA | Huntington Beach CA | Irvine CA | Long Beach CA | Anaheim CA | Torrance CA | Glendale CA | Pasadena CA | Los Angeles CA | Santa Clarita CA INLocal Marketing Riverside 11801 Pierce St. Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92505 Riverside CA | San Bernardino CA | Ontario CA | Corona CA INLocal Marketing Las Vegas 400 S 4th St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 Las Vegas NV | Henderson NV | Reno NV | Sparks NV | Carson City NV INLocal Marketing Phoenix 20 E Thomas Rd. #2200 Phoenix, AZ 85012 Phoenix AZ | Chandler AZ | Mesa AZ | Glendale AZ | Gilbert AZ | Goodyear AZ | Peoria AZ | Scottsdale AZ | Surprise AZ | Tempe AZ | Tucson AZ INLocal Marketing Kansas City 1301 Oak St. Kansas City, MO 64106 Independence MO | Kansas City MO | Kansas City KS | Olathe KS | Overland Park KS | Topeka KS INLocal Marketing Oklahoma City 101 Park Ave. Suite 1300, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Oklahoma City OK | Tulsa OK INLocal Marketing Dallas / Fort Worth 2626 Cole Ave. Suite 488 Dallas, TX 75204 Arlington TX | Carrollton TX | Dallas TX | Denton TX | Fort Worth TX | Frisco TX | Garland TX | Grand Prairie TX | Irving TX | McKinney TX | Mesquite TX | Plano TX | Richardson TX INLocal Marketing Houston 3730 Kirby Dr. Suite #1200, Houston, TX 77098 Austin TX | Beaumont TX | College Station TX | Houston TX | Killeen TX | Pasadena TX | Pearland TX | Round Rock TX | San Antonio TX --- > We manage and optimize your Google Local Service Ads in Portland, Oregon. Google Guaranteed LSA are listed at the top of Google Search. - Published: 2023-12-16 - Modified: 2025-03-13 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-local-service-ads-lsa/ Google Local Service Ads (LSA) Ongoing Management Maximizing Visibility with Google Local Service Ads Welcome to the world of Google Local Service Ads, where connecting with potential customers in your area has never been easier. As a local business owner, you understand the importance of being seen by the right people at the right time. Google Local Service Ads are designed to do just that—putting your services front and center when customers in your community are searching for the solutions you provide. What Are Google Local Service Ads? Google Local Service Ads are a game-changing advertising platform allowing local businesses to appear at the top of Google search results. These ads are tailored explicitly for service-oriented businesses looking to reach local customers. When someone in your area searches for services you offer, your ad can appear above traditional search results, giving you a competitive edge. With Google Local Services Ads, advertisers pay per lead, not per click. Tired of paying for clicks? You can finally get guaranteed phone calls from quality leads, or you DON'T pay for it. MAKE YOUR PHONE RING, OR YOU DON'T PAY More INFO: About Google Local Service AdsAbout Google Local Service Ads Google Local Services Ads (LSAs) represent a transformative approach for local service businesses aiming to enhance their online visibility and directly connect with potential customers. By appearing at the top of Google search results, these ads showcase critical business information such as services offered, customer ratings, and reviews, thereby significantly boosting a business's visibility and establishing its credibility among prospective clients. This increased online presence is especially crucial in today's digital age, where consumers frequently rely on search engines to find and evaluate local services. One of the most appealing aspects of LSAs is their cost-effectiveness. Unlike traditional pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, where costs can accumulate quickly with each click, regardless of the outcome, LSAs adopt a pay-per-lead model. This means that businesses only pay when a potential customer takes the initiative to contact them directly through the ad, such as by phone call or message request. This model is particularly advantageous for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that aim to optimize their advertising spend while focusing on attracting local customers actively seeking their services. By aligning costs with actual business inquiries, LSAs provide a financially viable advertising solution that aligns with the goals and budget constraints of local businesses. How Google Local Service Ads Work Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) introduce a distinctive approach to digital advertising, fundamentally different from traditional pay-per-click models. In the LSA model, businesses predetermine a weekly budget which directly influences the number of leads they receive—paying only when a potential customer makes direct contact through the ad. This pay-per-lead system offers a high degree of financial control, allowing businesses to scale their advertising efforts in alignment with their lead management capabilities and budgetary constraints. By bidding for leads within this framework, businesses can strategically adjust their spending to optimize the return on investment. LSAs are designed to capture the attention of potential customers at the moment they are searching for relevant services. These ads are prominently displayed above traditional paid search ads and organic search results on Google, ensuring maximum visibility. To further refine this visibility, Google employs a sophisticated matching algorithm that pairs customer search queries with the most relevant LSAs based on the services offered and the geographical location of the business. This mechanism ensures that businesses are not just seen but seen by the right audience, significantly increasing the chances of converting leads into customers. The integration of LSAs into a business’s marketing strategy, especially when managed by experts like those at INLocal Marketing, can lead to a substantial improvement in lead quality and conversion rates. The Benefits of Google Local Service Ads 1. Increased Visibility: Your business will be one of the first options potential customers see, increasing the likelihood they'll choose your services over competitors. 2. Pay-Per-Lead: Unlike traditional pay-per-click models, you only pay when a customer contacts you directly through the ad, ensuring your marketing budget is spent on genuine leads. 3. Built-In Trust: Google Local Service Ads come with a Google Guarantee badge, offering customers peace of mind and enhancing your business's credibility. 4. Targeted Reach: Ads are shown to customers within your specified service area, making your marketing efforts more efficient and cost-effective. 5. Easy to Use: With a straightforward setup and management process, you can adjust your ad spend, pause campaigns, and track leads with ease. MORE INFO: The Google Guarantee and Google Screened BadgesThe Google Guarantee and Google Screened Badges The Google Guarantee and Google Screened badges serve as powerful endorsements within Google Local Service Ads (LSAs), each tailored to different types of businesses but both aimed at building consumer trust. The Google Guarantee badge is particularly impactful for home service providers, such as plumbers and electricians. It signifies that Google has thoroughly vetted the business for reliability and trustworthiness, providing an added layer of confidence to consumers. Should a customer be dissatisfied with the quality of work, Google offers reimbursement up to a certain amount, making this badge a strong selling point for businesses aiming to differentiate themselves in crowded markets. The Google Screened badge focuses on professional service businesses, including those in the legal and real estate sectors. To earn this badge, businesses must undergo a detailed background check and have their professional licenses verified by Google. This rigorous screening process ensures that only reputable professionals are endorsed, thereby enhancing the credibility of these businesses in the eyes of potential clients. As with the Google Guarantee, the Google Screened badge significantly influences consumer perceptions, leading to higher engagement rates and more leads. For businesses looking to establish a strong online presence, earning these badges can be pivotal in converting searchers into clients, as they symbolize Google's vote of confidence in the quality and reliability of the services offered. Google Local Services Ads Management Partner with Us to manage your Google Local Service Ads At InLocal Marketing,... --- > Google Page Speed is now a MAJOR ranking factor. We're EXPERTS at page speed optimization and can quickly help your site reach blazing-fast speeds. - Published: 2022-05-29 - Modified: 2023-12-18 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-page-speed-optimization/ Google Page Speed Optimization Gotta Go Fast! Have you ever clicked a link on a website and had to sit and wait for the page to load? Not only is it frustrating for the user, but detrimental to the overall health and ranking of the website. If you want to get ranked on the first page of Google, your pages need to move fast! PAGE SPEED MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE The image below is our site's page speed. How does your website measure up? "We're obsessed with speed" - Google We can SPEED UP YOUR WEBSITE Google Page Speed (how long it takes for a page to load) has been a known ranking factor since 2010 on desktop and 2018 on mobile. But now Google is raising the bar and Page Speed will now be a MAJOR ranking factor.   As of May 2021, Google is adding another set of speed-related ranking signals with the introduction of Core Web Vitals (CWVs) in a major Core Algorithm Update. These factors are part of what Google considers a good "Page Experience" for the end user. Check your website page speed NOW 30-second summary: Google plans to update its algorithm in 2021 to include a factor called Page Experience. This includes existing Google Search signals such as mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, HTTPS, and intrusive interstitial guidelines. It also includes metrics in Google’s Web Vitals to do with a site’s loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. For site owners and others, understanding these signals and making the necessary changes should be a priority. Among the steps to take are optimizing for mobile, improving page speeds, CTAs, and alt text for images. #1 Loading Measures perceived load speed. That’s the point in the page load timeline when the main content is likely to have loaded. The first Core Web Vital, Largest Contentful Paint, essentially measures how quickly the largest and most important piece of page content loads in the initial viewport for a user visiting the site. To pass a Core Web Vitals assessment, this piece of content needs to load in under 2. 5 seconds. It also accounts for 25% of your Google Performance Score. You can read more about the details here. #2 Interactivity The time from when a user first interacts with a page – a click or a tap, for example — to the time when the browser begins processing that interaction. The second Core Web Vital, First Input Delay, measures how responsive your web page is to user input, like the clicking of a button. To pass a Core Web Vitals assessment, your web page needs to register a response time under 100 milliseconds. It also accounts for 25% of your Google Performance Score. You can read more about the details here. #3 Visual stability  This has to do with preventing annoying and unexpected movement of page content. The third Core Web Vital, Cumulative Layout Shift, measures the stability of your web page and whether elements move out of place as additional ones are loaded. To pass a Core Web Vitals assessment, your web page needs to register a score under . 1. It also accounts for 5% of your Google Performance Score. You can read more about the details here. A big Opportunity for your business Ready to Get Started? Don't lose ranking in Google because of a SLOW WEBSITE! Let's GET FAST! Contact Us for a 10 minute consultation of what we can do to speed up your site and improve your Google Ranking. Let's Talk! NOT SURE? The longer you procrastinate or wait to see what happens could be devastating to your ability to rank in the future. Get More INFO --- - Published: 2022-05-29 - Modified: 2024-02-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/why-choose-a-digital-marketing-agency/ What is a Digital Marketing Agency? The Way It Used to Be Not that many years ago, if you wanted to "Advertise" your business, you might have hired an "Advertising Agency. " The reason to hire an "agency" was to have ONE contact point that could advise you on the differing advertising mediums and create a diversified advertising strategy. Each advertising medium had its salespeople who would call on your business. The TV salespeople, the RADIO salespeople, The Direct Mail salespeople, the Yellow Pages salespeople, etc. These salespeople would try to convince you that their medium was the best for your business to reach your potential customers. Traditional Advertising Then came the "DIGITAL" age of Advertising. Again, not many years ago, "digital" advertising was Television and Radio. Today, many "digital marketing channels" can be used to reach potential customers. Digital Marketing can be complex depending on the level of integration and tactics you apply across your digital marketing strategy and campaigns. Like in the past, some companies specialize in specific marketing channels. Some companies are SEO specialists, social media specialists, pay-per-click specialists, web design specialists, etc. Each of these companies specializing in a particular channel has "Sales People" who tell you they can help you get leads and reach potential customers through their channel. These companies even call themselves "Digital Marketing" agencies even though they do not handle all digital marketing channels. Digital Marketing You want to hire a Digital Marketing Agency If your GOAL is to market your business online, then make sure you are talking to a Marketing Agency that understands ALL the digital channels and can help you decide which ones are right for your business. A Digital Marketing Agency understands MEDIA MIX. A media mix is a marketing term for the combination of marketing channels a business uses to meet its marketing goals. The reason to hire a Digital “agency” is to have ONE contact point to advise you on the differing digital marketing channels and create a strategic marketing strategy. As a business owner, you want a Digital Marketing Agency that can help you understand the different marketing channels and how each of those channels can benefit your business. You DON'T want to hire a "Social Media" agency, a Web Design Company, or a Pay-per-click specialist. Hire a Digital Marketing Agency who can help you with a comprehensive marketing strategy that sees the big picture. Focus on the Big Picture You don't want to piece a marketing strategy together with several "specialists" who are only promoting the marketing channels they want to sell you. Don't hire a website company to build your website. Don't hire an SEO specialist. Don't hire a Social Media specialist. Don't hire a company that all they do is Pay Per Click Ads. Don't hire a review / reputation management company. --- - Published: 2022-05-29 - Modified: 2024-09-22 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/getting-found-in-search/ Would you Rather SEARCH for Customers -OR- Have READY TO BUY Customers SEARCH for you? As a business you can spend a lot of time, effort and money trying to create interest in your product or service. Businesses Searching for CUTOMERS -OR- Be in the right place when people are already interested in your product or service and are READY TO BUY. CUSTOMERS Searching for Businesses Your Customers are Here! What happens when someone searches on Google? A recent study determined that 93% of all website traffic is generated by an initial search in Google! Studies show that users will overwhelmingly choose natural organic results over paid ones. Organic Search Results are what people most often click on when looking at a Google Search Results page. Organic Search Results refers to the way a website "organically" or "naturally" appears in a search result. So when you go to Google, and you type in "plumber' or "roofer", the results that appear after the Google ads are the "organic" results. Google wants to make sure that searchers are not only getting the results they need but wants to give them the best possible outcomes based on their query. Therefore, these results are ranked by relevance based on what you entered into the Google search bar, aka “keywords or Keyword phrases”. 93% of people use Google when looking for products, services and businesses. 71. 33% of Google searches result in a page 1 Google organic click. Page two and three only get 5. 59% of the clicks. Only about 15% of people who search on Google will click on a PAID AD or click on a MAP LISTING. A 2012 study conducted by GroupM UK and Nielsen demonstrated that users will overwhelmingly choose natural organic results over paid ones. The study sample included 1. 4 billion searches and showed the organic listings won 94 percent of the clicks. In order to benefit from Google search traffic and organic clicks to your website your business needs to hold a prominent organic position in the search results, on the 1st page. --- - Published: 2022-05-28 - Modified: 2024-09-22 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/digital-marketing-channels/ What Is Digital Marketing? The Eco-System of DIGITAL MARKETING Using ONLINE Digital MARKETING we can promote your brand and achieve the Rapport, and Trust you need so that BUYERS will feel confident in making purchasing decisions and choose your company over a competitor. The broad scope of Digital Marketing includes Website Design and Management, SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Email Marketing, Social Media, Reputation Management & Online Reviews, Mobile Marketing, Video Marketing, PPC Pay-Per-Click Advertising, and any promotional activities that are done via wireless media. There are 6 main channels of digital marketing... We build these channels on the FOUNDATION of a Professional Website with great design and customer experience (UX) built with SEO in mind from the ground up... The 6 Main Channels of Digital Marketing#1 Content Marketing Website / Landing Page / Capture Page Inbound Marketing or Attraction Marketing Case Studies, eBooks, Whitepapers, Checklists Blogs, Articles, Infographics, Videos, Posts #2 Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Organic Search Engine Optimization - SEO LOCAL SEO - Maps, Google my Business Listing Online Business Directories Online Review Sites Pay Per Click Text Ads on Search Engines #3 Email Marketing / CRM Outbound or Outreach Marketing Email Newsletters / Periodicals Email Drip Campaigns Email Blast #4 Social Marketing (SMM) Online Networking Groups / Forums Reputation Management #5 Display Ads Google Display Network Social Media Platforms Contextual Advertising Retargeting Ads #6 Video Marketing YouTube Webinars / Classes Education / Instruction / How to For a Cohesive Marketing Strategy Everything you do with these Marketing Channels should LINK BACK to your WEBSITE as the foundation --- - Published: 2022-05-28 - Modified: 2024-02-08 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/build-your-brand/ If you have a business there is one thing you need over everything else... You need people to BUY your Product or Services. You NEED SALES. There is an old adage or saying when it comes to sales: People BUY from people that they Know, Like and Trust. A Business can create the KNOW, LIKE, TRUST by building their BRAND through Digital Marketing The 7 steps of the selling process:Sales Steps 1,2,3 are about MARKETING or PROMOTING YOUR BRAND! 1. Introduction (first impression) Rule of Likability - Friendly, Open, Genuine 2. Build Rapport (connect) Rule of Relationship - Personal, Interested, Attentive 3. Earn Trust (ask questions) Rule of Listening - Needs Assesment, Focused on Them If you skip 1, 2, 3 and go right to slamming someone with info or asking them to buy it is a lot tougher to get the sales you want. Digital Marketing Channels can Create Awareness (introduction), Build Rapport (Connection), and Earn TRUST. The TOP OF THE SALES PROCCESS OR FUNNEL is Marketing You can use Digital Marketing for the purpose of Building your Brand. You can achieve the Introduction, Rapport, and Trust you need so that BUYERS will feel confident in making purchasing decisions and choose your company over a competitor. Sales Steps 4-7 are about SELLING and creating a new customer! These Steps Come at the BOTTOM OF THE SALES PROCESS 4. Provide Information (products or services) Rule of Value - Be a Resource, Bring Value, Meet Needs, Solve Problems 5. Overcome Objections (answer questions) The Rule of Patience - Don't go right to the sale, Show Understanding and Empathy 6. Ask for the Sale - (find agreement) The Rule of Acknowledgment - Confirm and Congratulate, Set Expectations 7. Follow-up (meet expectations) The Rule of Reciprocity - Mutually Beneficial --- > ADA accessibility for websites is not new, but a wave of lawsuits have started to emerge across a range of industries. - Published: 2022-05-05 - Modified: 2024-02-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/website-accessibility-compliance-with-the-ada/ Website Accessibility Compliance with the ADA Your business can be fined or sued for not having a website that is accessible. US Supreme Court Ruling on ADA While the issue of ADA accessibility for websites is not new, a wave of lawsuits has emerged across various industries, bringing the topic of ADA compliance to the forefront for businesses. The Supreme Court has ruled that all business websites must be ADA-compliant according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Businesses that do not make their website accessible could face heavy fines and civil lawsuits. Watch this Explainer Video If you receive an ADA Demand letter or summons, your business could face: Fines: $75,000 to $150,000 Attorney Fees: $5,000 to $20,000 Civil Lawsuits: $$$$ Protect Your Business NOW! ADA Compliance for websites Is ADA compliance mandatory for websites? dis·a·bil·i·ty Definition: a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. ADA compliance is short for the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. That means all electronic information and technology—i. e. , your website—must be accessible to those with disabilities. The ADA does not explicitly address online compliance, even after undergoing several amendments in the far more web-oriented era of 2008. With no specific coverage under the law, it usually falls to the courts to determine how ADA standards apply to websites—or whether they do at all. If you are wondering if your business is legally obligated to make your website accessible in the U. S. , and whether your website falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the answer is yes, all websites need to be accessible. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bans discrimination against any person with a disability, which includes communications technology, apps and websites. So if your website has barriers, you could be at risk. 1 - Mobility and Physical Impairments. 2 - Spinal Cord Disability. 3 - Head Injuries - Brain Disability. 4 - Vision Disability. 5 - Hearing Disability. 6 - Cognitive or Learning Disabilities. 7 - Psychological Disorders. 8 - Invisible Disabilities. AI-powered website accessibility solution Mental health disorders fall under the umbrella of invisible accessibility barriers. Websites with auto-play or moving content can be impossible to navigate for those with ADHD. Individuals who struggle with eating disorders cannot safely use social media due to trigger foods appearing in their feed. Those with PTSD may avoid these platforms all together due to the failure for people to preface content with trigger warnings. Most importantly, the solution that these individuals have for their struggles is to delete or stop accessing these websites if they cannot cope with it. The most common rebuttal for this is: designing for mental health barriers is too nuanced and abstract. The answer: give your website users a *choice* on how they experience websites. Design is already moving towards customization. Give users the ability to manipulate the site or filter out harmful engagement, avoid triggering content, and toggle accessibility options. ADA Website Accessibility Lawsuits are coming for your business. The number of suits and plaintiffs are expected to explode in the next few years. View this CBS News Story about a Disabled Veteran who had already filed over 150 lawsuits as of 2019 when this story aired. Disability Advocacy Groups are Encouraging Disabled Persons to File Lawsuits Against Businesses to Force Change. - Accessability. com Report In 2021 265,000 website accessibility demand letters were sent to businesses. U. S. companies have spent billions of dollars in legal costs as a direct result of inaccessible websites in 2020 alone 2,352 website accessibility lawsuits were filed in 2021. Consumer Goods, Services & Retail companies were targeted the most. New York had more than 62% of all the cases filed nationwide. More than 22% of all website accessibility lawsuits were filed by five plaintiffs. According to Kris Rivenburgh (Attorney and author of The ADA Book) "If you receive a website (or app) accessibility demand letter under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), $25,000 is a conservative final tab after you're done at the buffet of plaintiff's law firm. " He further itemizes the costs for a "smallish" business - "allocating $5,000 – $15,000 to the plaintiff's law firm, $5,000 to your defense attorney, and between $5,000 and $20,000 for audit and remediation costs. " Watch this video from WFLA News Channel 8 for the story of one small business owner who was sued. The Solution Step 1 - Assess Assess the Website with a thorough review and audit. Step 2 - Implement Implement an automated widget on the website that solves up to 90% of problems. Step 3 - (Optional) Manual Remediation of the website, if needed, addresses any problems the automated widget can't solve. (For large websites or websites that need extensive manual remediation, we may use a 3rd party company that completes the work). Step 4 - Monitor Once ADA updates are made on your website, an ongoing review and audit must be conducted to ensure the website meets current and future ADA requirements. What exactly makes a website ADA-compliant? While many components go into an ADA website conversion, below are some key considerations: Websites should have easily resizable text with a high contrast mode option to make the text easier to read for sight-impaired visitors. Photos need text descriptions for external screen reader devices so that sight-impaired visitors can interpret the content. PDF documents must also be properly tagged so screen readers can properly interpret non-HTML content. Videos on your website should include audio descriptions and transcripts for people who are hard of hearing. For those with limited motor skills, all key website functionality must be accessible through a keyboard. Get your website ADA-compliant ASAP - WCAG 2. 1, ADA, Section 508, and EN 301549 compliance - Full Compliance Guaranteed with ADA certificate & year-round protection - Take the First Step – one-line-of-code to fix most issues - Become Disability Friendly - open your website for everyone - It's the Law - protect yourself from lawsuits The... --- - Published: 2022-04-24 - Modified: 2024-02-08 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/ Market your Business - Marketing & Advertising Basics Two Categories of Customers Those that KNOW you Repeat Customers Referred by a friend Heard about your business Have seen your advertising Know your business name Aware of your Brand You’ve got to remind them of who you are, keep them interested, and continue to earn their loyalty! Those that DON'T KNOW you Looking for Any Business No Particular Name in mind No Particular Brand Awareness No Knowledge of your business You've got to build your brand & identity, show your uniqueness and value, and highlight your reputation. We call this the THE KNOWN MARKET and THE UNKNOWN MARKET You can reach these 2 types of customers through Advertising Two Types of Advertising PROMOTIONAL / CREATIVE Sellers Seeking Buyers TV & Radio Ads, Billboards Magazines, Newspapers Direct Mail, Email Online Display Ads Video Marketing Social Media Promotional Advertising "creates" interest and "awareness" of your brand, products, and services. It creates a desire to buy or find out more. A Business Searching for CUSTOMERS DIRECTIONAL / SEARCH Buyers Seeking Sellers Google Search Results Bing Search Results Review Websites (Yelp) Google Ads (Pay-Per-Click) Bing Ads Business Directories Directional advertising is for people who already have a brand, product or service in mind and are looking for information or to buy. CUSTOMERS Searching for a Business Promotional Advertising CREATES BUYING INTEREST Directional Search Advertising HELPS BUYERS CONNECT WITH SELLERS --- > Pay Per Result Search Engine Optimization, or Pay Per Performance SEO Packages with Website Design, Maintenace. You don't pay until you rank. - Published: 2022-04-15 - Modified: 2024-06-24 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/search-engine-optimization-seo/ Pay Per Performance SEO, 1st page ranking service There is no need to choose between Quality and Quantity when you can have both. Search Engine Optimization, commonly abbreviated as SEO, is a marketing strategy designed to increase BOTH the QUANTITY and QUALITY of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. Pay-per-performance SEO means that you pay only when we rank your website on the first page of Google. Depending on the search terms and location, a five-search terms package usually costs $799 to $1,499 every month you rank. Pay Per Performance SEO You don’t pay until we rank you on the 1st page of Google. We’ll rank your business on the 1st page of Google for the search terms you need to get RESULTS. Using our INnovation and years of SEO hands-on experience with hundreds of businesses, INLocal Marketing offers a unique SEO service called Pay Per Performance, 1st page ranking SEO service. This means that we work to rank your business in search for the keyword phrases you choose, and you only pay when you get on the 1st page of Google. If we don’t rank your business on the 1st page of Google for the keywords you choose, you don’t pay a dime. We are so good at what we do that we have no problem proving it! How fast would I rank on the 1st page of Google? We usually rank websites between the service’s 3rd and 6th month. What is SEO - SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION? To use an analogy, SEO is like shooting an arrow at a target. Knowing the "what" and "where" of the target is the process of analyzing, aiming, and calculating to achieve the successful hitting of the target. We determine who and where your "target" audience is and then optimize the website to be hit (be found) by that target market. SEO is both a science and an art form. It takes knowledge, experience, and practice to achieve results. We use SEO to TARGET your Market and find buyers who are looking for your products and services. SEO Keyword Targeting SEO helps bring quality targeted traffic to your website by understanding how search algorithms work and what human visitors might search for, that will bring ROI. SEO Position or Ranking SEO is about optimizing a website to achieve higher positioning on search engine results pages for keyword phrases that are relevant to your products and services. SEO Drives Traffic SEO brings need-based traffic to your website from those who have a brand, product, or service in mind and are looking for information or are “Ready to buy. ” Get the ball rolling on your SEO Marketing Strategy today! SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION Website Design & SEO Value Packages All of our Website Design and SEO Value Packages come with the Online Essentials including: Custom Responsive Website Design Custom designed in your company's style, colors and layout. Each site is designed to be responsive to look great on the latest desktops, smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Search Engine Optimized & Ongoing Services Your Website is Optimized from the ground up, to Rank Well for the keywords people use to find your products and services. We also Manage, Maintain and Monitor your Website. We use ‘White Hat’ SEO best practices for improvement in Search Engine Ranking. Statistics & Tracking We use tools such as Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, and several others to evaluate performance and areas of needed. Geo Location Location, Location, Location. Geolocation is increasingly relevant to search engines. We use Local Maps and Geographical Areas Served for better search results. Social Media Links We include social media icons for linking to your Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, YouTube company pages. Integrated Video Player It is easy to include YouTube or Vimeo videos on any page of the website. Tier 1 SEO$799monthlyTier 1 SEO Single city or a combination of cities whose total population adds up to 150k people or less. Manage, Monitor, Maintain Website Monthly Analytics & SEO Ranking ReportsTier 2 SEO$1599monthlyTier 2 SEO Single city or a combination of cities whose total population adds up to between 150k and 450k people. Manage, Monitor, Maintain Website Monthly Analytics & SEO Ranking ReportsTier 3 SEO$2199monthlyTier 3 SEO Single city or a combination of cities whose total population adds up to between 450k and 1M people. Manage, Monitor, Maintain Website Monthly Analytics & SEO Ranking ReportsTier 4 SEO$2500+monthlyTier 4 SEO Single city or a combination of cities whose total population adds up to between 1M and 3M people. Manage, Monitor, Maintain Website Monthly Analytics & SEO Ranking ReportsEnterprise$5000+monthlyTier 5 SEO Single city or a combination of cities whose total population adds up to over 3M people. Manage, Monitor, Maintain Website Monthly Analytics & SEO Ranking Reports*All Packages are listed at a starting price. Cost may be higher based on the type of business and the strength of the competition. --- - Published: 2022-04-15 - Modified: 2023-12-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing/do-it-yourself-diy-websites/ Website Redesign Rebuild and Re-launch https://inlocal. marketing/wp-content/uploads/rocketman. jpg Tired of do-it-yourself Websites? Your Website is an extension of you and is a direct representation of the quality of product or service that your potential customers can expect. Remember 68% of consumers use the web to research products or services before making a buying decision. Secondly, a good website that is properly marketed will return its investment back to you time and time again. We want to help small businesses turn the investment of their Website into a long-term revenue source. If you have already been there and done that, don’t worry, we can help! We have a Website Re-Design Program. We can rebuild and re-launch your site without starting all over again. We can transform your plain or boring old site into an effective marketing tool. If you have a website that you are unhappy with or it doesn’t represent your company the way you want we can help transform it without having to start from scratch. This will allow you to keep your content but not feel like you have to throw away everything you’ve worked on. Let us give you an analysis of your site and we can make recommendations. --- > Google Business Profile Management Services. We are a Digital Internet Marketing Agency offering Affordable SEO Solutions. - Published: 2022-04-14 - Modified: 2024-03-04 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/services/google-business-profile-gbp-maps-section/ Google Business Profile Management ServiceElevate Your Online Presence with Google Business Profile Management Benefits of Using a Google Business Profile Management Service Opting for a professional Google Business Profile management service can be a game-changer for businesses aiming to solidify their online presence. One of the key advantages of such a service is the assurance of uniformity in business information across various online platforms. This consistency is vital for projecting a professional image that attracts potential customers. Furthermore, these services are pivotal in managing a business’s online reputation. Responding to customer reviews promptly and professionally helps businesses cultivate a sense of trust and reliability among their clientele, which is indispensable in today’s competitive market. Leveraging a Google Business Profile management service can yield substantial time and resource savings for business owners. Instead of navigating the complexities of online profile management, they can allocate these tasks to experts. This delegation allows them to channel their efforts into other critical aspects of their business, such as product development, customer service, and strategic planning. For instance, ASAPmaps, a notable player in this domain, offers specialized services like accurate directory listings, review management, and optimized Google Business Photos, which collectively enhance a business’s visibility and customer engagement on Google Maps and Search. This comprehensive approach elevates a business’s online stature and paves the way for increased foot traffic and revenue. By entrusting the intricacies of Google Business Profile management to a dedicated service, businesses can reap the benefits of enhanced online visibility without diverting their focus from core operational activities. What Is Local SEO? Local SEO / Google My Business (GMB) / Google Business Profile (GBP) / Maps (Google changed the name Google My Business (GMB) to Google Business Profile (GBP) in 2022) Local SEO (Local search engine optimization) targets “near me” and geo-specific search queries. The goal of local SEO is to improve your brand exposure or ranking in Google Search Results and make your business more accessible to prospects searching for goods, services, and products with a LOCAL INTENT. In other words, they want results in a specific local community. Optimizing a Google Business Profile is called Local SEO. This is a strategic approach to ensure a business is visible and appealing to potential customers. Regular updates to the business description and services are fundamental; this includes adjusting the information to highlight new offerings or seasonal promotions that could attract more customers. For instance, a restaurant could update its profile to feature a new seasonal menu, capturing the interest of those looking for new dining experiences. Moreover, the visual aspect of a Google Business Profile cannot be understated. Incorporating high-quality, professional images that accurately represent the business's products, services, and overall ambiance can profoundly impact customer engagement. For example, a boutique hotel can use captivating images of its rooms, amenities, and unique features to entice prospective guests. Additionally, actively soliciting and managing customer reviews is a crucial optimization aspect. Positive reviews can significantly enhance a business's reputation, instilling trust in prospective customers. Conversely, addressing negative reviews promptly and professionally can mitigate potential damage to the business’s image. Engaging with customers through reviews demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction, which can be a deciding factor for many when choosing a business. Local Google Map Listing SEO You can rank on the Google Maps section through an Optimized Google My Business (GMB) / Google Business Profile (GBP) listing. Why the Google Business Profile (GBP) Is a Big Part of Local SEO Expand Your Market Reach and Gain Consumer Trust Google My Business, now called Google Business Profile, is a free marketing tool powered by Google that allows marketers to manage how their brand information is presented on Google Search and Google Maps. Your Google Business Profile page shows valuable business details – such as your company’s NAP, hours of operation, website link, and customer reviews – to assist potential customers with their online search. Why should you prioritize Google Business Profile SEO? Google Business Profile Optimization is a crucial aspect of local SEO marketing. Your Google Business Profile is a local SEO ranking factor that dictates your online success. Search engines can verify your brand’s existence and authenticity by claiming your Google Business Profile listing. Here are more reasons you need to include Google Business Profile optimization in your local SEO marketing efforts: Google Business Profile SEO is one of the surefire ways to help your brand earn credibility and clicks to your website. Take advantage of our Google Business Profile optimization service and entice more users to visit your online store and physical location. Discover how our Google Business Profile agency can streamline your GMB SEO and local SEO optimization. Google Business Profile SEO Manage your Google Business Profile locations and ensure your brand information is complete and up-to-date with help from our Google Business Profile experts. Our Google Business Profile services include GMB SEO, Bing, and Yahoo Local Optimization. We ensure these business profiles carry the same brand identity and are optimized for your target location or service area. Our Google Business Profile experts audit your business information online to give you the best possible, error-free local presence. Impact of Google Business Profile on Local SEO and Online Visibility The strategic optimization of a Google Business Profile significantly enhances a business's chances of being featured in the highly coveted Local Pack, prominently displayed at the top of local search results. This critical placement boosts visibility and serves as a key determinant in local SEO strategies. Google leverages the rich dataset an actively managed Google Business Profile provides—such as operating hours, services offered, and customer reviews—to assess a business's relevance and prominence within a specific locality. This assessment directly influences where a business stands in search results, making an optimized profile an indispensable tool for improving search rankings. Moreover, the dynamic nature of Google's search algorithm rewards businesses that actively engage with their profiles by promptly updating information, responding to customer reviews, and posting regular updates. Such activities signal to Google that a... --- > INLocal Marketing is a ✔️ Digital Marketing & SEO Agency offering ✔️ Search Optimization. INternet + INformation + INnovation = RESUTLS! - Published: 2022-04-14 - Modified: 2025-04-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/ We are INLocal MarketingINLocal Marketing is a forward-thinking digital marketing agency based in Portland, Oregon. We empower local businesses with cutting-edge online strategies and second-to-none customer service. We offer Pay-per-result SEO at a fraction of the cost of most digital marketing SEO agencies. Digital Marketing Strategy is to Know When and How to use the Right Tools WEBSITE Design / Development Landing Pages / Funnels / Campaigns SEO - SEARCH Engine Optimization GBP - Local SEO / Google Business Profile / Maps PPC Management - Google Pay Per Click Ads LSA Management - Google Local Service Ads Business Listing Management Service E-Commerce Marketing / Online Store CONTENT Marketing / Blogs Lead Generation / Website Forms SOCIAL Media Marketing EMAIL Marketing / CRM ADA Compliance Website Accessibility Online Reviews / Reputation Management INnovation STARTS HERE! Generate Leads & Sales with Digital Marketing Grow your business with results-based marketing that drives sales. INLocal Service Area INLocal Marketing is a digital marketing agency that operates in these areas. Portland Metro East Side Portland (646,101) SEO Portland | Web Design Portland Vancouver WA (200,000) SEO Vancouver WA | Web Design Vancouver WA Gresham (113,525) SEO Gresham | Web Design Gresham Lake Oswego (Population 40,457) SEO Lake Oswego | Web Design Lake Oswego Oregon City (Population 37,418) SEO Oregon City | Web Design Oregon City West Linn (Population 27,167) SEO West Linn | Web Design West Linn Happy Valley (Population 24,381) SEO Happy Valley | Web Design Happy Valley Milwaukie (Population 21,195) SEO Milwaukie | Web Design Milwaukie Canby (Population 18,127) SEO Canby | Web Design Canby Oak Grove (Population 17,535) SEO Oak Grove | Web Design Oak Grove Gladstone (Population 11,996) SEO Gladstone | Web Design Gladstone Damascus (Population 10,555) SEO Damascus | Web Design Damascus Clackamas (Population ~ 10,000) SEO Clackamas | Web Design Clackamas Sunnyside (Population 8,057) SEO Sunnyside | Web Design Sunnyside Portland Metro West Side Hillsboro (106,612) SEO Hillsboro | Web Design Hillsboro Beaverton (97,554) SEO Beaverton | Web Design Beaverton Tigard (55,161) SEO Tigard | Web Design Tigard Aloha (53,532) SEO Aloha | Web Design Aloha Forest Grove / Cornelius (41,215) SEO Forest Grove / Cornelius | Web Design Forest Grove / Cornelius Bethany (30,983) SEO Bethany | Web Design Bethany Tualatin (27,804) SEO Tualatin | Web Design Tualatin Wilsonville (25,992) SEO Wilsonville | Web Design Wilsonville Sherwood (20,286) SEO Sherwood | Web Design Sherwood Cedar Mill / Cedar Hills (19,151 / 9,076) SEO Cedar Mill / Cedar Hills | Web Design Cedar Mill / Cedar Hills Additional Oregon Cities Salem / Keizer (179,043) SEO Salem / Keizer | Web Design Salem / Keizer Eugene / Springfield (382,353) SEO Eugene | Web Design Eugene Bend / Redmond (260,919) SEO Bend / Redmond | Web Design Bend / Redmond Washington State Seattle WA (Population 797,700) SEO Seattle WA Bellevue WA (Population 151,505) SEO Bellevue WA Tacoma WA (Population 225,030) SEO Tacoma WA Spokane WA (Population 553,170) SEO Spokane WA Engaging Websites that Convert Visitors into Leads and Sales We create business websites that look amazing and are fully SEO-optimized to establish a dominant online presence. We have years of experience and knowledge in WEBSITE DESIGN. We not only build beautiful websites and understand the technical aspects of SEO, but we also see the big picture of how to market your business effectively online. We know what works and where the pitfalls are. We know how to stretch your budget to maximize return on investment. Pay Per Performance SEO You don’t pay until we rank you on the 1st page of Google. We’ll rank your business on the 1st page of Google for the search terms you need to get RESULTS. Using our INnovation and years of SEO hands-on experience with hundreds of businesses, INLocal Marketing offers a unique SEO service called Pay Per Performance, 1st page ranking SEO service. This means that we work to rank your business in search for the keyword phrases you choose, and you only pay when you get on the 1st page of Google. If we don’t rank your business on the 1st page of Google for the keywords you choose, you don’t pay a dime. We are so good at what we do that we have no problem proving it! How fast would I rank on the 1st page of Google? We usually rank websites between the service’s 3rd and 6th month. Advertise on Google Search Results Pages (SERPs) SEO is still one of the Highest-ROI Marketing Channels for Businesses on the Planet 8. 5 Billion Searches on Google Everyday 7 out of 10 searches have LOCAL INTENT 93% of people use Google when looking for products, services, and businesses. 71. 33% of Google searches result in a page 1 Google organic click. Page two and three only get 5. 59% of the clicks. Only about 15% of people who search on Google will click on a PAID AD or click on a MAP LISTING. Many studies have demonstrated that users choose natural organic results over paid ones. One study sample included 1. 4 billion searches and showed that organic listings won 94 percent of the clicks. Develop a Marketing Strategy⮕ Lead Capture Lead capture for businesses looking to grow their customer base. ⮕ Lead Management Comprehensive lead management and pipeline management tools. ⮕ Sales Management Comprehensive sales management and sales management tools. ⮕ Funnels and Social Reach Funnels and Social Media campaigns. ⮕ Marketing Campaigns Reach existing or new customers. We provide Internet Marketing and SEO to Home Service Businesses INLocal Marketing Values Your business success is our FOCUS. Your business is important to you. Your Business is also important to us. Reputation A history of delighted customers and outstanding service. Credibility We are building customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards. Experience Masters of the craft, based on years of practical experience and education. Availability Approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored. Professionalism We provide service with honesty, reliability, and respect. Communication | Transparency | Results | Satisfaction They can be... --- > Contact INLocal Marketing & SEO to make an appointment for a phone consultation. We would be happy to help with your internet marketing needs - Published: 2022-04-14 - Modified: 2025-03-26 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/contact/ We provide Internet Marketing and SEO Services to businesses all over the United States. INLocal Marketing is an SEO Company & Internet Marketing Agency based in Portland, Oregon 100 SW Main St. Portland, OR 97204 (no mail received at this address) North Clackamas Chamber Member Oregon City Chamber Member BNI (Business Networking International) Member Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Business Name *City / State (Business Location) *Type of Business (Industry or category) *Contact Person Name *FirstLastBest Contact Email *Marketing Services you are interested in. *SubmitsetTimeout(function{var ct_input_name = "ct_checkjs_wpforms_b56a18e0eacdf51aa2a5306b0f533204";if (document. getElementById(ct_input_name) ! == null) {var ct_input_value = document. getElementById(ct_input_name). value;document. getElementById(ct_input_name). value = document. getElementById(ct_input_name). value. replace(ct_input_value, '390355222');}}, 1000); { "@context": "https://schema. org", "@type": "LocalBusiness", "image": , "name": "INLocal Marketing", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "100 SW Main St. Suite 1100", "addressLocality": "Portland", "addressRegion": "OR", "postalCode": "97204", "addressCountry": "US" }, "review": { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": "5", "bestRating": "5" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phillip Merril" } }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 45. 514870, "longitude": -122. 675700 }, "url": "https://inlocal. marketing/", "telephone": "+13606357991", "openingHours": "Mo,Tu,We,Th,Fr 08:00-17:00", "openingHoursSpecification": , "opens": "08:00", "closes": "17:00" } ], "priceRange": "$$$" } { "@context": "https://schema. org", "@graph": } --- > IN Local Marketing About INLocal Marketing - Published: 2022-04-14 - Modified: 2025-03-26 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/about-inlocal-marketing/ About INLocal Marketing Your Gateway to Digital Excellence We are INLocal Marketing, where your business growth is our ultimate mission. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, we stand at the forefront, offering innovative and effective marketing solutions tailored to the unique needs of local small businesses. The "IN" in our name stands for Innovation. The INLocal Story INLocal Marketing was born from a vision to transform how businesses connect with customers using Internet marketing. Our journey began with a simple yet powerful goal: to design, delight, and deliver unparalleled digital marketing services. Our Services We offer a comprehensive suite of digital marketing products and services, including: - Custom Website Design: Creating visually stunning and user-friendly websites that resonate with your brand and engage your audience. - Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Enhancing your online visibility to ensure you're found by the right people at the right time. - Social Media Management: Engage with your community and build your brand's social presence with our exclusive SocialAI tool. - Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: Maximizing your advertising spend with targeted and effective PPC campaigns. - Content Creation: Crafting compelling content that captivates and converts, from blog posts to email campaigns. Our Network INLocal Marketing is proud to be part of the extensive INLocal Marketing Agency network comprising over 2500 Digital Marketing Agencies across the U. S. This alliance empowers us to deliver the latest and best digital marketing strategies, ensuring our clients always have a competitive edge. Our Commitment We are committed to your success. Our team of experts works tirelessly to understand your business goals and develop customized strategies that drive results. We believe in building lasting relationships with our clients, grounded in trust and mutual respect. Our Promise At INLocal Marketing, we promise to be your dedicated partner in digital marketing. We will not rest until you are completely satisfied with our services. Your business is our passion; we are here to ensure that passion translates into tangible growth and success. Join us on this exciting journey and let INLocal Marketing be the catalyst for your digital transformation. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business thrive in the digital age. Buyers research the product or service they are interested in on the internet before purchasing! INLocal Marketing is a Digital Marketing Agency based in Portland, Oregon, primarily focusing on small to medium-sized businesses. We serve clients all over the US. We provide professional quality web development and design and full Digital Marketing Solutions. We help businesses navigate the Digital Marketing landscape with a "hand-holding" approach and excellent customer service. You, the client, can be involved in your marketing strategies from start to finish with the entire project. https://www. linkedin. com/company/inlocal-marketing https://www. instagram. com/inlocalmarketing/? hl=en https://www. facebook. com/inlocalmarketing/ https://www. yelp. com/biz/inlocal-marketing-portland https://www. brightlocal. com/agency-directory/agencies/in-local-marketing https://www. crunchbase. com/organization/in-local-marketing https://inlocal. marketing/seo-portland-or/ https://www. linkedin. com/company/inlocal-marketing/ https://www. dexknows. com/portland-or/bp/in-local-marketing-561658581 https://x. com/inlocalmarket --- - Published: 2022-04-13 - Modified: 2024-04-18 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/googles-ranking-factors/ Are there really 200+ Google Ranking Factors? Are you curious about Google's ranking factors in their search engine algorithm? There are supposedly over 200 ranking factors that Google uses to rank sites in search results. Google does not specifically disclose what any of its internal ranking factors are. Here are some SEO ranking factors that SEO professionals have speculated may be an influence on the search results, some are proven, some are controversial, and others are just fanciful SEO nerd speculation. Some of these ranking factors below have been disproven and some are old and no longer valid. We provide this list simply to illustrate the complexity of the mental gymnastics that some SEO companies will implement to try to figure out the "secret" keys and break the code. Domain Factors 1. Domain Age 2. Keyword Appears in Top Level Domain 3. Keyword As First Word in Domain 4. Domain registration length 5. Keyword in Subdomain Name 6. Domain History 7. Exact Match Domain 8. Public vs. Private WhoIs Information 9. Penalized WhoIs Owner 10. Country TLD extension On-Page Factors 11. Keyword in Title Tag 12. Title Tag Starts with Keyword 13. Keyword in Description Tag 14. Keyword Appears in H1 Tag 15. Keyword is Most Frequently Used Phrase in Document 16. Content-Length 17. Keyword Density 18. Latent Semantic Indexing Keywords in Content (LSI) 19. LSI Keywords in Title and Description Tags 20. Page Loading Speed via HTML 21. Duplicate Content 22. Rel=Canonical 23. Page Loading Speed via Chrome 24. Image Optimization 25. Recency of Content Updates 26. Magnitude of Content Updates 27. Historical Updates Page Updates 28. Keyword Prominence 29. Keyword in H2, H3 Tags 30. Keyword Word Order 31. Outbound Link Quality 32. Outbound Link Theme 33. Grammar and Spelling 34. Syndicated Content 35. Helpful Supplementary Content 36. Number of Outbound Links 37. Images, videos, and other multimedia 38. Number of Internal Links Pointing to Page 39. Quality of Internal Links Pointing to Page 40. Broken Links 41. Reading Level 42. Affiliate Links 43. HTML errors/W3C validation 44. Page Host’s Domain Authority 45. Page’s PageRank 46. URL Length 47. URL Path 48. Human Editors 49. Page Category 50. WordPress Tags 51. Keyword in URL 52. URL String 53. References and Sources 54. Bullets and Numbered Lists 55. Priority of Page in Sitemap 56. Too Many Outbound Links 57. Quantity of Other Keywords Page Ranks For 58. Page Age 59. User-Friendly Layout 60. Parked Domains 61. Useful Content Site-Level Factors 62. Content Provides Value and Unique Insights: Google has stated that they’re on the hunt for sites that don’t bring anything new or useful to the table, especially thin affiliate sites. 63. Contact Us Page: The aforementioned Google Quality Document states that they prefer sites with an “appropriate amount of contact information”. Supposed bonus if your contact information matches your whois info. 64. Domain Trust/TrustRank: Site trust — measured by how many links away your site is from highly-trusted seed sites — is a massively important ranking factor. You can read more about TrustRank here. 65. Site Architecture: Proper site architecture (especially a silo structure) helps Google thematically organize your content. 66. Site Updates: How often a site is updated — and especially when new content is added to the site — is a site-wide freshness factor. 67. Number of Pages: The number of pages a site has is a weak sign of authority. At the very least a large site helps distinguish it from thin affiliate sites. 68. Presence of Sitemap: A sitemap helps search engines index your pages easier and more thoroughly, improving visibility. 69. Site Uptime: Lots of downtime from site maintenance or server issues may hurt your ranking (and can even result in deindexing if not corrected). 70. Server Location: Server location may influence where your site ranks in different geographical regions. Especially important for geo-specific searches. 71. SSL Certificate: Google has confirmed that they index SSL certificates and that they use HTTPS as a ranking signal. 72. Terms of Service and Privacy Pages: These two pages help tell Google that a site is a trustworthy member of the internet. 73. Duplicate Meta Information On-Site: Duplicate meta information across your site may bring down all of your page’s visibility. 74. Breadcrumb Navigation: This is a style of user-friendly site architecture that helps users (and search engines) know where they are on a site: 75. Mobile Optimized: Google’s official stance on mobile is to create a responsive site. It’s likely that responsive sites get an edge in searches from a mobile device. In fact, they now add “Mobile-friendly” tags to sites that display well on mobile devices. Google also started penalizing sites in Mobile search that aren’t mobile-friendly 76. YouTube: There’s no doubt that YouTube videos are given preferential treatment in the SERPs (probably because Google owns it ): 77. Site Usability: A site that’s difficult to use or to navigate can hurt ranking by reducing time on site, pages viewed, and bounce rate. This may be an independent algorithmic factor gleaned from massive amounts of user data. 78. Use of Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools: Some think that having these two programs installed on your site can improve your page’s indexing. They may also directly influence rank by giving Google more data to work with (ie. more accurate bounce rate, whether or not you get referral traffic from your backlinks etc. ). 79. User reviews/Site reputation: A site’s presence on review sites like Yelp. com and RipOffReport. com likely plays an important role in the algorithm. Google even posted a rarely candid outline of their approach to user reviews after an eyeglass site was caught ripping off customers in an effort to get backlinks. Backlink Factors 80. Linking Domain Age: Backlinks from aged domains may be more powerful than new domains. 81. The # of Linking Root Domains: The number of referring domains is one of the most important ranking factors in Google’s algorithm, as you can see from this chart from Moz (bottom... --- --- ## Posts - Published: 2024-12-31 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/6-big-things-you-can-do-on-new-years-day-to-kickstart-your-marketing-journey/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles New Year’s Day is here! While some people are relaxing or scrolling through their resolutions, why not use this day to jumpstart your marketing adventure? Whether you’re diving into marketing tools, exploring creative strategies, or just starting out, January 1 is a golden opportunity to get a head start. Here are six impactful and beginner-friendly moves you can make today to feel confident about marketing in 2025. 1. New Year’s Day: Give Yourself a Marketing Checkup Start by taking stock of your current online presence. Even if you’re a beginner, understanding where you stand is a powerful first step. Check your social media profiles, websites, and any marketing efforts you’ve started. Ask yourself: Is my bio clear, current, and engaging? Are my visuals polished and up to date? What posts or content got the most engagement in the past? If you’re starting fresh, jot down what you want to achieve. A little clarity goes a long way, and you can keep refining as you go. 2. Set Fun and Attainable Marketing Goals It’s resolution season, so why not set a few fun marketing goals? Make them simple, measurable, and tied to something that excites you. For instance: Grow your social media following to 100 followers by February. Post your first blog or video by the end of January. Create and share a post that makes your friends smile (or gets them to hit “like”). The key is to keep it lighthearted and celebrate even small wins. Marketing is a process, and every step counts. 3. Polish Your Online Presence First impressions matter, especially online. Use New Year’s Day to make sure your digital presence reflects your personality or brand. Here’s how: Update your bios to sound engaging and authentic. Refresh your profile photos to something more polished or fun. Check if your website looks great on mobile devices and desktops. Don’t have a website yet? That’s okay! On New Year’s Day, brainstorm what you’d like to include when you’re ready to create one, like an “About Me” section or a space for your creative projects. 4. Learn Something New New Year’s Day is perfect for a little brain food. Spend an hour or two learning something new about marketing. Ideas to explore: Watch a beginner-friendly video about building an audience on Instagram. Read a blog post on the basics of writing compelling headlines. Take a peek at the resources on Umbrella to get inspired about how to turn ideas into action. You don’t have to dive in too deep—just pick something fun and practical to get started. 5. Create a Simple Content Plan Even if you’re just starting outon New Year’s Day, a content plan can help you stay consistent. Think about what you’d like to share with your audience or community in the coming weeks. For example: Pick a theme for January, like “self-care tips” or “behind-the-scenes moments. ” Decide how often you’ll post—once a week, twice a month, or whatever works. Brainstorm easy content ideas, like photos of your workspace, quick tips, or a favorite quote. Planning ahead makes the creative process smoother and less stressful. 6. Connect with a Marketing Community Marketing doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Use New Year’s Day to find others who share your interest in marketing. Here are some ways to connect: Follow marketing pages or hashtags on your favorite social media platforms. Join free online groups or forums where beginners share advice and support each other. Reach out to someone whose marketing skills you admire and let them know you appreciate their work. Building connections makes learning more enjoyable and opens up opportunities for collaboration. Bonus: Celebrate Your Efforts on New Year’s Day! You’re taking action on New Year’s Day—that’s something to be proud of! Take a moment to enjoy your progress, whether it’s updating a bio or learning a new skill. Ready for a Fresh Perspective this New Year’s? For more tips and tools to simplify your marketing journey, contact us today! --- - Published: 2024-12-16 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/what-tool-got-the-most-buzz-in-2024-ai-driven-personalization/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles In 2024, the digital marketing world had a new superstar: AI-driven personalization. It was everywhere! News outlets were all over it, and marketers couldn’t stop talking about how this new tool was changing the game. From making ads smarter to delivering content that feels like it was written just for you (because it kind of was), AI was having its moment. Let’s break down why AI-driven personalization got all the buzz, why it matters, and how you can jump on the AI train to make your marketing campaigns more fun and effective. 1. The Magic of Personalization Personalization isn’t new—heck, even grandpa’s marketing tactics used to throw your name in an email. But AI? Well, AI is like personalization on steroids (the good kind). It doesn’t just know your name; it knows your shopping habits, your favorite ice cream flavor, and whether or not you’re the type to leave a cart full of stuff just to get the discount code email. In 2024, personalized marketing wasn’t just a cool add-on—it was a must. According to Salesforce, 84% of customers expect to be treated like individuals (so, no more generic emails like “Hey, CUSTOMER! ”). AI tools allow marketers to gather all sorts of data about their customers and make decisions that target each person with the precision of a laser-guided missile. If you’ve been sending out mass emails that say, “Hey, you! Buy this thing! ”—AI’s got your back and it’s about to make that message 100 times cooler. AI can track customer behavior and predict what they’ll do next. It’s like having a crystal ball for your marketing campaigns—except, you know, much more accurate and not weirdly mystic. From suggesting the right product to the right person to sending them an email at the perfect time, AI is on it. 2. AI Personalization’s Role in Better Customer Journeys AI is changing more than just ads—it’s changing the whole customer journey. Imagine your customer goes on your website, but instead of getting lost in a maze of product pages, AI swoops in like a helpful, non-creepy digital guide. Want help picking a pair of shoes? AI’s got you. Need the perfect birthday gift for your mom? It’s got suggestions that’ll make you look like a thoughtful genius. And let’s talk chatbots. You know those friendly pop-up chat windows that ask, “How can I help you today? ” Well, in 2024, they’re way smarter. Chatbots are now powered by AI, which means they can answer questions, recommend products, and even troubleshoot issues at 3 a. m. when you’re half asleep and need to track an order. (Don’t worry—your chatbot is awake and ready to roll. ) AI isn’t just about customer support though. It’s also about improving things like email marketing. AI tools can now figure out the best time to send your emails, what subject lines will get the most opens, and even what kind of content will make your audience actually click instead of hitting “Delete. ” According to the Email Marketing Industry Report, personalized emails have 29% higher open rates and 41% higher click-through rates. That’s right—AI is making email marketing not be so bad. 3. Automation That Actually Works Marketing automation is like the holy grail of efficiency. But it’s one of those things that often looks way cooler on paper than it is in real life. Enter AI—suddenly, automation is actually, you know, working. AI can analyze customer behavior and automatically adjust campaigns in real time. Forget about tweaking things every few days or worrying about the latest email metrics; AI does it for you. It’s like having an army of marketing assistants who are caffeinated, motivated, and never, ever need a break. These AI tools can suggest the best actions based on data, adjusting frequency, content, and timing so that your audience never feels like you’re bombarding them with stuff they don’t care about. In other words, it’s the opposite of that uncle who keeps sending you random Facebook posts. AI is here to tailor everything just right. And don’t even get me started on how AI can make things smoother for your customers. You know how annoying it is when you get three emails in one day from a brand that clearly didn’t think about the last time they emailed you? AI’s got that covered. It’ll adjust to make sure you’re sending the right messages at the right time, keeping things friendly, timely, and relevant. 4. Let’s Get Creative with AI Personalization Now, let’s talk about getting extra creative. AI isn’t just a math nerd. It’s also a creative genius in disguise. It can even use data to write copy that fits your brand, engages your audience, and isn’t a total snooze fest. Whether it’s writing, designing, or strategizing, AI is your new creative assistant, ready to help you dream up fresh ideas faster than ever. In 2024, AI wasn’t just about automating tasks—it was about unleashing your creative side and making marketing more fun. 5. The Big Challenges: Data Privacy and Ethics Of course, as with all things amazing, AI has some bumps in the road. Data privacy is a huge concern. AI tools collect and analyze a ton of data, so it’s super important to stay on top of laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). These laws are there to protect consumers, and if you’re using AI to personalize marketing, you’ve gotta make sure you’re being ethical with that data. On top of that, there’s the issue of ethics. Sometimes AI can reinforce biases in its data, so it’s essential to make sure your AI marketing strategies aren’t unintentionally discriminatory. With great AI power comes great responsibility! 6. What’s Next for AI Personalization in Marketing? As AI keeps getting smarter, marketers will find even cooler ways to use it. Some experts think that in the near future, AI could predict exactly what customers will want before they even know they want it (creepy, but cool,... --- - Published: 2024-12-03 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/why-linkedins-ai-tools-need-a-little-human-touch/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles LinkedIn’s AI tools are on a mission to make life easier for business owners, helping streamline workflows, get quick insights, and make informed decisions. Features like “Takeaways for Me” and “Am I a Good Fit? ” are designed to save time and simplify tasks. But while these tools are handy, they’re not the complete solution for businesses looking to elevate their online presence. LinkedIn AI: Your Personal Assistant for Profiles LinkedIn’s AI tools, like “Takeaways for Me,” act as a personal assistant, summarizing job postings and giving quick feedback on your profile. However, when it comes to growing your business and connecting with the right audience, artificial intelligence can’t do it all. For businesses aiming to expand, a personalized strategy is crucial—AI is just the starting point. AI + Local Expertise = A Winning Combo While LinkedIn’s tools provide valuable insights, they don’t possess the creative touch and in-depth knowledge that local marketing experts bring. Local experts are familiar with your business’s region, goals, and customer behavior, allowing them to turn AI insights into customized marketing strategies. They know how to fine-tune your messaging, create engaging content, and distribute it across the right channels to connect with your target audience. By blending the tools with local expertise, you can ensure your marketing strategy is not only efficient but also resonates deeply with potential customers. How AI Insights Can Help Optimize Your Workforce LinkedIn’s “Am I a Good Fit? ” tool is a fantastic resource for job seekers looking to assess their suitability for a role. But did you know businesses can also use this tool to optimize their hiring strategies? Local marketing experts can take the data generated by LinkedIn and apply it to recruiting campaigns, ensuring job postings attract the right candidates. By incorporating regional job trends, SEO, and content marketing strategies, they can ensure your job listings stand out and reach qualified applicants in your area. This AI-backed approach to recruitment can streamline the hiring process while also improving the quality of applicants you receive. Messaging That Resonates: Let Local Experts Help While LinkedIn’s AI excel at summarizing content and offering quick feedback, they often miss the nuance required to craft messages that truly resonate with an audience. A piece of content that sounds good on paper might not always speak to your specific market. That’s where local marketing experts come in. They understand the unique cultural, behavioral, and economic trends in your market and can tailor your messaging accordingly. For instance, if you’re marketing to an audience in your local area, a personalized message that speaks directly to their values, challenges, and needs can make a big difference in engagement. Local experts know how to take LinkedIn’s insights and use them to craft compelling campaigns that hit the mark every time. Accessibility: A Key Element in Your Digital Strategy In today’s digital-first world, ensuring that your online presence is accessible is essential. While LinkedIn’s tools are great for optimizing your profile, they can’t ensure your entire digital presence—such as your website and marketing materials—meets accessibility standards. If your business website isn’t user-friendly, it’s easy to lose potential customers. This is where local marketing experts step in. They can help ensure your website is optimized for accessibility, from making it SEO-friendly to following web accessibility standards and aligning with local search trends. Local marketers can also help streamline your other marketing materials, ensuring that everything from your social media content to email campaigns is easy for your audience to navigate. Don’t Rely Solely on Artificial Intelligence—Partner with Local Experts While LinkedIn’s AI tools can save time and help automate certain processes, they cannot replace the need for a comprehensive marketing strategy. These tools are fantastic for simplifying tasks, but they can’t offer the human creativity and personalized insights needed to build a robust marketing plan. By working with local marketing experts, you’ll be able to leverage the full power of AI while ensuring your strategy is tailored specifically to your business needs. Local experts understand the intricacies of your market and can help you develop a marketing plan that covers everything from SEO to social media marketing to content creation. They can also ensure your online presence is accessible and optimized for your local audience. Boost Your Visibility with LinkedIn’s AI + Local Marketing Strategy When LinkedIn’s AI features are integrated into your broader marketing strategy, your business can see a significant boost in visibility, engagement, and conversion rates. Whether optimizing your profile or launching targeted campaigns, combining AI with personalized expertise can accelerate your growth. Enhance the Power of LinkedIn’s Tools with Local Expertise If you’re not sure where to start or what AI tools will work best for your business, don’t worry. Umbrella Local marketing experts can help guide you through the process. They can identify which tools will provide the most value and help integrate them into your overall marketing strategy. From social media marketing to SEO, these experts can craft a plan that meets your needs and delivers tangible results. Local marketing experts are essential in maximizing the impact of LinkedIn’s AI tools. By working together, you can combine the best of technology with the personal touch needed to ensure your business thrives in today’s competitive digital landscape. Contact us today! --- - Published: 2024-11-25 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/new-influencer-trends-revolutionize-your-marketing-agency-in-2025/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles As we approach the close of 2024, influencer marketing continues to evolve and shape how brands connect with their audiences. Whether you’re just starting or looking to expand your agency’s influencer marketing efforts, understanding these emerging trends can help you refine your strategy and boost your success in the competitive digital landscape. An Influencers for Every Stage of the Customer Journey In 2024, influencer marketing is being viewed through a broader lens, engaging influencers at every stage of the marketing funnel—from awareness to purchase and beyond. Brands now realize that influencer collaborations can drive conversions, not just spark initial interest. For example, brands like Peter Thomas Roth have effectively used TikTok influencers to not only create awareness but directly influence sales, proving that influencer-driven campaigns can yield significant revenue gains. This shift toward full-funnel marketing underscores the need for brands to incorporate influencers throughout their entire customer engagement strategy. Building Lasting Relationships with Influencer Marketing A major trend in 2024 is the growing power of influencers, especially those with significant followings. Rather than simply accepting one-off partnerships, many influencers now have the freedom to choose brands that align with their personal values. This shift is making influencer relationships more authentic and mutually beneficial. As a result, brands are turning to long-term partnerships rather than short-term collaborations. These ongoing relationships allow influencers to build deeper connections with the brand’s audience, which translates into more engaging and authentic content . Building trust with influencers leads to higher-quality campaigns that resonate better with their followers. Micro and Nano-Influencers Gaining Ground While larger influencers and celebrities have traditionally dominated the influencer marketing space, smaller-scale influencers—specifically nano (1,000–10,000 followers) and micro-influencers (10,000–50,000 followers)—are becoming increasingly important. These influencers often boast higher engagement rates, more targeted audiences, and greater trust with their followers. In fact, a significant percentage of businesses are planning to work with nano-influencers in 2024 due to their authenticity and niche appeal. By working with influencers who cater to smaller, more engaged audiences, brands can increase their chances of higher conversion rates without overspending . This trend reflects a more focused approach to influencer marketing, where quality engagement trumps sheer numbers. The Dominance of Video Content Video continues to be a major content format, especially with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts leading the way. In 2024, video content will be the dominant form of influencer marketing, enabling brands to showcase their products in visually engaging and dynamic ways. Short-form video allows influencers to quickly capture their audience’s attention with entertaining, educational, or emotional content. Video also generates higher engagement rates compared to static images, making it essential for any influencer campaign looking to create a lasting impression. Embracing Diversity and Inclusivity in Campaigns One of the key shifts in 2024 is the emphasis on diversity and inclusion in influencer marketing. Brands are now more mindful of the influencers they work with, ensuring their campaigns reflect a broad spectrum of racial, ethnic, and gender identities. By doing so, brands can appeal to a wider audience and build stronger connections with consumers who value representation. Inclusive campaigns are not just a trend—they are becoming a requirement for brands that want to maintain positive relationships with customers and build brand loyalty over time Brands that promote diversity in their influencer marketing efforts are seen as more socially responsible and are better positioned for long-term success. Tapping into the Power of User-Generated Content User-generated content (UGC) has emerged as a key player in influencer marketing in 2024. UGC creators—whether influencers or everyday customers—offer content that feels more genuine and relatable. Brands are encouraging their audiences to create content that features their products, which helps generate organic engagement and trust. By using UGC in their campaigns, brands can amplify their reach and showcase real-life experiences with their products. This type of content not only builds authenticity but also fosters a stronger connection between the brand and its customers. Harnessing AI and The Virtual Influencer Trend Artificial intelligence is taking influencer marketing to new heights by enabling more precise data analysis and campaign optimization. With AI tools, brands can more accurately predict the performance of influencer collaborations and identify the best influencers to work with based on data insights. Additionally, virtual influencers—computer-generated characters with large followings—are gaining popularity in 2024. These digital personalities offer a controlled, futuristic way for brands to engage with consumers. Virtual influencers have the ability to convey specific brand messages in an entirely new, creative manner, offering opportunities for a completely unique campaign approach . Final Thoughts from Umbrella Local As influencer marketing continues to evolve in 2024, staying on top of these emerging trends will allow you to craft effective campaigns and meet the ever-changing needs of your clients. Whether you are an established marketer or just starting out, Umbrella Local offers data-driven solutions and customizable tools to help you navigate these trends. From identifying the best influencers for your campaigns to optimizing your strategy with advanced AI tools, Umbrella Local provides the insights and support you need to succeed. Visit Umbrella Local to learn how we can help your marketing agency stay ahead of the curve and create influencer campaigns that deliver real results. --- - Published: 2024-11-22 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/avoiding-linkedins-outbound-link-penalties-and-keeping-your-content-king/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles LinkedIn isn’t just a networking platform—it’s the internet’s watercooler for professionals. But recently, it’s turned into a stickler for “stay-home” content, and by that, we mean native content. If you’ve noticed your posts with external links sinking faster than a lead balloon, you’re not imagining things. LinkedIn’s algorithm now slaps penalties on outbound links, slashing their reach by a brutal 25-35%. Let’s unpack why this is happening and, more importantly, how you can work around it without sacrificing your audience or your sanity. Why is LinkedIn So Allergic to Links? LinkedIn’s mission is simple: keep users scrolling and clicking without leaving the platform. Posts with external links are like party invitations to leave LinkedIn’s gathering, and frankly, LinkedIn isn’t cool with you ghosting the event. According to recent studies, linkless posts outperform linked ones by a whopping 6x in reach, and they see 18x more comments. Think about it: fewer links mean more conversations and impressions. So, the algorithm now gives native content a big thumbs-up while sending linked posts to the back of the line. But here’s the kicker—this doesn’t mean you can’t share links at all. You just have to get crafty about it. Links Belong in the Comments—Not Your Post Think of LinkedIn posts as the main course at a fancy dinner. Nobody wants the dessert to steal the spotlight. The same rule applies to links—keep them out of the main post and place them in the comments instead. Why? Because LinkedIn doesn’t treat this approach as an “offense. ” It’s like sneaking snacks into a movie theater: technically not kosher, but still effective. For example, instead of saying: “Check out my latest blog post: . ” Try: “I just wrote about this fascinating topic! I’ve added the link in the comments below—feel free to check it out. ” Not only will your post look cleaner, but the algorithm will smile upon your cleverness. Native Content is Your New Best Friend What’s native content? It’s content that lives happily on LinkedIn without needing external life support. This could mean crafting compelling posts, sharing industry insights, or posting a quick tip video. For instance, you could say: “The 3 biggest mistakes people make on LinkedIn: Posting too many links. Ignoring comments. Writing posts longer than Tolstoy’s novels. Which one are you guilty of? ” This approach sparks engagement, encourages conversation, and keeps your audience on LinkedIn—exactly what the platform loves. Bonus points if your posts are witty, relatable, and a little spicy. Automated Posts Are Out, Manual Posts Are In Here’s a fun fact: LinkedIn can tell when you’re phoning it in with automated content. Scheduled posts, especially ones with links, are red flags for the algorithm. Think of it like a badly done karaoke performance—it lacks authenticity and nobody’s clapping. Manually posting your content might take a bit more effort, but it screams authenticity. Plus, LinkedIn rewards genuine effort. If you want your posts to soar, put in the elbow grease and hit “publish” yourself. Trust us, your engagement stats will thank you. Play the Algorithm’s Game with Timely Engagement LinkedIn’s algorithm is like a hyperactive toddler—it thrives on immediate attention. Your post’s first hour is critical. The more engagement (comments, reactions, etc. ) you get during this window, the more LinkedIn will push your post to the top of your network’s feeds. So, how do you hack this? Encourage your colleagues or friends to drop a quick comment or share. Even a simple, “Great point! ” or “Totally agree! ” can give your post a much-needed boost. Visuals and Questions Work Like Magic Posts with eye-catching visuals or open-ended questions perform exceptionally well. Why? Because they stop the scroll. A snappy graphic or a provocative question can work wonders for engagement. Try asking: “Do you think LinkedIn’s link penalties are fair, or are they a bit much? Share your thoughts! ” Not only does this spark discussion, but it also positions you as someone genuinely interested in what your audience has to say. Final Thoughts from Umbrella Local: Adapt and Thrive Change is LinkedIn’s middle name, and marketers have to adapt constantly. By focusing on native, authentic content and avoiding outbound link penalties, you’ll not only stay in the algorithm’s good books but also build stronger, more meaningful connections with your audience. Think of it this way: LinkedIn isn’t just penalizing links—it’s pushing us all to be more creative, engaging, and human in our content. And really, isn’t that what social media is supposed to be about? So, what’s your take? Have you experimented with link-free posts? If not, now’s the time to start. Your reach (and your audience) will thank you. Ready to take your LinkedIn content up several notches? To schedule a free consultation with an Umbrella Local Expert to discuss current content trends and how to update your LinkedIn strategy, contact us through the Umbrella Local website or call us at (646) 440-1426. --- > What does it take to get ranked in google Search?. Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-11-15 - Modified: 2024-11-15 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/what-does-it-take-to-get-ranked-in-google-search/ - Categories: SEO Articles Technical SEO is the technical and analytical skills together with a good understanding of how Google and other search engines work. Technical SEO involves being familiar with the most popular CMS systems and knowing at least the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In addition to that, good technical SEO means knowing the fundamental rules of SEO and being able to identify if a website breaks these rules. Technical SEO is the ability to provide fixes to the problems identified on the website and be able to determine whether the fixes were implemented correctly. 1. Get website URLs Indexed By Google 2. Block certain URLs from being indexed by Google 3. Have an understanding of the Most Important SEO Ranking Factors 4. Have an understanding of SEO Myths. 5. Know how Website Crawlers function 6. Ability to Analyze Page Speed And Core Web Vitals 7. Know What Are Some Quick Technical SEO Wins 8. Understand how to Increase Site Traffic and troubleshoot a site with no traffic. 9. How to analyze whether Googlebot is having Problems Accessing Site Content 10. Know how to create an XML Sitemap 11. How to Perform A Technical SEO Audit 12. Discover Duplicate Content or Pages 13. Know how to Use Google Search Console 14. Understand and implement Structured Data And know Whether It Is Valid 15. Use and implement 3rd party SEO Resources --- - Published: 2024-11-06 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/driving-engagement-with-linkedins-algorithm-updates/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles LinkedIn is more than just a networking site—it’s a powerful tool for businesses to grow, connect, and build their brand presence. But lately, the game has changed. If you’ve noticed that your posts aren’t getting as much engagement as before, you’re not alone. LinkedIn’s algorithm has recently shifted, and understanding how it works can help you maximize your content’s reach. So, What’s Changed with LinkedIn’s Algorithm? In the past, simply posting on LinkedIn might have been enough to get some attention. However, LinkedIn has updated its algorithm to prioritize engagement-driven posts. Essentially, if people engage with your post quickly after it’s published, LinkedIn’s algorithm will show it to even more people. This engagement includes likes, shares, and, most importantly, comments. Here’s an interesting stat: According to the Van der Blom report, posts that receive 2-4 comments in the first hour after publishing can see up to a 25% increase in their reach. That means the more people engage with your content right after you post it, the more LinkedIn will promote it. Pretty powerful, right? How Can LinkedIn’s Algorithm Get You More Engagement? If you want to tap into this new shift, it’s time to rethink the type of content you’re posting. The focus now is on crafting posts that spark conversations. Instead of posting a generic update or announcement, try posting something that invites people to respond. Ask a question, share your perspective on a trending topic, or even challenge your audience to think about an issue in a new way. One great tip is to make your content conversational. LinkedIn is a professional platform, but that doesn’t mean your content has to be dry and formal. In fact, more personal, human posts tend to perform better. The goal is to make your audience feel like they’re having a conversation with you, not just reading a corporate announcement. Encouraging team members or client leaders to engage with the posts is another effective strategy. When your client’s leadership team comments on or shares posts, it adds credibility and boosts visibility. People are more likely to engage when they see that others are already involved. Don’t Forget About Timing Another important part of this engagement strategy is timing. LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes posts that gain early engagement, so the more people interact with your post right after it goes live, the more likely it is to be shown to a broader audience. To maximize this, encourage your clients, their employees, or even your network to comment soon after a post is published. Early interactions, such as likes, comments, or shares, signal to LinkedIn’s algorithm that the content is valuable and engaging, keeping it active in the feed for longer. The quicker you spark these interactions, the more chances your post has of being seen and reaching a wider audience, ultimately boosting engagement. By understanding LinkedIn’s algorithm, you can use timing to your advantage, ensuring your posts stay relevant and visible to your target audience. Quick Tips for Engagement-Driven LinkedIn Posts: Ask Questions: Whether it’s about a hot industry topic or a personal opinion, questions encourage responses. Personalize Your Posts: Share insights that are specific to your industry or target audience. Get Your Team Involved: Encourage colleagues or leaders to comment and engage with your content early on. How Umbrella Local Can Help You Maximize Engagement Despite LinkedIn’s Algorithm Changes As you start adjusting your LinkedIn strategy, it’s helpful to have the right tools in place. At Umbrella Local, we specialize in offering tailored solutions to help businesses like yours stay ahead of content trends. Whether you’re looking to improve your content strategy, increase engagement, or make your posts stand out, our local experts are here to guide you. Ready to take your LinkedIn content to the next level? To schedule a free consultation with an Umbrella Local Expert to discuss current content trends and how to update your LinkedIn strategy, contact us through the Umbrella Local website or call us at (646) 440-1426. Let’s boost your engagement and get your posts in front of more people! --- - Published: 2024-10-23 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/the-power-of-personalized-content-how-ai-transforms-consumer-engagement/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Why Personalized Content is the Future Digital marketing has entered a golden age of personalized content. With advances in AI and machine learning, brands can now engage with customers on a whole new level, offering tailored messages and experiences that resonate deeply. For digital marketing agencies, the ability to deliver personalized content at scale represents a monumental shift, especially in fostering customer loyalty and improving ROI. But what does this mean for your agency’s approach to marketing strategy? The Evolution of Personalization: From One-Size-Fits-All to Hyper-Personalized Experiences Once upon a time, marketing efforts were more like casting a wide net. The idea was to reach as many people as possible and hope that a few would respond. Fast forward to today, and the most successful digital strategies are all about targeting individual customers with precision. Personalized content isn’t just about addressing someone by name in an email anymore—it’s about predicting their preferences, behaviors, and needs in real time. According to research, 72% of consumers now only engage with marketing messages that are customized to their specific interests. This represents an enormous opportunity for digital marketers. By harnessing the power of AI, brands can analyze vast amounts of data to anticipate customer preferences, crafting hyper-personalized experiences across channels. How AI Makes Personalized Content Possible at Scale The secret weapon behind personalized content is AI. Machine learning algorithms can analyze user behavior patterns—ranging from past purchases to browsing history—and deliver recommendations or content that align perfectly with a customer’s needs. Some studies show that personalized emails deliver 6x higher transaction rates compared to non-personalized messages . Platforms like Amazon and Netflix are masters of this craft. By learning from user interactions, they curate highly targeted suggestions, which not only increase engagement but also drive more conversions. For agencies, AI-powered personalization tools like dynamic landing pages or behavior-based email triggers can radically improve performance for clients. Benefits of AI-Driven Personalized Content Increased Engagement: By speaking directly to user preferences, brands can expect higher engagement rates. 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase when offered personalized experiences . Improved Customer Loyalty: Personalization shows customers you understand them, and that’s key to building long-term relationships. Over time, this leads to better customer retention rates. Better ROI: When campaigns are personalized, they become more efficient. Your ads and emails only go to people who are most likely to engage, making each marketing dollar work harder. Challenges of Personalizing Content at Scale Despite all the benefits, scaling personalized content comes with its own set of challenges. Implementing AI tools across multiple platforms, while ensuring data privacy and navigating complex customer journeys, requires a high level of expertise. For agency owners, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity—those who master these complexities will stand out from the competition. Personalized Content and Umbrella For digital marketing agencies, the future is now. Personalized content powered by AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. Whether you’re enhancing email campaigns, retargeting ads, or creating dynamic web experiences, the ability to tailor your messaging will determine your success in this rapidly evolving landscape. Are you ready to step up? To schedule a free consultation to discuss your clients’ needs for customer reviews, go to the Umbrella website or call us at (866) 760-2638. --- - Published: 2024-10-23 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/scaling-personalized-content-why-its-easier-and-more-important-than-ever/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Scaling Without Losing the Personal Touch Once upon a time, scaling personalized content seemed impossible. Marketers constantly wondered: How can we personalize messages for thousands, if not millions, of users without losing that personal connection? Luckily, with the evolution of AI, this seemingly impossible task is now a reality. Today, AI allows agencies to deliver hyper-targeted, personalized campaigns at scale, so you can craft tailored experiences that feel personal—even when addressing a massive audience. How AI Solves the Scalability Problem Before AI, marketers had to manually segment audiences, write custom messages, and cross their fingers that their approach would work. Now, AI-powered tools handle the heavy lifting, allowing for dynamic personalization without endless hours of work. In fact, 66% of consumers expect brands to understand their unique needs. With AI, marketers can easily meet this demand. From behavior-based email triggers to dynamic website content, AI helps deliver personalized experiences consistently. For instance, when a customer interacts with your brand, AI systems can automatically suggest products or services that align with their preferences. This not only saves time but ensures that customers receive relevant content, no matter where they engage with your brand. Automation Meets Personalization: The Perfect Pairing Automation was once seen as the enemy of personalization. But here’s the good news: when done right, automation can enhance personalization, making it scalable. By leveraging AI-driven algorithms, digital marketers can deliver automated yet personalized messages that still feel human. Imagine sending out hundreds of emails with content tailored to each recipient—without lifting a finger. For example, personalized email campaigns driven by AI can deliver 50% higher open rates than standard emails. If a customer leaves items in their shopping cart, AI can trigger an email offering a discount on those very products. It’s automated, but it feels like a personal touch. Similarly, dynamic content on websites allows AI to personalize a visitor’s experience. If someone is browsing a specific product category, AI can ensure the next time they visit, the homepage is customized to showcase that category. This creates a seamless, personal experience without any manual input. Best Practices for Scaling Personalized Content While AI makes scaling personalized content easier, there are a few best practices to keep in mind: Use Data to Drive Personalization: Every click, scroll, and purchase tells a story about your customer. Use this data to fuel hyper-personalized campaigns that speak to their unique preferences. Smart Segmentation: AI can do a lot of the work, but starting with broad audience segments can make scaling personalization even easier. Group your audience into key categories, such as demographics or behavior, then let AI refine the messaging within those groups. Leverage AI-Powered Tools: AI tools like behavior-triggered emails, dynamic landing pages, and personalized ads are more accessible than ever. For example, AI-powered personalization increases customer satisfaction by 20%. Balance Automation and Human Touch: Automation can enhance personalization, but a human touch is still important. Small gestures, like addressing customers by name or acknowledging their last interaction with your brand, can make all the difference in how personal the message feels. The Time to Scale – With Umbrella’s Help – is Now Scaling personalized content is no longer just an option—it’s a necessity. With AI and automation, digital marketing agencies can deliver the kinds of personalized experiences that customers crave, at a massive scale. The result? Higher engagement, stronger customer loyalty, and a distinct edge over the competition. The tools are there, and the demand for personalized content is higher than ever. For agencies that embrace this shift, the rewards will be substantial. If you’re looking to elevate your clients’ personalized content strategy, we’re here to help. To schedule a free consultation about scaling customer reviews and personalized content, head over to our Umbrella website or give us a call at (866) 760-2638. Let’s take your clients’ content to the next level! --- - Published: 2024-10-23 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/why-personalized-content-is-your-secret-weapon-for-building-stronger-client-relationships/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles The Need for Deeper Connections For any digital marketing agency, success depends on helping clients build deeper connections with their customers. One of the best ways to foster this engagement is through personalized content. By leveraging AI, you can ensure your campaigns are not only targeted but also relevant, driving both conversions and long-term loyalty. How AI Enhances Personalized Content for Client Success AI’s ability to process and analyze large sets of data is what makes personalized content truly powerful. This tech enables digital marketers to understand individual consumer preferences at scale, unlocking the potential for hyper-targeted messaging. AI allows brands to serve not just relevant ads, but to make customers feel like the content was designed just for them. For instance, 49% of consumers say they’ve made impulse purchases due to a personalized recommendation. Imagine the potential for your clients when you incorporate this approach into their campaigns. Real-Time Personalization: The Key to Staying Relevant In today’s fast-paced digital world, timing is everything. AI enables marketers to deliver real-time personalized content. Whether it’s a pop-up on a website based on browsing history or an email triggered by recent purchases, your clients can engage with their audience at the exact right moment. One case study showed that implementing real-time personalization on an eCommerce site increased conversion rates by 10-15% . The magic lies in delivering exactly what the customer needs at the exact moment they need it. Three Ways Personalized Content Strengthens Client Relationships Relevant Messaging Across Channels: Whether it’s a social media ad, email, or in-app notification, personalized content allows brands to communicate with consistency and relevance across platforms. Customers appreciate not just the message but the tailored experience. Increased Customer Loyalty: As your client’s customers receive more relevant content, their sense of brand loyalty strengthens. A loyal customer is worth up to 10x more than their first purchase . By implementing a personalized strategy, you’re not only boosting short-term sales but building long-term value for your clients. Data-Driven Insights for Ongoing Improvement: AI doesn’t just personalize; it learns. As you gather data on customer preferences, these insights can inform future campaigns, making each one more effective than the last. Challenges Agencies Face with Personalized Content While personalized content offers immense value, it’s not without its challenges. One major concern is ensuring AI-driven systems don’t cross into invasive territory when targeting customers. With stricter data privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, agencies must be careful to stay compliant and transparent in how they collect and use consumer data. Transparency builds trust, but even with clear consent, customers can still feel uncomfortable if the personalization seems too invasive or over-targeted. Another challenge lies in integrating AI-driven systems into an agency’s existing processes. This requires significant investment—not only in new technology but also in skilled talent capable of managing and optimizing these tools. Agencies must either invest in training their current team or hire specialists with experience in AI and machine learning. The complexity of AI systems also means that agencies need to keep up with constant updates and developments in the technology to remain competitive. Achieving the right balance of personalization is another hurdle. Over-personalization can make consumers feel like their privacy is being compromised, while under-personalization may result in content that feels generic or irrelevant. Finding this balance requires a deep understanding of each client’s target audience and their preferences, which often takes time and continuous adjustment. While personalized content is a game changer for digital marketing, agencies face challenges such as balancing data privacy, investing in AI technology and talent, and striking the right level of personalization for optimal results. Personalization with Umbrella: The Path to Success The future of marketing is all about building strong, lasting relationships, and personalized content is the key to achieving this. Consumers today expect brands to understand their preferences and deliver tailored messages that resonate on a personal level. With AI and machine learning making personalized content scalable, agencies can now offer more precise targeting across multiple platforms, ensuring consistent and meaningful engagement. By helping your clients deliver the right message to the right person at the right time, you’re not only boosting immediate results but also fostering long-term customer loyalty. Mastering this approach will place your agency at the forefront of the digital marketing revolution, keeping you ahead of competitors and driving sustainable growth for both your clients and your agency. Keep this in mind, and you’ll continue to thrive in the ever-evolving marketing landscape To schedule a free consultation to discuss your clients’ needs for customer reviews, go to the Umbrella website or call us at (866) 760-2638. --- - Published: 2024-09-29 - Modified: 2025-01-17 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/8-ways-to-increase-customer-reviews-and-your-clients-credibility/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Why should a customer trust your client’s company? After all, your client is trying to sell that customer something. There are many ways that companies can gain the trust of their customers. We all know people who live and die by Apple products. But Apple didn’t have that blind loyalty right out of the gate. And let’s face it, most of your clients probably don’t carry the same weight as Apple. That’s where customer reviews come in. Why Should I Solicit Online Customer Reviews? For any company, old or new, the fastest and easiest way to overcome the innate distrust of prospects is by presenting them with unbiased customer reviews. Consider: Online shopping: More than 99. 9% of people check reviews when they shop online. In-Store shopping: Surprisingly, most people take this further afield. 8 out of 10 people check reviews on their smartphones while shopping at a brick and mortar store. Level of trust: 49% of consumers have so much faith in online reviews that they trust them as much as recommendations from their own families. Number of reviews: Just a few reviews you use over and over again aren’t going to cut it. You need to keep soliciting fresh reviews. 60% of consumers heavily consider the number of reviews a business has before buying from them. What Are the Best Ways to Gather Online Customer Reviews? Now that we’ve seen why your clients need reviews, let’s look at some surefire ways to keep those reviews flooding in. 1. Smooth the Way KISS: Keep it Simple... . The easier it is for a customer to leave a review, the more likely they will do it. Prominently place direct links to review platforms on your client’s website, within email signatures and on social media profiles can significantly reduce the effort required for a customer to leave feedback. Depending on your client’s type of business, consider using QR codes in physical locations or on receipts to direct customers straight to a review page on your website. 2. Use Various Review Platforms Diversify where customers can leave reviews. While sites like Google and Yelp are popular choices, don’t overlook industry-specific platforms like TripAdvisor for travel, hotels and restaurants or Houzz for home services. But as a starting point, make sure your client’s Google Business Profile is up to date. 3. Engage with Existing Reviews Interaction encourages more interaction. Customers want to be heard, and they appreciate your responses. Responding to both positive and negative reviews demonstrates to your clients’ customers that their opinions are valued. A study by the Harvard Business Review found that businesses responding to reviews see a significant increase in the number of reviews they receive. Not only that, but they get better review ratings! Engaging with reviews can also help mitigate the impact of negative feedback by showing potential customers that the business is committed to customer satisfaction. 4. Ethically Incentivize Customer Reviews Offering incentives for reviews can be a delicate balance. You need to follow the guidelines of the review platforms, and these guidelines often prohibit payment or rewards as an incentive. Instead, consider offering a general incentive such as entry into a prize drawing or a discount on future purchases, without tying it directly to the act of leaving a review. This approach encourages feedback without compromising your client’s integrity. 5. Educate Your Customers Sometimes, customers don’t leave reviews simply because they don’t know how. Providing clear instructions or a brief guide on how to leave a review, what kind of feedback is helpful, and why reviews are important to your client’s business can go a long way toward encouraging participation. 6. Timing Is Everything You can greatly request the probability of a customer leaving your client a review simply by timing the request well. Asking for a review immediately after a purchase might be too soon, because the customer may have not even used the product yet. But if you wait too long, they get past the time when they are still excited about their purchase. You need to find that sweet spot. Finding the right moment to ask for a customer review such as after providing stellar customer support or once the customer has had enough time to assess their purchase (but not too long! ) can increase the chances of receiving a review. 7. Personalize Your Approach Personalization can significantly increase the effectiveness of your review requests. Addressing your client’s customers by name (such as in an email campaign) and referencing specific aspects of their purchase or experience feels much more personal and compelling than shotgun emails. This approach not only enhances the customer experience but also demonstrates a genuine interest in their specific feedback. 8. Monitor and Analyze Review Trends Regularly monitoring and analyzing the feedback you receive can provide valuable insights into customer satisfaction and areas for improvement. Tools like Google Alerts or online reputation management software can help you stay on top of new reviews across different platforms. Analyzing trends in feedback can also inform your business strategy and help identify areas where customer experience can be enhanced. Want Help Gathering and Responding to Customer Reviews? Today, online reviews can make or break a business. You need a strategic approach and the right technology to gather customer reviews for your clients. Umbrella’s white label reputation management services can provide what you need including an automated review generation solution that you can integrate with any CRM and request generation for customers to review your client’s business, products or services through SMS or email. Your client’s team can also manually send review requests whenever they want. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your clients’ needs for customer reviews, go to the Umbrella website or call us at (866) 760-2638. --- - Published: 2024-09-18 - Modified: 2024-09-22 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/5-holiday-tactics-to-get-new-customers-as-a-small-marketing-agency/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles The holiday season is a goldmine for marketing opportunities, especially for small businesses. It’s a time when consumers are primed to spend, and brands are competing to grab their attention. If you run a small marketing agency, this is your chance to help clients stand out while attracting new customers of your own. To maximize your efforts during the festive period, it’s all about strategic holiday planning, creative campaigns, and exceptional customer service. Here are five holiday tactics that can help you win new customers and strengthen your relationships with existing clients. 1. Offer a Holiday Discount or Limited-Time Package Everyone loves a good deal, especially during the holidays when expenses add up. Offering a holiday discount or creating a limited-time service package can be a great way to attract new customers. It’s an effective strategy that makes people feel like they’re getting something special and exclusive. How to implement this: Create a holiday-themed package that bundles your services at a special price. For example, you could offer a “Holiday Social Media Blitz” where you manage clients’ social accounts for November and December at a discounted rate. Offer a percentage off on certain services during a set time frame, like “20% off on website redesigns until New Year’s Eve. ” Promote your deal through email campaigns, social media, and ads with clear deadlines to create urgency. Customers will feel like they’re getting more bang for their buck, and it’s a great opportunity to show them what you can do. 2. Create Holiday-Themed Content The holidays offer a wealth of content opportunities. Create holiday-themed blogs, videos, or social media posts that are fun, engaging, and shareable. Content marketing is a powerful tool for boosting your agency’s visibility and showing potential customers your creativity. How to implement this: Write a holiday marketing guide with tips and tricks for small businesses. Create video content showing how holiday campaigns have driven results for your clients in the past. Share behind-the-scenes holiday activities at your agency to showcase your company culture. Run a festive-themed social media contest where followers can submit holiday photos or stories for a chance to win a free consultation or service. This type of content keeps your agency top of mind and provides value to potential clients by demonstrating your expertise. 3. Run a Holiday-Themed Email Campaign Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture leads and turn them into paying customers. People are more receptive to promotional emails during the holidays, especially if they include holiday offers, tips, or gifts. How to implement this: Craft a holiday email campaign focusing on festive tips, exclusive discounts, or a countdown to a special deal. Include engaging visuals, holiday-themed subject lines, and personalization to capture your audience’s attention. Segment your email list to target specific groups with relevant offers. For example, send special offers to former clients who haven’t worked with you in a while, or to current clients who might want to add on additional services for the holidays. By offering value through holiday emails, you can encourage prospective clients to engage with your agency and potentially sign up for your services. 4. Partner with Local Businesses for a Holiday Giveaway Partnering with other local businesses can help expand your reach while building a more substantial presence within the community. A holiday giveaway with complementary businesses is a win-win situation—you get to tap into each other’s customer base while offering something exciting to new potential clients. How to implement this: Connect with businesses offering complementary services, such as a web design company, social media influencer, or local retailer. Create a joint holiday giveaway, offering a free service or package as the grand prize. Promote the giveaway on social media, through email campaigns, and even at local events. Make sure each business in the partnership promotes the giveaway to their customer base, allowing you to reach a broader audience. Not only does this increase your exposure, but it’s also a fun and festive way to engage your local community. 5. Host a Free Holiday Marketing Workshop or Webinar Hosting a holiday-themed workshop or webinar can help showcase your expertise while providing valuable insights to potential clients. People are often looking for guidance on maximizing their holiday marketing efforts, and by positioning yourself as an expert, you’ll naturally attract new customers. How to implement this: Offer a free virtual workshop or webinar where you discuss holiday marketing strategies, such as “How to Create a Standout Holiday Campaign” or “Maximizing Your Holiday Ad Spend. ” Promote your event on social media, email, and even website. During the event, offer actionable tips and advice, and include a call-to-action at the end for attendees to book a free consultation with your agency. These educational sessions showcase your knowledge and build trust with potential customers. By providing real value upfront, attendees are more likely to contact you when they need marketing services. Bonus Tip: Send Personalized Holiday Cards or Gifts The holidays are a time for connection; nothing shows appreciation more than a personalized holiday card or small gift. This simple yet thoughtful gesture can strengthen relationships with both new leads and current clients. How to implement this: Send a personalized holiday card thanking your clients for their business and offering them a discount on future services. If you want to go the extra mile, send a small holiday gift, like a branded mug or notebook, to your top clients or new prospects. Include a handwritten note for a personal touch, which can leave a lasting impression. This warm, personal approach will help set your agency apart and ensure that clients remember you long after the holiday season. Get New Holiday Customers With INLocal Marketing The holiday season is a perfect time for your marketing agency to attract new customers and nurture existing relationships. Whether you’re offering exclusive deals, creating festive content, or hosting a free workshop, there are many ways to engage and grow your client base. By leveraging the holiday spirit and offering... --- - Published: 2024-09-05 - Modified: 2024-09-22 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/why-choose-pay-per-result-seo-instead-of-traditional-seo/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles According to HubSpot, nearly 75% of Internet users don’t move past the first page of the search results. This means you’ll be missing out on a huge section of your target audience if your site doesn’t rank on the 1st page of search engine results for different keywords. Many business owners have invested significant amounts of money in developing digital marketing strategies, such as running paid ads, sending email blasts, and engaging in social media marketing. A considerable portion of their digital marketing budget, often exceeding 30%, is allocated to hiring marketing experts to create and implement a fail-safe SEO strategy aimed at securing the coveted #1 ranking. However, despite these efforts, the actual outcomes often fall short of their expectations, with their websites failing to achieve top positions in search engine results. While it’s true that SEO is a long-term process and you’d have to wait for months before you see any actual results, business owners pay top dollars each month, only to end up being disappointed later. Backlinko reported that small-business owners spend on an average approximately $497. 16 each month on SEO services. In a survey conducted by the team at Backlinko, out of 1,200 respondents (business owners), around half of them said that they spend way less than $1,000 per year on SEO, while 14% spend $5k+ each year and nearly 2% spend more than $25k+ every year on SEO services. That’s a lot of money right there, and if the numbers are to be believed, the United States SEO industry will cross $80 billion in some time. Imagine paying $700-800 each month on SEO services each month for more than six months and not seeing any results later. Let’s say you spend $750 every month on SEO services for seven months ($750 x 7 = $5,250). That’s $5,250 you’ll be wasting on your SEO campaigns. So, what’s the alternative here? How can you make sure that you’ll be getting value for your money? And that’s where Pay Per Result SEO triumphs over traditional SEO in all ways. What’s Pay Per Result SEO? It’s an SEO model in which you, as a client, will only be charged after you achieve the desired results. This means you won’t have to pay a dime if your website doesn’t appear on the search engines. In simpler words: Pay only when you rank. Our experts at INLocal Marketing, with the help of innovative technology and many years of SEO hands-on experience offer unique SEO Pay Per Result Page #1 Ranking SEO Service that’ll get your website at the top of the search engine results within a few months. All you have to do is hop on to our platform to hire Pay Per Result SEO experts who’ll not only hear out your requirements but will also carry out quick website analysis and come up with an outstanding strategy for your business to help you achieve better results. How is Pay Per Result SEO Different from Traditional SEO? As we took a look at it already, business owners end up wasting their top dollars on SEO campaigns that don’t deliver results. Usually, these campaigns run for a longer period of time, more than 6 months. Unless you already have strong domain authority, it may take anywhere between 6 and 12 months unless you see actual results. When done right and if you create and implement the right strategy, you may start seeing results within 3 months. Our experts at INLocal Marketing hold deep expertise in the SEO industry, are well-educated with the most promising tips and hacks, and know how to get things in motion. Right from the moment you get in touch with us, we’ll be carrying out thorough keywords research, where we will also be considering any past SEO as well as Google Advertising results you may have had. Once that’s done, we’d recommend you to let us start with 10-search phrases, which will include long-tail plus high-volume terms. And once we begin our campaign, we guarantee top ranking on the 3rd month of you collaborating with us. While there are multiple misconceptions about this strategy in the marketing industry, we’d like to address a few to help you understand what you’re in for. Pay Per Result SEO Misconceptions It’s a Black Hat Strategy Used by SEO Agencies Your Rankings Will Fade Over Time It’s a Black Hat Strategy Used by SEO Agencies We have witnessed marketers and self-proclaimed marketing experts labeling Pay Per Result SEO as a black hat strategy employed by SEO agencies. They allege that it involves shady tactics to manipulate search engine rankings. While it’s true that some companies may resort to unethical practices to bill their clients, our experts at INLocal Marketing have been in the industry for years and are well-versed in all aspects of SEO. Once you sit down with us, we’ll also explain our Pay Per Result SEO strategy in detail. This will give you a clear understanding of how it works. Our professionals have strong connections that can help boost your rankings and establish relevance. Your Rankings Won’t Last for Long We not only implement the most effective SEO tactics to improve your rankings, but we also provide ongoing support to help you maintain and further enhance your position. Our goal is to ensure that your business not only reaches the top but also continues to progress to the next level. Unlock the #1 Position on Search Engines With INLocal Marketing’s top-notch and premium SEO agency services, you won’t have to worry about spending your money on poorly built SEO campaigns. Imagine the amount of money you’ll be saving. Most importantly, imagine finally achieving that #1 position on Google, which has been one of your biggest goals. Contact us through our INLocal Marketing website to get started! --- - Published: 2024-08-21 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/the-basics-of-investing-in-marketing-analytics/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Knowing your marketing analytics in 2024 is super important for your business to succeed. In today’s fast-paced and competitive market, understanding and making sense of data is a game-changer. Here are some really good reasons to think about putting your money into marketing analytics this year. Know Your Customer Base Like No One Else So, marketing analytics gives you a bunch of useful info about your customers. By looking at stuff like who your customers are, what they do, and what they like, you can shape your marketing plans to fit what your specific audience wants. Using marketing analytics can really help you understand how customers move along their journey. By keeping track of all the different ways customers engage when making a purchase, you can learn what affects their decisions. This big picture of the customer journey lets you improve every step of the marketing process, from catching their attention to making the sale, which makes the overall customer experience better. On top of that, marketing analytics also helps you make the most of your marketing budget and resources. Getting to know your customers better lets you make more personalized and interesting marketing strategies, which, in the end can lead to happier customers who keep coming back. In fact, studies show that businesses that personalize their marketing campaigns see an average increase of 20% in sales. See The Success Of Your Marketing Efforts Keep track of your marketing performance with marketing analytics to understand what works best. You can check how well different marketing channels, like email campaigns, social media ads, and search engine marketing, are at getting people to take action. Plus, you can look at website traffic data to see which pages are popular and which ones make people leave right away. Also, by figuring out how much it costs to get each new customer from different marketing channels, you can find out which channels are the most budget-friendly for bringing in new customers. This kind of detailed analysis helps you make smart choices and improve your strategies for the best outcomes. Being able to measure and understand the impact of your marketing work is really important for getting the most out of your investment. Stay Ahead With Great Marketing Analytics Investing in marketing analytics helps you stay ahead of the competition. By using data analytics tools, you can find emerging market trends, predict customer needs, and adjust your marketing strategies. A proactive marketing approach empowers you to seize opportunities before your competitors, providing you with a strategic advantage in the marketplace! Does Marketing Analytics Save You Resources? Yes! By checking how well different marketing channels and initiatives are doing, you can spend your resources more wisely on the ones that work best. This data-based approach to resource allocation helps you get the most out of your marketing while cutting unnecessary costs. Marketing analytics also lets you see the long-term effects of your marketing strategies. By keeping track of customer retention, lifetime value, and brand loyalty, you can understand how your marketing efforts impact more than just immediate sales. This broader view of your marketing performance helps you to form lasting relationships with your customers, which saves you money in the long run. Better Marketing With INLocal The perks of putting money into marketing analytics in 2024 are pretty clear. The Duke CMO Survey found that there’s been a big increase in spending on analytics. The amount of the marketing budget dedicated to analytics could nearly triple over the next three years. From gaining profound customer insights to optimizing your marketing budget, marketing analytics offers a multitude of advantages that can propel your business to new heights. In a landscape where data reigns supreme, those who harness the power of marketing analytics will undoubtedly thrive in the ever-evolving marketplace. Start by using tools like Google Analytics to keep an eye on the number of visitors, their demographics, and what they do on your website. Next, check how well your email campaigns are doing by looking at open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. You’ll also want to keep an eye on social media engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments. Plus, you should figure out the customer acquisition cost by dividing your marketing expenses by the number of new customers gained during a specific period. To wrap it up, check the return on investment (ROI) of your marketing campaigns by comparing costs with the generated revenue to understand the overall effectiveness of your marketing efforts. So, seize the opportunity and make marketing analytics a cornerstone of your business strategy this year. Contact INLocal Marketing on our convenient website or call us at (646) 440-1426 to get started. --- - Published: 2024-08-14 - Modified: 2024-10-04 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marketing-reports-are-your-best-friends/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles You’re probably no stranger to marketing reports. They can seem like a bit of a beast, but trust me, once you get to know them, they’re not so scary. In fact, they can become your best ally in delivering exceptional results for your clients. According to a recent report, 63% of marketers who regularly use marketing reports and analytics are more likely to retain their clients compared to those who don’t use them. This highlights how data-driven insights contribute to stronger client relationships and better service outcomes. Let’s dive into how you can make friends with marketing reports, from creating and running them to understanding what they’re telling you. Creating Your Marketing Reports Let’s start with the basics. Creating a marketing report might sound daunting, but it’s all about getting the right data into a digestible format. First things first, define your goals. What do you want to track? Are you focusing on website traffic, social media engagement, or ad performance? Clarify your objectives so you can tailor your report to meet those needs. Once you know what you’re tracking, choose your tools wisely. Platforms like Google Analytics, social media insights, and marketing automation systems provide valuable data. Integrating these tools into a reporting dashboard can save you time and help you present a comprehensive overview. Tools like Google Data Studio or Microsoft Power BI can turn raw data into visually appealing reports, making it easier for your clients to understand. Running Your Reports With your report set up, it’s time to run it. Consistency is key here. Decide on a reporting schedule that aligns with your client’s needs—weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Regular updates ensure you’re capturing data trends and not just snapshots. When running your report, make sure to check for accuracy. Cross-reference data points and verify that the numbers align with your tracking goals. If you spot discrepancies, take a moment to investigate. Accurate data is crucial for making informed decisions and demonstrating value to your clients. Reading and Interpreting Results Here’s where the magic happens. Reading and interpreting your marketing reports can turn a sea of numbers into actionable insights. Start by focusing on the key metrics that align with your goals. For example, if you’re tracking social media performance, look at metrics like engagement rates, click-through rates, and follower growth. Be sure to highlight trends and patterns. Are there specific times when engagement spikes? Are certain campaigns outperforming others? Identifying these trends can help you refine strategies and optimize future campaigns. Don’t get lost in the data—keep it relevant to your client’s goals. Tailor your insights to their specific objectives. If they’re focused on increasing website traffic, emphasize metrics related to visitor numbers, bounce rates, and time on site. If they’re more interested in conversions, spotlight metrics like conversion rates and ROI. Communicating Results Effectively Once you’ve got your insights, it’s time to communicate them to your clients. Avoid jargon and technical speak. Instead, present your findings in a clear, relatable manner. Use visuals like charts and graphs to illustrate key points. Visual aids can make complex data more accessible and engaging. When discussing results, frame your insights in terms of impact. How do the results align with the client’s goals? If the report shows positive outcomes, highlight those wins and explain how they contribute to overall success. If there are areas needing improvement, present them as opportunities for growth and outline actionable steps to address them. Leveraging Reports for Future Strategies Your marketing reports aren’t just about reviewing past performance—they’re a goldmine for planning future strategies. Use the insights to inform your next steps. If you notice a particular strategy isn’t delivering the desired results, consider adjusting your approach or experimenting with new tactics. Collaborate with your clients to set new goals based on the data. If you’ve identified successful elements in a campaign, brainstorm ways to build on them. If certain areas need work, develop strategies to address those gaps and enhance overall performance. Building a Reporting Routine To truly make friends with marketing reports, build a routine around them. Set aside time to review reports regularly and discuss them with your team or clients. This ongoing dialogue helps maintain a clear understanding of progress and ensures everyone is on the same page. Encourage feedback from your clients. They might have additional insights or preferences for how they’d like reports presented. Adjust your reporting process as needed to better align with their expectations and needs. Transform Reports Into Powerful Tools Embracing marketing reports can transform them from a task you dread into a powerful tool for driving client success. By creating, running, and reading reports effectively, you’ll be equipped to deliver meaningful insights and demonstrate the impact of your efforts. So go ahead—get to know your reports, and watch how they become a trusted companion in your marketing journey! Contact INLocal Marketing through the INLocal Marketing website or call us at (646) 440-1426 to get started. --- - Published: 2024-08-05 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/settle-the-social-media-score-for-better-marketing/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Choosing the right social media channel for different demographics can feel like trying to navigate a maze. With so many platforms out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But don’t worry, our INLocal Marketing Experts have you covered! Let’s break down which social media channel you should use to reach your target audience. Though we will explain Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, and YouTube, we will keep it simple, friendly, and hopefully, a bit fun for you! Facebook: The Original Let’s talk about Facebook. It’s like the wise old grandparent of social media, always there for you. With its wide reach, Facebook is a great choice for connecting with a broad audience. Here’s why Who’s on Facebook? Age Group: Primarily 25-54 Gender: Balanced, with a slight skew towards women Location: Urban and suburban areas Interests: Family, friends, and community events Why Use Facebook? Versatility: You can share text, photos, videos, and links. Community Building: Great for creating groups and events. Advertising: Robust ad platform with detailed targeting options. Instagram: Very Visual Instagram is the perfect platform for showcasing your brand’s visuals. If you have a strong visual presence or can create eye-catching content, Instagram is the place to be! Who’s on Instagram? Age Group: 18-34 Gender: More women than men, but the gap is closing Location: Urban areas Interests: Fashion, food, travel, fitness, and lifestyle Why Use Instagram? Visual Appeal: Perfect for brands that can leverage photos and videos. Engagement: High engagement rates, especially with Stories and Reels. Shopping: Integrated shopping features for easy conversion. Twitter: Connecting in Real-Time Twitter is the perfect place for staying in the loop with live updates . and having conversations in real-time. It’s an awesome platform for brands that want to keep up with the latest trends and connect with their followers instantly. Who’s on Twitter? Age Group: 18-49 Gender: More men than women Location: Urban areas Interests: News, sports, entertainment, and tech Why Use Twitter for Social Media? Real-Time Interaction: Ideal for live events and updates. Customer Service: Many brands use it for quick customer support. Trends: Great for tapping into trending topics and hashtags. LinkedIn: For the Pros LinkedIn is the professional’s playground. If your target audience is business professionals, this is your platform. Who’s on LinkedIn? Age Group: 25-54 Gender: Slightly more men than women Location: Urban and suburban areas Interests: Careers, networking, industry news, and professional development Why Use LinkedIn? Professional Networking: Ideal for B2B marketing and recruitment. Thought Leadership: Share industry insights and position your brand as a leader. Advertising: Target ads based on job title, industry, and more. Tik-Tok: Funny Meets Trendy TikTok is the latest craze, and it’s all about short, engaging videos. If you can create fun, trendy content, TikTok is a goldmine. Who’s on TikTok? Age Group: 13-24 Gender: Balanced, with a slight skew towards women Location: Global, with strong presence in urban areas Interests: Entertainment, memes, challenges, and music Why Use TikTok? Virality: Content can go viral quickly. Creativity: Encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Youth Engagement: Perfect for reaching a younger audience. Pinterest: All-Day Inspiration Pinterest is where people go to get inspired. If your brand can provide that spark of creativity, Pinterest is your platform. Who’s on Pinterest? Age Group: 18-49 Gender: Predominantly women Location: Urban and suburban areas Interests: DIY, crafts, home decor, fashion, and recipes Why Use Pinterest? Inspiration: Ideal for visually-driven content that inspires. Longevity: Pins have a longer lifespan than posts on other platforms. Traffic: Drives traffic to your website or blog. Snapchat: Messaging... Now! Snapchat is all about quick, disappearing content. It’s great for brands targeting a younger demographic with short attention spans. Who’s on Snapchat? Age Group: 13-24 Gender: Slightly more women than men Location: Urban areas Interests: Socializing, entertainment, and fashion Why Use Snapchat? Ephemeral Content: Creates a sense of urgency. Engagement: High engagement with younger users. Filters and Lenses: Fun features to enhance your content. YouTube: The Video Ruler YouTube is the king of video content. If your brand can produce high-quality videos, YouTube is the place to be. Who’s on YouTube? Age Group: 18-49 Gender: Balanced Location: Global Interests: Entertainment, education, tutorials, and reviews Why Use YouTube? Video Content: Perfect for long-form video content. SEO Benefits: Videos appear in Google search results. Monetization: Opportunities to monetize your content through ads. Social Media and Marketing Done Right Choosing the right social media channel depends on who you’re trying to reach and what kind of content you can produce. Each platform has its strengths and caters to different demographics, so by understanding where your audience hangs out online, you can tailor your social media strategy to meet them where they are. Contact INLocal Marketing through the INLocal Marketing website or call us at (646) 440-1426 to up your social media game and achieve many more marketing wins today! --- - Published: 2024-07-25 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/how-to-maximize-dms-social-medias-latest-engagement-trend/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles The social media scene is always changing, with new ways to connect with users popping up all the time. One interesting development is how Direct Messages (DMs) have become a big deal for interacting with others. What was once mainly for private chats has now become a powerful platform for businesses, influencers, and people to strengthen connections and boost their online presence. INLocal Marketing Experts can help you figure out how to make the most of DMs for engagement and other marketing needs, so let’s dig into why this trend is happening, what it means, and how your business can use DMs to amp up your social media game. Personal Interactions for the Win The move to using DMs for engagement is part of a bigger shift toward more private and personalized interactions on social media. Public posts are still important, but private conversations are becoming increasingly popular. Here’s the scoop: When you send a Direct Message (DM), about 98% of people open it, which is way better than emails, where only about 20% get opened. Plus, about 45% of people reply to DMs. Businesses that use DMs for customer service see their customer satisfaction go up by 20%. There are also strong qualitative reasons for this shift: People are more worried about privacy and data security, so they’re more careful about what they share publicly. DMs provide a safer space for you to share sensitive information and have honest discussions. Plus, DMs allow for more personalized interactions, which can be more meaningful and engaging than public comments. You will also like the direct and personal touch that comes with private messages, which helps build stronger connections. Also, social media platforms are always changing their algorithms, making it harder for your posts to reach a wide audience without paid promotion. But guess what? DMs bypass these algorithms, ensuring that messages are seen and read by the intended recipients! Studies show that DMs have higher open and response rates compared to other forms of social media engagement, making them a great option to engage with your audience more effectively. The Pros of Using DMs to Engage Better Did you know you can use DMs as a primary engagement tool? Direct messages (DMs) allow you to communicate directly with your customers. You can quickly answer customer questions, solve problems, and offer personalized support, which helps increase customer satisfaction and loyalty to your brand. Sending direct messages is a great way for you to connect with followers on a personal level. You can use DMs to thank loyal customers, offer them exclusive deals, and get their feedback, which helps build a strong sense of community and loyalty. DMs can also be a great way for you to find new leads and make sales. By talking to potential customers one-on-one, you can give them personalized info, reply to their questions, and help them through the buying process. You can also use DMs to send personalized event invitations and promote special events. This adds a personal touch and increases the likelihood of attendance and participation. How to Use DMs for Engagement That Actually Works At this point, you’re likely ready to become a DM master. To truly harness the power of DMs for engagement, you’ll want to follow a few best practices that ensure your interactions are meaningful and fun. Here are some tips to get you started: Get Personal Avoid those boring, generic messages. Spice things up by addressing the recipient by name and tailoring your content to their interests. Make them feel special and seen. Keep it Classy Always be respectful and professional. No one likes spammy or overly promotional content. Keep it genuine to avoid turning off your audience and damaging your reputation. Be Quick but Chill Responding promptly is key, but there’s no need to overdo it. Show that you value their time and interest with timely responses. Start the Conversation Use DMs to spark further interaction. Ask fun questions, invite their feedback, and suggest more ways for them to engage with your brand. Keep the conversation lively and engaging! Make it Special Offer exclusive content, deals, or info through DMs to make your recipients feel like VIPs. Everyone loves a little extra special treatment, and this can help foster loyalty and encourage them to keep coming back for more. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating engaging and fun DM interactions that your audience will love. Small Businesses (Like You! ) Using DMs for Engagement Here are a few examples of small businesses doing a great job using their DMs... you’re next! The Cozy Coffee Shop, a cool local café famous for its fancy coffee and delicious pastries, slides into DMs to stay in touch with its peeps. They get back to customers asking about the menu, take early orders for special treats, and even shoot personalized thank-you notes to the regulars. This way, they make sure every customer feels the love, keeping them coming back for more. Blossom Boutique, a hip online clothing store, uses DMs to give shoppers a personal touch. You can message them with your style preferences and get outfit recommendations just for you. Plus, they send exclusive discount codes and early access to new collections through DMs, making you feel like a VIP. Green Thumb Plant Shop, your go-to for all things indoor plants, uses DMs to dish out personalized plant care advice. Got a plant problem? Snap a pic and send it over—they’ve got you covered! They also slide into your DMs with announcements about new plant arrivals and special promotions, making it super tempting to visit the store or snag something online. Ready to Become the Best at DMs for Marketing? While you run your company, INLocal Marketing Experts will help you adopt the future of DM engagement and other marketing skills. From integration with AI to better security features to new business tools, engaging DMs is a trend that will continue growing as social media platforms progress.... --- - Published: 2024-07-17 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/plan-your-holiday-email-marketing-campaigns-now-a-comprehensive-guide/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles The summer’s half gone, and time’s a wastin’! If you think it’s too early to be planning your holiday email marketing campaigns, you couldn’t be more wrong. Consider when people start shopping for the holidays: 12 percent of people will be shopping before the end of August. 24 percent will be shopping before the end of September. Over 50% will be shopping by Halloween. So, shake the sand out of your shoes, start thinking like Santa, and let’s get going! Why Start Now? And Why Email? If you are selling to consumers, the holiday season is probably critical to your yearly profits. This isn’t an instance where you should fly by the seat of your pants. After all, last year US holiday sales reached a record high of $964. 4 billion. This year’s sales could surpass that, so it’s only right you get your piece of the pie. And email marketing is an effective way to do that with a great ROI of $42 for every $1 spent. Starting early will position you to Stand out from your competition: Everybody and their brother is going to be marketing heavily to consumers over the holidays. Starting early helps you stand out and capture your audience’s attention before the market becomes oversaturated. Plan smarter: Early planning gives you the time you need to strategize, create high-quality content and segment your audience effectively. Build anticipation: Launching your holiday campaigns early can help build anticipation and excitement among your customers. This will pay off in higher engagement and higher conversion rates. Generate more sales and profits: When you start early you have time to build momentum that results in increasing your average order value and grabbing sales you would have missed had you waited. Tips for Early Holiday Email Marketing Campaigns 1. Develop a Detailed Timeline Start Planning Early: Begin your holiday campaign planning at least three to four months in advance. Yes, that means now! This will give you sufficient time to brainstorm ideas, create content, refine your strategy and test what works – and what doesn’t. Create a Calendar: Outline all your key dates and milestones in a campaign calendar. Include important holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. And don’t forget Small Business Saturday! Plan your email sends around these dates to maximize relevance and impact. 2. Use Data Insights to Segment Your Audience Leverage customer data to segment your audience based on past behavior, purchase history and demographics. This allows you to tailor your messages and offers to different customer groups. Our blog very recently covered how data analytics is the foundation of digital marketing. Segmented personalized automated email messages average 46% higher open rates than the usual marketing messages. 3. Personalize Personalize your email not just by sending information in which your customer has already shown interest, but also by addressing them by name. Personalized email enjoys 6x higher transactional rates. 4. Write Compelling Subject Lines Your email needs to stand out during a season when your customers’ inboxes will be flooded. Your subject line is critical to motivate people to open your email. Short and Sweet: Keep the subject lines for your holiday email marketing campaigns concise and to the point. Aim for 50 characters or less to ensure they display well on all devices. Create Urgency: Use phrases like “Limited Time Offer” or “Don’t Miss Out” to create a sense of urgency. Personalize: Including the recipient’s name in the subject line can increase open rates. For example, “Emma, your early holiday discount awaits! ” 5. Pay Attention to Visuals Festive Themes: Use holiday-themed colors, images and graphics to make your emails visually appealing. Incorporate elements like snowflakes, Christmas trees, or festive ribbons to capture the holiday spirit. Remember, people look forward to the holidays! Mobile Optimization: Ensure your emails are mobile-responsive. 81% of people prefer to open their email on their mobile devices! Clear CTA: Include a clear and compelling call-to-action (CTA) in your emails. Use phrases like “Shop Now” or “Get Your Discount. ” Sample Ideas for Your Holiday Email Marketing Campaigns Pre-holiday teasers: Start building anticipation with pre-holiday teaser emails. Share sneak peeks of upcoming products, special offers or holiday-themed content to get your audience excited. Early bird discounts: Offer exclusive early bird discounts to your VIPs to encourage early purchases. This can help you to make sales before the holiday rush and build customer loyalty. Gift guides: Offer gift guides or suggestions to help your customers choose the perfect holiday gifts. Segment these guides by categories such as “Gifts for Her,” “Gifts for Him” and “Gifts for Kids. ” Link to your gift guides not just in email but also in your other marketing such as social media and on your website. Exclusive offers: Provide exclusive discounts or promotions for your email subscribers. Free shipping or special holiday bundles can incentivize purchases. Be sure to tell your audience when the promotion ends. Holiday countdown or Advent calendar: Send a series of countdown emails leading up to the holidays. Each email can feature a different product, promotion, or holiday tip, keeping your audience engaged and anticipating your next message. You could also style this as an Advent calendar. A lot of people love Advent calendars, so consider doing your own spin. Every day, email your faithful base some kind of a reward such as a discount code, a two for one offer, an ebook that may be downloaded or anything else you may brainstorm your audience would love. Normally, emailing every day would be overkill, so you will want to be sure to frame this as a daily Advent Calendar gift if you decide to go this route. Helpful holiday tips: Share useful holiday-related content such as decorating tips, recipes or event planning ideas that may be related to your products and services. This not only engages your audience but also positions your brand as a helpful resource. Hold Contests: Email your customers about a fun contest, and link to... --- - Published: 2024-07-15 - Modified: 2024-07-15 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/top-seo-agencies-dominating-denvers-digital-realm/ - Categories: SEO Agency Unveiling the Power Players: Top SEO Agencies Dominating Denvers Digital Realm Discover the top SEO agencies in Denver, Colorado, and learn how they excel in providing customized strategies, specialized services, and long-term partnerships for businesses seeking online success. Introduction to the Denver SEO Landscape Denver's SEO industry has grown substantially in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for digital marketing services. This growth has been fueled by the diverse business landscape in Denver, offering opportunities for SEO agencies to cater to a wide range of industries and niches. 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Additionally, the competitive nature of the SEO companies in Denver fosters innovation and specialization among agencies, resulting in a high standard of service quality. Criteria for Selecting Top SEO Agencies in Denver Several vital criteria are considered when selecting the top SEO agencies in Denver. These include agency transparency, communication practices, and alignment with business objectives. For instance, Colorado SEO Services stands out for its commitment to transparent communication and its ability to tailor SEO strategies to each client's specific needs, ensuring a personalized approach that resonates with their target audience and industry. Moreover, client retention rates and long-term success metrics are crucial in determining the effectiveness of SEO agencies in Denver. Industry experts and analysts evaluate Denver SEO agencies based on their agility in adapting to evolving digital landscapes and search engine algorithms. 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By tailoring SEO strategies to align with Portland's local trends and search preferences, these agencies can ensure that businesses effectively reach their target audience and drive meaningful engagement and conversions. The ability of top SEO agencies in Portland to deliver customized solutions that address the distinct requirements of businesses in the city sets them apart as invaluable partners for navigating the competitive digital landscape and achieving sustainable growth. Portland SEO INLocal Marketing: A Closer Look Portland SEO INLocal Marketing has established itself as a prominent SEO agency in Portland, Oregon, renowned for its comprehensive range of services tailored to meet each client's unique needs. By offering free SEO resources, such as informative guides and tools, the agency demonstrates its commitment to empowering businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in the digital realm. For example, a local tech startup seeking to enhance its online visibility can benefit from INLocal Marketing Portland SEO free SEO resources, gaining insights into best practices and strategies for improving search engine rankings. Moreover, Portland SEO INLocal Marketing emphasizes the importance of ongoing SEO efforts, highlighting the significance of continuous optimization and monitoring to achieve sustainable results. By adopting a proactive approach to SEO that focuses on long-term success, the agency sets... --- > Search Engine Optimization - SEO Las Vegas. Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-15 - Modified: 2024-07-15 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/top-seo-agencies-fueling-success-in-las-vegas/ - Categories: SEO Agency Dominating Digital: Top SEO Agencies Fueling Success in Las Vegas Discover the top SEO agencies in Las Vegas and why they are crucial for businesses in various industries to boost online visibility, credibility, and success in the competitive market. Top SEO Agency in Las Vegas, Nevada INLocal Marketing is a leading digital marketing agency in Las Vegas specializing in SEO solutions. The competitive nature of the Las Vegas market underscores the significance of effective SEO strategies for businesses to stand out and attract targeted traffic. SEO plays a vital role in enhancing online visibility and boosting credibility, trust, and user experience, ultimately leading to increased conversions for businesses in Las Vegas. When seeking the top SEO agency in Las Vegas, it's essential to consider the diverse range of industries the city caters to and the specific expertise required to excel in each sector. For example, a technology firm in Las Vegas may benefit from an SEO agency with experience promoting tech-related services to a tech-savvy audience. At the same time, a healthcare clinic might require specialized SEO services to attract patients seeking medical care in the city. The ability of an SEO agency to tailor its strategies to meet the unique needs of different industries in Las Vegas showcases its versatility and effectiveness in delivering results across diverse business landscapes. The reputation of a city like Las Vegas, known for its competitive markets and diverse business sectors, highlights the importance of selecting the right SEO agency to navigate the digital landscape successfully. For instance, agencies like Acute SEO, First Choice SEO, and K2 Analytics INC. Top-rated SEO providers in Las Vegas, known for their expertise in improving website rankings and delivering exceptional results, have established themselves as top-rated SEO providers in Las Vegas. By partnering with such reputable agencies, businesses in Las Vegas can leverage their industry-specific knowledge and proven track record to enhance their online visibility, attract targeted traffic, and drive business growth in the dynamic market environment. Why Local SEO Matters for Las Vegas Businesses Local SEO is an indispensable tool for businesses in Las Vegas looking to dominate the local market, gain a competitive edge, and attract customers searching for products or services in their vicinity. By implementing localized SEO strategies, businesses can ensure they appear prominently in local search results, significantly impacting online visibility and attracting relevant website traffic. This targeted approach enhances brand visibility and increases the likelihood of converting local leads into loyal customers, showcasing the tangible benefits of prioritizing local SEO efforts in a bustling city like Las Vegas. In a city as diverse and dynamic as Las Vegas, the importance of monthly SEO packages tailored to business needs cannot be overstated. These packages offer services crucial for long-term success, emphasizing the significance of investing in ongoing SEO efforts to maintain a competitive edge in the market. For example, a real estate agency in Las Vegas that subscribes to a monthly SEO package can benefit from continuous optimization and monitoring of their online presence, ensuring that they remain visible to local clients searching for properties in the area and driving consistent traffic to their website. By prioritizing local SEO and investing in continuous optimization, businesses in Las Vegas can position themselves for sustained growth and success in a highly competitive business environment. The ability of businesses in Las Vegas to rank high in search results and attract local customers through effective local SEO strategies underscores the pivotal role of localized digital marketing efforts in driving business success. By targeting specific geographic areas and tailoring their online presence to meet the needs of local consumers, businesses can establish themselves as trusted providers within their communities and differentiate themselves from competitors. An example of this can be seen in a tech startup in Las Vegas that leverages local SEO to target tech enthusiasts in the city, ensuring that their products and services are visible to the right audience and driving increased engagement and conversions within the local market. Top SEO Agencies in Las Vegas The top-rated SEO agencies in Las Vegas, such as Acute SEO, First Choice SEO, and K2 Analytics INC. , are renowned for their expertise in improving website rankings and delivering exceptional results. These agencies have garnered a reputation for their ability to cater to the diverse needs of businesses in Las Vegas, offering specialized services that encompass SEO, PPC, social media marketing, web design, and eCommerce optimization. For instance, agencies like INLocal Marketing, focusing on growth-focused SEO strategies, specialize in helping clients in Las Vegas enhance lead generation, profitability, and overall online presence. Las Vegas SEO agencies provide specialized services tailored to meet the unique requirements of businesses across various industries in the city. For example, a real estate agency in Las Vegas may benefit from an agency like Acute SEO, which is known for its expertise in local market targeting and website design integration. It is crucial for attracting clients searching for properties in specific neighborhoods. By leveraging the specialized services offered by top SEO agencies in Las Vegas, businesses can optimize their online presence, engage with their target audience effectively, and drive growth and profitability in their respective sectors. When looking for the best SEO company in Las Vegas, businesses should consider the range of services offered by leading agencies to ensure they comprehensively meet their digital marketing needs. Leading SEO companies in Las Vegas provide various services, from keyword optimization and website design integration to local market targeting and social media marketing. Specializations in website design, local SEO, and social media marketing distinguish top SEO agencies in Las Vegas, showcasing their expertise in specific areas of digital marketing. By partnering with agencies that offer comprehensive SEO solutions, businesses in Las Vegas can benefit from a holistic approach to digital marketing that drives online visibility, engagement, and conversions effectively. Services Offered by Leading SEO Companies Leading SEO companies in Las Vegas offer services designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses in the city and help them achieve their... --- - Published: 2024-07-15 - Modified: 2024-07-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/choosing-the-best-seo-agency-in-dallas/ - Categories: SEO Agency Enhancing Your Online Presence: Choosing the Best SEO Agency in Dallas Discover the top-rated SEO agencies in Dallas, Texas, offering comprehensive services to help businesses enhance their online visibility and digital marketing performance. Introduction to the Dallas SEO Industry Dallas, a bustling metropolis in Texas, is known for its iconic skyline and vibrant cultural scene and as a competitive hub for businesses spanning various industries, from tech startups to established corporations. This competitive landscape has naturally led to a burgeoning demand for top-notch SEO services, making the SEO industry an integral part of the city's business ecosystem. With the aim of standing out in the digital landscape and reaching their target audiences more effectively, companies in Dallas are increasingly seeking the expertise of SEO agencies. The city's dynamic cultural scene and strong business environment have further fueled the growth of the SEO industry. SEO agencies are pivotal in helping these businesses navigate the complexities of digital marketing and ensure they achieve a substantial online presence amidst stiff competition. Criteria for Selecting Top SEO Agencies Selecting the right SEO agency in Dallas involves carefully evaluating several factors. Primarily, it's crucial to consider agencies with a proven track record of success in improving search rankings and driving organic traffic. This demonstrates their ability to perform and assures businesses of their competency in handling SEO tasks effectively. Additionally, the range of services an agency offers plays a significant role in the selection process. Top SEO firms in Texas are known for their comprehensive service offerings that cover everything from keyword research and content optimization to sophisticated link-building strategies. It's also essential to evaluate the agency's ability to offer customized solutions that align well with specific business goals and target markets. Overview of the SEO Industry in Dallas The SEO industry in Dallas is characterized by its robust tech ecosystem and strong inclination toward innovation and creativity. Agencies in the city constantly evolve to adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape, ensuring they can offer cutting-edge SEO strategies that set their clients apart from the competition. These agencies play a crucial role in establishing a strong online presence for businesses and driving growth through targeted digital marketing efforts. Dallas's emphasis on innovation and deep understanding of digital market dynamics make it a fertile ground for SEO agencies aiming to help businesses thrive online. Top-Rated SEO Agencies in Dallas Among Dallas's highly regarded SEO agencies, firms like INLocal Marketing have gained recognition for their exceptional expertise in digital marketing projects. These agencies have consistently delivered results, making them go-to choices for businesses looking to enhance their online visibility. Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, in particular, stands out for its results-driven approach and comprehensive suite of services, which includes SEO, PPC, and social media marketing. Similarly, INLocal Marketing's specialization in SEO, PPC, and social media management has established it as a preferred partner for businesses seeking to improve their digital footprint. Services Offered by Leading Agencies Leading SEO agencies in Dallas offer various services to cater to their clients' needs. From website design and social media management to online reputation management, these firms provide holistic solutions that encompass all aspects of digital marketing . Agencies like INLocal Marketing are known for their focus on client-specific SEO strategies. They ensure each business receives a customized solution tailored to its unique needs and objectives. This personalized approach, targeted keyword research, quality content creation, and strategic link-building set SEO agencies in Dallas apart in the competitive digital marketing landscape. Client Testimonials and Case Studies Client testimonials and case studies are invaluable resources for businesses evaluating the effectiveness of an SEO agency. These narratives offer insights into the agency's ability to deliver tangible SEO outcomes, such as increased organic traffic and improved search rankings. Agencies like INLocal Marketing leverage client success stories to showcase their expertise in achieving significant results through strategic SEO campaigns. This builds credibility and provides potential clients a clearer understanding of what they can expect when partnering with these agencies. How to Choose the Right SEO Agency for Your Business Choosing the right SEO agency in Dallas requires a thorough assessment of the agency's industry experience and expertise. It's essential to ensure that the agency has a proven track of catering to businesses similar to yours, which guarantees a more tailored approach to your SEO needs. The agency's commitment to transparency, effective communication, and regular reporting is crucial for establishing a partnership built on trust and collaboration. Evaluating the agency's pricing structure, comprehensive service offerings, and ability to provide ongoing support and optimization is also vital to maximizing the impact of SEO efforts. Conclusion on Selecting Top SEO Agencies in Dallas Selecting the right SEO agency in Dallas is a critical decision that can significantly influence a business's online visibility and digital marketing performance. By considering essential factors such as industry expertise, service offerings, and client testimonials, businesses can make informed decisions when choosing among the best SEO companies in Dallas. This strategic choice enhances a company's digital footprint and drives sustainable growth and competitive advantage in the bustling Dallas market. --- - Published: 2024-07-15 - Modified: 2024-07-15 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/top-seo-agencies-in-salt-lake-city/ - Categories: SEO Agency Enhancing Online Visibility: A Guide to Top SEO Agencies in Salt Lake City Discover the top SEO agencies in Salt Lake City and learn why businesses need SEO to enhance online visibility and drive organic traffic, along with factors to consider when choosing the best agency for your business needs. Introduction to Top SEO Agencies in Salt Lake City When discussing the importance of SEO for businesses in Salt Lake City, it becomes clear that this digital marketing strategy is vital for maintaining competitiveness in the online market. Effective SEO practices are crucial for enhancing brand visibility, attracting organic traffic, and ultimately driving business revenue. In Salt Lake City, top SEO agencies are pivotal in helping businesses achieve higher search engine rankings and expand their online presence. These agencies employ various strategies to ensure that companies are easily discoverable by their target audience, leading to increased website traffic and potential customer engagement. For example, let's consider a local Salt Lake City-based tech startup that struggled to gain online visibility despite offering innovative products. By partnering with a top SEO agency in Salt Lake City, the startup implemented targeted SEO strategies such as keyword optimization, content marketing, and link building. As a result, the startup saw a significant increase in website traffic and lead generation, showcasing the direct impact of effective SEO practices on business growth. This example underscores the critical role that SEO agencies play in helping businesses in Salt Lake City thrive in the competitive digital landscape. Moreover, the impact of effective SEO strategies on brand visibility and online presence cannot be understated. For businesses in Salt Lake City, staying ahead of the curve in terms of SEO can mean the difference between success and obscurity in the online market. By harnessing the expertise of top SEO agencies, businesses can improve their search engine rankings, attract more organic traffic, and ultimately boost their bottom line. In essence, the role of SEO agencies in Salt Lake City extends beyond just digital marketing; it is about empowering businesses to reach their full potential in the online realm. Why Businesses in Salt Lake City Need SEO Businesses in Salt Lake City require SEO to ensure they are first discovered on search engines when potential customers actively seek their products or services. This visibility is crucial for attracting organic traffic and converting leads into customers. An essential aspect of good SEO involves developing a Strategic Content Plan that focuses on creating high-quality, engaging content tailored to the target audience. Businesses can leverage white hat SEO practices and decades of industry experience to enhance their online presence and drive meaningful results by partnering with reputable SEO agencies like Stay Wild Digital Marketing. For instance, consider a local Salt Lake City-based e-commerce store specializing in handmade jewelry. Despite offering unique products, the store struggled to rank high on search engine results pages. By enlisting the services of a top SEO agency in Salt Lake City, the store optimized its website for relevant keywords, improved site structure, and implemented content marketing strategies. As a result, the store experienced a significant boost in organic traffic, leading to increased sales and brand visibility within a few months of implementing these SEO techniques. This case study exemplifies the tangible benefits businesses in Salt Lake City can derive from effective SEO practices tailored to their specific needs and target audience. Furthermore, Stay Wild Digital Marketing, an award-winning SEO company in Salt Lake City, emphasizes the importance of white hat SEO practices to ensure long-term success for businesses. By adhering to ethical SEO techniques and staying updated on industry trends, companies can establish credibility with search engines and build a sustainable online presence. The expertise and experience of top SEO agencies in Salt Lake City play a critical role in helping businesses navigate the complexities of the digital landscape and achieve their online marketing goals. Factors to Consider When Choosing an SEO Agency When selecting an SEO agency in Salt Lake City, businesses must evaluate several key factors to make an informed decision that aligns with their objectives. One crucial consideration is assessing the agency's focus on performance-driven strategies and its track record of delivering measurable results. By partnering with an agency that prioritizes data-driven approaches and tangible outcomes, businesses can ensure that their investment in SEO yields a positive return on investment. In addition to performance metrics, evaluating an agency's expertise in various digital marketing areas beyond SEO, such as paid advertising, web design, and analytics consulting, is essential. A comprehensive suite of services allows businesses to benefit from integrated marketing strategies encompassing multiple facets of online visibility and customer engagement. For instance, a top SEO agency like Rock Salt Marketing Cooperative offers specialized solutions tailored to small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on driving growth and maximizing ROI through a holistic approach to digital marketing. Moreover, clients seeking an SEO agency in Salt Lake City can leverage resources like DesignRush, a platform that showcases top SEO companies in the area based on industry analysts' assessments. By reviewing client ratings, rates, and team size, businesses can identify an agency that meets their budgetary constraints and aligns with their specific marketing objectives. For example, businesses looking to enhance their online presence can benefit from the tailored strategies provided by Utah SEO Pros, a leading digital marketing agency in Salt Lake City known for its expertise, transparent pricing, and commitment to client satisfaction. By considering these factors, businesses can select an SEO agency that best suits their needs and sets them on the path to digital success. Services Offered by Top SEO Agencies in Salt Lake City In Salt Lake City, top SEO agencies offer diverse services designed to cater to the unique needs of businesses across various industries. These agencies provide tailored strategies to boost online presence, drive revenue growth, and enhance brand visibility for businesses of all sizes. For instance, Stay Wild Digital Marketing specializes in delivering specialized SEO solutions that engage target audiences and maximize conversion rates through content marketing,... --- - Published: 2024-07-15 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/7-marketing-steps-to-business-success-dont-let-your-startup-fail/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles If you are starting a new business, no doubt you have a vision of your future success. All the stars seem aligned, you have prepared, you have the capital you need, and you are ready to conquer the world. But the sad reality is that most startups fail, and more often than not, it’s due to marketing mistakes. But before you jump in, take these marketing steps toward business success and a long-lived endeavor. 1. Give Marketing Its Due A lot of business owners think that marketing is no more than common sense. They decide to save a few bucks and just do their marketing themselves. Or maybe they bring in a professional marketer, but not until their business is ready to open and products have already been developed or chosen. But marketing today has become so complex that you need marketing expertise that has been tempered by fire throughout ever stage of developing your business, products and services – not just to launch. Digital marketing is data-driven and very reliant on close analysis and monitoring. And there are so many aspects to marketing from SEO to content marketing that it’s not possible for one person to competently do it all. So, get the help when you need, and get it from the beginning. 2. Know Your Audience When building a business or running one, you need consider how to entice a specific audience at every step. “Build it and they will come” is not a way to achieve business success. Too often a small business owner will have a passion and open a business to pursue that passion – without considering who their audience is or how to market to them. Even large companies often do this, particularly companies that are driven by their engineering departments. You need to closely study what your audience wants and needs, and then develop your business to best serve them, offering them value they can’t get from your competitors. What sets your business apart could be any number of things, from your higher quality products to your sterling customer service. 3. Develop Marketing Plans and Action Plans If you don’t plan where you want to go and how to get there, how are you ever going to arrive? Yet so many businesses don’t even bother to put a marketing plan on paper. To be clear, you need both a broad marketing plan and detailed action plans for your marketing. A marketing plan is an overview of your goals, brand, audience, market position, strategies and more. You will want to adjust it as time goes on, but you won’t be tweaking it constantly. Action plans, on the other hand, lay out specific steps to marketing initiatives that will enable you to reach your goals. Action plans will be constantly updated and new ones created for specific projects. Without a marketing plan and action plans, you are flailing in the dark. A marketing plan enables you to keep your eye on the ball and your chosen audience. Action plans help you develop very specific methods to reach and appeal to your audience, and motivate them to convert. 4. Be Loyal to Your First Customers It’s easy to focus on getting more and more customers when you are getting started. But don’t lose sight that your first customers are the bedrock of your brand. Their reviews, their social media posts and comments and their casual mentions to friends and colleagues are especially critical to business success in your early days. Ask their opinions in surveys, give them special offers, engage with them on social media, and consider inviting them to either real-world or virtual events. Develop loyalty programs. Brainstorm about what you can do to make them feel valued. 5. Integrate Your Marketing How many commercial messages do people see or hear each day? Depending on the source, somewhere between 3,000 and 10,000. Suffice it to say, it’s quite a lot. You need a solid marketing strategy and precise implementation to break through all that clutter. You need to reach people on a variety of channels until they recognize your brand and understand its benefits. You will often hear that someone must hear your message at least seven times before taking action. So, you need to integrate your marketing and use multiple channels. And you need to send a consistent message whether it’s through email marketing, social media, advertising such as Google Ads and Facebook advertising, SEO, public relations, events, website or any other marketing channel. Use as many channels and types of marketing that you can. It’s almost impossible for one person to have all the marketing expertise needed today. There are many more channels than in the past, and marketing is much more sophisticated. A business owner rarely has time to develop marketing strategies and implement them while also doing the million other tasks needed to run a business. So be sure to get the help you need in multiple types of marketing to ensure your business success. 6. Monitor Your Efforts With digital marketing, you can track the results of your marketing efforts much more closely than was ever possible in the past. Seeing these results, you can immediately tweak your marketing to make it more effective. There are many key performance indicators (KPIs) you can set up for any marketing campaign, and how you select them is critical. This is something learned over time. This isn’t something to be left to guesswork. You need to choose the right factors and analyze them correctly over time in order to improve your reach and your impact. 7. Spend Enough to Be Effective Money is tight for small businesses, especially startups. But while you don’t want to spend more than you must, if you don’t spend enough on marketing to get the job done, people won’t learn about your business or try your products and services. When marketing mistakes and inadequate marketing are key factors in business failure, businesses must be sure they are spending... --- > Searching for an SEO Partner . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-14 - Modified: 2024-07-14 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/searching-for-an-seo-partner/ - Categories: SEO Articles Searching for the ideal SEO partner can feel like an endless quest. Not all agencies are created equal, and the success of your online presence depends on finding a team that genuinely understands your business's unique needs. As a leader in digital marketing, INLocal Marketing has seen the transformative impact of well-executed SEO strategies and knows the critical questions to ask before you commit to a partnership with an SEO provider. Let's walk through the key questions, their significance, and the responses that indicate you're in good hands. 1. What is your approach to SEO? It's crucial: SEO isn't a one-size-fits-all service. A proficient agency will have a bespoke strategy that aligns with your business objectives. What to seek: An agency that adopts a holistic approach, encompassing on-page optimization, content strategy, technical SEO, and off-page techniques like link building. They should demonstrate an understanding of your target audience and how they intend to boost your visibility and rankings in a manner that resonates with your specific market. At INLocal Marketing, we delve into your business from the get-go. That's why we thoroughly analyze your current SEO status at no cost during our initial consultation. It's vital for any successful partnership that the agency you engage with has profound insights into your long-term aspirations and the present state of your SEO endeavors. This guarantees that our strategies are perfectly tailored to your business's unique needs and goals. 2. Can you provide examples of successful campaigns? It's important: Past achievements are a reliable predictor of future results. Real-life examples offer a glimpse into the agency's expertise and the outcomes they've secured. What to look for: Agencies should be eager to display their triumphs and be transparent about their methods and results. Case studies are essential for an agency to demonstrate its previous successes to potential clients. These should highlight notable enhancements in search rankings, web traffic, and conversion rates. 3. How do you stay updated with Google's algorithm changes? It's important: SEO is ever-changing, with search engines frequently updating their algorithms. An agency that keeps abreast of and adapts to these changes is vital for sustaining and improving rankings. What to look for: An agency that is proactive in learning and adapting to SEO trends. They should discuss their engagement in SEO communities, continuous training, and applying the latest best practices to their strategies. Our team at INLocal Marketing is deeply passionate about digital marketing and SEO, which is evident in all our endeavors! Working with an agency that is truly passionate about digital marketing and SEO is essential. In the fast-evolving realm of SEO, falling behind is all too easy if you're not constantly absorbing new information and adjusting to changes. Passion is the driving force behind our relentless pursuit of knowledge and excellence in the field. 4. How do you measure and report on progress? It's important: Gauging the effectiveness of an SEO campaign is key to understanding the ROI and the impact on your business. What to look for: An agency should provide clear, transparent reporting with KPIs such as organic traffic, search engine rankings, conversion rate, and other pertinent metrics. They should explain how these metrics correlate with your business goals and discuss regular reporting intervals to keep you in the loop. At INLocal Marketing, we are dedicated to transparency and collaboration, offering monthly growth reports to our clients. We recognize that the nature of SEO campaigns often means results take time to materialize, making it difficult for clients to see the long-term benefits. That's why consistent communication and clear progress reports are fundamental to our approach, ensuring our clients are always up-to-date and can observe their SEO journey's incremental improvements and strategic direction. 5. What is your link-building strategy? It's important: Link building is a crucial component of SEO, affecting how search engines view the authority and credibility of your website. What to look for: Look for an agency that values quality over quantity. They should concentrate on obtaining backlinks from reputable, industry-relevant websites and explain how these efforts will complement your overall SEO strategy. When it comes to link building, INLocal Marketing prioritizes quality above all. It's imperative to ensure that the agency you collaborate with avoids the trap of indiscriminately generating backlinks, which can be more detrimental than beneficial. 6. How do you integrate SEO with other aspects of digital marketing? It's important: SEO shouldn't be isolated. It's most effective when integrated with other digital marketing initiatives like social media, content marketing, and PPC advertising. What to look for: An agency that understands the interplay between various online marketing channels and how they can be utilized to support and enhance your SEO strategy. They should discuss how they work across different departments to achieve unified marketing goals. We at INLocal Marketing recognize that you might not need a full-fledged digital marketing strategy right now. Maybe you've got everything else under control and are just looking for SEO expertise. That's perfectly fine. We advocate for starting somewhere and inviting professional insights into your marketing approach. Even if your immediate need is solely SEO, allowing seasoned professionals to assess and provide recommendations on your overall marketing strategy, including social media, PPC, and content marketing, can offer invaluable perspectives. It's about ensuring every aspect of your digital presence is harmonized and optimized, even if you choose to concentrate on one area at a time. Choosing the right SEO agency is a critical decision for your business. By posing these questions, you can better understand an agency's capabilities, their approach to SEO, and how they measure success. Remember, a competent SEO agency should satisfy these queries and show a genuine interest in comprehending and achieving your business objectives. Partnering with an agency that matches your vision and provides transparent, data-driven insights is essential to unlocking the full potential of your online presence. Let INLocal Marketing be that partner, where our commitment to quality, innovation, and customized strategies can elevate your business to new heights. --- - Published: 2024-07-14 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/15-ways-to-grow-your-small-b2b-business-with-linkedin-marketing/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles 15 Ways to Grow Your Small B2B Business with LinkedIn Marketing With 875 million total users and over 310 million monthly active users, LinkedIn is far from just a resume repository. It’s a vibrant hub for professionals seeking to expand their networks, generate leads, and drive business growth. If you have a B2B business, you need to know the many ways LinkedIn marketing can help you grow. After all, 58 million companies and 4 out of 5 decision-makers are on LinkedIn! This article will explore key strategies that savvy business owners can employ to harness the full potential of LinkedIn. 1. Understand LinkedIn Before diving into strategies, it’s crucial to understand LinkedIn’s unique ecosystem. Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn is tailored for professional engagement. Content and interactions should always be professional, value-driven, and relevant to your industry. LinkedIn marketing is quite different than marketing on other platforms and social media networks. 2. Optimize Your Profile Your LinkedIn profile is your digital business card. An optimized profile makes a strong first impression and is crucial for effective networking. Ensure your profile has a professional headshot photo, a compelling summary, and a detailed experience section. Customize your LinkedIn URL to increase searchability and include relevant keywords throughout your profile to improve visibility in LinkedIn search results. 3. Build Your Network Strategically Networking on LinkedIn isn’t just about adding connections but building meaningful relationships. Focus on quality over quantity. Connect with industry leaders, potential clients, and peers with a personalized message explaining your reason for connecting. Regularly engaging with your network by commenting on their posts or sharing relevant content fosters these connections. 4. Content is King Content creation is an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise and engage with your network. Share insights, industry news, and thought leadership articles. Use LinkedIn’s publishing platform to write articles directly on LinkedIn, which can increase your visibility and position you as an industry expert. Consistency is key to LinkedIn marketing. Post regularly but prioritize quality over quantity. 5. Leverage LinkedIn Groups Participating in LinkedIn Groups is a fantastic way to network and generate leads. Join groups relevant to your industry or target audience and actively contribute to discussions. This engagement positions you as an active industry player and can lead to direct business inquiries. 6. Explore Advanced Networking: LinkedIn Events and Webinars Hosting or participating in LinkedIn events and webinars can significantly boost your visibility and position you as an industry authority. Events allow sharing knowledge, connecting with attendees, and generating leads. 7. Use LinkedIn for Market Research Use LinkedIn to stay ahead of the curve. Follow competitors, industry leaders, and relevant hashtags to keep up with trends and market dynamics. This knowledge informs your business strategy and enriches your content and interactions on the platform. 8. Harness the Power of LinkedIn Ads LinkedIn Ads offer targeted reach to a professional audience. LinkedIn ads are extremely effective for B2B businesses. LinkedIn marketing offers a wide variety of formats: Carousel adsConversation adsEvent adsFollower adsLead gen formsMessage adsSinge image adsSingle job adsSpotlight adsText adsVideo ads LinkedIn’s advertising tools can drive significant traffic and leads, whether sponsored content, InMail campaigns, or lead gen forms. The key is to create compelling, targeted content and continuously monitor and adjust your campaigns for the best ROI. 9. Leverage Sales Navigator for Lead Generation and Sales Strategies LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator offers deeper insights into leads and companies, advanced search capabilities, and personalized lead recommendations. This LinkedIn marketing tool is particularly useful for B2B businesses looking to streamline their sales processes and target decision-makers effectively. 10. Measure Your Success It’s important to track and analyze your LinkedIn activities regularly to ensure that your efforts are paying off. Monitor profile views, post engagement, and the growth of your network. LinkedIn provides analytics for both individual profiles and company pages, offering valuable insights into the performance of your content and engagement strategies. 11. Engage in Meaningful Conversations Don’t just post content; start conversations. Ask questions, share your opinions on industry trends, and engage with comments on your posts. This two-way engagement boosts your post visibility and helps build stronger relationships with your connections. Engagement is important for effective LinkedIn marketing. 12. Build Your Brand Your brand on LinkedIn is a mix of your professional expertise, personal values, and how you communicate. Consistently sharing content that aligns with your brand helps attract the right audience and opportunities. Remember, people connect with people, not just businesses or job titles. 13. Feature LinkedIn Recommendations Endorsements and recommendations add credibility to your profile. Don’t hesitate to ask colleagues, clients, or business partners for recommendations. In return, offer to endorse or recommend them. This mutual support can significantly enhance your LinkedIn reputation. 14. Recruit with LinkedIn LinkedIn can be a valuable resource if you want to expand your team. The platform allows you to post job listings, search for candidates, and screen potential hires based on their profiles and activity. Be Active and Responsive Consistency is key for LinkedIn marketing. Regular activity keeps you visible and top of mind with your network. Also, be responsive to messages and comments. Engaging promptly shows that you value the interaction and are actively involved in the community. 15. Experiment and Innovate Don’t be afraid to try new things on LinkedIn. Whether experimenting with different types of content (like videos or polls) or exploring new features (like LinkedIn Live), staying adaptable and innovative can help you stand out in a crowded digital space. Need Help with LinkedIn Marketing? Maximizing LinkedIn for business growth is a strategic process that involves building a strong profile, engaging meaningfully with your network, and leveraging the platform’s various tools for lead generation and market research. By consistently applying these strategies, business owners can unlock the vast potential of LinkedIn, turning it into a powerful engine for business development and professional growth. If you want help with your LinkedIn marketing, contact us, and we can help.   --- - Published: 2024-07-14 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/14-ways-for-small-businesses-to-gain-and-keep-instagram-followers-who-engage/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles 14 Ways for Small Businesses to Gain and Keep Instagram Followers Who Engage Instagram is a powerful social media network for many businesses, both B2C and B2B. But to market effectively on Instagram, you must gain legitimate Instagram followers who are interested in what you have to sell. Why Instagram? Instagram is the third most used social media network (tied with WhatsApp) after first place Facebook and second place YouTube. It’s the fourth most visited website in the world (after Google, YouTube, and Facebook, respectively). Instagram has 2 billion active monthly users. But there is much competition to reach your desired Instagram audience. Once someone follows you, at least some of your content will be sent their way. The algorithm may also send your content to some of their friends, particularly if they interact with it. Hopefully, some of your audience members will share some of your posts from time to time. You want to gain your first 1,000 followers quickly and build from there. The following are the most important guidelines for gaining and keeping Instagram followers who will engage with and buy from your business. 1. Research and Understand Your Audience You can’t just jump into marketing on Instagram or anywhere else. You won’t go anywhere if you don’t first pinpoint and understand your audience. Identify their interests, behaviors, and preferences. Tools such as Instagram Insights provide valuable data on follower demographics and engagement patterns. Tailoring your content to resonate with your audience increases the likelihood of gaining genuinely interested followers. 2. Optimize Your Profile Before posting, you must create a profile that tells your audience who you are. In almost all cases, you will want to use your logo as your profile picture. You must also write a compelling description explaining what your business does. Don’t forget a link to your website! A well-optimized profile can significantly increase the likelihood of visitors hitting the follow button. When people see a post that resonates with them, they will likely check out your profile before they follow. 3. Create High-Value Content You have a lot of competition on Instagram. You don’t stand a chance of attracting an audience without high-quality, visually appealing images and videos and appealing messages. So, plan your content and post educational content about your industry that is valuable to your audience. Offer testimonials and success stories. Don’t just talk about your brand; tell stories about it. Publish behind-the-scenes videos. Encourage user-generated content with contests. 4. Use Instagram Stories and Reels Instagram Stories and Reels offer dynamic ways to engage with your audience. Their 24-hour lifespan makes stories perfect for sharing quick updates, polls, or Q&A sessions. Reels allow for creative, short-form video content that can go viral and reach a broader audience. You can choose whether or not to include each Reel in your account’s feed. 5. Use Instagram Live Go live on Instagram to interact in real time with your audience. Use live sessions to showcase new products, conduct Q&A sessions, and give a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Live sessions are as close as you can talk in person with your audience. It’s upfront and personal. 6. Be Consistent Don’t just post whenever you feel like it. Plan and maintain a consistent posting schedule. It keeps your current followers engaged and increases your account's visibility to potential new followers. Use scheduling tools to plan and post content regularly. How often should you post? At least a couple times a week, but if you can, post close to every day. You will never gain significant Instagram followers if you don’t post consistently. 7. Use Relevant Hashtags and Geotags Hashtags and geotags can greatly increase your visibility on Instagram. Using relevant hashtags can expose your content to a wider audience, increasing Instagram followers. Research and use a mix of popular and niche hashtags specific to your business. And don’t neglect geotags. Geotags are particularly effective for local businesses looking to attract a local following. 8. Avoid Fake Instagram Followers If you are on Instagram, you have probably been approached by companies offering to supply you with tons of followers instantly. Don’t do this. To get real, legitimate followers, you need to do the work. Fake followers don’t engage. They don’t share your content. They don’t buy from you. When followers are fake, it can be obvious to your real audience and discourage them from following you. Be authentic. 9. Collaborate with Influencers and Other Brands Collaborations with influencers and other brands can significantly boost your follower count. Partnering with influencers with a substantial following in your industry can provide access to a new audience. You can partner with effective influencers affordably. When looking for influencers, look for those known in your industry or region. You don’t need to partner with major national celebrities to boost your Instagram followers. Similarly, collaborating with complementary brands can lead to cross-promotion opportunities. 10. Run Contests and Giveaways Contests and giveaways are excellent strategies to increase your Instagram followers. They encourage existing followers to engage with your content and often require participants to follow your account. Ensure your giveaways are relevant to your brand and valuable to your target audience. 11. Engage with Your Audience Engagement is a two-way street on Instagram. Regularly interacting with your followers through comments. Engage in conversations on other relevant accounts. Responding to comments and messages shows that your brand values its followers and helps build community. 12. Consider Paid Advertising While organic growth is important, Instagram’s paid advertising options can quickly help you reach your desired audience. Targeted ads can reach a specific audience demographic, increasing the likelihood of gaining followers interested in your business. Experiment with different ad formats and targeting options to see what works best for your brand. Most businesses will want to use a mix of organic and paid advertising on Instagram and other social media networks. 13. Track and Analyze Performance Monitoring your account’s performance is crucial in understanding what works and doesn’t. Use Instagram’s analytics tools to track... --- - Published: 2024-07-13 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/the-practical-steps-to-creating-a-facebook-business-page-to-engage-your-customers/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles The Practical Steps to Creating a Facebook Business Page to Engage Your Customers Do you have a Facebook Business Page that you are regularly updating? With over 3 billion active monthly users, Facebook isn’t a channel you want to ignore as a business owner. In addition to its large audience, Facebook offers a variety of marketing possibilities to fit any business. Here are some reasons your business needs to be marketing on Facebook: Wide audience reach: Facebook’s massive user base allows businesses to reach a diverse and extensive audience. Targeted advertising: Advanced targeting options allow businesses to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Customer engagement: A Facebook Business Page enables direct customer communication through comments, messages, and reviews. Brand awareness and loyalty: Regular updates and interactions on Facebook help build brand recognition and customer loyalty. To get started with Facebook marketing, you should first create a free Facebook Business Page where you can engage with your customers. Use your Facebook Business Page to update your customers, publish information you think your customers will want to know, connect customers to your products and services, and even provide customer service. But throwing any old thing up on your Facebook business page won't do you any good. Follow these tips to create an effective page that will engage your audience. Initial Set-Up of Your Facebook Business Page You’ll need a personal Facebook account to set up your business page. You will manage your page from this account. So, before you do anything else, log into your account. Once you’ve logged in, go to the Facebook Pages. In the upper right-hand corner, choose Create New Page. After completing each set of information, click the Next button to go to the next information set. Complete the required information, which includes your page’s name, category, and description. Then click Your page’s name, which, of course, will normally be the name of your business. Complete optional (but necessary) information such as address and contact details, location, and hours. Add profile and cover photos. Your profile photo is probably going to be your company’s logo. Your cover photo should be related to your brand, such as a photo showing an array of products. For example, if you have a restaurant, you might want to show your food or happy people dining there. Edit the call to action button to what makes sense for your business. It might be Contact Us, Shop Now, or whatever action you want your visitor to take. Invite your Facebook friends to your page. Click Done. Structured Content Strategy Now that you have your Facebook Business Page set up, you need to be consistent in what you do with it. Determine Type of Content Determine what kind of content you will post that will further your business. Everything you post should not come across as a sales pitch. In social media, you want to concentrate on giving your customers valuable or interesting information. You may want to plan content of various types. For example, you can post industry news, promotional posts, and posts that invite user-generated content. Make a Schedule How often do you want to post content? You need to post regularly to keep your page active. What will be the frequency for each type of post? For example, do you want to publish three industry news posts for every promotional post? Source or Develop Great Visuals Visuals are just as important as text. Use exciting images and videos to capture and keep attention. Engage with Your Audience Don’t just post content and forget it. Respond to comments and messages. Engaging with your audience increases loyalty and encourages more interaction. Facebook Insights Regularly check your Page Insights to understand your audience better. You can find out what your audience likes and tailor future posts. Some of the important things you can track over the period you select include Reach: The number of people who saw your content. Engagement: The number of people engaged with your posts in various ways, such as clicking, commenting, or sharing. Net followers: The number of new followers minus the number of unfollows. 3-second video views: The number of times your videos played for at least 3 seconds. If your videos are shorter than that, Facebook will tell you the number of times your video played for 97% of their total length. 1-minute video views: The number of times your videos played for at least one minute. Facebook Advertising Of course, you don’t need to wait for people to find your Facebook business page. With Facebook advertising, you can reach a larger audience and drive people to your Facebook page (or other destinations (such as your website). And, of course, you can boost posts to your Facebook business page to reach a larger audience. Facebook offers detailed targeting options to boost your posts according to demographics, roles, and interests that make sense for your business. Facebook Business Page Advanced Features Look for ways to make your page stand out to your audience and make it easy for them to use. At the same time, optimize it to fulfill your business’s goals best. Custom Tabs and Apps: Add custom tabs and apps to your Facebook Business Page for additional functionality, such as email sign-up forms or e-commerce integration. Facebook Groups: Consider creating a Facebook Group linked to your Facebook Business Page. Groups are a great way to build a community around your brand. Live Videos: Use Facebook Live to engage with your audience in real time. This feature is excellent for product launches, behind-the-scenes looks, and Q&A sessions. Collaborations and Partnerships: Partner with influencers or other businesses and tag them in your posts to expand your reach. Need Help Creating and Maintaining Your Facebook Business Page? Creating and maintaining a Facebook Business Page is a dynamic process that requires regular attention and adaptation to the platform’s evolving features and audience preferences. Following the steps outlined in this guide, business owners can create a powerful online presence on Facebook, effectively connecting... --- > Google Local Service Ads: A Brief Guide for Beginners. Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-12 - Modified: 2024-07-12 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/google-local-service-ads-a-brief-guide-for-beginners/ - Categories: LSA Articles Google Local Service Ads: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners Navigating the world of local search engine marketing (SEM) can be daunting, but Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) offer a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with their community. Initially a novel addition to Google's advertising suite, LSAs have carved out their niche, becoming integral to both pay-per-click (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies for local businesses. Understanding LSAs At their core, LSAs are a form of advertising requiring a budget. They differ from traditional PPC as they are charged based on the duration of recorded phone calls or the messages received through the ad. LSAs are particularly beneficial for local SEO efforts, as they leverage the power of a well-optimized Google Business Profile and active engagement with customer reviews. Visibility on Search Engines LSAs are prominently displayed at the top of Google's search engine results pages (SERPs), offering a digital "business card" for professionals. Whether on mobile or desktop, LSAs can feature a photo, business longevity, ratings, and a link to the website, providing potential customers with essential information at a glance. Tailoring Your LSA Experience Businesses can customize their LSA experience by specifying the type of inquiries they prefer, whether broad or niche. This customization allows for greater control over the leads received and the option to dispute irrelevant contacts. Advantages for Local Businesses LSAs offer several advantages, including cost-effectiveness compared to traditional paid search ads. They also benefit from local SEO efforts and charge only for leads, making them a financially attractive option for businesses looking to maximize their marketing budget. Eligibility and Setup Most local service-oriented businesses are eligible for LSAs. The setup process involves creating a profile, undergoing a background check, and obtaining the Google Guaranteed badge, which enhances customer trust. Optimizing Your LSAs To optimize LSAs, businesses should consider their budget, bid strategically, and be selective about the services and locations they target. Monitoring lead volume and cost is crucial to understanding the performance of LSAs and making necessary adjustments. Embracing LSAs for Your Business LSAs are a powerful tool for local businesses seeking to enhance their online visibility and attract more customers. With thoughtful setup and ongoing management, LSAs can be an effective component of a holistic marketing strategy. --- - Published: 2024-07-12 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/2024-marketing-trends-what-to-expect/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles 2024 Marketing Trends: What to Expect Another year has almost gone. It’s time to review what strategies worked for your business in 2023 and put the final touches on your marketing strategies for the beginning of the new year. Digital marketing rapidly changes as technology advances and customers become increasingly demanding. So, as you focus on your marketing direction, you will want to look at the top 2024 marketing trends. Many of these trends may have been around in previous years but will not continue and increasingly dominate the scene in 2024. Livestream Video Shopping We’ve already talked about short attention spans. If you don’t engage your audience, you will lose them. Nothing is more engaging than a livestream video enabling you to comment in real time and see what others in the community say. But now you can sell products during your livestream videos. It’s the next best thing to standing in someone’s living room and talking with them in person. Expect livestream video shopping to become increasingly popular in 2024. Many platforms offer it, including Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, YouTube, and TikTok. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial intelligence has been with us for quite a while, but it has been all the buzz in the last year with the popular adoption of Chat GPT, which was trained on more data than ever before. Not only can it answer questions in a credible human voice, but it can also write content and programs and create digital images. But we are constantly surrounded by AI that serves many purposes. AI is critical in breaking down big data and serving audiences' preferences. For example, Netflix uses it to create over 1300 audience segments and serve those audiences their preferred content. In June, we told you about AI marketing tools you can use for your small business. We’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg; expect many more AI tools to be developed as part of the 2024 marketing trends. AI Chatbots have also increased in popularity. Expect more and more businesses to adopt AI Chatbots in 2024 to serve their customers 24/7 for less money, even making sales in chat. AI chatbots will continue to improve as AI becomes increasingly capable of mimicking natural human speech patterns and understanding context. People are no longer willing to wait until your business opens in the morning to get answers to their questions. It’s time to examine how AI Chatbots can serve your business if you are not yet using them. Hyper-Personalization Though we have long been preaching the need to personalize content for maximum effectiveness, 2024 will see a whole new level of hyper-personalization thanks to technological strides. AI, machine learning, and other big data technology enable marketers to analyze big data in real-time even better than before and serve customers just what they are looking for. Of course, privacy and security will continue to be of concern as we balance what’s possible and what’s ethical. Short Form Video Hopefully, you already use video for your marketing in everything from your website to ads to social media. Short-form video has come to the forefront in recent years with the advent of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube shorts. Audience attention spans have decreased, and short-form videos have further influenced that trend. Short-form video requires you to capture attention, get to the point, and get your message across quickly. Creating short-form videos is both an art and a science, and it will continue to explode. Just be sure that when making a short-form video, you focus on the parameters and trends for the platform where you intend to feature it. If you make one video and scatter it on many platforms, don’t expect it to go viral or get much exposure. Short-form videos will become increasingly popular and major players in 2024 marketing trends. Voice Search People don’t want to waste their time, and they want to search the Internet in the easiest way possible. In-home voice-activated devices such as the Echo are continuing to grow in popularity. It’s easier to ask Alexis or Siri to search for nearby hardware stores while making dinner than to pull out your computer or even your phone. And speaking of phones, almost everyone has a phone with a voice assistant today. It shouldn’t be surprising that over 50% of adults use voice search daily. That will increase in 2024. Be sure your website and directory listings are optimized for voice search in 2024. This is not a one-time thing; it requires ongoing maintenance. If you don’t, you are leaving business on the table. Virtual Reality (VR) Virtual reality creates an all-digital environment that enables us to have an experience without being physically in a place. This has a powerful impact, and the marketing possibilities are endless. Sometimes, it requires a VR headset, but not always. You may have already digitally “toured” a house for sale or virtually interacted with new products. This is no longer a novelty. Even small businesses will use VR to interact with customers as part of the 2024 marketing trends. Augmented Reality (AR) Augmented Reality is not completely digital like virtual reality, combining the real world with a digital aspect. For example, perhaps you are considering buying a specific couch but are afraid it may appear too big for your space or too modern or bright in color. With AR, while looking at your actual living room, you can use a device (often a smartphone) to add a digital overlay showing a digital image of the couch with its size, color, and other attributes in your living room. Given the choice, why would anyone buy a big ticket item for their home without using AR to see if it fits well? Interactive Content You have probably already tried various types of interactive content, perhaps quizzes or polls on social media posts. In 2024, you should be thinking about how to increase your digital interaction with your customers. Interactivity not only gets your audience's attention but also... --- > Search Engine Optimization Value shown by the Numbers . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-10 - Modified: 2024-07-10 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/search-engine-optimization-value-shown-by-the-numbers/ - Categories: SEO Articles Search Engine Optimization Value shown by the Numbers The information in this article is mostly quoted from the Search engine Journal Article written by : Danny Goodwin February 28, 2021 https://www. searchenginejournal. com/seo/seo-statistics/ Showing up in the Organic Search Results is arguably the most valuable marketing channel. It is more valuable and has a better ROI for a business than any other Digital Marketing channel. That’s why search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for every brand and business, especially home service businesses. Your company needs SEO. Period. Let me say that again... Your company needs SEO; Small, Medium, or Large enterprise businesses NEED SEO. Startups NEED SEO. Local businesses NEED SEO. Global brands NEED SEO. Whenever people enter a query relevant to your website into a search engine, you want your result to be the one they click on. That means your site needs to optimized be findable on search engines. A click on your search result, or the lack thereof, can be the difference between a business thriving or dying. If your website isn’t visible in the search results for the keywords you want to be found for, you can be sure that one of your competitors is! Yet, for some ridiculous reason, it remains a struggle to justify the value of SEO – even though SEO has a 20+ year record of driving traffic, conversions, and revenue. Why? In part, the undeniable proof of SEO’s value is scattered across a handful of websites in various reports and studies. Organic Traffic Statistics 53%: The percentage of all trackable website traffic that comes from organic search. (BrightEdge) 32%: The average organic click-through rate (CTR) the first Google desktop search result gets. (Advanced Web Ranking) 26. 9%: The average organic CTR, the first Google mobile search result gets. (Advanced Web Ranking) 91. 75%: The total worldwide search engine market share Google currently holds. (StatCounter, 2020) 2. 75%: The total worldwide search engine market share Microsoft Bing currently holds. (StatCounter, 2020) 53%: The percentage of all trackable website traffic that comes from organic search. (BrightEdge) 32%: The average organic click-through rate (CTR) the first Google desktop search result gets. (Advanced Web Ranking) 26. 9%: The average organic CTR, the first Google mobile search result gets. (Advanced Web Ranking) 91. 75%: The total worldwide search engine market share Google currently holds. (StatCounter, 2020) 2. 75%: The total worldwide search engine market share Microsoft Bing currently holds. (StatCounter, 2020) 7. 2%: The percentage of decrease in Google’s U. S. net search ad revenues for 2020. (eMarketer) >$5,000: The monthly amount the majority of businesses are spending on SEO. (Moz) Local Search Statistics Nearly 1 in 3 of all mobile searches are related to location. (Think with Google) Nearly 2 in 3 of smartphone users are more likely to purchase from companies whose mobile sites or apps customize information to their location. (Think with Google) 76%: The percentage of people who search on their smartphones for something nearby and visit a business within a day. (28%of those searches for something nearby result in a purchase. ) (Google) About 45%: The percentage of global shoppers buy online and then pick up in-store. (Google/IPSOS) More than 55%: The percentage of shoppers who say they used online video while actually shopping in a store. (Google/IPSOS) 90%: The percentage of consumers who used the internet to find a local business in the last year. (BrightLocal) 91%: The percentage of consumers who say that positive reviews make them more likely to use a business. (BrightLocal) 82%: The percentage of consumers who read online reviews for local businesses. (BrightLocal) 13 minutes and 45 seconds: The time an average consumer spends reading reviews before making a decision. (BrightLocal) 76%: The percentage of consumers who trust online reviews as much as recommendations from family and friends. (BrightLocal) Users & Search Behavior Statistics 52. 94% internet users worldwide operate mobile and tablet devices, while 47. 06% use desktop. (StatCounter) +1,000%: The percentage of search interest growth in “what to watch” queries since 2019. (Google) 65%: The percentage of people who use their phone in their I-want-to-buy moments. (Google) 39%: The percentage of purchasers who were influenced by a relevant search. (Google) 79%: The percentage of people who took a relevant action on their phone prior to making a purchase. (Google) 3: The average number of words a typical searcher uses in their search query. (Moz) ~8%: The percentage of search queries that are phrased as questions. (Moz) 18%: The percentage of queries on Google that result in the searcher changing their search terms without clicking any results. (Moz) 21%: The percentage of searches that lead to more than one click on Google’s results. (Moz) 8%: The percentage of Google queries result in pogo-sticking (i. e. , the searcher clicks a result, then bounces back to the search results page and chooses a different result). (Moz) 9 days longer: The average number of days people take to make purchase decisions in 2019 compared with 2015. (Google) Link Building Statistics 75%: The percentage of digital marketers who use content marketing specifically to generate links. (Aira) 1-9 links: The average number of links a content marketing campaign produces as reported by a majority of digital marketers. (Aira) 28%: The percentage of digital marketers who reported having created a campaign that generated no links at all. (Aira) 70%: The percentage of digital marketers who use Ahrefs as a tool for link building. (Aira) 51%: The percentage of digital marketers who use SEMrush as a tool for link building. (Aira) 34%: The percentage of digital marketers who would choose Domain Authority (Moz), If you could only choose one metric to measure authority and / or quality of a link. (Aira) 38%: The percentage of digital marketers who consider rankings as the primary KPI to measure the effectiveness of link building. (Aira) 53%: The percentage of digital marketers who consider guest posting as the most effective link building strategy. (SEMrush) 28%: The percentage of digital marketers who reported having created... --- > The Difference between SEO Strategy and Tactics . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-10 - Modified: 2024-07-10 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/the-difference-between-seo-strategy-and-tactics/ - Categories: SEO Articles The Difference between SEO Strategy and Tactics Understanding SEO Strategy Versus SEO Tactics is a Critical Distinction. In the dynamic world of digital marketing, the terms "strategy" and "tactics" are often interchanged, but their meanings are distinct and critically important. This realization became clear when my company merged with another agency in early 2019, where "strategy" took on a different connotation. The Essence of Strategy and Tactics in SEO At its core, strategy is the overarching plan that outlines the 'why' behind your actions. It's the blueprint that guides your journey towards achieving long-term objectives. Conversely, tactics are the 'how'—the specific actions you take to execute the strategy. Consider the insights from my colleagues: "Strategy is a collection of tactics," says Patrick Willoughby. Claudia Miller defines strategy as the planning phase, with tactics being the steps to realize the plan. Megan Mars views strategy as the overarching plan, with tactics as the actionable steps. Sun Tzu's wisdom encapsulates the relationship perfectly: "Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. " The Interplay Between Strategy and Tactics Strategies and tactics are not mutually exclusive; they are interdependent. A strategy is necessary to direct tactics towards a targeted outcome, such as driving not just any traffic to your website but targeted traffic that aligns with your business goals. Without a strategy, tactics may lead to haphazard results, akin to a Frankenstein's monster of digital marketing—functional, perhaps, but lacking purpose and cohesion. The Cyclical Nature of Strategy and Tactics The relationship between strategy and tactics is cyclical. A broad business growth strategy may encompass digital marketing as a tactic, which requires its strategy to select the most effective methods, such as SEO, social media, or PPC. For instance, SEO is not just a tactic but a complex strategy. It demands a framework to ensure that each SEO action, like optimizing title tags or improving site architecture, contributes to the overarching goals. The Biblical Correlation: Strategy Begets Tactics If we were to draw a biblical analogy, it would be: Goals beget strategy, which begets tactics, leading to more strategy and further tactics, ad infinitum. Imagine a goal to boost sales by 10% over the next year. The strategy to achieve this might include various tactics like organic optimization and social media marketing. Each of these tactics, in turn, requires a sub-strategy to ensure they contribute effectively to the main goal. The Importance of Strategy in Digital Marketing Ultimately, the actions taken might appear similar whether or not a strategy is in place, but the outcomes will differ. Without a strategy, there's no benchmark for success. You might gain traffic, but without direction, it's difficult to determine whether it's the right traffic or profitable. Strategy as the Foundation for Success Anyone can implement SEO tactics, but doing so without a strategy is akin to shooting in the dark. A well-defined strategy ensures that every tactic is purposeful and steers you toward the greatest possible success. Strategy should always precede tactics, driving both the actions taken and the strategies for those actions to achieve the best possible return on investment. --- > Decoding Google Search Intent & Search Behavior . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-10 - Modified: 2024-07-10 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/decoding-google-search-intent-search-behavior/ - Categories: SEO Articles Decoding Google Search Intent & Search Behavior The evolution of search engines, particularly Google, has been nothing short of revolutionary. Gone are the days when search rankings depended solely on keywords and backlinks. Today, search engines have advanced algorithms prioritizing content aligning with a user's needs. Understanding Search Intent: The Key to SEO Success As SEO experts, we're often evaluated on metrics like rankings, search volumes, organic traffic, and onsite conversions. Clients aim for higher rankings and increased organic traffic, leading to more leads and sales. While targeting high-volume keywords is appealing, the true essence of effective SEO lies in grasping the user's underlying intent. The Misconception of Low-Volume Keywords It's a common misconception that keywords with low search volume offer no "SEO value. " However, the significance of such keywords is highly dependent on the niche. When creating content, it's crucial to ensure relevance and fulfill the user's search intent. Exploring the Different Facets of Search Intent A study by the University of Hong Kong in 2006 revealed that search intent could be primarily divided into two goals: finding specific information related to the keywords used or seeking general information on a topic. Search intent can further be categorized based on the specificity and exhaustiveness of the searcher. Search Engines' Strides in Understanding Intent Search engines like Google have made significant strides in comprehending search intent. Google's Hummingbird and Yandex's Korolyov and Vega are prime examples of this progress. Google's Approach to User Intent Numerous studies have delved into the intent behind queries, influencing the types of results Google presents. Paul Haahr's 2016 presentation and the Google Search Quality Rating Guidelines offer insights into how Google assesses and ranks results based on user intent. Ambiguity and Multiple Meanings in Queries Queries can often be ambiguous or have multiple meanings. For instance, "Apple" could refer to the tech giant or the fruit. Google addresses this by classifying queries into dominant, common, and minor interpretations, guiding the intent definition. The "Do - Know - Go" Framework Search queries can be segmented into three categories: Do (transactional), Know (informational), and Go (navigational). This classification influences the type of results Google delivers. The Rise of Mobile Search and Device Action Queries With mobile search surpassing desktop globally, how users interact with the internet has transformed. Google's mobile-friendly updates and the mobile-first index reflect this shift. Mobile searches often serve as research tools, with users completing transactions on other devices at a later stage. Informational Queries and Micro-Moments Informational queries, or "know" queries, are linked to micro-moments—instances when users need immediate information. These queries are evolving and can range from simple questions to complex topics that require in-depth answers. Navigational Queries: The "Go" Category Navigational, or "go," queries are brand-specific or related to known entities. Users expect to be directed to the website or location they're searching. The Dynamic User Journey The concept of a user journey has been integral to marketing and website development. However, mobile and voice search has introduced new dynamics, challenging our traditional understanding of user journeys. Intent, Results, and Relevancy It's important to remember that search intent and the results displayed by Google can change rapidly. Events like the Dyn DDoS attack in 2016 illustrate how quickly a query's intent can shift from commercial to informational, altering the search results accordingly. The Role of Machine Learning in Intent Classification Machine learning improves over time, influencing user search behavior and potentially changing the intent of specific queries. This evolution can lead to changes in search results pages and experimentation with SERP features. Understanding and catering to user intent is paramount in today's SEO landscape. By aligning content with the searcher's goals, websites can achieve better rankings and provide more value to their audience, ultimately leading to successful online visibility and engagement. --- > Crafting an Effective SEO Strategy . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-10 - Modified: 2024-07-10 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/crafting-an-effective-seo-strategy/ - Categories: SEO Articles Crafting an Effective SEO Strategy Navigating the complexities of SEO can be daunting, but it's far from just industry chatter. SEO is pivotal for enhancing your business's online presence and attracting organic website traffic. A robust SEO strategy is not just beneficial; it's a necessity. Ready to dive in? Let's explore the essentials. Understanding SEO Fundamentals A successful SEO strategy begins with a grasp of search engine mechanics. Search engines utilize intricate algorithms to scour, categorize, and rank web pages, aiming to deliver users the most relevant and valuable results. The journey starts with crawling, as search engine bots traverse the web, link by link, compiling data on each page they visit. This data is indexed and stored post-crawling, considering factors like keywords, content caliber, and relevance. When a search is initiated, the engine pulls pertinent information from this indexed collection. During ranking, algorithms evaluate web pages for relevance, authority, and quality, sorting the most applicable results for the user. Many elements, such as keywords, backlinks, user experience, and content quality, influence a page's SERP ranking. While search engines like Google have complex ranking systems, their ultimate aim is straightforward: to furnish users with the most accurate and helpful information for their queries. SEO's Three Pillars To boost your site's visibility and climb the SERP ladder, you must understand SEO's core pillars, which form a comprehensive strategy to enhance your online footprint significantly. On-Page SEO On-page SEO involves optimization techniques applied directly to your website to heighten its search engine visibility. This includes refining content, meta tags, headings, URL structures, and internal links. Content Optimization: The cornerstone of on-page SEO is high-quality, pertinent content. Incorporate targeted keywords naturally, ensuring readability and audience relevance. Use heading tags to weave in target keywords and bolster relevance signals. Meta Tags and Descriptions: Well-crafted meta titles and descriptions with relevant keywords can boost click-through rates from search results. URL Structure: SEO-friendly URLs should be succinct, descriptive, and keyword-rich to improve user experience and search engine comprehension. Internal Linking: Linking related pages within your site aids search engines in discerning your content's structure and relevance, bolstering SEO. Off-Page SEO Off-page SEO includes strategies outside your website to enhance its authority and credibility online. This involves acquiring quality backlinks and fostering a positive reputation. Link Building: Quality backlinks from reputable sites are vital for off-page SEO. Engage in guest posting, influencer outreach, and social media to garner authoritative links. Reputation Management: Overseeing online reviews, brand mentions, and social media interactions significantly affects your site's off-page SEO. Technical SEO Technical SEO focuses on backend optimizations that bolster website structure and performance, aiding search engines in crawling and indexing. Site Structure and Navigation: A coherent site structure and user-friendly navigation aid SEO. XML sitemaps and site architecture optimization help search engines grasp your content. Mobile Optimization: Mobile responsiveness is key for SEO in today's mobile-centric world. Site Speed and Performance: Enhancing loading speed and performance betters user experience and can lift search engine rankings. Structured Data: Schema markup provides search engines with key content data points crucial for appearing in Google's search results features like FAQs, images, and videos. Keyword Research Essentials Keyword research is the backbone of SEO. Keywords are the search terms users input, and integrating them into your content aids search engines in matching user queries. By optimizing content with the right keywords, you heighten the chances of higher SERP rankings. Keyword Research Tools and Techniques Several tools and methods exist for keyword research: Google Keyword Planner: A free tool offering insights into keyword search volume and potential traffic. SEMrush: An all-encompassing SEO tool for keyword research, competitive analysis, and more. Ahrefs: A robust tool for keyword research, content analysis, and site auditing. Keyword. io: Generates keyword ideas from search engine autocomplete suggestions. Manual Research: Competitor website analysis, customer surveys, and industry trend monitoring can yield valuable keyword insights. Identifying Target Keywords Choose content-relevant keywords, have ample search volume and manageable competition: Relevance: Keywords should closely align with your content and meet user intent. Search Volume: Opt for keywords with significant search volume. Competition Analysis: Evaluate the competition for your keywords. Less competitive long-tail keywords can attract targeted traffic and be easier to rank for. Competitor Analysis Understanding SEO also involves intuitive elements, like competitor analysis. Identify the keywords you aim to rank for, analyze the top-ranking sites, and discern their successful tactics. Keyword Analysis: Investigate the keywords driving traffic to competitor sites. Blogging: Check if competitors publish blog content, its frequency, and depth. Backlink Profile: Examine the backlinks to competitor content, assessing their quality and attainability. Competitor analysis isn't about imitation but about learning and surpassing their efforts. Measuring SEO Success Once your SEO strategy is in motion, track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to gauge its effectiveness: Organic Traffic: The number of visitors from organic search results. Keyword Rankings: The SERP positions of targeted keywords. Click-Through Rate (CTR): The rate at which users click on your search result links. Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors completing a desired action. Bounce Rate: The rate of single-page visits indicating content relevance. SEO Performance Tools Tools for tracking and analyzing SEO performance include: Google Analytics: Provides extensive website traffic and user behavior data. Google Search Console: Monitors website performance in Google search results. SEMrush: Tracks website performance and offers keyword research. Moz Pro: Site audits, rank tracking, and link analysis tools. Ahrefs: Insights into backlinks, keyword analysis, and competitor research. Data-Driven SEO Refinement Analyze SEO metrics to make strategic, data-informed decisions: Regular Analysis: Review KPIs to spot trends and areas for improvement. Experimentation: A/B test content, keywords, and strategies. Adjustments: Update strategies based on data insights. Continuous Learning: Keep abreast of industry trends and search engine updates. Long-Term SEO Strategy For sustained success, maintain vigilance over your SEO strategy: Regular Updates: Continuously monitor and update content, meta tags, and site structure. Content Publishing: Create and share diverse, high-quality content to establish authority. Algorithm Awareness: Stay informed on search engine algorithm changes to adapt strategies. Evolution Readiness: Be... --- > Understanding SEO: A Guide for Business Growth . Get your business found online. Organic SEO & Local SEO Solutions. - Published: 2024-07-09 - Modified: 2024-07-09 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/understanding-seo-a-guide-for-business-growth/ - Categories: SEO Articles Understanding SEO: A Guide for Business Growth SEO, or search engine optimization, is vital for anyone looking to enhance their online presence. It's the art of aligning your website with the algorithms of search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to increase your visibility and draw more traffic to your site. But what exactly is SEO, and how does it function? SEO is about optimizing your site to rank as high as possible on search engine results pages (SERPs) when someone searches for keywords related to your business. The goal is to make your business more visible online, increasing traffic and sales. If you're new to SEO, the landscape can seem daunting. There's a wealth of information, and it can be challenging to sift through conflicting advice. The world of SEO is in constant flux, with strategies evolving as marketers find new ways to optimize and as Google updates its algorithms. SEO is a battle for visibility. It's about convincing search engines that your website is the best destination for users. Key SEO Questions Answered When it comes to SEO, no single factor guarantees success. It's a complex blend of elements that work together to improve your site's ranking. Links are important, but they must be relevant and make sense. Content length is a factor, but without quality, it won't help your ranking. The time it takes for SEO to show results varies. It's a long-term strategy, and success depends on numerous factors, including the competitiveness of your industry and the quality of your SEO practices. On-page SEO involves optimizing your site, like improving site structure and content. Off-page SEO includes strategies like link building that occur away from your site. While you could buy links to improve your SEO, it's not recommended. It's better to focus on building quality links naturally. SEO Trends and Best Practices High-quality content is the backbone of effective SEO. It's not just about keywords; it's about creating relevant and valuable content for your audience. Metadata is crucial, like the title and description that appear in search results. It should be optimized to encourage clicks, which can lead to increased traffic and business. Links are still fundamental to SEO, but the focus should be quality over quantity. User experience (UX) is increasingly important for SEO. A site that's easy to navigate and quick to load will likely rank better. With the rise of mobile usage, having a mobile-friendly website is more important than ever. Google uses mobile versions of sites for ranking, so prioritize responsive design and mobile site speed. Voice search is growing in popularity, and while it's not the top priority, optimizing for voice search can benefit your overall SEO strategy. Tips for SEO Success Avoid shady SEO practices. They may offer short-term gains but can lead to long-term penalties. Follow reputable SEO experts and stay updated with advice from Google's representatives. Test different strategies to see what works best for your site. SEO is not one-size-fits-all, and continuous testing is key to staying ahead. SEO is an ongoing process. There's no magic formula; it's about adapting to the ever-changing landscape and finding what works for your business. By following best practices and staying informed, you can leverage SEO to achieve your business goals. --- - Published: 2024-07-09 - Modified: 2024-07-09 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/why-is-seo-important/ - Categories: SEO Articles Why is SEO Important? The Imperative of SEO in the Digital Marketing Landscape In a world where the internet has become the cornerstone of nearly every aspect of our lives, understanding the role of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is akin to grasping the compass that guides consumers' digital journey. The proclamation by Bill Gates in 2009, where he envisioned the future of search as a series of actions—verbs if you will—was prophetic. It's not merely about the words keyed into a search bar; it's about the intent and the tasks that users aim to accomplish. The Quest for Solutions: Why Do People Search? In the nascent stages of the internet, search was a simple act of locating documents containing specific terms. Fast forward to today, and searching has evolved into a quest to solve problems, complete tasks, and engage in activities. Whether booking a vacation, purchasing, learning something new, or simply enjoying entertainment, each search is a step in a user's journey. The Consumer Journey: A Digital Adventure The consumer journey, a term marketers relish, is the path a user traverses from the inception of their task to its completion. Over the past decade, this journey has increasingly become a focal point in search strategies. The traditional marketing funnel, once a linear path from awareness to purchase, has transformed into a complex maze, much like a 'crazy straw,' with twists and turns that represent the myriad of channels, mediums, and devices that users interact with today. SEO Evolution: From Keywords to Intent To accommodate this intricate new model, search engines have had to progress from focusing on mere keywords to understanding user intent at each phase of the journey. SEO is no longer just about the right keywords; it's about delivering the right content to the right user at the right time, aiding them in their quest. The Multi-Device Experience The consumer journey is no longer confined to a single device. It's a multi-faceted experience that might begin on a smartphone, transition to a tablet, and culminate on a desktop. Search has expanded beyond traditional devices, with the capability to be conducted from watches, smart glasses, and even household appliances. SEO must consider how these devices interplay and contribute to the user's search experience in this interconnected world. SEO: The Real Marketing In today's hyper-connected world, SEO has evolved into what we might call "real marketing. " It's no longer about exploiting loopholes or reverse-engineering algorithms. Modern SEO is about understanding personas, leveraging data-driven insights, crafting a content strategy, and solving technical challenges. The Three Pillars of Marketing Strategy Search touches upon the three main tenets of any marketing strategy: Attract, Engage, and Convert. While it plays a significant role in all three, it is particularly crucial in the Attraction phase. The adage "If you build it, they will come" is a fallacy in the digital realm. Active attraction through multiple channels is essential, making every webpage an SEO page. The Importance of SEO So, why is SEO important? It's not just a developer's concern or something a simple plugin can handle. Google's algorithm updates, such as Hummingbird, Panda, Penguin, and RankBrain, have all been efforts to shift from words to actions, aiding users in their tasks. SEO has transcended the days of mere metadata to become a full-service marketing necessity. Good SEO: A Symphony of Skills A proficient SEO professional is a maestro, orchestrating content, technical solutions, server settings, social media integration, and site speed enhancements. They must understand the searcher and the competitive landscape, filling gaps to provide superior solutions for user tasks. The Future of Search As technology evolves, SEO professionals will continually adapt to new search methods, devices, and types of searches, such as voice or appliance-based queries. However, the constant will be why people search—the verbs that drive our actions. The Enduring Relevance of Search Search is vital because it is integral to the user experience. As we navigate the ever-changing digital terrain, SEO remains the beacon that guides users in their quest to solve problems and accomplish tasks. The verbs that define our actions are here to stay, and SEO is the key to unlocking their potential. --- - Published: 2024-06-28 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/data-analytics-the-foundation-of-digital-marketing/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Gone are the days when marketers targeted an audience and created campaigns based on intuition alone. Today, effective marketing is based on data analytics. Simply put, it removes the guesswork. We can now collect a huge amount of data from our online marketing efforts, much too much data for us to make heads or tails of without data analytics software and methods. Data analytics helps us to collect, process and analyze data to gain insights into consumer behavior, campaign performance and market trends. By understanding what works and what doesn’t, marketers can make better-informed decisions, allocate resources more efficiently, target the right audiences and refine messaging to a degree that was never before possible. There is a reason that: · 3 out of 5 organizations use data analytics to drive business innovation · 91. 9% of organizations achieved measurable value from data and analytics investments in 2023 What We Can Accomplish with Data Analytics in Digital Marketing 1. Audience Segmentation and Targeted Marketing Using data analytics, you can segment your audience more finely than ever before, and market to each segment separately. By analyzing data on consumer behavior, preferences and purchasing patterns, marketers can create highly personalized campaigns that resonate with each of their audiences. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of engagement and conversion, leading to higher ROI. 2. Performance Measurements Continuous monitoring and analysis of campaign data enable marketers to measure the effectiveness of their efforts in real-time. Digital marketing metrics such as conversion rates, ROI, click-through rates, cost per lead, conversion rate and page views, enable marketers to measure the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns and how to change them in the future for better results. 3. Predictive Analytics Through predictive analytics, marketers can forecast future trends and consumer behaviors. By analyzing historical data, you can identify patterns and predict outcomes, enabling proactive decision-making. This foresight helps you to stay ahead of the competition, see emerging opportunities, and jump on them! Better Budgeting 4. Better Budgeting Every penny counts when you’re running a small business. You need to know the ROI and other relevant measurements of your marketing campaigns. Data analytics helps in identifying the most effective channels and strategies, reducing wasted spend on ineffective tactics. After all, you want to spend your money where you will see results while keeping costs down. 5. Competitive Analysis One of the great things about data analytics is that it can help you gauge the strengths and weaknesses of your competition. What is your competition doing that customers love? Where are they missing the boat? And just as important, what are they doing to successfully market to their customers? If you want to be successful, you need to know what other companies in your space are doing. You don’t always need to recreate the wheel, and you can also learn from the mistakes of others. You are not going to be able to stay ahead of your competition and offer your customers something better unless you know what your competition is doing. Tips to Using Data Analytics in Your Digital Marketing 1. Track Data From All Your Channels Be sure the right hand knows what the left hand is doing in your marketing. You must look at all your data as a whole, not silo it according to channel. For example, if you track activity on your website and social media but ignore phone and in-person communications, you are going to get a skewed view. 2. Gather Data to Track Your Customers’ Journeys You can gather all kinds of data, but be sure to gather as much as you can about your customer’s journey. For example, if you are tracking your website, where did they come from before your website? Where did they go on your website, what did they do and how long did they stay? Where did they go when they left your website? Cover as many touchpoints as possible. Data gathering and analysis is the beginning of creating campaigns that answer your customer’s needs for where they are in the sales funnel and for where their interests lie. You can track what works and what doesn’t. You can also check on whether something working on one of your channels is floundering in another. Are they devouring your short-form videos on social media but ignoring them on your website? Why is that, and what can you do to provide your customer with what they need? 3. Determine What Data You Want to Gather and Track Before you can set up tools to gather data, you first need to figure out just what it is you need. On a broad level, that may be data about your website, social media, email campaigns and customer feedback. Tools and Technologies for Data-Driven Marketing There is a wide array of data analytics tools including holistic tools that will address your marketing as a whole. Before choosing tools, take a deep dive into what is available and which bells and whistles you need. There are different types of marketing analytics tools. They range from free apps to systems that coordinate your data across all your marketing and sales. Here’s an overview: Google Analytics is where you should begin. Every marketer today needs to understand how to effectively use Google Analytics to track what’s successful on a website or an ad, what’s driving traffic and how users are responding and engaging with content. And it’s free! Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems such as HubSpot and Salesforce can give you a holistic view across your marketing, customer service and sales efforts. Marketing Automation Platforms such as Salesforce’s B2B Marketing Automation Platform (formerly Pardot) and Marketo enable you to integrate your channels and automate repetitive tasks. Of course, they also give you detailed analytical reports. Social Media Analytics Tools help you to track engagement, understand your audience and see what’s working. Examples of popular social media tools are Hootsuite and Sprout Social. Email Marketing Analytics may be found alone or on good email platforms. Mailchimp is... --- - Published: 2024-06-20 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/accessible-email-15-tips-to-reach-more-customers-more-effectively/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Email is one of the most effective marketing channels, and it’s important to make it accessible to everyone including those with disabilities. After all, according to the CDC, up to 27% of United States adults suffer some kind of a disability. Website accessibility has been high profile for awhile now. Email is accessible when it works with technologies that help those with disabilities. These technologies include screen readers, speech to text, keyboards (without the necessity of a mouse), screen magnifiers and more. Why Should We Care About Email Accessibility? 1. Legal Compliance: Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) mandate accessibility standards for digital communications. Accessibility isn’t just for websites. 2. Broader Audience Reach: Accessible emails ensure that individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive and motor impairments can access and engage with your content. That means more customers! 3. Enhanced User Experience: An accessible email campaign offers a better user experience for everyone, including those without disabilities. 4. Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility can enhance your brand’s reputation and help build customer loyalty. Tips for Making Your Email More Accessibible 1. Test for Email Accessibility Tools like WAVE and Axe can identify accessibility issues. Check out this list of 7 Best Email Accessibility Checkers to Use in 2024 from Mailmodo. 2. Provide Alt Text Alt text describes the content of images for screen readers, ensuring visually impaired users understand the context. Make alt text concise yet descriptive. 3. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast Ensure that text has a high contrast ratio against its background. This makes it readable for users with visual impairments as well as others. Tools like the WCAG Color Contrast Checker can help you verify adequate contrast. It’s available many places including the Chrome Webstore. 4. Use Accessible Fonts Select fonts that are easy to read. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana, Open Sans and Helvetica are considered accessible. Avoid using decorative script fonts and ensure the text size is sufficient, at least 12 point. 5. Create Descriptive Link Text Link text should clearly describe the destination or action. Instead of “click here,” use descriptive phrases like “Download our brochure” or “Read more about our services. ” 6. Structure Content Organize content using a logical heading and subheading structure and short paragraphs. This helps screen reader users navigate through the email. Use headings to break up sections and make the content easier to scan. 7. Include a Plain Text Version Always provide a plain text version of your email. This ensures that recipients using email clients that do not support HTML can still access your content. 8. Avoid Relying on Color Alone Do not use color as the sole means of conveying important information. Many people are color-blind. Supplement color-coded messages with text labels or patterns. 9. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility Make sure all elements, such as links and buttons, are accessible via keyboard. This benefits users with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse. 10. Test with Screen Readers Regularly test your emails with screen readers for compatibility and accessibility. Examples of screen readers you may want to consider are NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) and VoiceOver. 11. Format for Email Accessibility Organize your content so it is easily readable by the human eye and also so it can be easily read by screen readers. Using a single column design rather than multi-columns makes your text readable by screen readers and is also preferred for mobile devices. Use white space and bullets to break up text and make it more readable. 12. Use Semantic HTML Semantic HTML helps screen readers interpret and convey the structure and meaning of an email. Use appropriate tags, such as: to for headings for paragraphs , , and for lists for links with descriptive text 13. Use Responsive Design Make sure your email is mobile-friendly and adapt to different screen sizes. After all, 92. 3% of Internet users access the internet using a mobile phone. Are You Ready to Launch Accessible Email Campaigns? For help with accessible email and for all your email marketing, contact INLocal Marketing. Y To schedule a free consultation, go to our website or call (646)440-1426. --- - Published: 2024-06-20 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/accessible-email-13-tips-to-reach-more-customers-more-effectively/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Email is one of the most effective marketing channels, and it’s important to make it accessible to everyone including those with disabilities. After all, according to the CDC, up to 27% of United States adults suffer some kind of a disability. Website accessibility has been high profile for awhile now. Email is accessible when it works with technologies that help those with disabilities. These technologies include screen readers, speech to text, keyboards (without the necessity of a mouse), screen magnifiers and more. Why Should We Care About Email Accessibility? 1. Legal Compliance: Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) mandate accessibility standards for digital communications. Accessibility isn’t just for websites. 2. Broader Audience Reach: Accessible emails ensure that individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive and motor impairments can access and engage with your content. That means more customers! 3. Enhanced User Experience: An accessible email campaign offers a better user experience for everyone, including those without disabilities. 4. Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to accessibility can enhance your brand’s reputation and help build customer loyalty. Tips for Making Your Email More Accessibible 1. Test for Email Accessibility Tools like WAVE and Axe can identify accessibility issues. Check out this list of 7 Best Email Accessibility Checkers to Use in 2024 from Mailmodo. 2. Provide Alt Text Alt text describes the content of images for screen readers, ensuring visually impaired users understand the context. Make alt text concise yet descriptive. 3. Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast Ensure that text has a high contrast ratio against its background. This makes it readable for users with visual impairments as well as others. Tools like the WCAG Color Contrast Checker can help you verify adequate contrast. It’s available many places including the Chrome Webstore. 4. Use Accessible Fonts Select fonts that are easy to read. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana, Open Sans and Helvetica are considered accessible. Avoid using decorative script fonts and ensure the text size is sufficient, at least 12 point. 5. Create Descriptive Link Text Link text should clearly describe the destination or action. Instead of “click here,” use descriptive phrases like “Download our brochure” or “Read more about our services. ” 6. Structure Content Organize content using a logical heading and subheading structure and short paragraphs. This helps screen reader users navigate through the email. Use headings to break up sections and make the content easier to scan. 7. Include a Plain Text Version Always provide a plain text version of your email. This ensures that recipients using email clients that do not support HTML can still access your content. 8. Avoid Relying on Color Alone Do not use color as the sole means of conveying important information. Many people are color-blind. Supplement color-coded messages with text labels or patterns. 9. Ensure Keyboard Accessibility Make sure all elements, such as links and buttons, are accessible via keyboard. This benefits users with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse. 10. Test with Screen Readers Regularly test your emails with screen readers for compatibility and accessibility. Examples of screen readers you may want to consider are NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) and VoiceOver. 11. Format for Email Accessibility Organize your content so it is easily readable by the human eye and also so it can be easily read by screen readers. Using a single column design rather than multi-columns makes your text readable by screen readers and is also preferred for mobile devices. Use white space and bullets to break up text and make it more readable. 12. Use Semantic HTML Semantic HTML helps screen readers interpret and convey the structure and meaning of an email. Use appropriate tags, such as: to for headings for paragraphs , , and for lists for links with descriptive text 13. Use Responsive Design Make sure your email is mobile-friendly and adapt to different screen sizes. After all, 92. 3% of Internet users access the internet using a mobile phone. Are You Ready to Launch Accessible Email Campaigns? For help with accessible email and for all your email marketing, contact INLocal Marketing. Y To schedule a free consultation, go to our website or call (646)440-1426. --- - Published: 2024-06-13 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/website-design-trends-for-small-business-in-the-second-half-of-2024/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Have you ever gone to a business website with the intention of finding more information or even immediately making a purchase but been put off because the website looked like it was frozen in the past? If a website looks tired, out of date and second rate, why would customers think your products and services are any better? For most businesses today, their website is their calling card. If your website design and development has not kept up with the times, your customers are going to draw conclusions. Customers form an opinion about a website in 0. 05 seconds! The landscape of web design is continually evolving, driven by technological advancements, changing user behaviors and emerging aesthetic preferences. For small businesses, staying updated with the latest website design trends is crucial to remain competitive and engaging. As we move into the second half of 2024, several key trends are shaping the future of web design. You certainly don’t need to implement all of them and you shouldn’t. But you and your web experts should be aware of current web design trends and choose directions that work well for your business and immediately show users you are on top of it. Here’s a look at website design trends for the second half of 2024 and how small businesses can leverage them to enhance their online presence. 1. Emphasis on Performance and Speed With the increasing emphasis on user experience, website performance and speed are couldn’t be more important. Slow-loading web pages can have a devastating impact on your user engagement and conversion rates. Your users just aren’t going to wait. 47% of them will leave if it takes more than two seconds for your website to load. In 2024, businesses are paying close attention to optimization techniques such as image compression, lazy loading and efficient coding practices. Tools like Google’s Core Web Vitals are becoming standard benchmarks for assessing website performance. Small businesses should regularly audit their websites for speed and make necessary adjustments to ensure fast loading times. 2. AI and Machine Learning Integration Ok, this is one of the website design trends that shouldn’t surprise anybody. As with a lot of marketing areas, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing web design by enabling more personalized and interactive user experiences. Chatbots, AI-driven recommendations, and dynamic content that adapts to user behavior are becoming mainstream. Small businesses can use to provide real-time customer support, analyze user data for insights and offer personalized content that enhances user engagement and satisfaction. Integrating AI tools doesn’t have to be complex; many platforms offer plug-and-play solutions that are accessible even to those with limited technical expertise. Or for a more strategic, professional approach, you can hire a professional to analyze your website and implement AI chatbots where they will be of the most use. 3. Minimalist and Clean Design In web design these days, less can be more. Minimalism continues to be a dominant trend, with a focus on clean, uncluttered layouts that enhance readability and user experience. This design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, with ample white space, limited color palettes and straightforward typography. For small businesses, a minimalist design can convey professionalism and clarity, making it easier for visitors to navigate the site and find information. The key is to balance simplicity with functionality, ensuring that all necessary elements are still easily accessible. The idea is to make it easier for your audience, not to just present a design direction. 4. Dark Mode and High Contrast Themes Dark mode has surged in popularity in website design trends, offering a sleek and modern aesthetic that also reduces eye strain for users. High contrast themes, which combine dark backgrounds with bright, bold text and elements, are also gaining traction. These themes not only enhance visual appeal but can also improve readability and accessibility. Small businesses should consider offering dark mode options on their websites, allowing users to switch between light and dark themes based on their preferences. This can also be helpful for website accessibility. 5. Advanced Animation and Micro-Interactions Animations and micro-interactions add interactivity that motivates engagement to websites. These catch attention, keep attention and give users a positive experience. They can range from subtle hover effects and button animations to more complex scrolling animations and interactive elements. When done correctly, animations can guide users, highlight important information and enhance the overall user experience. But there’s a fine line to walk. You don’t want to detract you’re your products, detract from performance or overwhelm users. For small businesses, incorporating thoughtful micro-interactions can make a website feel more dynamic and engaging. So, don’t overdo it, but adding these sparingly can really help to update your website. 6. Voice User Interface (VUI) No doubt about it, voice is here to stay. Use of voice search is growing. 125. 2 million people used voice search in 2023, up from 123. 5 million just the year before. More than half of adults worldwide use voice search daily. As voice search continues to grow in popularity, incorporating voice user interface (VUI) into web design is becoming increasingly important to growing your traffic, enhancing compatibility and giving you a competitive advantage. VUI allows users to interact with a website using voice commands, offering a hands-free and convenient experience. To stay competitive, you will want to incorporate natural language processing and structure your content so voice search can easily understand it. 7. Mobile-First Design Mobile-first is one of the most important off the website design trends. With the majority of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, you need to be thinking about how your website appears on mobile devices before other types of screens. It’s a no-brainer that websites today must be optimized for smaller screens and touch navigation. Responsive design techniques enable websites to adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and orientations. There is no excuse for your website not to be user-friendly and visually appealing on all devices. 8. Inclusive and Disability Accessible Design Inclusivity and accessibility... --- - Published: 2024-05-30 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/short-form-videos-why-do-we-love-them/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Short form videos such as those on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts have been revolutionizing how we connect with audiences in recent years. 66% of viewers will watch a video that’s under one minute from beginning to end, but that percentage drops off the longer a video gets. Only 50% of viewers will completely watch a video two to 10 minutes long. Only 39% will finish a video 10 to 20 minutes long. Longer than that, and you’ve pretty much lost your audience. But why will people scroll to watch several short form videos instead of finishing a long one? What’s the psychology behind the success of short form videos? Let’s explore. Decreasing Attention Span It’s no secret to marketers that attention spans are much shorter than they used to be, especially when using electronic devices. The world moves faster today due to technology such as text messages, email notifications, social media, immediately accessible streaming media and instantly available Internet information. According to studies done by Dr. Gloria Marks and her colleagues at the University of California, in 2004, the average attention span on electronic devices was 2. 5 minutes. Just eight years later in 2012, it was down to 75 seconds. In the last five, six years these researchers have found that the average attention span has plummeted to 47 seconds, and other studies have replicated this result within a few seconds. With attention spans this short, it’s the rare and motivated person who will watch an entire long form video. Longer videos or articles require sustained mental effort and memory retention, which can be taxing for viewers. In contrast, short videos present information in bite-sized chunks, making it easier to process and remember. This ease of consumption aligns well with the brain’s preference for minimal cognitive effort. People today much prefer to watch a brief video and move onto something new rather than focus on one thing for any length of time. Instant Gratification Short form videos provide immediate rewards in the form of entertainment, humor or information, catering to the human desire for quick and satisfying experiences. The rapid consumption cycle—watching a video, enjoying a quick laugh or learning something new, and then moving on to the next—creates a feedback loop that keeps viewers coming back for more. This cycle is reinforced by the dopamine release that occurs when we encounter something pleasurable or rewarding. Each new video offers the potential for a dopamine hit, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement. This neurochemical reward system is hard-wired into our brains and a fundamental aspect of why people find short-form videos so addictive. Social Connection and Trends Humans are inherently social creatures, and short-form videos tap into the desire for social connection and belonging. Platforms like TikTok thrive on trends, challenges and viral content, encouraging users to participate and engage with others. By creating or mimicking popular videos, users feel part of a larger community and gain social validation through likes, shares, and comments. This social aspect is amplified by the algorithmic nature of these platforms, which promote content based on engagement. This personalized experience makes users feel seen and understood, further driving their engagement with the platform. Creative Expression and Identity Short-form videos provide a unique outlet for creative expression and self-identity. The accessibility and simplicity of creating and sharing videos lower the barrier for content creation, allowing more people to express themselves in diverse ways. Marketers can tap into this by running contests promoting user-generated content where users develop videos that feature the brand, such as showing the world how they use the product. Emotional Touchstones Short form videos are a particularly effective way to evoke strong emotions quickly. Whether it’s humor, surprise, empathy, or inspiration, these videos often pack an emotional punch that resonates with viewers. Short-form videos often depict everyday situations, struggles, and triumphs that viewers can easily identify with. This relatability fosters a deeper emotional connection and enhances the viewer’s engagement with the content. FOMO and Social Proof Trends move at a rapid pace today, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) is a powerful motivator in the digital age. Short-form videos play into this fear by creating a sense of urgency and immediacy. The rapid pace at which trends and viral content emerge and fade encourages users to stay constantly connected to avoid missing out on the latest popular video or challenge. Social proof, the psychological phenomenon where people mirror the actions of others to reflect correct behavior, also plays a significant role. When users see content with high engagement—likes, shares, comments—they are more likely to engage with it themselves. Anytime, Anywhere We may often be in a rush today, but we can watch short form videos anytime and anywhere, knowing we have time to watch to the end. Standing in line at the bank, commuting on a train or bus to work, or just killing time before an appointment, watching short form videos on our phones are an easy way to fill the void. Ready to Try Your Hand at Short Form Videos? The popularity of short-form videos can be attributed to a complex interplay of psychological factors. From catering to shortened attention spans and the need for instant gratification to fostering social connections and providing outlets for creative expression, these videos resonate deeply with the human psyche. If you would like to tap into this but, you would like help creating short form videos or other marketing services, schedule a fee consultation with an INLocal Marketing Expert by going to our website or calling (646)440-1426. --- - Published: 2024-05-28 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/how-to-write-success-stories-for-your-small-business/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles If you own a small business, you know that you need to take every action you can to build your reputation, attract customers and close sales. One of the most effective ways to do this, especially if your business is B2B, is by writing customer success stories (also known as case studies). A recent study shows that 73% of the most successful content marketers use success stories. Success stories are an effective way to show how you help customers, showcase the effectiveness of your products or services by highlighting real-life examples of satisfied customers. This article will guide you through the process of writing a success story, from understanding its importance to telling a story that resonates with your audience. What Is a Success Story? A success story, or case study, is a detailed account of how your business helped a customer solve a problem or achieve a goal. It typically includes an introduction to the customer, an explanation of their problem, a description of the solution you provided, and a summary of the results. Success stories serve as powerful testimonials, providing potential customers with tangible evidence of your capabilities and the value you deliver. Why Should I Write Success Stories? Build Trust Through Proof: Success stories enable you to back up your other marketing and present your audience with solid proof that your products or services are effective and work as advertised. They demonstrate your expertise and reliability, helping to build trust with potential customers. For any types of success stories, you can use data as objective evidence of the superiority of your products or services. Engage Potential Customers: As we have discussed in previous articles, people relate to stories more than they do to statistics or generic marketing messages. And this especially true of real-life stories. A well-crafted success story can engage potential customers emotionally and intellectually, making them more likely to consider your business. Showcase Real Results: Success stories highlight specific outcomes and benefits that customers have experienced, providing prospective clients with clear expectations of what they can achieve by working with you. For each success story, you will want to highlight a specific feature or benefit of your product or service. You can address the rest in future success stories. Support Marketing and Sales Efforts: You can use success stories across your various marketing channels to support your marketing. Publish them on your website in whole, Link to them in your social media and email campaigns, feature them in your sales presentation. You can use your success stories just about everywhere you find prospects to convert leads into customers. Differentiate Your Business: By highlighting unique solutions and results, success stories can help differentiate your business from competitors, showcasing your unique approach and expertise. What Are the Elements of Success Stories? Introduction Start with a sentence or two about the purpose of this particular success story. If you have an impressive statistic such as you improved ROI by 300%, mention it briefly here. Background Provide context about the customer and their business including their industry, size, and what they offer. Challenge Describe the problem or challenge that the customer was facing. Be specific about the issues they were dealing with and why it was important to find a solution. Solution and Implementation Detail the solution your business provided. Explain how your product or service addressed the customer’s needs and why it was the right choice for their situation. Discuss the process of implementing the solution. Highlight any particular strategies or steps taken to ensure the solution was effectively put in place. Results Summarize the outcomes and benefits the customer experienced as a result of using your product or service. Use quantifiable data wherever possible to provide clear evidence of success. Conclusion and Call to Action Wrap up the story by reiterating the key points and emphasizing the positive impact on the customer’s business. You can also include a customer quote or testimonial to add authenticity and credibility. Tell the prospect what you want them to do next such as call or contact the company through the website. What Are the Steps to Writing Success Stories? 1. Choose the Right Customer Select a customer who has had a particularly positive experience with your business. Ideally, this should be someone who is willing to share detailed information and provide a testimonial. The more enthusiastic they are about your product or service, the more compelling your success story will be. If your business is B2B and you want to focus on campaigns toward clients in specific industries, you will also want to consider the client’s industry. If you have a client with a well-known brand name, that also of course should be a factor in your selection. 2. Conduct an Interview Interviewing your customer is a crucial step in gathering the information you need. Prepare a list of questions that cover the key elements of the success story. Some questions to consider include: Describe your business and the market you operate in. What specific challenges were you facing before using our product/service? How did these challenges affect your business? Why did you choose our product/service? Can you describe the implementation process? What results have you seen since using our product/service? (If the data lends itself, show the measurements both before and after the solution was implemented. Indicate the percentage improvement if it helps your case. ) Would you recommend our product/service to others? Why? Of course, you will want to ask many more specific questions to draw out the information you need. Depending on the industry and the challenges and solutions discussed, these will vary a bit form success story to success story. 3. Organize Your Information After the interview, organize the information you’ve gathered into a coherent narrative. Outline the story, ensuring you cover all the key elements: introduction, challenge, solution and implementation, results, and the conclusion and call to action. Make sure the story flows logically and maintains the reader’s interest. 4. Write the Draft Begin writing your... --- - Published: 2024-05-20 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/can-sustainable-marketing-save-your-company-and-the-world-its-a-start/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles People today expect a lot more from companies than in the past. They want to spend money with ethical companies they feel are trying to help improve the world rather than give money to companies only concerned with the almighty dollar. That’s why if you are in business today, you need to consider your environmental practices and think about sustainable marketing. Since we can only market practices we follow, this article will also touch on operational processes as well as marketing. What Exactly Is Sustainable Marketing? Sustainable marketing to a great extent includes green marketing which promotes environmental protection. However, it can also include social and economic issues. But today, we are going to focus mostly on the environment. Sustainable marketing Promotes products and services based on their environmental benefits. Promotes practices that reduce negative impact on the planet such as using recycled materials, reducing waste, minimizing carbon footprints and supporting ethical production processes. The goal is to create value for customers while also contributing positively to the environment. Why Should My Company Care About the Environment? We hope you do care about the environment and that your company practices reflect that. But your own moral compass isn’t the only reason. Customer Demand Whether you are concerned about the future of the planet or not, most of your customers are. Use sustainable marketing to reach these customers. Consider that: 84% of customers say that poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand or company. Products marketed as sustainable grow 2. 7x faster than those that are not 55% of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly brands. A recent survey from McKinsey & Co. shows that 66% of all respondents and 75% of millennial respondents consider sustainability when they make a purchase. In just five years, there was a 71% rise in online searches for sustainable goods globally. To put it bluntly, businesses that adopt eco-friendly practices can gain a competitive edge. Sustainable marketing is not a trend or a trick just to attract new customers or foster long-term loyalty. If you haven’t done so already, it’s long past time to integrate eco-friendly practices into your marketing strategies. Regulatory Compliance Governments worldwide are implementing stricter environmental regulations. Businesses that adopt sustainable practices early can avoid potential legal issues and penalties. If you are barely scraping by complying with the law, it’s not going to do your sustainable marketing efforts much good. Cost Savings Sustainable practices that you can then promote in your marketing often lead to cost reductions in the long run. For instance, energy-efficient processes and waste reduction can lower operational expenses. According to a DNV. com survey from just last December, “40% of businesses have seen revenue growth from investments in supply chain sustainability, and 34% have seen cost savings, according to DNV report. ” And that number increases every year. What Steps Should I Take for Sustainable Marketing? Here are a few steps to get you started. Assess Practices and Set Goals Conduct an audit of your business operations to identify areas where you can reduce your environmental impact. Establish specific, measurable sustainability goals. These could include reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste or sourcing more sustainable materials. Use Eco-Friendly Packaging One of the most visible ways to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability is through packaging. Brands are increasingly using recyclable, biodegradable or compostable materials. Small business owners can explore options such as: Recycled paper: Packaging made from recycled paper reduces waste and appeals to eco-conscious consumers. Biodegradable plastics: These plastics break down more quickly than traditional plastics, reducing their environmental impact. Minimalist packaging: Reducing the amount of packaging used not only cuts costs but also decreases waste. Employ Green Production Processes Adopting sustainable production processes can significantly reduce a brand’s environmental footprint. This includes: Energy Efficiency: Using energy-efficient machinery and renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. Waste Reduction: Implementing processes to minimize waste and recycle materials whenever possible. Ethical Sourcing: Ensuring that raw materials are sourced from suppliers that adhere to sustainable and ethical practices. Be Transparent Transparency is crucial in sustainable marketing. Consumers want to know how products are made and the impact they have on the environment. Brands can build trust by Providing detailed information: Offering clear and comprehensive information about the sustainability practices used. Obtaining third-party certifications: Obtaining certifications from reputable organizations can validate a brand’s claims. Examples include Fair Trade, LEED, and USDA Organic. Employing storytelling: Sharing stories about the brand’s journey towards sustainability can engage and educate customers. Form Suitable Partnerships Collaborating with other eco-friendly businesses can amplify a brand’s impact. Small business owners can Partner with local suppliers: Working with local suppliers reduces transportation emissions and supports the local economy. Join sustainability initiatives: Participating in industry-wide sustainability programs can provide valuable resources and networking opportunities. Collaborate on green projects: Joint ventures on sustainability projects can enhance brand visibility and credibility. Leverage Digital Marketing and E-commerce The digital shift offers numerous opportunities for sustainable marketing. Paperless transactions: Encourage digital receipts and communications reduces paper waste. Eco-friendly website hosting: Choose web hosting services that use renewable energy. Online campaigns: Promote sustainability through social media and online content can reach a wider audience with minimal environmental impact. Avoid Greenwashing The key to sustainable marketing is sincerity. There have been far too many companies who have resorted to greenwashing to paint themselves in a good light when they had little to no interest in sustainability. Consider, for example, this 1991 Dupont Conaco commercial that features seals clapping and dolphins leaping because they are so excited about the company’s new double hulled oil tankers. Seriously? Consumers are well aware of greenwashing, so it is imperative that you don’t try to mislead them or elevate the representation of your sustainability practices beyond what they actually are. Once your audience perceives you as greenwashing, it’s hard to come back from that. In your marketing, show how your company can help people to support sustainability themselves. A recent survey showed that 88% of people in... --- - Published: 2024-04-30 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/facebook-advertising-budget-what-small-business-owners-need-to-know/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles As a small business owner, you need effective ways to reach your audience segments without breaking the bank. Though you must spend enough to get results, you don’t want to overspend. Sometimes this can be a fine balance, but optimizing your Facebook advertising budget is critical to achieving your marketing goals with a good ROI. Following is what you need to know to get started effectively setting budgets for your Facebook ads. How Does Facebook Charge for Ads? Facebook offers you a choice between cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-impression (CPM) payments. With CPC, you pay when someone clicks on your ads; with CPM, you pay per thousand impressions, regardless of clicks. Your Facebook advertising budget can vary substantially depending on several factors such as your target audience, the competitiveness of your industry, the time of year and the quality of your ad. Knowing these variables can help you set realistic expectations for your ad spend. Set Your Goals As with everything in marketing, in order to effectively budget for Facebook ads, you must first define your goals. Goals for Facebook ads include increasing brand awareness, increasing traffic, increasing engagement, generation leads, promoting apps and driving sales. Your goals will influence how you allocate your budget and which metrics you should focus on to measure success. For instance, if brand awareness is your goal, you might prioritize reach and allocate more budget to CPM campaigns. If conversions are your goal, you might focus on CPC and optimize your ads for clicks. Explore Bid Strategies Facebook offers various bid strategy options, including lowest cost (without a bid cap) and target cost bidding. These strategies can help control how your budget is spent, based on your campaign goals: Lowest Cost Bid Strategy: This strategy allows Facebook to get you the most results possible at the lowest cost, without exceeding your budget. It’s ideal for maximizing ad delivery and is particularly useful when brand awareness is the main goal. Target Cost Bid Strategy: For campaigns aiming at consistent cost per action, the target cost strategy instructs Facebook to maintain a similar cost per conversion, making it easier to predict spending and outcomes. This is especially useful for lead generation or sales-focused campaigns. Using the right bid strategy helps ensure that your budget is used efficiently, based on the specific objectives of each campaign. Determine Your Overall Facebook Advertising Spend You need to keep a balance in your marketing budget, so the size of your overall marketing budget is going to directly impact what you want to spend on Facebook ads. A common standard is to allocate about 20% of your total marketing budget to social media advertising. Consider your industry when allocating where to dedicate your social media advertising. For many businesses, a substantial portion can be dedicated to Facebook due to its vast user base and advanced targeting options. After all, Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform with around 3 billion monthly active users. It’s always good start small to test the waters especially if you have not done a great deal of Facebook advertising in the past. You can gradually increase your budget as you become more comfortable with the platform and start seeing results. Daily vs. Lifetime Budgets Facebook allows you to set daily or lifetime budgets for your campaigns: Daily Budget: The average amount you’re willing to spend on a campaign each day. A daily budget is useful for ongoing campaigns where you want to maintain a consistent spend. Lifetime Budget: The amount you’re willing to spend over the entire lifespan of your campaign. A lifetime budget is suitable for campaigns with a set end date. Adjusting these settings can help control spending and prevent any surprises in your advertising costs. How Should I Allocate My Facebook Advertising Budget Across Multiple Campaigns? But what if you’re running multiple campaigns? It can be a challenge deciding how to split your Facebook advertising budget among them. Obviously, you will want to allocate your budget for the most impact which usually means either targeting your most valuable customers or campaigns promoting your best-selling products. Use Facebook’s performance metrics to identify which campaigns are performing well and adjust your budget allocation accordingly. Optimize Spend Through Targeting Facebook is well known for its advanced targeting options, and it’s a big reason Facebook advertising is so popular. Facebook’s advanced targeting options enable you to narrow your audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors and more. By targeting your ads precisely, you can make better use of your budget by reaching those most likely to be interested in your products and services. Testing different targeting options on a small scale can help you understand which audiences are most responsive. This knowledge lets you optimize your budget allocation for future campaigns. Monitor and Adjust Your Facebook Advertising Budget You can’t just set your budget and forget it. You need to regularly and continuously monitor the performance of your Facebook ads to ensure that your spending is justified by the results. Facebook provides analytics tools that can help you track various metrics such as impressions, clicks and conversions. Be prepared to adjust your budget allocation based on what the data tells you. If a particular ad or campaign is performing exceptionally well, you will probably want to reallocate more budget towards it in order to maximize ROI. Consider the Season If you have a seasonal business, you need to keep that in mind when allocating your Facebook advertising budget. During peak seasons, when competition for ad space is fierce, you might need to increase your budget to maintain visibility. During off-peak times, you could scale back and focus on nurturing leads with retargeting campaigns. Learn from Experience Each campaign offers valuable insights that can inform your future budgeting decisions. Over time, you’ll learn which types of ads generate the most leads, which audiences are most profitable, and how different variables affect your costs. Use this knowledge to refine your approach to Facebook advertising and budget allocation. Concerns... --- - Published: 2024-04-19 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/its-not-all-the-same-what-you-need-to-know-about-social-media-algorithms/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles A lot of businesses create their social media once, and then share it across all their other social media. But if you create a post for one platform then share it to another unrelated social media platform, that second platform is not going to feature your content heavily. And here’s another thing: different social media platforms use different algorithms. Although most platforms regularly update their algorithms, following are some basics you will want to know if you want to increase the reach and engagements of your posts. Understanding Social Media Algorithms Social media algorithms funnel specific content to users to interest and engage them. What the algorithms decide to prioritize has a vast impact on who sees your content and whether or not it goes viral or languishes. Understanding algorithms is your first step toward increasing the visibility of your small business’s posts. Facebook Facebook’s algorithm prioritizes content that fosters interactions such as comments, shares and reactions. The recency of posts, content type and the relationship between the poster and viewer are key factors. Posts from family and friends typically rank higher than business content, because, let’s face it, most of us are a lot more interested in what our families and friends publish than the posts of some business. But that means businesses often need to use paid boosts for greater visibility. Instagram As most of us know, Instagram and Facebook are now both owned by Meta. Instagram’s algorithm also favors high-engagement posts but places more emphasis on timeliness and user viewing duration. It prioritizes content from accounts that users interact with regularly. For businesses, this underscores the importance of creating consistently engaging content that prompts user interaction. X (Formerly Twitter) Yes, people are still on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, though the daily app users decreased 23% from November 2022, just after Elon Musk took it over, to February 2024. It has undergone significant changes but still values recency and relevance. X aims to show users content they will find engaging based on past interactions. For businesses, this means that timely content that garners immediate engagement tends to perform better. It also prioritizes content according to keywords users follow. LinkedIn LinkedIn’s algorithm is designed to encourage professional and conversational engagement, prioritizing posts likely to spark discussions among connections. You are likely to see content that your first degree connections are interacting with. For businesses, sharing insightful content related to industry news, achievements and professional development can resonate well. Adapting Content Strategy for Algorithm Changes To stay competitive, small businesses need to adapt their strategies in response to ongoing changes in social media algorithms. Creating Engaging Content Universal Strategy: The cornerstone of organic reach is engaging, valuable and shareable content. This includes: High-quality visuals: Images and videos generally engage users more than text-only posts. Interactive content: Posts that invite user comments or opinions tend to increase engagement. Value-added content: Whether educational, entertaining, or insightful, content should enrich the audience’s experience. Emphasizing Video Content Key for Facebook and Instagram: Videos often achieve higher engagement rates. Incorporating live videos, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content can foster a stronger connection with the audience. Timing Your Posts Important for Instagram and X: Posting during peak user activity can significantly increase engagement. Analytics tools can help identify the best times to post. Building Community Effective Across Platforms: Developing a sense of community can boost engagement. Engaging regularly with followers and participating in relevant social media groups can strengthen connections. Leveraging User-Generated Content Effective on Instagram and Facebook: User-generated content not only provides authentic material but also motivates other users to engage and share their own content, expanding reach and enhancing credibility. Implementing Contests and Giveaways Boosts Engagement: These strategies are particularly effective on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, helping to increase followers and enhance brand visibility. Optimizing for Social Media Search Often Overlooked: Enhancing your posts for search through relevant hashtags and keywords can improve visibility and discoverability on social media platforms. Monitoring and Adapting to Algorithmic Changes Keeping abreast of algorithm updates is crucial as platforms frequently adjust their algorithms. Regular experimentation with different content types and strategies can help pinpoint what resonates with your audience and what doesn’t. Need Help with Social Media and Social Media Algorithms? For small businesses, mastering social media algorithms is crucial to boosting organic reach and engagement. By crafting engaging, timely and valuable content tailored to the nuances of each platform, businesses can effectively navigate the complex social media environment. Staying flexible and responsive to algorithm updates ensures sustained success in the digital marketplace. If you are busy focusing on other aspects of your business and would like help with your social media, schedule a free consultation with an INLocal Marketing Expert through our website or by calling (646)440-1426. --- - Published: 2024-04-16 - Modified: 2024-04-16 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/crafting-a-winning-seo-blueprint-strategies-for-lasting-online-success/ - Categories: SEO Articles Crafting a Winning SEO Blueprint: Strategies for Lasting Online Success A repeatable SEO strategy is crucial for consistent results in organic search traffic and maintaining competitiveness, which involves SEO audits, on-site SEO, building high-quality backlinks, advanced optimization techniques, content promotion strategies, conversion optimization, remarketing, measuring SEO success, and adapting to future trends. Introduction: Significance of a Repeatable SEO Strategy A repeatable SEO strategy is paramount for businesses aiming to achieve consistent results in organic search traffic while maintaining a competitive edge in the digital realm. By establishing a structured approach to optimizing a website for search engines, businesses can ensure long-term success in driving organic search traffic and enhancing brand visibility over time. This structured approach provides a roadmap for companies to follow, outlining the necessary steps to achieve and maintain consistent results in SEO. For example, implementing a repeatable SEO strategy that includes keyword research, content optimization, and link building can streamline efforts and maximize impact. Consistency in SEO strategies allows businesses to adapt to evolving algorithms, user behaviors, and industry trends, ensuring a strong online presence and continuous growth. A repeatable SEO strategy is foundational for businesses to align their digital marketing efforts with their overall goals and objectives. By integrating SEO strategies from the outset and maintaining consistency in implementation, companies can achieve sustainable growth and online success. This approach enhances brand visibility and credibility and fosters long-term relationships with target audiences, driving organic traffic and conversions. The importance of a repeatable SEO strategy cannot be overstated, as it forms the backbone of a successful online presence that resonates with users and search engines alike. The Importance of SEO Audits SEO audits are invaluable tools for improving SEO performance and ensuring a website's competitiveness in search engine rankings. In addition to identifying technical SEO issues, audits help uncover opportunities for enhancing on-site factors such as meta tags, heading structures, and internal linking strategies. Regular audits allow businesses to monitor their website's health, address issues promptly, and optimize for better search engine performance. For example, by identifying and fixing technical issues like broken links, duplicate content, or slow page speed, businesses can enhance user experience and improve search engine rankings. SEO audits are critical in monitoring the health of a website's backlink profile and ensuring the quality and relevance of inbound links. Regular audits help businesses stay ahead of the competition by proactively addressing potential issues that may impact their SEO performance. By analyzing backlink profiles, companies can identify toxic or irrelevant links that may harm their rankings and take necessary actions to disavow such links. This proactive approach improves search engine visibility and enhances the overall user experience, leading to higher engagement and conversions. Additionally, SEO audits help businesses uncover content optimization opportunities and areas for improvement in on-page elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, and image alt text. By optimizing these elements based on audit findings, businesses can align their content with best SEO practices and improve their chances of ranking higher in search results. For instance, implementing relevant keywords, optimizing meta tags, and enhancing content based on audit recommendations can increase organic traffic and better search engine visibility. Critical Components of On-Site SEO Site architecture is a crucial component of on-site SEO that significantly impacts user experience and search engine crawling efficiency. A well-organized site structure with straightforward navigation and logical hierarchy enhances user engagement and helps search engines index and rank web pages more effectively. For example, businesses can improve site architecture by creating user-friendly URLs, optimizing internal linking, and organizing content into relevant categories and subcategories. By optimizing site architecture, companies can enhance the overall user experience and increase the likelihood of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Keyword targeting is another crucial factor in on-site SEO that influences a website's visibility in search results. Proper keyword research and implementation, including long-tail and semantic search terms, can improve a website's relevance and attract targeted traffic. By strategically incorporating keywords into website content, businesses can align their offerings with user search intent and improve their chances of ranking for relevant queries. For instance, companies can optimize product pages with relevant keywords to attract users searching for specific products or services, increasing the likelihood of conversions and revenue generation. Content quality is a critical aspect of on-site SEO that directly impacts search engine rankings and user engagement. Search engines reward websites that provide valuable, relevant, and well-structured content to users, making content quality a key ranking factor. For example, businesses can enhance content quality by creating in-depth, informative articles, optimizing multimedia elements, and incorporating relevant keywords naturally throughout the content. By delivering high-quality content that meets user needs and expectations, businesses can improve their chances of ranking higher in search results and attracting organic traffic. Building High-Quality Backlinks Building high-quality backlinks is essential for establishing credibility and authority in the digital landscape. Natural backlinks from authoritative websites signal to search engines the relevance and value of a website, leading to improved rankings. For example, when a reputable industry publication links back to a business's blog post, it drives traffic and enhances the website's authority and visibility in search results. By focusing on acquiring backlinks from reputable sources within the industry, businesses can improve their online reputation and boost organic search rankings. Diversifying anchor text and focusing on contextually relevant links are key strategies for building a strong backlink profile that enhances SEO performance. By using a variety of anchor texts that reflect the content's topic and purpose, businesses can signal to search engines the relevance and value of the linked page. For instance, by incorporating anchor texts that describe the content accurately and naturally within the context of the linking page, businesses can improve the credibility and authority of their backlink profile. By diversifying anchor texts and link sources, companies can create a more robust backlink profile that boosts organic rankings and drives targeted traffic. Effective link-building strategies involve outreach, guest blogging, and relationship-building with industry influencers to earn quality backlinks. By... --- - Published: 2024-04-12 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/content-repurposing-strategies-breathe-new-life-into-existing-content/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Content is critical to today’s savvy marketing strategies, but if you have a small business, it can be both time consuming and expensive to create enough fresh and engaging content that’s valuable to your customers and helps increase your online visibility. Content repurposing can help you to maximize your content’s reach. Content repurposing is taking your existing content and transforming it into various formats to reach a wider audience and reinforce your message. Let’s explore how businesses can effectively repurpose blog posts into videos, infographics, podcasts, and more, enhancing both reach and engagement. Understanding Content Repurposing Content repurposing is not just about recycling old content; it’s about reimagining how your content can engage different segments of your audience across multiple platforms. For instance, a well-received blog post can be transformed into a video tutorial, a podcast episode or an eye-catching infographic. This approach not only extends the life of your original content but also appeals to different learning styles and preferences within your audience. Why Repurpose Content? Repurposing content offers several benefits: Efficiency: Save time and resources by using existing research and content frameworks. SEO Boost: By creating multiple pieces of content on the same topic, you enhance your SEO efforts with multiple chances to target desired keywords. Reach Expansion: Different content formats help capture attention from various parts of your audience on different platforms. Reinforcement of Message: Repetition is a key marketing strategy. Presenting the same concept in different formats helps reinforce your message and increases audience retention. It’s a generally accepted maxim that a person must see a marketing message at least seven times before they react to it. Strategies for Repurposing Content Turn Blog Posts into Videos Videos are incredibly engaging and can significantly increase the time visitors spend on your site, which is great for SEO. Consider these statistics from Forbes: Adding a video to marketing emails can boost click-through rates by 200-300%. Embedding videos in landing pages can increase conversion rates by 80%. 90% of customers report that product videos help them make purchasing decisions. Transforming a blog post into a video can be as simple as creating a slideshow of the main points with narration, or as elaborate as producing a full-fledged tutorial or animated explanation. Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro make video editing accessible, while platforms like YouTube and Vimeo provide a venue for reaching a global audience. For informal videos like behind the scenes fun at your office, you can even use very simple phone apps such as InShot. Create Infographics from Blog Content Infographics are perfect for summarizing information and making complex data easily understandable. They are highly shareable across social media platforms and can dramatically increase your content’s visibility. Tools like Canva and Adobe Illustrator can help you design eye-catching infographics. By distilling the key points of a blog post into a visually appealing infographic, you make the content accessible and engaging for those who prefer visual learning. Podcast Your Blog Posts Podcasts are a fantastic way to reach an audience that prefers audio content such as commuters or gym-goers. Turning a blog post into a podcast episode can be as simple as reading the post aloud in an engaging manner or discussing its key points with a guest to add depth to the original content. Platforms like Spotify for Podcasters and Podbean facilitate podcast publishing and distribution. Extract Social Media Snippets Extract key points, quotes or statistics from your content and turn them into posts for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. These snippets can drive traffic back to the full blog post or video, acting as teasers that spark interest. Broadcast Webinars or Live Streams Convert your blog content into a live presentation or a webinar. This format is ideal for deep dives into topics that your audience cares about. It also allows for real-time interaction, making your content feel more personal and engaging. Platforms like Zoom or Google Meet can facilitate these sessions, while Facebook Live and Instagram Live offer more casual environments for these interactions. Compile E-Books and Whitepapers For comprehensive or multi-part blog posts, compiling them into an e-book or a whitepaper can offer substantial value to your audience. This format works well for B2B businesses where detailed, long-form content can be a significant decision-making resource. Tools like Adobe InDesign are helpful for creating professional-looking documents that are ready for download. Implementing Your Repurposing Strategy To effectively implement a content repurposing strategy, consider the following steps: Audit Your Content: Identify high-performing or evergreen content suitable for repurposing. Understand Your Audience: Know where your audience spends their time and how they consume content. Choose the Right Formats: Match your content with the most appropriate formats and platforms. Maintain Quality and Relevance: Ensure that all repurposed content maintains the quality and relevance of the original piece. Track and Analyze: Monitor the performance of repurposed content to understand what resonates best with your audience. By integrating these content repurposing strategies into your marketing efforts, you can enhance your reach, optimize your resources and ensure your valuable content continues to engage and convert long after it was first published. Need Help with Content Repurposing? If you need help with content repurposing or other marketing efforts, schedule a free consultation with an INLocal Marketing Expert through our website or by calling (646)440-1426. --- - Published: 2024-03-29 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/ai-chatbot-implementation-what-to-expect/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Last week we talked about the many benefits to small businesses of using AI chatbots for customer service. Now we would like to address what is involved in AI chatbot implementation into small business operations. Of course, a small business will want to have experts implement their AI chatbots, but it is helpful to understand the process and what to expect. Implementing AI chatbots is a strategic process that involves careful planning, execution and ongoing management. Here’s what needs to be done. 1. Analyze Your Business Requirements and Goals Before you do anything else, you and your AI chatbot implementation experts will need to make a thorough assessment of your business needs and customer service objectives. You will need to identify the types of queries your customer service team frequently handles, the volume of inquiries and peak times for customer engagement. This assessment will help determine the scope of your chatbot’s capabilities and the problems it needs to solve. Clearly define what you want your AI chatbot to achieve. Some examples of goals you might have are automating responses to common questions, assisting with bookings or orders, providing product recommendations and gathering customer feedback. Whatever goals you decide, they will guide the development process and serve as benchmarks for measuring success of the AI project. 2. Select a Chatbot Development Platform Now you will need to decide on the right platform is crucial for the success of your AI chatbot. Consider factors such as ease of use, integration options with your existing systems such as your website and CRM software, customization capabilities, and cost. Some popular platforms (but certainly not the only ones) for small businesses include Dialogflow, IBM Watson Assistant, and Microsoft Bot Framework. You AI implementation expert should recommend what platform will best suit your company’s needs. It will be necessary assess the technical resources available within your business. Some platforms require more technical expertise to set up and customize. If you are not outsourcing to AI implementation experts and are relaying on your inhouse technical staff, you will want to consider a platform known for its user-friendly interface and extensive support resources. 3. Design the Chatbot The first step is conversation design, which involves mapping out the chatbot’s conversation flow, including how it will greet users, the types of questions it will ask and how it will respond to various user questions and comments. A well-designed conversation flow feels natural to users and efficiently guides them to the information or assistance they need. You will also need to consider persona design. For example, do you want the chatbot to sound friendly and casual? Or maybe professional but helpful? Developing a persona for your chatbot can help make interactions more engaging for users. Decide on your chatbot’s name, tone and personality traits based on your brand identity and your audience’s expectations. 4. Plan Integration and Data Security To make the best use of your AI chatbot, you will want to integrate it with your current systems. For example, the chatbot should be able to access prior conversations with the customer, access their buying behaviors and check on their orders to provide personalized service. This kind of service requires seamless communication between your chatbot and databases, CRM systems, inventory management software and other systems. But giving your chatbot access to your systems and your customers means you must ensure the security of customer data your chatbot accesses and collects. Adhere to data protection regulations that apply to your company such as the General Data Protection Regulation or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) by implementing encryption, access controls and regular security audits. Clearly communicate your chatbot’s data handling practices to your customers to maintain trust. 5. Train the AI Model A critical step in AI chatbot implementation is training. Use existing customer service logs, FAQs and product information to train your AI chatbot. This initial dataset should cover a wide range of possible queries and scenarios related to your business. Your AI chatbot implementation experts should incorporate machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) capabilities to improve your chatbot’s understanding of user queries and its ability to provide accurate responses. So training will improve performance, but your chatbot should also learn continuously from interactions with customers. Your experts will likely review chat logs to identify areas for improvement and when your chatbot needs to be retrained with new data. 6. Test, Test, Test Before public deployment, conduct thorough internal testing to identify bugs, unnatural conversation flows and comprehension issues. Use a variety of test cases to cover as many potential user interactions as possible. Consider launching a beta version of your chatbot to a limited audience. Collect user feedback on the chatbot’s performance, focusing on areas such as understanding user queries, conversation flow and overall user satisfaction. Use insights gained from testing to refine your chatbot. This may involve adjusting conversation flows, retraining the AI model, or adding new functionalities. This will be a continuing process. 7. Determine Where Customers Can Access Your Chatbot Decide where you want your customers to access your chatbot. For example, specific pages of your website, social media platforms and messaging apps. Make it easy for your customers to find your chatbot. 8. Define Escalation to Human Agents There are some issues that chatbots can’t handle due to complexity and need for human intervention. Therefore, your AI chatbot implementention experts must set up escalation protocols to transfer users to human agents when necessary. You may also want to enable your users to choose to escalate themselves when necessary. 9. Monitor and Manage You will need qualified personnel to regularly monitor your chatbot’s performance using metrics such as user satisfaction scores, resolution rates and conversation abandonment rates. This data will help you identify trends and pinpoint areas for improvement. At the same time, your organization can greatly benefit from seeking direct feedback from users about interactions with the chatbot. This can be done through follow-up surveys, feedback forms embedded in the chatbot conversation or an... --- - Published: 2024-03-22 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/ai-chatbots-for-customer-service-a-game-changer-for-small-businesses/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles It seems like artificial intelligence (AI) is all anyone can talk about these days and with good reason. AI is revolutionizing many aspects of business. For small businesses, AI chatbots represent a transformative tool, offering the potential to enhance customer interaction, streamline service delivery and optimize operational efficiency. Not only that, but they can even make sales right in the chat window. One thing’s for sure, the evolution of AI chatbots is redefining customer service. Let’s take a look at the benefits of AI chatbots for customer service for your small business. What Exactly is an AI Chatbot? AI chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate converse in a human-like manner with people over the Internet. They make use of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to understand, interpret and respond to user queries in a natural and intuitive manner. For small businesses, AI chatbots can be integrated into websites, social media platforms and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to provide automated customer support, sell products and engage with customers. Despite being on the cutting edge and constantly evolving, AI chatbots aren’t exactly new. 88% of people interacted with chatbots last year. 96% of customers know what chatbots are. AI Chatbots for Customer Service: The Pros You may be wondering how AI chatbots will help your business. Will customers love them or hate them? Will they save you money? Are they worth the initial learning period? Let’s first take a look at some of the benefits of AI chatbots for customer service. 24/7 Customer Support AI chatbots offer round-the-clock service, ensuring that customer queries are addressed at any time of the day without the need for continuous human oversight. This capability is particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have the resources to staff a 24-hour customer service team. But an AI chatbot can answer common questions any time of the day or night and guide your customer in the right direction. And if a matter is too complex and required human intervention, your AI chatbot can funnel it to a human so they can handle it when they get to work first thing in the morning. Improved Customer Satisfaction AI chatbots can drastically reduce response times, providing instant answers to customer queries. This rapid interaction can enhance customer satisfaction and improve the overall service experience. A recent study shows that 68% of users enjoy the speed at which chatbots answer. We have already seen that few small businesses can afford a customer support team around the clock. So, if a prospect or customers has a question about a product they are interested in buying or how to use what they already bought from you, they are out of luck and frustrated if they contact your business at 11:00 pam when your customer service reps are home sleeping. And frustrated prospects and customers don’t make for good business. Frustrated prospects and customers not only don’t buy, but they tell others about their bad experiences. Personalization at Scale It may seem that interaction with an AI chatbot might seem impersonal, but in some respects AI chatbots can deliver more personalized experiences to hundreds or thousands of customers simultaneously. By analyzing individual customer data, chatbots can make personalized recommendations, tailor conversations, and remember past interactions, making each customer feel valued and understood. This level of personalization at scale is challenging to achieve through human agents alone. Cost Efficiency Implementing an AI chatbot can be significantly more cost-effective than employing a large customer service team. Once set up, chatbots can handle an unlimited number of queries simultaneously, reducing the need for extensive human resources. They only time you will need humans is for the most complicated issues. In fact, chatbots handle complete conversations with customers 69% of the time. Scalability As the business grows, your AI chatbot can easily scale to accommodate increased demand without the need for proportional increases in support staff. Data Collection and Analysis Small businesses offer overlook the tremendous advantage of having AI chatbots which can collect valuable data from interactions with customers. This data can provide insights into customer preferences, behavior and feedback. You need good data to best inform business decisions and tailor services to better meet your customers’ needs. Boosting Sales Just as human customer service can cross over into a sales conversation, so can an interaction with an AI chatbot. AI chatbots can proactively engage customers by initiating conversations, offering assistance or suggesting products based on browsing behavior and past interactions. This proactive approach can significantly boost customer engagement, encouraging more interactions and potentially increasing sales. In fact, Chatbots help 55% of businesses generate high-quality leads. For e-commerce businesses, AI chatbots can guide customers through the buying process, provide product recommendations, and answer queries about shipping and returns. This support can reduce shopping cart abandonment rates and increase conversion by offering timely assistance and information. Integrating AI Chatbots with Other Business Systems One of the most significant developments for AI chatbots in customer service is their integration with other business systems and technologies. For example, connecting AI chatbots to inventory management systems can provide customers with real-time stock availability or order status updates. Similarly, integrating chatbots with CRM systems can personalize customer interactions by accessing previous purchase history, preferences, and interaction logs. This level of integration can significantly enhance the customer experience, making interactions more relevant, efficient, and personalized. Reducing Human Error AI chatbots follow programmed protocols meticulously, reducing the chances of human error in customer service interactions. This reliability ensures that customers receive consistent information and quality of service, enhancing brand reliability and trustworthiness. Expanding Market Reach AI chatbots can communicate in multiple languages, breaking down linguistic barriers and opening up new markets for small businesses. This capability allows businesses to cater to a global customer base without the need for multilingual staff. Improving Lead Generation and Qualification Chatbots can be an effective tool for capturing leads and qualifying them before they reach the sales team. By asking preliminary questions, chatbots... --- - Published: 2024-03-19 - Modified: 2024-03-19 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/enhancing-your-content-credibility-mastering-e-a-t-for-seo-success/ - Categories: SEO Articles Enhancing Your Content Credibility: Mastering E-A-T for SEO Success With the help of INLocal Marketing, enhance your website's credibility and improve SEO by incorporating E-A-T principles of expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness in your content. Introduction to E-A-T in SEO E-A-T, which stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, is a foundational concept in Google's approach to evaluating the quality of content and its suitability for ranking within search engine results pages (SERPs). This framework is designed to ensure that users are presented with information that is relevant to their queries and reliable. Individuals or entities with acknowledged expertise in the subject matter create it. Google's algorithm uses E-A-T as a lens through which to assess content, favoring materials that demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic, are recognized as authoritative sources within their respective fields, and are deemed trustworthy by the audience they serve. To optimize content in line with E-A-T principles, creators are advised to focus on several key strategies. Foremost among these is establishing the clarity of the content's purpose, ensuring that it meets the needs and addresses the questions of its intended audience. Additionally, collaborating with recognized experts or individuals with practical experience relevant to the content can significantly enhance its perceived expertise and authority. Maintaining a high level of transparency about the sources of information, the credentials of the contributors, and the evidentiary basis for claims made within the content helps to build trust with the audience. Regular updates and revisions to content are also crucial, as they demonstrate a commitment to keeping information accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to current discussions and developments in the field. These practices improve the content's quality and align it with Google's E-A-T criteria, potentially leading to better visibility and higher rankings in SERPs. Importance of E-A-T for SEO The significance of E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) in SEO cannot be overstated, especially regarding content related to Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topics. These topics, which encompass health, finance, personal safety, and overall well-being, profoundly impact a person's life. Consequently, Google places a heightened emphasis on the quality and reliability of content within these categories. The introduction of E-E-A-T in December 2022, with the addition of Experience to the original E-A-T framework, further solidifies this stance. This update signals Google's recognition of the value of firsthand experience and engagement, illustrating an evolving understanding of what constitutes authoritative and trustworthy content in today's digital landscape. To navigate this enhanced focus on E-E-A-T effectively, creators and marketers must employ robust strategies that align with these principles. Among these strategies, leveraging user-generated content is a powerful way to demonstrate content's real-world utility and relevance, directly contributing to E-E-A-T's Experience and Trustworthiness aspects. Similarly, securing authoritative backlinks signals to search engines that other reputable entities recognize your content's value boosts Authoritativeness. Still, it also plays a crucial role in improving a site's visibility and ranking within search results. These strategies are instrumental in meeting Google's rigorous standards for YMYL content, ensuring that such information is valuable and safe for users. Demonstrating Expertise in Content In digital content, showcasing expertise is not just about flaunting credentials but about weaving a narrative that reassures readers of your deep understanding and proficiency in the subject matter. This can be achieved by developing in-depth, original content such as how-to guides, tutorials, and comprehensive articles addressing complex issues in your field. Such content demonstrates practical skills and positions you as a resource for valuable information. For instance, a financial advisory website might publish a detailed guide on navigating retirement planning, backed by data and examples, to showcase their expertise in financial planning. Collaboration with well-recognized industry experts to author, review, or contribute to your content can significantly amplify its credibility and perceived expertise. This could involve hosting guest posts from thought leaders, conducting interviews with professionals in your field, or even co-authoring papers on cutting-edge developments related to your industry. These collaborations lend an additional layer of authority to your content, as they signal to readers—and search engines—that reputable figures endorse your content's accuracy and relevance. Additionally, highlighting case studies, certifications, and recognitions that you or your contributors have received is concrete evidence of your expertise, thereby bolstering your content's E-A-T score and, by extension, its performance in search rankings . Partnering with a seasoned SEO agency like INLocal Marketing can further refine these strategies, ensuring that your content demonstrates expertise and aligns with the latest SEO guidelines for maximum visibility. Discover how INLocal Marketing can elevate your content's credibility at https://inlocal. marketing/. Showing Authoritativeness in Content Establishing authoritativeness in your content is a multifaceted strategy that extends beyond the mere creation of content; it involves building a robust brand reputation that resonates with both users and search engines. One effective method to signal authoritativeness is earning authoritative backlinks from reputable sites within your industry. These backlinks vote for confidence in your content's credibility and relevance, significantly impacting your site's perceived authority. Additionally, leveraging user-generated content, such as reviews and testimonials, enriches your content's diversity and provides authentic proof of your brand's reliability and quality, further enhancing your authoritativeness. Recognition in the form of positive reviews, awards, and mentions by reputable publications plays a crucial role in affirming your content's authority. Such accolades are not merely badges of honor; they are tangible evidence of your industry standing and expertise, which search engines value when assessing content quality. Maintaining a consistent online presence through regularly published, high-quality content is also vital. This consistency helps keep your audience engaged and signals to search engines that your brand is a reliable source of information, reinforcing your authority within the industry. INLocal Marketing, with its expertise in SEO and content strategy, can guide you in implementing these practices to amplify your content's authoritativeness, ensuring it meets Google's E-A-T guidelines for better ranking and visibility. Explore how INLocal Marketing can elevate your content strategy at https://inlocal. marketing/. Building Trustworthiness in Content Trustworthiness is a foundational pillar in E-A-T, where content accuracy, validity, and reliability are... --- - Published: 2024-03-15 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/influencer-marketing-for-niche-markets-how-small-businesses-can-effectively-identify-and-collaborate-with-micro-influencers/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles We hear a lot these days about businesses using influencers to reach social media audiences, but does this make sense for small businesses? The answer is yes. Influencer marketing is a great way to increase your brand’s visibility, credibility, and audience engagement. Influencers have become so important that 78% of marketers in the U. S. plan to use them. Why? Because 69% of consumers trust influencers’ recommendations. Specifically, for companies operating within niche markets, collaboration with micro-influencers—social media personalities with smaller, but highly engaged and dedicated followings—can yield surprisingly high returns on investment. This approach offers a more targeted, authentic, and cost-effective method for reaching potential customers compared to traditional advertising channels. Let’s investigate how your small, business can use to identify and collaborate with micro-influencers within your niche, and increase your marketing success. Identifying the Right Micro-Influencers Understand Your Audience The first step in effective influencer marketing is understanding who your audience is and where they spend their time online. For niche markets, this means pinpointing the specific interests, needs, and behaviors that define your ideal customers. Tools like social media analytics and customer surveys can offer insights into your audience’s demographics, interests, and preferred platforms. Search for Relevance Over Reach In influencer marketing for niche markets, relevance trumps reach. Instead of looking for influencers with the largest followings, search for those whose content aligns closely with your brand’s values, products, and target audience. Micro-influencers, despite having fewer followers (typically between 1,000 and 100,000), often boast higher levels of engagement and a more dedicated audience because of their specific focus or expertise. Actually, nano-influencers, or influencers with less than 10,000 followers, have the highest rate of engagement. Use Social Media and Hashtag Research Social media platforms are fertile grounds for discovering micro-influencers. Use hashtags related to your niche to find content creators who are actively engaging with topics relevant to your business. Tools like Instagram’s search function, Twitter’s advanced search, and specialized influencer platforms can help streamline this process. Assess Engagement and Authenticity Once you’ve identified potential influencers, assess their engagement rates (likes, comments, and shares relative to follower count) and the authenticity of their interactions. Genuine engagement from an influencer’s audience is a strong indicator of their ability to influence purchasing decisions within your niche market. Collaborating with Micro-Influencers Develop a Mutual Value Proposition Successful influencer collaborations are based on mutual benefit. When approaching micro-influencers, articulate clearly how partnering with them will benefit them, whether it’s through free products, monetary compensation, or exposure to a new audience. Highlight how your brand aligns with their values and interests, making the partnership not only lucrative but also authentic to their personal brand. Create a Collaborative Content Strategy Work closely with influencers to develop a content strategy that feels genuine to their style while effectively conveying your brand’s message. This collaboration ensures that promotional content resonates with their audience and feels like a natural extension of their usual content. Allow influencers creative freedom to present your products or services in a way that engages their followers, as their understanding of their audience is invaluable. Set Clear Goals and KPIs Define what success looks like for your campaign by setting clear, measurable goals and key performance indicators (KPIs). These might include metrics such as engagement rate, website traffic generated, or conversion rates. Having specific targets in place helps both parties understand the expectations and facilitates the measurement of the campaign’s success. Offer Exclusive Deals and Promotions Encourage audience engagement by offering exclusive deals, discounts, or promotions through your influencer partnerships. This strategy not only incentivizes purchases but also makes the influencer’s content more appealing to their followers. It’s a win-win situation: influencers can provide value to their audience, and your business can drive sales and gain new customers. Focus on Long-term Relationships Rather than one-off collaborations, aim to build long-term relationships with influencers who are a good fit for your brand. Consistent partnerships allow influencers to become genuine advocates for your brand, increasing their audience’s trust in their recommendations. Over time, these ongoing collaborations can lead to higher engagement rates, stronger brand loyalty, and increased visibility within your niche market. Navigating Challenges Budget Wisely While working with micro-influencers is generally more cost-effective than traditional advertising or collaborations with high-profile influencers, budgeting remains crucial. Allocate funds wisely by considering the potential ROI of each partnership and diversifying your influencer portfolio to mitigate risks. Manage Expectations Clear communication is vital in managing expectations on both sides. Ensure agreements are laid out in writing, detailing deliverables, timelines, compensation, and any other expectations to avoid misunderstandings. Adapt to Platform Changes Social media platforms frequently update their algorithms and policies, which can impact the visibility and effectiveness of influencer marketing campaigns. Stay informed about these changes and be ready to adapt your strategies accordingly. Need Help with Social Media and Influencer Marketing? For small businesses operating in niche markets, the strategic use of micro-influencer marketing offers a powerful tool to enhance brand visibility, credibility, and audience engagement. By carefully selecting influencers whose values and audience align with their brand, creating mutually beneficial partnerships, and focusing on authentic engagement, businesses can leverage these collaborations to achieve significant marketing success. If you want help from an INLocal Marketing Expert with identifying and collaborating with social media influencers, complete the form on our website or call (646)440-1426. --- - Published: 2024-03-11 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/12-ways-to-use-testimonials-to-increase-sales-and-customer-loyalty/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles 12 Ways to Use Testimonials to Increase Sales and Customer Loyalty To build a loyal following, small businesses need to cultivate trust in their customers. You can tell your audience about the superiority of your products and services all day long, but why should people believe you? After all, you have a vested interest in motivating customers to buy. Testimonial marketing is an effective way to overcome this innate distrust. Because they have no reason to lie, people are much more likely to trust the words of other customers over what you tell them. 50% of consumers trust testimonials and reviews as much as they do recommendations from their family or friends 76% read online reviews regularly when browsing for local businesses. And when people trust you, they are much more likely to buy from you. When you make your testimonials and reviews visible, you may increase your conversions by 270%. How Can You Get Testimonials from Your Customers? Ask for Them Directly If your business is B2B, you may want to simply ask your loyal clients for testimonials by email, phone or even in-person. If you finish a project for a business, make it a habit to send them a review form at the end. Ask for Them on Directory and Review Sites Encourage your satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google Business Profiles, Yelp, and industry directory sites. Make sure to thank them when they do! Solicit Them on Your Facebook Page and Other Social Media Actively solicit reviews on your Facebook page and other social media. Take surveys and ask specific questions in order to solicit your customers’ opinion. Ask for Reviews on Your Website Ask for reviews at highly visible places on your website such as the home page and at checkout. Make it easy for people to fill out a brief form you guide them through. Respond to All Reviews If you want a flow of positive reviews and testimonials, you need to engage with your customers. People don’t want to shout into the void. How Can You Get Your Testimonials Seen? 1. Place Testimonials Near Points of Sale Whether on your website or in your physical store, place positive testimonials near where purchasing decisions are made to reassure customers about the quality of your products or services. 2. Highlight Testimonials in Promotions Use testimonials in your promotional materials and sales pitches. This could be as straightforward as quoting a satisfied customer in a flyer or as sophisticated as a video testimonial featured in an online ad. 3. Optimize Your Google Business Profile Ensure your profile is complete and up-to-date, with high-quality images, accurate business information and plenty of positive reviews. Regularly posting updates or offers can also keep your profile engaging. 4. Make the Most of Social Media Use social media to share customer testimonials that feel personal and immediate. You could highlight reels on Instagram, pin posts on Facebook or feature them in social media ads for example. 5. Showcase Testimonials on Your Website Your website is often the place where your customers engage with your business. Make it count by integrating testimonials effectively. You could have a rotating carousel of testimonials on your home page that links to a page of testimonials. Your testimonial page could include before-and-after photos, video and Q&As. But include relevant testimonials on various pages throughout your website such as the homepage, product pages and checkout page to help guide each potential customer through their decision-making process. 6. Create Engaging Content Turn testimonials into eye-catching graphics, short video clips or even live interviews with customers. Tagging customers (with their permission) can increase the reach and authenticity of your posts. 7. Encourage User-Generated Content Encourage customers to share their own stories and tag your brand. Reposting user-generated content can be an effective form of testimonial that feels authentic and relatable to your audience. 8. Collaborate with Influencers Influencer partnerships can lend immediate credibility to your brand. Look for influencers who not only have a significant following but also align with your brand values. Work with influencers to create content that genuinely reflects their experiences with your products or services. Authentic endorsements are far more effective than scripted promotions. 9. Incorporate Testimonials into Email Campaigns Email marketing allows you to reach your audience directly, making it a perfect channel for sharing testimonials. Tailor your emails to different segments of your audience, featuring testimonials that specifically address each segment’s concerns or interests. Include customer success stories in your email campaigns that narrate a problem your product or service solved. This storytelling approach can be very compelling. 10. Enhance Paid Advertising Testimonials that feature images and quotes from real customers can make your paid advertising efforts more effective and credible. Seeing a real person endorse your product or service can significantly impact how potential customers perceive your ad. 11. Create Testimonial-Based Video Ads Videos can capture the attention of your audience more effectively than text-based ads. They allow viewers to see and hear firsthand experiences, making the testimonials more impactful. In a recent study, audiences who have viewed video ads that past week were 26% more likely to remember the product or service being advertised than those who had viewed a static ad. 12. Create Highlight Reels Aren’t Just for Social Media Highlight reels are an excellent way to compile and present customer testimonials in a dynamic and engaging format. They can be used across various platforms, including your website, social media channels and even in presentations. Include a range of testimonials in your highlight reels to show the breadth of your customer base and the various ways your product or service can meet different needs. Mix in photos, video clips and text quotes to keep your highlight reels interesting and engaging. This variety will cater to different preferences and keep your audience’s attention. INLocal Marketing Can Help You with Testimonial Marketing To schedule a free consultation with an INLocal Marketing Expert about gathering and effectively using testimonials and... --- - Published: 2024-02-27 - Modified: 2024-02-27 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/the-ai-revolution-transforming-social-media-management-services/ - Categories: Social Media Management Articles The AI Revolution: Transforming Social Media Management Services People ask me all the time about AI. They want to know what effect AI will have on my business. They usually joke by saying is AI going to replace you? I have typically answered with "We will have to wait and see," or AI will never replace my industry's need for the human element. I am now rethinking this. AI is advancing very quickly, and I can now see one part of the digital marketing sphere that AI impacts. It will be the first segment of the industry that will be impacted. It will be the first segment of the digital marketing industry to adapt or die. The advancement of AI will have a huge impact on SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT (SMM). The impact of AI on social media management services will have benefits. There are AI tools that are revolutionizing social media marketing being used right now. There will also be challenges and limitations. There are real-world success stories, and leveraging AI for enhanced social media management services is becoming common. Introduction to the Impact of AI on Social Media Management Services The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has marked a significant turning point in social media management, revolutionizing how businesses and individuals interact with their audience online. Through the sophisticated analysis of user behavior, AI algorithms enable social media platforms to deliver personalized content, ensuring that users receive information and advertisements most relevant to their interests and preferences. This level of customization enhances the user experience and improves the efficacy of marketing interventions, optimizing the engagement between brands and their target audience. The application of AI in social media transcends the boundaries of marketing, influencing a wide array of sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and financial services. This widespread adoption underscores the versatility and adaptability of AI technologies, highlighting their potential to transform industry practices and consumer interactions across the board. By facilitating a deeper understanding of user preferences and behaviors, AI is setting new standards for personalized content and targeted advertising, thereby reshaping the landscape of social media management services. The Benefits of AI in Enhancing Social Media Management Using AI in social media management has ushered in a new era of customer interaction and engagement. By leveraging sophisticated AI algorithms, businesses can now create a more personable and welcoming environment on various social media platforms. This personalized approach helps establish a deeper connection with the audience, fostering loyalty and trust. AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data in real time enables it to understand nuanced customer sentiments and preferences. This intelligence is then utilized to deliver highly targeted advertisements and content that resonate with the audience personally. Moreover, AI-driven tools significantly enhance the efficiency of social media strategies. Through predictive analytics and automated content curation, AI can anticipate user needs and present them with content they are likelier to engage with. This elevates the user experience and optimizes marketing efforts, leading to increased brand engagement and customer satisfaction. For instance, platforms like Snapchat use video filters and a generative AI chatbot called My AI to engage users in a novel and interactive manner, demonstrating the potential of AI to transform user interactions on social media. Through such innovative applications, businesses can leverage AI to streamline their social media management processes and create a more dynamic and engaging online presence. AI Tools Revolutionizing Social Media Marketing Strategies Integrating AI-driven tools into social media marketing strategies is heralding a new digital engagement and content creation era. Innovations such as Bard and Google Search Generative Experience are at the forefront of this transformation, enabling marketers to craft content that is relevant and highly personalized to individual user preferences and behaviors. By leveraging these AI tools, social media platforms can offer a more immersive and interactive experience, encouraging deeper user engagement and fostering a sense of community and loyalty. This evolution in content creation is complemented by AI's capability to analyze vast amounts of data, allowing for a nuanced understanding of audience demographics, interests, and online behaviors. AI's contribution to hyperlocal social media marketing revolutionizes how businesses connect with local audiences. By utilizing AI to analyze geographical data and user preferences, businesses can launch highly targeted campaigns that speak directly to the needs and interests of specific communities. This geo-targeting capability enhances visibility and significantly boosts engagement rates, as content and advertisements are more relevant to the audience's immediate context and surroundings. In addition, AI's role in A/B testing is indispensable for refining communication strategies. Through systematic experimentation and analysis, AI helps identify the most effective content types, messaging, and delivery times, ensuring that every post is optimized for maximum impact and engagement. This continuous testing and adjustment process ensures that social media strategies remain agile and responsive to changing audience dynamics and preferences. Overcoming Challenges and Limitations with AI in Social Media Integrating AI into social media management services brings transformative benefits, yet it is accompanied by substantial challenges that must be meticulously managed. Among these, algorithmic bias stands out as a significant concern. This bias can skew AI-driven content recommendations and ad targeting, leading to unfair advantages or disadvantages for certain groups. Intrusive data collection practices are another pressing issue, raising questions about user privacy and consent in the digital space. Moreover, the rise of deepfakes—highly realistic manipulated videos or images—threatens the credibility of information shared on social media platforms. These challenges necessitate a concerted effort towards ethical AI implementation. Ensuring transparency in how AI algorithms function and make decisions is crucial for building user trust. Identifying and mitigating biases in AI systems is equally important, as they help create a more equitable online environment. Protecting user privacy must be a cornerstone of AI applications in social media, requiring robust data protection measures to prevent unauthorized data access or misuse. By prioritizing these ethical considerations, social media platforms can address the inherent risks of AI, fostering a safer and more trustworthy digital ecosystem. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of social media... --- - Published: 2024-02-21 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/embracing-user-centric-web-design/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Embracing User-Centric Web Design: A Blueprint for Online Success User-Centric Web Design: Learn how prioritizing user needs and preferences in web design can lead to higher engagement and conversions, build trust and loyalty, and drive long-term success. Introduction to the Significance of User-Centric Web Design User-centric design ensures that websites are tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of the target audience, leading to higher engagement and conversions. This approach focuses on creating a seamless and intuitive user experience, considering factors such as ease of navigation, accessibility, and relevance of content to the user's interests and needs. By putting the user at the center of the design process, businesses can build trust and loyalty with their customers, ultimately driving long-term success. The shift towards user-centric web design reflects a deeper understanding of the importance of customer satisfaction in the digital landscape. In a market saturated with options, a website that is difficult to use or fails to meet user expectations can quickly lead users to look elsewhere. On the other hand, a user-centric website can significantly enhance user engagement, reduce bounce rates, and increase the likelihood of conversions, making it a critical component in the success of any online business. Importance of Usability and Utility in Web Design Usability testing is a critical aspect of user-centric design, allowing developers to identify potential pain points and optimize the user experience. For instance, a website that loads slowly or has a complex navigation structure can frustrate users, leading to a poor experience and ultimately driving them away. Through usability testing, developers can gather insights into user behavior and preferences, making informed design decisions that enhance the overall user experience. Utility-driven design prioritizes functionality over aesthetics, recognizing that a visually appealing website is ineffective if users struggle to navigate it. A prime example is Google's search engine, which, despite its simple appearance, is highly valued for its speed and efficiency in delivering relevant search results. Research shows that websites with high usability and utility metrics tend to outperform competitors in terms of user engagement and conversion rates, underscoring the importance of focusing on these aspects in web design. The Role of Needs Assessment in User-Centric Design Needs assessments help bridge the gap between user expectations and product functionality, ensuring that design decisions are rooted in user insights. By conducting thorough needs assessments, developers can gather both qualitative and quantitative data to understand the explicit and implicit needs of their users. This process involves analyzing feedback, identifying common themes, and prioritizing needs based on organizational goals and available resources, thereby enabling developers to create products that truly resonate with their target audience. User feedback collected through needs assessments provides valuable data for iterative design improvements, leading to a more user-friendly interface. For example, if users express difficulty in finding certain information on a website, developers can use this feedback to redesign the site's information architecture, making it more intuitive and easier to navigate. Successful needs analysis involves not only understanding explicit user requests but also uncovering implicit needs that drive user behavior, which can significantly enhance the usability and relevance of the final product. Principles and Strategies of User-Centered Design User-centered design principles emphasize the importance of involving users throughout the design process to validate assumptions and iterate on solutions. This approach is grounded in empathy, user involvement, alignment of requirements, regular feedback, and iteration. By adopting design thinking, developers can foster a deep understanding of users' needs and create solutions that truly meet those needs. For example, creating user personas and journey mapping helps designers to empathize with users' perspectives and design experiences that meet their needs effectively. Design thinking, a key framework in user-centered design, encourages empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing to create solutions that resonate with users. This iterative process ensures that products are continuously refined based on user feedback, leading to better outcomes. For instance, prototyping allows developers to test and refine ideas quickly, ensuring that the final product is both functional and user-friendly. User personas and journey mapping are common tools used in user-centered design to empathize with users' perspectives and design experiences that meet their needs. Understanding and Engaging Your Target Audience Tailoring website content to match the preferences and expectations of the target audience can significantly impact user engagement and conversion rates. By conducting user research, such as surveys and usability studies, developers can gain valuable insights into audience behavior and preferences, guiding design decisions. This understanding allows for the creation of personalized content recommendations and interactive elements that enhance the overall user experience and drive repeat visits. Effective user engagement strategies, such as personalized content recommendations and interactive elements, can enhance the overall user experience and drive repeat visits. For example, e-commerce websites that recommend products based on a user's browsing history or preferences can significantly increase engagement and sales. By engaging users with relevant content and interactive features, websites can create a more personalized and enjoyable experience, encouraging users to stay longer and explore more of what the site has to offer. Implementing User-Centric Design Strategies in Web Development User-centric design implementation involves creating intuitive navigation structures, clear calls-to-action, and accessible design elements to enhance user experience. For instance, ensuring that a website is accessible to users with disabilities not only broadens the potential audience but also demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity. A/B testing and user feedback mechanisms are essential for validating design choices and continuously improving website usability based on user input. This approach allows developers to make data-driven decisions that align with the needs and preferences of their users. User-centric design frameworks, such as the Double Diamond model or Lean UX, provide structured approaches for incorporating user needs into the design process. These frameworks emphasize the importance of research, ideation, prototyping, and testing in creating products that meet user expectations. By following these frameworks, developers can ensure that their design decisions are informed by user insights, leading to more effective and engaging websites. INLocal Marketing: Your Partner in Achieving User-Centric Web Design... --- - Published: 2024-02-18 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/marky-ai-social-media-posting/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Enhancing AI Social Media Marketing with marky. ai Marky. ai is a cutting-edge AI tool that simplifies social media content creation and posting through personalized graphics and captions, offering advanced capabilities for content creation and social media engagement. Introduction to marky. ai Marky. ai is a pioneering solution in social media content creation, employing sophisticated artificial intelligence to craft personalized graphics and captions that significantly boost online presence and engagement. This innovative platform is gaining traction among diverse users, from individual content creators to full-scale agencies, primarily due to its intuitive design and reliable customer support services. By prioritizing content optimization for various social media platforms, marky. ai utilizes cutting-edge AI-powered tools to simplify the content creation process. This not only facilitates users in keeping their online presence vibrant and engaging but also ensures that their social media strategies are practical and efficient. The uniqueness of marky. ai lies in its ability to understand and adapt to its users’ specific voice and branding, creating content that feels authentic and resonates with its target audience. Whether developing eye-catching visuals or generating compelling captions, marky. ai stands out by offering solutions that cater to the nuanced needs of social media marketing. Its commitment to enhancing user experience through technological innovation positions marky. ai as a valuable asset for anyone looking to elevate their social media game. With its focus on delivering personalized, AI-driven content solutions, marky. ai is not just simplifying social media content creation but is also redefining how brands and individuals connect with their audiences online. Key Features of marky. ai Marky. ai stands out in digital marketing with its comprehensive features to simplify and enhance social media content creation. At the heart of marky. ai’s offerings are its sophisticated color, font, and logo editing tools. These features enable users to tailor their content precisely, ensuring that every post aligns perfectly with their brand’s visual identity. This level of customization extends to marky. ai’s seamless carousel and CRM integrations, allowing for a more cohesive and engaging user experience across various social media platforms. The importance of brand consistency cannot be overstated, as it helps build a recognizable and trusted brand identity online. An example is a small business leveraging marky. ai to revamp its Instagram profile, resulting in a visually cohesive feed that significantly improved audience engagement. Marky. ai enhances content effectiveness through its intelligent hashtag recommendation engine and ability to optimize posts for individual social media platforms. This ensures that content resonates with the target audience and complies with each platform’s best practices, maximizing reach and engagement. The platform’s cutting-edge AI algorithms further elevate the content creation process by offering support for complex reasoning and image understanding. This enables users to craft visually striking posts that are contextually relevant and engaging. For instance, a marketing agency utilizing marky. ai’s AI-powered features doubled its client’s social media engagement rates by deploying strategically designed posts that resonated well with the intended audience. These key features underscore marky. ai’s commitment to providing users with tools that are not just innovative but also practical and effective in navigating the dynamic world of social media marketing. Pricing and Plans Marky. ai recognizes its user base’s varying requirements and budgets, offering a structured selection of pricing plans catering to a broad spectrum of social media marketing needs. At the foundational level, marky. ai provides a complimentary plan for beginners starting their social media content creation journey. This free tier allows users to explore the basic functionalities of the platform without any financial commitment, making it an ideal option for individuals or small entities looking to test the waters. For those requiring more robust features and a greater capacity for content creation, marky. ai offers a Personal plan at $23 per month. This plan is tailored for freelancers or personal brands seeking to elevate their social media presence with advanced tools and capabilities. For agencies and larger organizations with extensive content needs, the Agency plan, priced at $197 per month, provides comprehensive features and support designed to streamline social media campaigns at scale. Each of these plans is structured to offer flexibility in terms of usage, cost, and scalability, allowing users to upgrade as their needs grow. Including features such as AI-powered graphics and voice matching across all plans ensures that users of marky. ai can create content that resonates with their brand’s voice and aesthetic, regardless of the chosen tier. Customization options, scheduling capabilities, and access to analytics further empower users to craft and deploy strategic content efficiently. Additionally, providing 24/7 support underscores marky. ai’s commitment to user success, ensuring that help is always available whenever needed. By offering a transparent and flexible pricing structure, marky. ai ensures that businesses and individuals can find a plan that aligns with their social media marketing objectives and budget constraints, making it a versatile tool for enhancing online engagement and presence. Customer Reviews and Testimonials Marky. ai has received widespread acclaim from its user base for its cost-effectiveness, user-friendly design, and powerful automation tools. Customers report significant reductions in the time and money spent on social media content creation, with many experiencing a notable increase in follower counts. For instance, a small business owner shared how switching to marky. ai doubled their social media engagement within just a few months, attributing this success to the platform’s intuitive content creation and scheduling features. This kind of feedback underscores the tangible benefits marky. ai offers to its users, ranging from time savings to enhanced online visibility. The level of customer support provided by marky. ai stands out in user testimonials. Individuals and agencies alike commend the swift and effective assistance they receive, significantly contributing to their overall positive experience with the platform. A marketing agency highlighted in their testimonial how the support team at marky. ai helped them troubleshoot a complex integration issue, enabling them to maintain a seamless workflow. This dedication to customer service, combined with the platform’s continuous evolution under the guidance of a development team with roots... --- - Published: 2024-02-16 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/27-effective-b2b-prospecting-strategies-for-small-business/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles Your business may be the best in your industry, but that’s not enough. It’s an inescapable fact that to be successful in a B2B business you need to excel at prospecting. Creating a successful client prospecting strategy for a small B2B business involves a combination of traditional methods, digital marketing tactics and innovative approaches tailored to your specific market and audience. And remember, prospecting is not just about making a sale; it’s about building relationships. Approach each interaction with a long-term perspective, seeking to understand and help your prospects. So, let’s get started. 1. Define Your Ideal Customer Profile Start by understanding who your ideal customers are. Analyze your best clients to identify common characteristics such as industry, company size, location, and pain points. Now consider who are the likely decision makers and who are the influencers. 2. Use LinkedIn for Networking and Research LinkedIn is a powerful tool for B2B prospecting. Use it to research potential clients, engage with their content, and join industry-specific groups. Regularly share valuable content to establish your expertise and attract prospects. After all, 58 million companies and 4 out of 5 decision-makers are on LinkedIn! Check out this article to learn more about how to use LinkedIn to help grow your business. 3. Leverage Cold Email Outreach Craft personalized cold emails that focus on the recipient’s needs and how your product or service can solve their specific problems. Use a clear subject line, concise content, and a strong call to action. Track your emails to refine your approach based on open and response rates. Check out our article, The 10 Musts for Email Copywriting for help with content. 4. Attend Industry Conferences and Events Participating in industry events allows you to network with potential clients face-to-face. There is no stronger form of prospecting than this, because it’s so personal. Prepare an elevator pitch, bring business cards and follow up with new contacts promptly after the event. 5. Be Religious About Your Content Marketing Create valuable content such as blog posts, white papers and case studies that address common challenges faced by your target audience. This can help establish your business as a thought leader and attract potential clients through organic search. Content marketing enables you to offer valuable information to your prospects and clients. It increases your credibility. 6. Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Optimize your website and content for search engines to increase your visibility online and increase traffic from qualified prospects. Research keywords that your prospects might use to find solutions like yours and incorporate them into your website’s content. Of course, there is a whole lot more to SEO, and you will want to seek help from an SEO expert. 7. Offer Free Trials or Demos Giving prospects a risk-free way to experience your product or service can be a powerful incentive. Use these opportunities to showcase the value of your offering and address any questions or concerns. 8. Engage in Social Selling Beyond LinkedIn, consider what other social media platforms would be a good match for prospecting for your business. Which ones are the decision makers and influencers in your target companies likely to use? Share insightful content, participate in discussions and connect with potential clients in a genuine manner. Consider using both organic and paid posts. Here is an article to get you started. 9. Develop Strategic Partnerships Form alliances with complementary businesses that serve your target market but are not direct competitors. These partnerships can provide referral opportunities and help you reach a broader audience. 10. Host Webinars and Workshops Organize educational webinars and workshops on topics relevant to your target audience. This can help you demonstrate your expertise and engage with prospects in a meaningful way. 11. Implement a Referral Program Encourage your satisfied clients to refer new business to you by offering incentives. Make it easy for them to refer others and ensure you follow up on leads promptly. 12. Use Online Directories and Listings Ensure your business is listed in relevant online directories and industry-specific platforms. This can improve your visibility to potential clients actively searching for solutions you offer. 13. Employ Direct Mail Campaigns In a digital world, personalized direct mail can stand out when you are prospecting. Send targeted mailers to select prospects with a clear message and call to action. You may even want to include some kind of a little tchotchke related to a marketing campaign. It’s harder to throw away mail before opening it if it obviously contains an object. If you are a bookkeeper, an example might be to send a cheap alarm clock with the message, “Time to upgrade your bookkeeping! ” You may not want to go to the expense of doing this with all your prospects, but you can do it with your top prospects. 14. Engage in Community Building Create or participate in online communities relevant to your industry. Being active in these communities can help you build relationships and credibility with potential clients. 15. Use Targeted Advertising Leverage digital advertising platforms like Google Ads or LinkedIn advertising to target your ideal customer profiles. Use compelling ad copy and landing pages designed to convert prospects. To really reach your audience, you may want to take a look at our blog post, Emotional Advertising: Tapping into the Heart of Your Audience. 16. Send an Email Newsletter Build an email list and regularly send out newsletters with industry insights, company updates and valuable content. This keeps your business top-of-mind for when prospects are ready to buy. Even if your prospects don’t open it every week, they will see your name regularly appearing in their inbox. 17. Optimize Your Website for Conversions Ensure your website is designed to convert visitors into leads. Include clear calls to action, easy-to-find contact information and forms to capture lead information. 18. Use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System A CRM system can help you manage your prospecting efforts more effectively. Use it to track interactions, set reminders for follow-ups and analyze your... --- - Published: 2024-02-10 - Modified: 2024-08-28 - URL: https://inlocal.marketing/storytelling-capture-their-imaginations/ - Categories: Digital Marketing Articles You may produce or sell superior products and services, better than anything your competition offers. But if you can’t get that across to your customers, you may lose business to companies with inferior products. Does content marketing help drive sales? Yes, it certainly can help drive sales, but you aren’t going to influence people to buy if you are pushing out keyword-stuffed word salad without any real value or appeal. Instead of only focusing on keywords, try the age-old power of storytelling. Storytelling has mesmerized audiences with stories from time immemorial. Attraction to stories is embedded deep in our DNA. Use the power of storytelling to attract customers, keep their attention and give them positive feelings about your company. How Can Storytelling Help My Company? Following are some of the many ways storytelling can benefit your company. 1. Create a Human Bond It can be hard for customers to remember the differences between products or services when all they see is a dry list of features. Although a feature list may be important to solidify a sale, it’s not going to jump out at people and capture their imaginations. However, people can always relate to a good story. A good story engenders emotion, touches our hearts and becomes memorable. 2. Build Credibility Once you have an emotional bond, trust is not far behind. People are suspicious of faceless corporations these days. Giving your company a human face through a good story can be a solid foundation for building trust. 3. Clarify Some products and services can be a bit complicated. In many industries, it may be difficult to tell the difference between your product and that of the competition. Storytelling can illustrate the differences in a way that’s easily understandable. Real life success stories for your products and services are one way you can use storytelling to reach your customers. 4. Attract Attention and Engage It takes a lot to get the attention of customers these days. But an interesting story can do just that. And once you have your customer’s attention, it’s not hard to engage them about the story they just read or saw. Your story might educate, inspire, surprise or just entertain. But it should capture and keep customer attention. 5. Create Loyalty and Community Companies can even use stories to bring people together and give a sense of purpose. Consider the video shown at the iPhone 15 launch which showed eight people who were able to celebrate another birthday because their lives were saved by a feature on an Apple device. 6. Motivate Once you have people’s attention, trust, and loyalty, the next obvious step is to drive them to action. Storytelling can be instrumental in increasing conversions. How Can I Use Storytelling Effectively? 1. Know Your Audience Different types of stories are going to resonate with different types of audiences. Create customer personas, segment your audience, and fashion stories aimed at each segment. Think about your segment’s challenges and goals, and create stories they can relate to. 2. Be True to Your Company’s Messaging Before you start marketing, it’s important to develop your company’s messaging. When writing a story, make sure it is in sync with your brand’s messaging. Also, be sure the story you create furthers your goal for the campaign, whether that’s increasing brand awareness, educating your audience, driving a quick purchase or some other goal. 3. Use Storytelling Throughout Your Marketing Before writing your story, determine where and how you plan to use it. You can tell your story using various media, but you may need to tailor it for each platform. For example, the video you show in your webinar might be a longer version of the short form video you show on YouTube. Needless to say, images and videos can make a story’s impact much stronger. You can link to story videos in your email, tell your stories in blog posts and feature them on social media, Google Ads, Facebook ads and your website. A story video can be the focus of your trade show booth or play in the background of your store. You can use storytelling in almost all your marketing. Encourage people to share it where possible. 4. Flesh Out Your Characters Give a lot of thought to your characters. You want your audience to be able to relate to them and even see through their eyes. Think about their appearance, personality traits, feelings and idiosyncrasies. 5. Develop Your Story When you are telling a story, you need to write all parts: introduction, conflict and resolution. Introduce your relatable characters and move on to a conflict of some sort. Maybe Suzie wants to win the swim meet or Joe wants to get his tech product to the market by deadline. You want people to care about what happens to the character. Then, finally, you present the resolution of the conflict. Suzie comes in second, but beats her personal best time because she’s eating well with the help of your company’s healthy snacks. Joe gets his product in on time to a cheering market with the help of your effective team management software. 6. Structure Your Story Your story shouldn’t bounce all over the place. You are not going to have a lot of time to present your story, so keep your plot focused and fairly simple. Make sure your flow is logical. 7. Don’t Tell Your Story in a Vacuum Show your characters’ surroundings, be it a scary forest, a cozy home or a high end office building. Indicate something about their demographics and values. Are they up and coming young professionals in a city? Hard-working tradesmen in a small town? 8. Go for an Emotional Response To break through the thousands of commercial messages your customers hear every day, you need to touch them on an emotional, human level. Data and features will support a customer’s decision to buy, but buying decisions are usually made on an emotional level. Budweiser has long used a Clydesdale team... --- ---