by Andrea Warner | Apr 26, 2024 | Digital Marketing
As a company, survival is no longer enough to ensure longevity; successful businesses capitalise on proven strategies and innovative ideas to thrive and rise above the competition.
However, there are certain ideas that successful companies employ to stand above the rest.
In this blog post, CREATIVE in TiME will explore 26 proven methods companies like yours implement to achieve remarkable success and growth.
1. Setting Clear Goals and Strategies
Successful companies understand the critical importance of setting ambitious goals and crafting comprehensive strategies to achieve them.
By establishing a crystal-clear vision of their future goals, these companies lay the foundation for sustained success, align every facet of the organisation towards a unified purpose, and ignite a collective drive to propel the company towards its ultimate objectives.
2. Consistent Presence
These companies understand the importance of consistently showing up and making their presence known.
Whether it’s through social media, events, or other channels, they ensure their brand is always in the spotlight.
Ensuring their brand remains at the forefront of their audience’s minds is key to success. By maintaining a consistent and impactful presence, they ensure that their product or service is readily accessible when their audience needs it most. This not only establishes their business as active and operational but also reinforces their credibility and reliability in the market.
3. Harnessing the Power of Video
Video is a versatile tool that successful companies utilise extensively. From social media content to website features to interviews, they understand the impact of engaging visuals.
It serves as a powerful storytelling tool, evoking emotions and creating a lasting impression on viewers. By incorporating video into their marketing and communication strategies, these companies stand out and build a strong brand presence in a visually-driven world.
4. Leveraging SEO Expertise
They enlist the assistance of SEO professionals, like CREATIVE in TiME, who help optimise their online visibility. These experts ensure their website ranks highly in search engine results, driving valuable organic traffic.
With our extensive knowledge and experience in search engine optimisation, we go the extra mile to ensure that their website ranks highly and stands out among the sea of competitors in search engine results.
5. Combining PPC with SEO
By combining Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), companies can benefit from the immediate visibility and targeted traffic of PPC ads while capitalising on the long-term organic growth and sustained visibility provided by SEO.
This integrated approach maximises the strengths of both strategies and leads to remarkable results in online visibility, audience engagement, and overall business success.
6. Commitment to Blogging
Successful companies understand the value of informative and engaging blog content. By regularly publishing high-quality articles, they establish themselves as industry thought leaders.
At CREATIVE in TiME, we can help you to create optimised blog plans and blogs to ensure your website is in the best shape possible.
7. Creating Compelling Landing Pages
Companies understand the significance of converting website visitors into customers, so they invest in creating landing pages that are valuable to visitors and compelling enough to prompt them to act.
Landing pages play a crucial role in online marketing strategy as they are the entry point for potential customers who have clicked through an ad or a link.
By effectively providing valuable information, showcasing products or services, and presenting compelling calls to action, companies aim to motivate visitors to take the desired action, such as purchasing, signing up for a newsletter, or requesting more information.
8. Engaging Email Campaigns
Successful companies understand the power of email marketing as a valuable tool for communication, content sharing, and relationship building.
By utilising email marketing strategies or instructing marketing agencies like CREATIVE in TiME, these companies can connect more personally with their target audience and establish strong and meaningful relationships.
9. Building Strong Relationships
Building strong relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders is paramount to long-term success in business. Successful companies understand the significance of prioritising relationship-building efforts as they pave the way for trust, loyalty, and mutual understanding.
By nurturing these relationships, companies foster an environment of collaboration and open communication. This, in turn, leads to increased collaboration, repeat business, and a positive reputation within the market.
When clients, partners, and stakeholders feel valued and understood, they are more inclined to engage in meaningful and long-lasting business interactions.
10. Sales Excellence
Successful companies prioritise revenue growth by investing in skilled sales professionals and implementing efficient sales processes.
By building a strong sales team and streamlining sales operations, these companies can drive business growth and effectively achieve their financial objectives.
11. Strategic Networking
Thriving companies actively engage in online and in-person networking to expand their reach and connect with industry peers and potential clients. They leverage platforms like LinkedIn, attend industry events, and collaborate with other professionals to establish meaningful connections.
Online networking through LinkedIn allows companies to connect with professionals from various industries, share insights, and explore potential business opportunities.
By actively participating in industry-related discussions, sharing valuable content, and showcasing their expertise, these companies position themselves as thought leaders and attract the attention of relevant stakeholders.
12. Analysing and Utilising Data
These companies consistently focus on data analysis and review analytics to gain valuable insights into customer behaviour, emerging trends, and areas for improvement.
By leveraging data-driven approaches, they can make informed decisions that help optimise their sales and marketing strategies.
This commitment to data analysis empowers them to stay ahead of the competition, make data-backed decisions, and continuously improve their performance to drive long-term success.
13. Streamlined User Journey
Flourishing companies prioritise creating a seamless, user-friendly experience for their customers, making navigating and interacting with their brands easy.
They understand that customers have countless options at their fingertips and are more likely to choose brands that offer easy navigation and interaction.
14. Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
They actively stay informed about the latest trends, innovations, and shifts in their industry to remain competitive and better serve their customers.
They are proactive in seeking knowledge and actively engage in continuous learning to remain competitive and provide exceptional service to their customers.
To stay ahead of the curve, successful companies participate in industry conferences, workshops, and seminars. They join professional associations and engage in networking opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and share insights.
These interactions foster an environment of learning and collaboration, enabling these companies to thrive in an ever-evolving market.
15. Continuous Self-Development
Successful companies arrange personal and professional development for their team members. They encourage accreditation, provide insurance, and establish trust in their industry.
By empowering their employees to expand their knowledge and skills, these companies ensure that they have a highly competent and motivated workforce.
16. Leveraging Trusted Resources
These companies understand the value of utilising internal, external, and subcontracted resources to expand their capabilities and deliver exceptional results.
In addition, companies leverage a mix of internal talent, strategic partnerships with external organisations, and subcontracted resources to enhance their capabilities and deliver exceptional results.
By tapping into a diverse range of resources, they adapt to changing demands and efficiently allocate expertise based on project requirements.
17. Effective Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
These companies employ compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) as a crucial component of their marketing strategies, effectively encouraging their audience to take desired actions.
CTAs are strategically crafted messages that prompt and persuade potential customers to take a specific action, such as purchasing, subscribing to a newsletter, or signing up for a service.
At CREATIVE in TiME, we understand the importance of effective calls-to-action (CTAs) in driving customer engagement and conversion.
Partnering with CREATIVE in TiME for your marketing needs means gaining access to our expertise in creating effective CTAs. We will work closely with you to develop compelling and persuasive messages that drive customer action, resulting in increased conversions and business growth.
18. Optimising Website Performance
Thriving companies recognise the value of investing in a fast and technologically advanced website, as it is pivotal in providing visitors with a seamless and efficient browsing experience.
Research has consistently shown that users are likelier to stay on a website that loads quickly and operates smoothly.
If you are unsure how to optimise your website, get in touch with CREATIVE in TiME today and let’s discuss the best way to grow your website.
19. Encouraging and Responding to Reviews
They actively encourage customers to leave reviews and respond to feedback, showing their commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
These companies understand the impact of customer reviews on their reputation and bottom line. They actively seek feedback and encourage customers to share their experiences through online platforms, surveys, or direct communication channels.
By doing so, they gather valuable insights and demonstrate transparency and a willingness to listen to their customers’ voices.
20. Maximising Google Business Profile
These companies understand the importance of having an accurately maintained Google Business Profile as an essential component of their online presence.
By harnessing the full potential of this platform, they can provide potential customers with comprehensive and up-to-date information about their business, including operating hours, location, phone number, website, and customer reviews.
A well-maintained Google Business Profile also enables these companies to stand out in search results. It provides valuable information upfront that users can quickly and easily access, which can influence their decision to engage with the business.
21. Putting Customers First
These companies concentrate on customer experience and go above and beyond to exceed expectations, building loyalty and a positive reputation.
By investing in customer-centric initiatives and strategies, they are able to build strong relationships with their customer base, fostering loyalty and trust.
This customer-focused approach allows them to tailor their products and services to meet and anticipate customer expectations, ultimately building strong relationships built on trust and satisfaction.
22. Nurturing their Employees
They understand that a happy and motivated workforce leads to success, so they prioritise their employees’ well-being and professional development.
Promoting work-life balance, offering mental health resources, and encouraging self-care practices foster a culture of health and resilience within their organisation.
Ensuring their workforce is happy means they are more likely to stay in their current role, making a lower employee turnover and a stronger team.
23. Values-Driven Culture
Thriving organisations align their recruitment efforts and team management to their company values, ensuring a cohesive and motivated workforce.
These organisations understand that a cohesive and motivated workforce leads to higher engagement, productivity, and overall success.
When individuals come together around a common set of values, they work towards a shared vision, making collective decisions and overcoming challenges with purpose and commitment.
24. Utilising AI Technologies
Growing companies recognise the potential of harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline and optimise various aspects of their operations.
These companies leverage AI and machine learning technologies to automate routine tasks, assess large quantities of data, and streamline processes.
25. Streamlining with Automation
Successful companies leverage automation tools to streamline routine tasks, saving time and increasing productivity.
Whether it’s automating data entry, streamlining customer interactions through chatbots, or using automated workflows, companies are harnessing the potential of these tools to achieve significant time and cost savings while enhancing the quality and consistency of their output.
26. Having a Firm Grip on Numbers
They have a deep understanding of their financials – profit, costs, and losses. This knowledge enables them to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.
By analysing profits, managing costs effectively, and learning from losses, businesses can stay competitive. This financial know-how creates a culture of responsibility and cost-consciousness.
Get Marketing Help Today From CREATIVE in TiME
These 26 strategies exemplify how companies like yours are continuing to grow and meet their goals.
By embracing and customising these tactics to suit your business needs, you can lay the groundwork for sustained growth and lasting success. Remember, true success is not left to chance – it results from purposeful decisions and consistent dedication.
With the expertise of CREATIVE in TiME at your disposal, you have the tools to unlock your brand’s full potential and make a lasting impact. Take the first step towards realising your business goals today by getting in touch.
by Andrea Warner | Mar 21, 2024 | Digital Marketing
When we think of search engines, Google, Bing and Edge often come to mind.
However, TikTok’s rapid rise as a search engine and popularity cannot be underestimated. This social media platform has not only become a phenomenon among Gen Z and Millennials, but it has also caught the attention of marketers and businesses around the world.
On average, businesses use 15% of their marketing budget on TikTok. Do you?
In this blog, we will delve into the fascinating concept of TikTok as a search engine, exploring its impact on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and video marketing.
What is TikTok Search?
TikTok began as a purely entertainment-based platform, with the primary focus on creating and sharing short, humorous videos.
However, the platform has evolved into a sophisticated search engine, with millions of users using it to discover content that aligns with their interests. This shift towards a search engine model has brought about significant changes in how users’ approach TikTok and how businesses can leverage this platform to achieve their marketing goals.
TikTok’s search bar could be considered as the platform’s equivalent of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Essentially, TikTok categorises your videos based on any relevant keywords that are included in the text of the video or caption. At CREATIVE in TiME, we can use our SEO and social media knowledge to make sure you’re hitting all the right keywords on both your website and on TikTok. Get in touch with us today.
These keywords are transformed into clickable links, allowing users to easily access content related to the specific topic of the video. For example, if your video has a search bar under it for “The Grammys 2024” you can click on this and it will send you to other videos from other users around this topic.
TikTok’s algorithm is a key factor in its evolution towards a search engine. The algorithm takes into account numerous factors such as the viewer’s interests, their watch history, and overall popularity of a video. The video content is then ranked and categorised based on these and then displays relevant content to users based on their interests.
One of the primary ways TikTok’s search engine differs from other search engines is the emphasis placed on user engagement. This creates a community-driven atmosphere, where user-generated content becomes an essential aspect of TikTok’s search engine.
The content that ranks well in TikTok searches is also unique. Unlike Google and other traditional search engines, TikTok’s algorithm favours engaging and visually appealing content, not just SEO ranking factors.
Short-form videos that are humorous, creative, and entertaining tend to perform well. TikTok’s audiences also prefer videos that are authentic, relatable, and emotionally engaging, which promotes user-generated content.
Uploading and Formatting Videos on TikTok
TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform, has taken the social media world by storm with its endless stream of creative and entertaining content. If you’re new to this platform and looking to upload your own videos, it’s essential to understand the best practices for uploading and formatting your content for maximum engagement.
Uploading Your Videos
To start, ensure you have the latest version of the TikTok app installed on your device. Once you have your video ready, follow these steps to upload it on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the recording screen.
- By default, TikTok’s camera opens to record a new video. You can either record a video directly or upload an existing video from your gallery. To upload a video, tap on the “Upload” button at the bottom right corner.
- Select the video you want to upload from your device’s gallery. TikTok supports various video formats, including .mp4 and .mov, so ensure your video is in a compatible format.
- After selecting your video, you can preview it, trim it, and add sound effects or music using TikTok’s built-in editing tools. These tools allow you to enhance your video’s visual appeal or add your personal touch.
- Once you’re satisfied with the final edits, add a compelling caption, relevant hashtags, and tag other users (if applicable) to increase the visibility of your video.
- Finally, tap on the “Post” button to upload your video to TikTok. Depending on your internet connection and the size of the video, the upload process may take a few moments.
Formatting Tips for Engaging TikTok Videos
To stand out on TikTok and capture the attention of users, it’s crucial to consider some formatting tips that will enhance the overall viewing experience. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:
Video duration: TikTok imposes a maximum video length of 60 seconds. To ensure your video fits within this time frame, consider the length of your content and trim it if necessary. Shorter videos tend to perform better, as they are more likely to hold the viewer’s attention.
Aspect ratio and orientation: TikTok’s ideal aspect ratio is 9:16, which translates to a vertical video format. Shooting videos in vertical orientation is best for TikTok, as it is optimised for mobile viewing. Avoid uploading horizontal videos, as they will be displayed with black bars on the sides.
Visual appeal: Use creative and eye-catching visuals to grab the viewer’s attention. Experiment with filters, effects, and transitions available in TikTok’s editing tools to enhance the visual appeal of your videos and make them stand out.
Captions and subtitles: Incorporate clear and concise captions or subtitles in your videos to make them more accessible to a wider audience. This is especially important if your video contains dialogue or voiceover.
By following these uploading and formatting guidelines, you can ensure your videos on TikTok are visually appealing and engaging.
How to Uplevel Your TikTok Content for SEO
Just like traditional Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), TikTok SEO requires strategic efforts to ensure that your content ranks higher and reaches a wider audience.
Utilise Hashtags, Captions, and Keywords
Similar to other social media platforms such as Instagram or LinkedIn, hashtags play a crucial role in TikTok SEO. Including relevant, trending hashtags in your video captions can significantly improve the discoverability of your content. TikTok’s search algorithm considers these hashtags when categorising and ranking videos.
When it comes to keyword research and hashtags, CREATIVE in TiME know exactly where to start. With our extensive experience in both SEO and social media, we can provide the perfect blend to make sure your TikTok’s rank for its search engine as well as ensuring engaging social content. Get in touch with us today.
Be sure to research popular hashtags within your niche and incorporate them strategically into your content.
Additionally, optimising your captions with descriptive and keyword-rich text related to your video can boost its visibility in search results.
Focus on Engaging and Compelling Content
User engagement is a significant factor in TikTok SEO. The algorithm prioritises videos that high levels of user engagement, such as likes, comments, and shares.
To improve the SEO of your TikTok content, aim to create videos that are entertaining, informative, or emotionally engaging. Hook viewers in the first few seconds, create visually appealing content, and tell a story that resonates with your target audience.
By doing so, you increase the likelihood of generating higher user engagement, ultimately boosting your content’s visibility in TikTok’s search results.
To come up with engaging and compelling content, you first need an effective marketing strategy. That’s what we are here for.
Leverage Trending Challenges and Sounds
TikTok is notorious for its viral challenges and sounds. By participating in popular challenges and using trending sounds, you can tap into the existing conversations and increase your chances of being discovered.
Align your content with ongoing trends and sounds creatively into your videos. This can help your content appear in the “For You” page, the section of TikTok that is particularly which garners a significant amount of visibility, ultimately improving your TikTok SEO.
Tips and Strategies for Effective Video Marketing
To effectively market on TikTok, it is essential to understand the platform’s culture and preferences. Here are some valuable tips and strategies to help you succeed:
- Know your audience: Research and understand your target audience on TikTok. What content do they enjoy? What trends do they engage with? Tailor your videos to resonate with your specific audience, ensuring that your content is relevant and valuable to them.
- Be authentic and relatable: Create videos that reflect your brand’s personality and values while being relatable to your audience. Inject humour, emotion, or creativity into your videos to establish a genuine connection with viewers.
- Stay on top of trends: TikTok is driven by trends, challenges, and viral content. Monitor popular trends within your niche and participate in relevant ones to increase your chances of being discovered by a wider audience.
- Use storytelling techniques: Develop a narrative within your videos that keeps viewers hooked from beginning to end. Incorporating a compelling storyline or a call-to-action can significantly impact viewer engagement and response.
- Encourage user-generated content: TikTok thrives on user-generated content. Engage your audience by encouraging them to create content related to your brand or products. User-generated content not only strengthens brand-customer relationships but also expands your reach and visibility on the platform.
We can formulate an effective video marketing strategy for your business! Not only that but we can also provide video guidance for any videos you would like to record showcasing your business. Get in touch today.
Video Marketing on TikTok
TikTok has revolutionised video marketing by providing a platform for brands to create captivating short-form videos that capture the attention of their audience.
The Power of Short-Form Videos
TikTok’s emphasis on short-form videos has proven to be incredibly effective in capturing audience attention.
The fast-paced nature of TikTok’s video format ensures that viewers stay engaged and entertained, making it an ideal platform for quick and memorable marketing campaigns.
Unique Features and Creative Tools
TikTok provides an array of unique features and creative tools that enable brands to enhance their video marketing efforts. From filters and effects to AR (Augmented Reality) features and transition effects, TikTok offers a wide range of tools to make your videos visually appealing and dynamic.
Additionally, the platform’s Duet and Stitch features allow users to collaborate and engage with content from other creators, fostering a sense of community and participation.
Leveraging these features and tools can help make your videos stand out and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Conclusion
With its rapidly growing user base and innovative features, TikTok has become a valuable marketing tool that should not be overlooked. It is vital for brands to explore and embrace the potential of TikTok as part of their comprehensive marketing strategies.
Incorporating TikTok into your SEO and video marketing efforts will allow you to tap into a vast and highly engaged audience, ultimately helping you achieve your marketing goals.
Not sure where to begin with TikTok? It can be quite daunting setting up and learning about a new platform.
At CREATIVE in TiME, we can help to formulate a winning strategy for all your social platforms that are in line with your brand’s values. We can also generate and schedule the content into the platform, giving you less to worry about. Want to elevate your business on TikTok? Get in touch today.
by Andrea Warner | Mar 13, 2024 | Digital Marketing
Marketing. It’s the lifeblood of every business. But let’s be real, it’s not always smooth sailing. Those challenges and obstacles? They come with the territory.
Struggling to crack the code of social media? Battling with lacklustre messaging? You’re not alone. Countless businesses face these common problems in their marketing efforts.
But fear not! Here at CREATIVE in TiME, we’ve heard it all. From the setbacks to the stumbles, we understand the struggles you face. And guess what? It’s completely normal!
There are solutions to it all. In this article, we’re diving deep into 16 common digital marketing problems and how we can inject life back into your marketing strategy. Buckle up because we’re about to shake things up!
1. “Our current social media is rubbish, so we’ve put a hold on it. Essentially, we are not using social media marketing”
It’s okay to feel discouraged, but don’t give up on social media. Social media is one of the best ways to put your business out there, whether you are selling a product, a service or something else entirely!
The likelihood is that your social media strategy needs a refresh and some innovative ideas.
Psssst…it’s kind of our thing.
Tip: Find your target audience, create engaging content, and spark conversations. Make sure that the content you are creating hits the right notes, and ensure that you are utilising the correct platforms.
We can help you to do this!
2. “We’re not ready to tell everyone about us. There’s this one thing we’re testing on organic search, but it’s not working”
Transparency and effective communication are vital for successful marketing. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes—if you find a great-looking business but cannot find any information about them online, it may cause you to look elsewhere for a more reputable company.
Tip: Consider balancing sharing valuable information about your offerings and retaining some surprise or exclusivity. Monitor the results closely, analyse feedback, and adapt accordingly.
3. “I’ve got a nice website, but nothing’s happening. The enquiries aren’t coming in like I thought they would”
A visually appealing website is essential, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. There’s no point in having a great website if no one can find it!
Tip: Ensure that your website is optimised for search engines, user-friendly, and has clear calls to action. Additionally, focus on driving targeted traffic through SEO and online advertising campaigns.
If this sounds scary, don’t panic! You can contact a digital marketing agency such as CREATIVE in TiME, which can do it for you.
4. “What we do is hard to explain; we’re so unique that people just don’t know what’s good for them”
If you find communicating your unique value proposition challenging, try using clear and concise messaging. Ensure that your terminology is easy to understand and accessible to everyone. If people can’t understand you, then they will not know why they should be using your business.
Tip: Highlight your products or services’ benefits and outcomes, and consider using case studies or testimonials to showcase real-world results.
All of this makes sure that the right people see you.
5. “We are not getting found online. Quite simply.”
Improving your online visibility is key to increasing your reach and attracting relevant customers. It is vital that your business can be found online as it is the first place which most people will go when they are in need of a new product/service.
6. “I’ve got no interest in digital marketing. I don’t get it, and I don’t want to get it”
While marketing might not be your passion, understanding its importance and seeking professional help can make a significant difference.
Tip: Consider working with a marketing agency or consultant who can guide you and handle the marketing aspects you don’t enjoy.
7. “I want to put myself out there a bit, but I don’t know how. Who’s going to care about my story?”
Everyone has a story to tell, and sharing your unique journey can help build a connection with your audience. People like people. It’s that simple!
Tip: Identify your target audience’s pain points, interests, and values, and craft an authentic and compelling narrative that resonates with them.
8. “In short, we need sales. We’ve grown from word of mouth and referrals until now”
Word-of-mouth is powerful, but it’s crucial to diversify your marketing efforts to ensure sustainable growth. Not everyone who has used your business will tell other people about you, so it is important that people can find you on their own.
Tip: Consider exploring digital advertising, content marketing, lead generation campaigns, and partnerships to expand your customer base and increase sales.
9. “We want to start a whole new arm of the company, but we don’t know where to begin”
Launching a new venture within your company requires careful planning and market research. It is important to ensure that your marketing has the ability to adapt and grow to incorporate the new arm of the business.
Tip: Identify the target audience, assess competition, develop a strong value proposition, and create a comprehensive marketing strategy to introduce your new arm to the market successfully.
10. “My website is not working. I’m thinking about investing in a new one. This will be my third”
Before investing in a new website, evaluate your current website’s functionality and performance. Often, creating a whole new website will do more harm than good if it is unnecessary!
Tip: Consider conducting a thorough website audit to identify any issues or areas for improvement. It may be more cost-effective to optimise and redesign your existing website rather than starting from scratch.
If you need assistance, why not get a free SEO audit from CREATIVE in TiME?
11. “Our administrator has taken on our marketing, but it’s not working”
Marketing requires a strategic and dedicated approach. Whilst your administrator is doing their best, they may be struggling to keep up with the time demands of digital marketing, especially if they have no training or experience in the matter.
Tip: Consider hiring a professional marketer or outsourcing your marketing activities to a specialised agency with the expertise and resources to create and execute effective marketing campaigns tailored to your business goals. An added bonus of this is that your wonderful administrator will have much more time to focus on other aspects of the business.
12. “The business is growing really fast, but we’re not sure which service or product to focus on promoting. There’s loads we can offer”
As your business expands, it’s essential to prioritise and focus your marketing efforts.
Tip: Conduct market research, analyse customer feedback, and identify which services or products have the highest demand and profitability. Develop targeted marketing campaigns to promote and maximise the potential of your key offerings.
Business growth is ideal (it’s what we are all hoping for, right?), but if it is growing too fast for your marketing team to handle, consider bringing in an external marketing team who can create a bespoke strategy to incorporate your top services/products.
13. “I need help with brand messaging. I’m unsure our current messaging is speaking to our client/prospect”
Messaging plays a vital role in attracting and engaging your target audience. In the modern day, values and morals can influence a person’s desire to purchase your business.
Tip: Analyse your customer personas and their pain points, desires, and motivations. Craft compelling and customer-centric messaging that effectively communicates how your products or services can solve their problems and fulfil their needs.
14. “My business is dependent on Etsy or Amazon. The algorithm has changed, and I’m finding that it’s not working anymore. I need to make my website work”
Relying solely on third-party platforms can leave your business vulnerable to sudden changes. Ensuring your marketing is working on all platforms means that you won’t be caught off guard if there are changes to external platforms.
Tip: Shift the focus to building your own online presence and driving traffic to your website. Invest in SEO, content marketing, and other strategies to increase organic traffic and reduce dependence on external platforms.
15. “Our branding identity has changed over the last few years depending on who has been performing our marketing, so it’s really inconsistent”
Consistency is key in branding. You want your business to look the same across the internet; this includes having your brand colours and logos present and in line everywhere.
Tip: Conduct a thorough brand audit, define your brand guidelines, and ensure that all marketing materials, from your website to social media posts, reflect a cohesive and consistent brand identity. Consider working with a professional designer or branding agency to establish a strong and consistent visual identity.
16. “The local competition is ranking above me, and I don’t know how to get above them”
If you are a service-based business, your main marketing goal will likely be to get found in your local area, especially if you have some local competitors whom you want to rank above.
The easiest solution to outrank your local competition is to employ local SEO strategies, but this can be tricky if you are not well-versed in digital marketing.
Tip: Optimise your website for local search terms, create and manage a Google My Business profile, generate positive customer reviews, and build local citations. Additionally, consider collaborations and partnerships with local influencers or businesses to boost your visibility.
Overcome Your Digital Marketing Problems With CREATIVE in TiME
In a nutshell, marketing challenges are quite common, especially if you are trying to handle them on your own!
They can definitely be overcome with the right strategies and a positive mindset. By tackling these 16 common problems head-on and implementing some effective marketing tactics, you can set yourself on the path towards growth.
So, let’s lace up those marketing boots, face these challenges together, and unlock the doors to success!
Get in touch with CREATIVE in TiME today to find out more.
by Andrea Warner | Feb 20, 2024 | Digital Marketing
The Barbie film was a show-stopper in 2023, but how did Barbie accomplish such a remarkable feat, and what does it mean for your marketing?
With a captivated audience, it’s no surprise to hear that over 6.9 million people and counting viewed the Barbie movie.
Barbie’s message struck a chord with people everywhere and was attributed to one of the most remarkable marketing campaigns of 2023.
Let’s see how taking note of Barbie’s marketing techniques could benefit your business.
How Was Barbie’s Marketing Unique?
Barbie is a huge brand which has been around for decades (since 1959!), and its marketing has developed to follow current trends as the years have passed.
Barbie’s marketing was unique in the fact that they understood that their audience was made up of multiple target age categories, from younger children to older adults who have grown up with Barbies.
Join CREATIVE in TiME as we explore the reasons why your business should take notes from Barbie’s unique marketing approach:
Embracing Brand Identity
Barbie’s strong and recognisable brand identity showcases the importance of branding. Every element of their branding tells a story, from the iconic pink colour to the Barbie logo.
However, branding goes beyond just a logo or colour scheme. It encompasses the entire customer experience, from the message conveyed through marketing materials to how customers interact with the brand.
Your small business can learn from this and focus on creating a distinct brand identity. By crafting a cohesive brand experience, your business can establish a stronger identity and ensure that customers can recognise them across all platforms. Don’t worry, you don’t need hot pink to stand out!
By crafting a strong brand identity and delivering it consistently across all touchpoints, you can build trust and loyalty among your audience.
Understanding Audience Desires
One of the key elements of Barbie’s marketing brilliance was their ability to understand the desires of their audience. They knew that their followers were eagerly waiting for the film’s release, and they tapped into this anticipation.
Through social media, Barbie captured attention and built excitement by sharing behind-the-scenes footage, teasers, and interactive content. They created a sense of anticipation and exclusivity, making their audience feel like they were part of something special.
From using adverts on buses to huge billboards, Barbie made sure to get in the eyesight of their audience.
You can follow suit by staying attuned to your audience’s changing preferences and needs or by using a marketing team like CREATIVE in TiME, who can do it all for you.
Regularly conducting market research, engaging with customers, and listening to their feedback can provide invaluable insights that drive more effective marketing strategies.
Collaboration And Partnerships
Barbie’s collaborations with top brands and unique experiences demonstrate the power of strategic partnerships.
From partnering with fashion designers to creating limited-edition merchandise such as jewellery from Tiffany’s, Barbie maximised its reach and tapped into new customer segments. These partnerships enabled them to create buzz and generate excitement among their target audience.
Your small business can explore collaboration opportunities within your industry or adjacent industries to expand its reach.
By teaming up with like-minded businesses or influencers, you can leverage each other’s strengths, pool resources, and create win-win scenarios for all parties involved.
Who knew it could be so simple?
Leveraging Digital Platforms
Barbie’s global press tour and extensive online presence underscore the importance of leveraging digital platforms (we happen to know a thing or two about this at CREATIVE in TiME!).
They engaged with their audience through various social media channels, videos, and interactive content.
Barbie understood its audience and capitalised on this by extending its marketing campaigns to include TikTok challenges and Instagram takeovers. This shows that it is important to know where your audience is and what they are interested in seeing.
Your business should also prioritise building a strong online presence through social media marketing, content creation, and search engine optimisation.
We know this can seem like a big job, which is why you may prefer to get in touch with CREATIVE in TiME; we can help you along the way and ensure your business is supported in your new marketing endeavours.
By consistently engaging with your target audience through relevant and valuable content, your business can increase brand visibility, attract more customers, and drive conversions.
Utilising digital platforms also opens opportunities for targeted advertising (whether this is via paid ads or not), allowing your business to reach a highly specific audience with its marketing messages.
Utilise Barbie’s Marketing Techniques With CREATIVE in TiME
It’s important to note that while your small business may not have the same resources as Barbie’s marketing team, you can adapt and apply the key principles from Barbie’s campaign to your own marketing efforts.
By taking inspiration from Barbie’s approach and tailoring it to your own resources, with the help of CREATIVE in TiME, you can elevate your marketing activities and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
We want to be your ‘in-house’ team, albeit external. We focus on understanding you and YOUR customer. Honing your brand and message, looking after your entire digital estate, from websites, google business, social media, PPC, customer engagement, email, and more!
Get in touch with CREATIVE in TiME today and let us guide you in implementing effective marketing strategies that resonate with your target customers, allowing your business to shine in 2024 and beyond!
by Andrea Warner | Jan 25, 2024 | Digital Marketing
Have you ever encountered online content that made you question its trustworthiness?
This is where E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) comes in.
E-A-T started in 2019 but in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, it became obvious that this was needed. E-A-T stood for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
As people confined themselves to their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19, fake news proliferated all across the internet. To fight back against this, Google formulated a team of human checkers to go over web pages and see for themselves if the content was relevant and true.
Google established this guiding principle with the aim of ensuring that internet content is valuable and meaningful.
The big difference? This is for once not done by an algorithm!
In December 2022, Google introduced E-E-A-T, incorporating an additional “E” to stand for “Experience.”
In this blog, you will learn about E-E-A-T and what it means for you but don’t worry if this all still seems confusing, you can just give us a call.
E-E-A-T and Google
In the ongoing battle against both good and bad content, Google faces the challenges posed by generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and users posting incorrect information online.
With the proliferation of misinformation and attempts to manipulate the system, the demand for reliable and trustworthy content has grown.
It’s not just about the human checkers going through your content either! Google is actively training its systems to identify and reward high-quality, factually accurate content. This is where the concept of E-E-A-T becomes relevant. Updates such as the Helpful Content emphasise the importance of original content authored by experts. To learn more about Google’s Helpful Content update, check out our blog here.
The principles of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness are repeatedly mentioned in Google’s Search Quality Raters guidelines and various Google posts. These critical principles assist Google in assessing and evaluating online content, ensuring its quality and reliability.
Experience
When it comes to creating content, it is crucial to showcase your expertise and convey that you possess firsthand experience in the subject matter. This experience could stem from your prior educational background or professional career. By drawing connections between the topic at hand and your practical encounters, you establish credibility with your audience.
For instance, if you are discussing the importance of incorporating search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies into an online marketing campaign, you could demonstrate your expertise by mentioning your years of working as a digital marketing specialist. You could then relate how you have utilised various SEO techniques to increase website traffic and improve search engine rankings for clients.
This can be done in your About Us page like we have done, as well as in page headings across the website. Not sure how best to do this? Get in touch with CREATIVE in TiME today.
Expertise
To truly stand out as a content creator, it is essential to showcase your expertise in your specific niche. By doing so, you establish yourself as a reliable source of information and enhance your credibility.
Your content should reflect your deep insights, practical experience, and well-informed opinions on the topic at hand.
When you share your knowledge and expertise, you offer valuable insights to your audience. Whether it is through sharing research-backed facts, real-life examples, or personal anecdotes, every piece of information you provide adds value to the reader or listener.
This not only establishes you as a knowledgeable authority but also helps your content gain visibility and climb higher in the search rankings.
Authoritativeness
Google’s search algorithm places a high emphasis on authoritative content. It is crucial to establish yourself as an authoritative figure in your field. A robust PR strategy plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal.
Consider how your content appears when it is searched online. Is it being linked from various reputable sources? Do industry expert magazines or trusted newspapers reference your work?
The visibility and credibility of your content are greatly enhanced when it is associated with reliable and respected sources. When your content exudes authority, it becomes a magnet for an eager audience hungry for trustworthy information.
By leveraging your expertise and sharing unique insights, you become the go-to source for your target audience.
Trustworthiness
Transparency and credibility are vital elements of creating content that resonates with your audience. To foster a sense of reliability, it is crucial to ensure that your content is transparent and backed by reputable sources.
When presenting information, be transparent about your sources and provide clear references to back up your claims. This not only establishes trust with your audience but also allows them to verify the information for themselves.
Utilise authoritative sources such as academic studies, industry reports, or credible news outlets to support your arguments and provide evidence for your statements.
Is E-E-A-T a ranking factor?
No, it’s not a ranking factor. However, prioritising E-E-A-T is beneficial as it enhances your experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness, strengthening your reputation in the eyes of your audience.
The status of E-E-A-T as a direct ranking factor has been a topic of discussion, but it is not explicitly defined as such.
Every business should strive for the goal of having their website assessed and ranked by Google’s ranking systems. However, while focusing on E-E-A-T, it is important to also continue your technical SEO efforts.
How can I improve my sites E-E-A-T?
Understanding E-E-A-T can be challenging as it is an abstract concept without specific guidelines for increasing its metrics. It is not a separate entity within the algorithm that can be adjusted independently. Rather, it comprises a range of principles that help Google assess you, your content, and your business.
EEAT is important across the web, but particularly crucial for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) sites and there are steps you can take to improve it. However, the outcomes of these efforts are not guaranteed.
Examples of YMYL Content:
Depending on the nature of your content, there are various ways to improve E-E-A-T:
- More mentions from trusted experts
- Get links from high-value sites
- Appear in valued newspapers or on other well-known sites
- Arrange high-quality reviews
- Enhance the quality of your content
- Don’t make your content too sales-oriented
- Add unique content
- Improve your business details/about us pages
- Improve your bio
- Fix your Call to Actions (CTA) and User Experience
- Create High-Quality Content
Conclusion
In conclusion, E-E-A-T is an essential aspect of SEO, focusing on the expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness of the creator, content, and website.
While it may not be a direct ranking factor, improving E-E-A-T can enhance the reputation of a website and build trust with its audience. Implementing strategies such as clear authorship, factual accuracy, and citing reliable sources can contribute to improving E-E-A-T.
While E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) is a crucial factor in evaluating the quality and credibility of web content, it is essential to understand that it does not replace the need for technical SEO work.
In addition to ensuring that a website meets the criteria of E-E-A-T, technical SEO focuses on optimising various technical aspects that contribute to a website’s visibility and performance in search engine rankings. This includes improving site speed, mobile responsiveness, crawlability, and optimising meta tags and structured data, among other technical elements.
By prioritising E-E-A-T and providing high-quality and reliable content, businesses can create a trustworthy online environment and stand out in search rankings.
If you need assistance in improving your website’s E-E-A-T and implementing effective SEO strategies, reach out to CREATIVE in TiME, your go to digital marketing agency.
Our expertise in technical SEO, content creation, and online reputation management can help you enhance your E-E-A-T and establish a strong online presence. By collaborating with us, you can effectively optimise your content and website to meet the criteria of E-E-A-T and stand out in search rankings.
