Attract fresh leads every day

Landon Stewart and Chris J Stapleton, Co-founders of Clients & Community, run one of Facebook’s most active, and fastest growing, communities. The group, which helps its members launch their own coaching business, attracts hundreds of inquisitive visitors each day. The team is adamant that your level of success depends on your ability to generate fresh leads every day.

Commenting on their approach, the pair adds: “A lucky few have succeeded in growing their group organically, however, they are the exception and not the rule. That requires a massive investment of time and energy, and a degree of good luck. Most ‘newbies’ would be better served paying for ads that will attract an audience immediately. Because we have new people coming through our group constantly, it keeps everything fresh. These are the ones who ask the most questions and are keen to learn about what we do.”

Logic suggests if you want to attract fresh people each day, you should create content on a daily basis. However, Stapleton explains why this might not be true, “We feel there is a tipping point at which posting too frequently can actually dilute your effectiveness. We are strategic in everything we post and typically only post once or twice per week. Often our posts overcome objections- anytime we hear an objection during our sales process, we’ll do a post on it. What we’ve found is by the time we have a phone call with prospective clients, objections have already been overcome. As a result, our conversion rates are way higher than the industry average.”

Know your target audience

Growth is a natural consequence of identifying, and connecting with, like-minded kindred spirits. Thankfully, Facebook allows you to specify the type of people you want to reach. Having your own avatar (your ideal group member) based on age, location, interests etc. is a necessity. As people join, the feel of the group might change. That’s why it’s important to start out with a clear idea of who you want to attract, compare it with who you’re actually attracting, and ask if there’s anything you need to adjust.

As Landon Stewart explains, “We put out content that appeals to a certain type of individual (sometimes referred to as your avatar or perfect client). Our model is client-led. That is, people raise their hands, ask questions, and show an interest in what they’ve seen from us. Our content is designed to move everyone in our group forward towards our ultimate goal, which is to have a one-on-one conversation with them. That’s where we make the offer to invest in our services.”

Once you have a base of loyal followers, you may even want to consider Facebook Lookalike Audience to amplify your reach. This service connects you automatically with those who have the same qualities as your intended audience. To use the service, however, Facebook recommends you have a source audience of between 1000-5000 people. These are usually your best customers, rather than your entire group, as they’ll tend to be most representative of your values and interests.

Clearly define campaign objectives

Most attempts to grow a Facebook group with ads fail because there isn’t a clear vision of the desired outcome. Facebook identifies three circumstances where you’ll want to promote your brand. It refers to them as objectives—awareness, consideration and conversion.

Awareness is about letting people know that you exist. It can be getting your brand name out there, letting people know what you offer, and growing a profile. Consideration is about catching the audience’s interest and encouraging them to search for more information (a link to your website, a video explanation). Conversions, the coalface of any enterprise, is about asking the audience to take some kind of action. This is where all advertising efforts are turned into a response—someone joins your mailing group, buys your product, signs up for your services.

Interestingly, Facebook further divides the three main objectives into 13 different subcategories. While your objectives can change, it’s crucial to select one per campaign and measure how you’ve performed. Only then can you truly know if you’re making progress.

For growing Facebook groups, Landon Stewart and Chris J Stapleton have found the conversion objective works best: “You want your ad to go to a landing page that collects a lead’s email in exchange for an invitation to join your group. Once they opt-in, you redirect them to your community.”

Whatever route you take, the best advice is to be intentional in everything you do. Ask if your content resonates with your followers? Are your actions bringing you closer to achieving your goals? Is there anything you need to change to stay on course?

The post 3 Ways You’re Using Facebook Groups Wrong appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Photo by Olya Kobruseva

1) Sponsoring An Event

One way to get your brand in front of people is by sponsoring an event. This could be anything from a small community event to a large concert or festival. By sponsoring an event, you will not only have your brand name and logo displayed at the event, but you will also be able to reach people through advertising and marketing that is associated with the event.

Not only will this help you to reach more people, but it can also help you to improve the perception of your brand. When people see that you are willing to invest in events, they will be more likely to believe that you are a credible company. This can make them more likely to do business with you in the future.

However, it is essential to choose the right event to sponsor. You will want to ensure that the event is relevant to your brand and that your target market will attend it. If you are unsure of which events to sponsor, you can always consult with a marketing or advertising agency.

2) Creating A Strong Social Media Presence

Another way to get your brand in front of people is by creating a solid social media presence. This means you need to have an active presence on all major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You should post regularly and ensure that your posts are engaging and informative. In addition, you should try to run social media campaigns regularly. These campaigns should be designed to increase brand awareness and engagement.

If you do not have the time or resources to manage your social media accounts yourself, you can always hire someone to do it for you. Many agencies specialize in social media management for businesses.

3) Investing In Paid Advertising

Investing in paid advertising is another great way to get your brand in front of people. There are many different types of paid advertising, such as search engine marketing, social media advertising, and display advertising.

Paid advertising can be a great way to reach people who are not already aware of your brand. It can also be an effective way to improve brand awareness among your target market.

However, it is essential to note that paid advertising can be costly. You will need to carefully consider your budget before investing in paid advertising.

4) Collaborating With Influencers

Collaborating with influencers is another great way to get your brand in front of people. An influencer is someone who has a large following on social media or other online platforms.

By collaborating with an influencer, you can reach their followers and improve brand awareness. In addition, you may also be able to build a relationship with the influencer, which can benefit your brand in the future.

However, choosing influencers that are relevant to your industry and have a positive reputation is essential. You should also ensure that you are clear about what you want from the collaboration before agreeing to work with an influencer.

5) Video Production

Video is an excellent way to improve brand awareness and get in front of potential customers. By creating engaging video content, you can reach a wide audience and build trust with potential customers.

There are a few things to remember when creating videos for your brand. First, make sure the video production is high quality and professional. This will help to ensure that potential customers take your brand seriously. Second, focus on creating content that is interesting and informative. Potential customers should be able to learn something from your videos. Finally, make sure to promote your videos through social media and other channels.

6) Public Relations

Public relations is another excellent way to get your brand in front of people. By working with a public relations firm, you can get your brand featured in the news, on popular websites, and in other publications. This can help to improve brand awareness and build trust with potential customers.

In addition, public relations can also help you to manage your reputation. If there are negative stories about your brand, a public relations firm can help to mitigate the damage.

However, it is essential to note that public relations are a long-term strategy. It takes time to build relationships with journalists and other media professionals.

7) Content Marketing

Content marketing is another excellent way to get your brand in front of people. By creating high-quality content, you can attract the attention of potential customers and build trust with them.

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating content for your brand. First, make sure the content is relevant to your industry. This will help ensure that potential customers are interested in what you have to say. Second, focus on creating valuable and informative content. Potential customers should be able to learn something from your articles, videos, or other content. Finally, make sure to promote your content through social media and other channels.

Content marketing can be a great way to improve brand awareness and get in front of potential customers. However, it is essential to create high-quality content that is relevant to your industry.

8) Optimize Your Website For SEO

One way to get your brand in front of more people is to optimize your website for search engine optimization. This means that your website will come up as a top result when people search for keywords related to your business. You can do this by doing keyword research and using those keywords throughout your website, including in the title, description, and content of your pages.

To get started with SEO, you can use free tools to find relevant keywords for your business. Once you’ve found some relevant keywords, start incorporating them into your website. Make sure to use them in your pages’ title, description, and content. You can also use backlinks to improve your website’s SEO.

SEO can be a complex topic, but there are plenty of resources available to help you get started. Once you start implementing some basic SEO strategies, you’ll start to see your website ranking higher in search results, which will help you get your brand in front of more people.

9) Start Networking

Another great way to get your brand in front of people is to start networking. Attend industry events, meetups, and conferences. You can also join relevant online communities and forums. This will help you connect with potential customers and build relationships with other businesses in your industry.

When networking, it’s essential to focus on building relationships rather than selling your product or service. Nobody likes being sold to, so try to avoid coming across as too salesy. Instead, focus on providing value and building trust. If you can do this, you’ll be more likely to succeed in getting your brand in front of potential customers.

In conclusion, there are several ways to get your brand in front of people and improve brand awareness. These include using a public relations firm, content marketing, optimizing your website for SEO, and networking. Try out a few of these methods to see what works best for you and your business.

The post Ways To Get Your Brand In Front Of People And Improve Brand Awareness appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Best Social-Media Management Panels

SocialPanel.io

Are you looking for ideas for making it big online? That’s where SocialPanel.io comes in. The site is where most big brands and businesses get affordable services that can help them grow and prosper online. This can be used as an Instagram followers SMM panel and for other social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Linked In, Clubhouse, you name it and they’ve got it.

Its biggest advantage is that it is affordable for all budgets. As far as growing your social media presence is concerned, you can spend money on it. As a newcomer to the world who is still learning, you may want to select the option that suits your budget the most.

It has packages for all social networking sites. Whether you’re interested in the Instagram social-media management panel, Twitter followers, Facebook followers, or engagement for posts on these websites, it’s open to everything. A social media strategy contributes to boosting sales of your products by gaining customers, so it makes sense to hire someone exclusively dedicated to it. This is one of the best SMM panels, and there’s a reason for it.

SMMBuzz

Another noteworthy social-media management panel, you will not be disappointed in using their services. On the outside, they might seem like regular service providers but they have a deep working algorithm that not many people understand. They have a very strong team of professionals who have always been working in social media. They take care to employ only the most trained individuals.

This way they can find servers that most people overlook. Today finding servers has become a very competitive business. Furthermore, this world is much more competitive than social media itself. However, this company has truly understood the mechanics behind it to provide negotiated deals that no one else can match. 

SMMRush

Would you like to find the best social-media management panel on the Internet? You need not look anywhere else, just visit SMMrush. In the past five years, it has provided a variety of services to highly satisfied customers. With this panel, you’ll be noticed everywhere you go. Among others, it offers options for Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Linked In, TikTok, and Shazam.

It speaks volumes about your company when its online presence is strong. Reaching out to potential customers worldwide will allow you to expand your presence. As a result, they will lead to increased engagement online, which will affect sales and production overall. 

This tool is safe as well as offers 24/7 customer support. Any newcomer can reach out to them with questions, and they are always delighted to assist. It provides you an all-in-one platform for all engagement-related issues associated with social media.

BulqFollowers

BulqFollowers cares about its customers. It doesn’t want the relationship with the customers to end once the transaction is done. It wants to forge long-lasting relationships with customers. This they want to do by providing them with the best social-media management panel services. You can take a look at bulqfollowers.com if you are in the search for the cheapest SMM panel. 

The site has low rates for its services. Everything here has been made automatic so that there isn’t any second wasted. You will get a fast service flow here. 

The automated processes ensure that when you order any service you will get the results as soon as possible. You will start seeing the metrics pop up in your posts or your profile in a matter of minutes after purchasing the service. 

You can use the SMM panel for Instagram if you want to sell social media services for Instagram like followers for example using the Instagram followers SMM panel. Or you can buy the SMM services for YouTube or TikTok or other platforms as well. 

SafeSMM

SafeSMM is an all-in-one social media marketing tool that will be able to solve your problems no matter which social media platform you are working with. From being a great SMM panel for Instagram, they are also known as a great SMM Panel for YouTube. They are one of the rare sites that also accept payment from places like PayPal. They also have a live chat feature present on their website that you can avail off in order to solve any queries or get answers to any of your questions. We are sure that you will find them highly efficient as a Paypal SMM panel and more. 

However, like other sites mentioned above, you will first have to sign in and create an account within their website to avail of their services. This is an extremely user-friendly website and it is very easy to place bulk orders within them as well. 

They also come with API integration that puts them one step ahead of their competitors. The various services that they provide include places like Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Twitter, and a lot more. SafeSMM is extremely effective because of their quick responsive team and great customer support.

Instant Fans

The fast-growing SMM panel for YouTube that we recommend is a currently available option. They’re desperate if you need assistance with social media in general.

Fans are also rewarded for posting on social media sites, with a fixed proportion of each sale going to the post author. The platform’s most notable feature is that it accepts all cryptocurrencies and bitcoins, giving you a superior alternative than cash. 

SMM Kings

SMM King is one of the most well-known SMM panel for Instagram, Facebook and many other social media platforms. It offers a variety of services including social media account management and marketing campaign management as well as free analytics.

They are linked with the most popular social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, which means they can provide services quickly and effectively. Their services are excellent, as evidenced by the large number of people they serve every day. These tailored services, on the other hand, aren’t without thought and are always up for a challenge. Their customer support is outstanding, so you should consider utilizing their services. 

SocialHits

Socialhits is one of the most cost-effective SMM panels on the internet, and it has a strong competitor in Social Kings. They also only provide real items and services. They aren’t a scam when it comes to their service quality. 

The websites they provide are SSL certified, which means your browser will trust them automatically. You can trust social hit since you may rely on it to store your payment information securely. This is an excellent location to be if you want to dramatically expand your use of social media presence. 

BoostSMMPanel

The next big name on our list is Boost SMM Panel, and they’re a top-rated provider of social media services. They are also the cheapest smm panel on the list. They provide an array of options for their clients, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and SoundCloud.

The organization’s main aim is to make sure that their clients receive the most value for their money. In other terms, they want to ensure that you’re happy with the social media management panel before you even think about paying them. The company also provides a variety of low-cost options. 

LevelUp

LevelUp is the final SMM panel on our list. While the firm may appear to be relatively recent in this sector, it is rapidly catching up in terms of popularity. This business has what it takes to compete with its more seasoned competition, thanks to the fantastic and high-quality services it delivers.

LevelUp is also well-known for providing outstanding customer service. -> LevelUp is also recognized for offering an exceptional client care experience. If you’re looking for the best SMM panel on the market that works and is inexpensive, consider checking out LevelUp. 

HQ Likes

With excellent services, big purchases, and 24-hour client assistance available, HQ LIKES is a bargain that’s tough to pass up. Their services have been beneficial to many influencers in helping them get where they are today, so we encourage you to use their services as well. 

Views.biz

If you’re searching for one of the best SMM panels on the market or a cheap smm panel, Views.biz should be your first stop.

Instead of making grandiose promises, they simply exhibit potential customers the facts and statistics regarding their characteristics in order for you to see the type of influence that they can have on your business. 

Just Another Panel

If you want to take advantage of your social media marketing in general and make it easy to manage all of your various campaigns under one roof, Just Another Panel is once again undoubtedly one of the finest SMM panels available right now.

They claim to be the best in the world for five years and that they are the cheapest smm panel, quickest, and also the biggest in the world. They think that their pricing is really fair, just like some of the other SMM panels we’ve discussed on this list. nThey believe that their pricing is really accessible, which seems rather strange given how much competition there presently is within this sector. You may also use their assistance, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Peakerr

Peakerr is, without a doubt, one of the finest SMM panels on the market. They want to see their clients develop their accounts as quickly as possible, which is why they are an excellent choice for everything from views, followers, or likes to getting them all.

They provide fantastic pricing and several payment alternatives, so if you want to have an assistant handle your social media marketing efforts without hassle, they’re the ideal option. 

Peakerr gives you helpful actionable insights and metrics so that you can expand your audience, which not only helps you expand your business but also allows you to profit from it. This is because Peakerr encourages you to develop as quickly as possible, therefore we strongly advise

GroomInsta

They claim that they work towards assisting their clients in increasing their social media reach, allowing you to have the finest tools on your side. They provide high-quality services with a twist, and they also have specialists on call to assist you if your social media marketing approach has any problems.

The SMM panel’s one major highlight is that it has some of the most precise data in the business, allowing you to take advantage of some of the best social media marketing techniques and outperform your rivals. 

JasaSEO

These guys are without a doubt one of the best SMM panels for their clients, and perhaps the finest thing about them is that they are reasonably priced while still providing great quality.

We recommend that you go to their website because they have a well-maintained, well-oiled procedure and may also help you with various payment options if you’re concerned about how to safely pay online. 

SMM Heaven

They can also assist you with Twitter, Spotify, and other platforms, as well as provide real engagement, viewership, comments, and subscribers to their clients.

They have customizable pricing plans so that you may personalize your selections based on your own demands. We believe that this sort of firm will save you a lot of money in the long run. They are also very successful. 

YoYo Media

YoyoMedia is a relatively inexpensive SMM panel that you should take advantage of if you’re just getting started with social media marketing and don’t have much money to spend.

We love one thing about this panel: they allow you to run one campaign or 50 at the same time, it doesn’t matter. You’ll also get precise metrics and data on your profile and social media marketing techniques so that you don’t miss out on an opportunity to take full advantage of the network’s best approach. 

Go2Top SMM Panel

The next SMM panel on our list is also a low-cost SMM panel that you may use again if you don’t have a large budget right now. They provide all of the services you’ll need to succeed with your social media marketing efforts, so they’re ideal if you want to expand your brand online. 

They can help you with organic reach, and we feel that all of their features are reasonably priced as well as configurable, so you’ll undoubtedly discover something that fits your needs.

Instafaster

If you have a little budget, InstantFaster is another cheap SMM panel that you should take advantage of, according to them. With more than 5,000,000 completed purchases, they claim to be one of the fastest-growing panels in the business. This is quite amazing considering how competitive the SMM panel industry can be.

They may also be used to keep track of your progress and campaign, and they can even help you acquire followers, likes, and provide a variety of different services. When you consider that they have over 1300 offerings on their menu, it’s impressive.

Top4SMM

We appreciate that they have some of the most significant technical advancements, implying that they are expanding more quickly than almost any other SMM panel presently available.

They’re based in the United Kingdom, and they can easily handle everything about your campaigns. They welcome a wide range of payment options, including PayPal and cryptocurrency, as well. This implies that they are very skilled at what they do and are constantly moving forward to meet the needs of their ever-changing clients. 

Five BBC

The BBC is a fantastic deal for an SSM panel, and you should take advantage of it since in the previous five years, they have completed more than 1.3 million transactions.

They have a broad client base, so in conclusion, if you’re searching for a trustworthy SMM panel that can assist you with your social media marketing, these guys are an excellent choice. 

SMMpanel

If you’re not sure where to start or what metrics to track, you may want to consider hiring a professional. Many social media management tools offer social analytics templates that can help you measure your growth, test your campaigns, and generally find yourself in the one-stop shop for social media marketers if you want to develop your account effectively.

Because they’re located in Asia, they’ll be able to assist you get engagement from that region of the world, and we believe that their charges are very reasonable. This implies that they are cost-effective while yet maintaining high standards, so if you’ve never heard of them before, we strongly advise you to investigate them further. 

LikesMarket

Likesmarket is another fantastic option for an inexpensive SMM panel since they can help you obtain a range of social media marketing services and are also one of the most efficient panels in the market, allowing you to get everything at one place.

They offer a wide range of packages and services, and they’re ideal for finding a high-quality panel for YouTube, Instagram, or any other social network since they’re quick and efficient. 

SMM Social Media

If you’re looking to associate yourself with one of the most well-known websites in the sector and get followers and interaction, SMM Social Media is a reasonable SMM panel alternative.

At this stage, they’ve been burrowing for a while, and they’re an assured, relevant, and trustworthy alternative. When it comes to the quality of their features, they have some of the most dependable sources on the Internet in general. 

Fan Supply

Another good option for an SMM panel is Stocking Stuffing. They can help you buy engagement and likes, as well as manage your campaigns on your behalf. 

Not only that, but these experts have seen the market enough to know it’s unpredictable, which is why they’re one of the most dependable and secure techniques for creating your account. 

Bulk Follows

Bulk Follows is a fantastic choice if you want to associate yourself with one of the most popular SMM panels in the industry, since they have over 500,000 current customers and millions of transactions.

They’ve been doing it for a while now, and because of that, they have a large variety of services and the fact that they’ve been in operation for more than eight years implies that they undoubtedly have the trustworthiness and reputation you’re searching for. 

SMM Fanfaster

If you’ve ever done any social media marketing, you’ve undoubtedly heard of them since they’re well-known for assisting their customers in managing their marketing campaigns as well as providing free analytics.

When it comes to high-quality features, these people are in a league of their own, as seen by the number of clients they service every day. 

Zenith SMM

They provide their clients with some of the highest quality features available, making them a popular choice for many individuals who want to take their social media marketing to the next level.

They, too, have been in the business for a long time and are well-versed in what works and what doesn’t when it comes to social media marketing. They’re also extremely safe, which means you won’t be at risk of being compromised anytime soon. 

Best of Panel

Best of Panel is another well-known brand in the world of SM panels, and they provide excellent packages as well as a reasonable price.

As a result, they acquire a large number of consumers worldwide and have millions of regular clients, as well as issuing hundreds of thousands of orders every day, making them an excellent choice if you’re looking for a trustworthy and reputable business. 

Best SMM

One of the most important reasons for this is that they genuinely care about their clients and consider what their requirements are before engaging with them.

There are far too many firms on the market that simply want to earn money and will flee with your cash. These people are concerned about what you want as a client as opposed to making a profit. We think they have a fantastic reputation, and that they’ve been doing their job for quite some time. 

Famous Follower

Another excellent SMM panel that is both honest and cost-effective is Famous Follower. You will notice that they have a chat box on their site, so you can talk to them immediately about your requirements and receive the assistance you desire.

We have complete confidence in their skills and think that they can help you every step of the way. They’ve been in the business for a long time, so they know exactly what you’re looking for. 

TheYTLab

This panel’s services are connected to its servers, which means they’re automated. As a consequence, your purchases will begin operating as soon as you submit the orders.

TheYTLab makes use of a private network, which simply implies that the firm utilizes its own pool or methods to communicate with a large number of people from all across the world. Overall, these services are extremely safe to utilize. No one will learn about your YouTube marketing plan; these services will be kept confidential.

According to numerous internet reviews, these services are very trustworthy and will assist you improve your YouTube channel’s rating. Furthermore, you may rest easy knowing that you’ll be getting only the best services at TheYTLab. 

SMM Raja

SMM Raja is one of the best social media optimization companies in India that offers guaranteed results at an affordable price. This business has a staff of highly qualified and experienced specialists that are experts in their areas. To give the finest service to their clients, they employ cutting-edge technologies and techniques.

The company offers a wide range of services such as social media marketing, online reputation management, brand promotion, and many more. 

Isociallife

Isociallife is a wonderful method to keep in touch with your friends and family. It also aids you in meeting new people and making new friendships.

Isociallife is an online social media marketing platform that allows you to advertise your social profile. You can provide high-quality and low-cost SMM Services such as Facebook likes, Instagram followers, Twitter followers, Youtube views, and other services to your customers.

Conclusion

Social media marketing is booming in today’s world. If you are not catching up with your peers then there is a possibility you might not shine through in your niche. The best way to market your brand in this fiercely competitive field is to use SMM services. These services are one of a kind and they can help you achieve overnight success.

There are a lot of SMM panels out there that you can choose from, but these are definitely some of the best. Each one of them has their own unique selling points, which means that they can all help you in different ways to take your social media marketing to the next level. All you need to do is pick one that suits your needs the best, and we’re sure that you won’t be disappointed with any of the choices on this list.

The post 36 Best SMM Panels for YouTube Views, Subscribers & More appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The good news is that nothing is stopping you from creating a podcast. Since the market is growing, there is room for new podcasts. Moreover, podcasting allows any number of topics and styles to succeed. You do not even need to be a great speaker to find success. If you are interested in learning more, keep reading down below.

Why Podcasting Stands Out

Before discussing the specifics of how to make a podcast and turn it into something successful, it is important to know why it stands out from other methods. For starters, it allows you to build a connection with your audience. More than many mediums, it engages people using long-form discussion.

Additionally, audiences can consume podcasts in almost any setting. If you do a podcast with video, you can post it on many platforms. However, it is just as effective as audio-only content, where people can listen to it on the go. And, of course, it makes it easy to gain a following of people around any topic you want.

Stage 1: The Concept

The first part of any future podcast is to wrap your head around what you actually plan on doing. Of course, there are multiple parts to this, and you might not be able to give perfect answers immediately. However, a great place to start is with the concept. Every good podcast needs a strong concept or topic to center around.

Pick a Topic

There are many ways to go about choosing a topic or concept for your podcast. Think about any podcast you have seen or heard before. Most of them have a strong concept or topic that stands out from everything else. There might be exceptions, but all podcasts take on a certain flavor over time.

Additionally, know that podcasting is hard work, even if it seems effortless when you listen to someone else. It is not as easy as talking for an hour or more and throwing it online. It takes dedication, meaning you should try to find a topic that you are passionate about.

A good way to find out if you have something that could work is by creating a list of episodes ahead of time. It is a good sign if you can think of a few on the spot and expand on them, creating a significant list. At the very least, you will not be struggling to figure out what to do a few episodes in.

Figure Out a Name

The name of a podcast is the first thing people see. Before people read the description or listen to an episode, they know the name. In fact, even before that, the name might be responsible for a podcast appearing in someone’s search. After all, the podcast’s name serves as the show’s set of keywords.

When you think about it, you will realize that all of the platforms used for podcasts are search engines. You put in a word or name, and it brings numerous results. Therefore, the name can be very important depending on what you want to accomplish. That being said, there are many types of names out there, such as:

• Names that utilize a pre-existing brand name
• Personal brands that build off the host’s name
• Names that explicitly state what the podcast is about
• Nonsensical or abstract names that explain little by themselves

All of them can be successful. More important than anything else is the successful use of keywords and the marketing that comes later. Of course, the name can also be changed later, so picking something solid and moving on is also an option.

Write a Description

Once your name is settled, it is time to work on a description. It is only around a single paragraph, but it is vital for converting interested people into listeners. Keep your mind on effective keywords or phrases, but make sure you write something that people will want to read and find interesting.

This is where knowing your topic or concept will help. The same is true of your audience. Knowing what you are doing and who you are doing it for makes writing a description easier. As long as you feel comfortable with the podcast you are creating, you can simply write to your target audience.

Choose Your Format

There are multiple formats when making a podcast. Some people prefer to speak to their audience by themselves, focusing on the content and delivering information or entertainment alone. Others prefer having someone to speak to, whether it be a guest or co-host. Some common formats include:

• Interview Podcasts: Generally feature a single host and an interview guest.
• Scripted Non-Fiction: Focus on a single theme for an entire season.
• News Recap: News summaries about a certain field.
• Educational: Also scripted, but they focus on education.

While those are only a few of the possible formats, they represent a decent percentage of the popular podcasts out there. Moreover, they are a great place to start if you still are not certain about your own format.

Additionally, determining the proper length is also important. Going a bit over is fine, but you need to decide how long you can reasonably talk about your topic. The important thing is to be engaging and spend enough time each episode to build a connection with your audience. The same is true for how often the podcast is released.

Decide on the Artwork

Artwork is another important aspect of podcasting. The same is true for music. But when it comes to the artistic side of a podcast’s packaging, the brand is important. In fact, there is an argument to be made that artwork can come last. After all, things might change while you are creating the show, meaning you might need different artwork.

However, regardless of when you decide to figure out your artwork, know that it is an important step. Just like a name, the artwork is one of the first things people see, so it represents your podcast from the start. It is also an important step in branding and future marketing.

When choosing artwork, keep a few things in mind. First, each platform might have different specifications for what they accept. Secondly, ensure that you make something that will be just as clear as a small image as it is as a large image. Remember, many people use their mobile devices when listening to podcasts.

Stage 2: Tools of the Trade

After getting a handle on the concept, you can begin to think about the tools and equipment you will need. The easiest place to start is with basic equipment, such as microphones. However, various types of software will also be necessary, including editing software to put the finishing touches on your episodes.

Pick Your Podcast Equipment

When it comes to equipment, the most obvious starting place is a microphone. Having a good microphone means better sound quality, and while it is not mandatory for success, it helps. After all, while people will put up with a lot for a good podcast, a better listener experience is always welcomed.

You also need to consider how many microphones you need. If you plan on putting together a one-person show, you can pick up a single mic. Moreover, you probably do not need an audio interface. But if you plan on including multiple people in a single podcast, an audio interface is a great choice. Then there are accessories:

• Microphone Boom Arms
• Professional Headphones
• Pop Filters

While these accessories are not a must, they can improve the experience for you, the audience, and any guests or co-hosts. A boom arm makes it easy to adjust the angle of the microphone and speak comfortably and clearly. Meanwhile, headphones can ensure everyone hears things clearly. And a pop filter just clears up the sound further.

Additionally, if you plan to have video recordings of your podcast, you need to pick out something for that as well. There are a few options when it comes to video recordings, but a solid choice is using a high-quality webcam. However, setting up a video camera is also an option.

Get Your Software Set Up

Podcasting software focuses on the editing process, especially when it comes to audio-only podcasts. Not only is it useful for ensuring the best sound quality, but if you need to cut anything out, it makes it easy. There is plenty of editing software out there, but some of the popular choices include:

• Audacity – Free – Mac, Windows, and Linux
• GarageBand – Free – Mac and iOS
• Pro Tools – Free/Paid – Mac and Windows
• Hindenburg – Paid – Mac and Windows
• Adobe Audition – Paid – Mac and Windows

Additionally, if you want to perform long-distance interviews, you will need the right software for that as well. Squadcast is a great choice if you do not mind spending a few bucks every month. At the same time, Zoom and Skype are decent free options, with Zoom being far superior in terms of audio quality.

Choose a Hosting Service

Finding the right hosting service does not necessarily have to happen before you record an episode, but it is not a bad idea. After all, once you have some episodes ready, you want to be able to focus on what matters, getting your podcasts on the right websites and marketing them.

Think of a hosting service as a hub. It will handle pushing your new episodes to any number of podcast platforms. All you have to do is pick a hosting service, connect it to whatever platforms you are interested in, and let it take care of the rest. Some popular choices include:

• Blubrry
• Buzzsprout
• Castos
• Podiant
• Spreaker

Many people consider Buzzsprout to be a cut above the rest, but you should look around for yourself. You might end up finding a service that fits your needs precisely.

Stage 3: Recording Episodes

There is a lot to do before recording an episode, but once it is all done, it is time to record. And the first thing you need to do is remember one thing: it will not be good from the start. Okay, maybe it will be. But chances are, things will take a while to gel into place. Consider the potential challenges:

• Technical problems
• Issues with guests or content
• Clunkiness in the editing process

The important part is to keep going and focus on what you are talking about. If you originally chose a topic you are excited about, you can simply treat it casually and adjust as you go until you find your rhythm. There is also plenty you can do to ensure the episodes are as good as possible.

Take Steps to Improve the Episodes

Podcasting takes work, which is something that deserves to be stressed a few times. You will not succeed immediately, but that is fine. Experience is necessary, and as you grow, so will your podcast. However, there are things that can be done to improve your podcast, including:

• Write an Outline: Having a degree of structure or talking points can keep you on track and make things easier. Being able to write a decent outline also means you have plenty to talk about, which can be the hardest part.

• Pick a Good Spot: Small rooms with a lot of echoes are not good for podcasting. On the other hand, large rooms with plenty of quiet, open space are fantastic. However, a room with plenty of sound-absorbing material is also a good choice.

• Test Your Equipment: You want to set your equipment up ahead of time. After that, get familiar with it, at least to the point of knowing where you want everything so you can record comfortably.

Once you have done all that, you can really start recording. In fact, you can have the outline in front of you as you do, using the talking points and other details to refresh your memory. Though, it is better to avoid a true script to keep things natural.

Put on the Finishing Touches

In the same sense that your first podcasts might not be great, none of them will be perfect. You will make mistakes, even if it is just mispronouncing a word or struggling with a dry mouth. That is where editing software comes into play. You can ignore mistakes and keep going until you get it right using editing software.

There are a few options when it comes to editing your mistakes. The first is to simply keep going the entire time, simply redoing any parts that need to be redone. After that, you can edit everything out in post-production. Alternatively, if you want to come out the other side with a mostly-finished product, you can edit out mistakes immediately.

Depending on your format, both are valid options, though you might want toward one more than the other. If you are going with a very long podcast or have guests, stopping to edit could become problematic quickly. On the other hand, if you are doing a short one-person podcast, you can afford to go a bit slower.

A few other finishing touches that you want to consider include artwork and music. You might have already picked artwork for your podcast, but if you have not, now is the time. After that, consider the music you want to use in the intro and outro. It is not something you have to do, but it can be a nice touch.

Get the Podcast Online

With an episode or more recorded and the finishing touches finalized, you need to put it out there. Of course, that involves making sure it is part of the right podcast directories. Some of the popular directories you should consider:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• iHeartRadio

You might want to consider other platforms, especially if you are planning to have video versions of your podcast. While some of the above platforms support that option, YouTube and other video platforms are great for those types of podcasts. Make sure you put your podcast up everywhere!

Stage 4: Building Your Podcast

While you might finally be able to sigh with relief once you have recorded and edited an episode, there is still work to be done. While good content is a great way to impress an audience, it is not always enough to build an audience. In fact, in the early stages, marketing is a must.

Marketing is an entire subject all its own, but there are some things you can think about from the start. In the following section, you will find some effective tips for getting your podcast off the ground.

Make the Launch an Event

The start is a big deal, so you should make it one. While this will be easier for some people than others, you should not simply post the first episode. Try reaching out to communities you are already a part of, such as social media and forums. You can also find people that are in the same industry your podcast targets.

Even if you are someone switching gears entirely to make a podcast, do your best to get attention on your podcast. As mentioned, this might be more effective for some than others, such as those with a pre-existing community. However, it is a good idea for anyone, even if it is just friends and family.

Engage with the Audience

Even if you only have a few people starting out, do your best to engage the audience. Respond to comments and interact. You want to make sure you build a connection. Moreover, you can take the chance to ask them for feedback. Not only will it help you refine your podcast, but it will build a sense of community.

Engaging with the audience is particularly important for one reason: not every podcast needs to be huge. You can be successful with a podcast even if you only have a dedicated following. Niche podcasts can work, so it is more important to have a dedicated community.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot to do when you are starting a podcast. Moreover, even when it has been created, there is more work to be done. That being said, for those just starting out, it is important to just start doing it. Put up episodes even if they are bad, and ask your audience for input. You can then slowly refine yourself as you keep making content.

The post How to Make a Podcast appeared first on Grit Daily News.

This is not surprising when considering that startups have made a name for themselves for being disruptive. After all, a disruptive idea will bring you attention and funding but what happens when the novelty fades away? You could even say that coming up with the idea is easy, the difficult part is the execution of the idea and putting it out there in a consistent manner.

Startups need to be able to develop effective plans that allow them to achieve the goal every startup is looking for: Succes. However, with so many elements to consider and increasing competition for funding, it is hard for a founder to know where to start. Well, many experts agree that marketing should take precedence.

The reasoning for prioritizing marketing efforts is pretty straightforward: Getting noticed will increase your chances of getting funded, establishing partnerships, and converting sales. One of the most effective, time-tested, and popular strategies is paid media.

With most of us being constantly connected via our phones, computers, smart devices, TV, and traditional communication methods, it is easier for brands to get in touch with us. Startups can benefit greatly from this to raise brand awareness and reach a larger audience.

However, competition has also become more fierce as organizations fight to grab our attention and get us to learn more about them. As such, startups can be at a disadvantage compared to established companies with a larger budget allocated to paid media as they search for the channels that will allow them to engage audiences most compellingly.

Learning what paid media is, what it can achieve, why you should consider it, and what the best strategies are, will prove beneficial for any entrepreneur looking to have a successful business… which we are sure is 100% of them.

What Is Paid Media?

The lines between what does and doesn’t constitute paid media have become increasingly blurry over time. In the past, the idea of paid media was limited to print, TV, radio, and outdoor marketing. Now, most marketing experts agree that any external marketing effort that requires a company to pay for the placement can be considered paid media, independent of the medium.

While this sounds simple enough, the existence of categories like “earned media” and “owned media” often result in misunderstandings. It is also not uncommon for inexperienced marketing professionals to think about these categories independently when in fact, they complement each other.

Paid media includes any advertising medium (websites, blogs, etc.) that companies pay to have their ads published in, with most startups using paid media to create social media marketing campaigns. Campaigns in social networks (social ads) and search engine marketing (SEM) are also used here so that your company is optimally positioned in a browser.

Through this type of campaign, companies manage to accomplish the difficult task of gaining visibility in crowded spaces, as well as revenue growth.

Earned Media and Owned Media: The Complement to Paid Media

As we said before, there are different types of media that startups can take advantage of when it comes to executing sponsored content. Understanding the difference between these types of media and how they interact, will allow you to design better strategies.

Earned Media

Earned media includes all portals that advertise a product or service free of charge because they were influenced by it. In other words, it is an exhibition that has organically reached your brand, either through the recommendation of satisfied customers or through a viral event. 

This type of media includes press mentions, reviews, recommendations, sharing, or any form of word-of-mouth resulting from your content distributions, SEO efforts, or customer experience. This recognition will often follow active efforts with other types of media as it tends to be more organic, especially at a time when social networking and blogging have made it easier than ever to share recommendations.

Owned Media

As the name implies, owned media is any platform that a company owns to promote itself. Some examples are blogs, YouTube channels, TikTok accounts, etc. These are very useful for building a digital presence and ensuring brand recognition.

Nowadays digital presence is one of the key factors that determine whether your business can succeed or not. With it, you can attract a larger number of people to move them down the funnel. 

Why Does Paid Media Matter?

Paid media is one of the most effective means of marketing as it allows startups to reach a wider audience in an active manner than any other type of media. While earned and owned media require you to have gained relevance in the industry, paid media allows you to expand such relevance.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that paid media brings to startups looking to promote content and drive exposure.

More Visibility and Better Positioning

By establishing a startup on social networks, it will automatically have greater reach and visibility. You will reach a larger audience, and the opportunities to increase sales will be much greater. Paid advertising allows you to increase traffic to your website.

On the other hand, if your website still does not appear in the best positions in Google despite having paid for advertising, you should consider hiring an SEO specialist. These experts will take care of your website optimization so that it appears first in search results, which will improve the benefits of paid media.

Platform Flexibility

A great advantage of using paid media is that the contracts are not final, which means you can cancel the contract at any time without causing your company major losses. This will allow you to test multiple platforms, mediums, and outlets to come up with the best strategy for your campaign.

If you see that a campaign is not achieving the expected goals, it is better to get rid of it and try another platform. After all, paid media is all about reaching new potential customers to increase your user or customer base.

Get to Know Your Audience

When you pay to advertise your product or service, you have control over all the information about who goes through the advertising. Based on this, what you can also do is adjust your content to whoever views it.

Information you can find about the people viewing the ads might include the following: Demographics, gender, age, interests, and more. This can be very useful to customize your services to an audience you already know and even expand further to generate more sales.

This is incredibly important as you don’t want to reach just about anyone but the people who might help your business get off the ground. Efficacy is more important than volume! 

Affordability

Paid media tends to be a pretty accessible service for startups, especially at a time when the industry is getting more attention. While the costs will depend on the objectives, you will often find that most platforms will have a multitude of plans for different needs. 

For example, It’s not the same to set a cost-per-click (CPC) or a cost-per-1,000-impressions (CPM) term. In the first variant, advertisers pay platforms depending on the total number of clicks made on the ad. In the second one, as you can guess from the name, advertisers pay for 1,000 impressions on the announcement.

Increased Trust

In the modern age, having your business on social media and being widely advertised is a sign of authenticity and transparency. Earlier we mentioned how paid media could positively influence your business. It is good to know that it also gives recognition to your brand.

Companies that are trusted can also retain their customers longer. When word gets out, many people will know that your company is reputable, and they will come to purchase what you sell. That’s another great perk from paid media and social media ads.

The relevance of social media is one of the main reasons why influencers have become one of the most important players in the paid media market. After all, influencers get to have a more personal connection with their followers.

Types of Paid Media

Social Media Ads

In social networks, the ads we are shown usually have a lot to do with our interests. Moreover, they are distributed in a very strategic way. What are we trying to say? Well, take Instagram as an example: You are scrolling through Stories and there it is, that shirt you have been meaning to buy. This is possible because of how social media uses advanced algorithms to serve customized ads.

Currently, this type of paid media is most popular because a large portion of the population has social networks and uses them frequently. As mentioned earlier, a great advantage of social media ads is that a CPC strategy can be used. The cost per click can be beneficial for you because you do not have to pay anything until users are led to your ads.

Finally, you should know that when looking for the best platform for social media ads, you can choose from a variety of options. These include the following:

• Google Ads
• Facebook Ads
• Amazon Ads
• YouTube Ads
• TikTok For Business
• Linkedin Ads
  

Each of these platforms has its merits. However, you should do deeper research to know which fits the most to your marketing plan. Another good idea is to hire influencers to promote your service. This is another example of paid social media advertising.

Print Ads

Yes, we know what you are thinking. Print ads are an archaic way to promote your services. But it is not. This type of marketing was most commonly used before the advent of social media and is still used, albeit on a smaller scale. As you know, there are still many people who read magazines or travel by car and see large billboards on the road.

With the right placement and the right size, a print ad can certainly be very effective for promoting your brand. A good idea is also to print out a QR code and attach it to the ad to mix the online and offline parts.

Finally, print ads, though overtaken by digital ads, are still viable for many reasons. The way it approaches certain types of audiences is unique, and it can be used to focus on a very specific niche without spending so much. This type of marketing strategy is not going away any time soon.

Radio/Podcast Ads

It may be a good idea to consider paying podcast or radio owners to promote your business. Advertisers pay to have their ads aired for a few seconds. There are many stations where you can advertise your business, and also different types of commercials.

For example, there are radio live reads, where the main journalist reads your advert on air. If you don’t like that idea, you can do a straight reading. Here it’s only you that will be giving your business information and how customers can get in touch with you.

With 58% of Americans having listened to podcasts and the number of frequent listeners growing, podcasts have become a great medium for marketing campaigns. In addition to this, the variety of podcasts ensures that you can reach an audience with specific interests.

Display Ads

Display ads, also called banner ads, are images or gifs that appear on websites for a certain period of time showing your advertising. These are often used on landing pages, so you should look for a website with a nice presentation and high traffic to set your ad.

Determining the demographic you want to reach is also extremely important to increase the potential of your campaign. Fortunately, platforms that offer display ads also have a lot of customization options for you to choose from.

How to Make A Successful Paid Media Campaign?

There are many keys to a successful paid media campaign. Small businesses grow mainly thanks to marketing, and a good strategy can lead to many customers and investors. Let’s look at what we can do to run a successful paid media campaign.

Identify Your Goals

When you start in the field of paid media, many doubts will surely cross your mind. However, you must stay focused and ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? What do I want to let people know in my advertisements? Do I want to increase customer satisfaction or make more sales? That’s the first step to a successful paid media campaign.

You can not get where you want to go if you do not know where you want to arrive. By defining your goals, you can give shape to your marketing campaign. Whatever you define as your goals will also change your campaign requirements.

For example, if you are trying to target young people as your main audience, you should use TikTok For Business before Linkedin Ads or Amazon Ads. We all know that Linkedin is a platform for workers and Amazon is for buying stuff. Young people use other platforms like TikTok or Instagram.

These are factors to think about before launching a marketing campaign. Set different objectives and work hard on them.

Track Your Successes Even if Minimal

Getting started with paid media and a marketing campaign is not easy and it can take some time to see big results. That’s why you also need to set micro-goals to see success early on. For example, you can set milestones for your first sale. You can even set another milestone when the campaign starts to be profitable.

These are different ways to know you are doing things right. They motivate you and keep you on course to do the best you can. Immediate results are not expected on paid media campaigns, you have to be patient and resilient.

Take Control Of Your Financials

It is always important for any business to set its budget. By determining how much money you have available, you can calculate what is the best option for a paid media campaign. This allows you to focus your energies where they really need to be.

However, as we mentioned earlier, you can always switch to other campaigns if the one you are using is not working well. The real benefit of figuring out your budget is that you can have peace of mind at the time of investment. Your money will be spent wisely.

If you know how much you want to spend and how much ROI you will get, you can make better decisions. You will understand where to get the best results and you will be able to focus the budget on the best platform.

Choose The Correct Platform For Your Needs

As we already know, paid media campaigns are always conducted through third-party platforms. Therefore, you should take your time to choose the right platform. That’s where money is invested, and you won’t want to throw it away.

There are many platforms, so focus on what your goals are and how your business is set up. If you want to sell your own product, consider Amazon Ads. On the other hand, if you want to generate more leads, running a campaign in Google Ads is always a good option.

There are many ways a campaign can be managed, so it is extremely important to find the platform that best fits your goals. If your budget allows you, it could be even worth trying some of them to see which gives the best results.

Implement and Stick to Your Plan

After all the extensive work, it is time to execute the strategy. This can be the most challenging part of the campaign. Up until this point, it has all been about planning but now it’s time to turn everything on and wait for results to happen. 

You will need to keep a close eye on the performance of your strategy. Be aware that you won’t see immediate results most of the time, so don’t despair. Stick to the plan and once you have sufficient data, adjust your strategy as necessary.

If you take your time and do your homework, your paid media strategy is sure to pay off!

Should You Get A Paid Media Specialist?

Advertising is evolving and all businesses need it to some degree. Constant interaction with digital devices for many hours a day and new consumption habits make the user a constant recipient of digital communication and advertising.

The Internet creates opportunities for growing and personalized communication between companies and customers. New roles have been created in the professional market and companies need professionals to fill new positions.

Specialized training in technology, design, and marketing opens the way for professionals who are constantly up to date and curious about new trends. Programmers, project managers, and designers work together as a team to make the marketing campaign successful.

The main tasks of paid media professionals are writing content for social networks, researching new trends in digital marketing, collecting and analyzing data for decision making, and managing search engine positioning tools and data science platforms.

A digital marketing specialist’s income ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, so if your company’s budget allows, contacting a paid media professional might be a good decision.

The post What Is Paid Media and Why Does It Matter? appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Becoming a social media influencer can seem like a glamorous pursuit, but, given the nature of constantly changing algorithms on social networks, it may pay them very little. Instead, the bulk of the revenue goes to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Q4 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more However, the growing metaverse trend could be exactly what social media influencers need to boost the brands they represent and turn a profit in the process. Influencers who can tap into the metaverse will be the ones who will see their profits jump through their efforts. What Is The Metavers…

Read More

The post How Social Media Influencers Can Tap The Metaverse For Higher Profits appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Marketing has always been a fast-paced and ever-changing industry, and it has only become even more so after moving into the digital world. Because of that, keeping up with changing trends is vital to a company’s ability to reach a wide audience and get their product or service out there.

Digital marketing trends change rapidly, and with a new year already here, it is the perfect time to make adjustments and prepare for what is to come. If you want to learn more about upcoming trends and how you can prepare for them, you should read more below.

Interactive Content Above All Else

It should come as no surprise that interactive content is a huge part of standing out in today’s marketplace. Audio and visual content are growing quickly and have been seeing increased importance year after year. Moreover, in the realm of marketing, you must always consider social media.

Social media is the primary way that brands can reach consumers in an engaging way, changing the meaning of having a relationship with a brand. After all, consumers want to be a part of something and interact with brands, but they are also looking for more than a block of text. They want excitement, which is achieved with interactive marketing.

There are many ways to push out interactive marketing that is both successful and engaging. Some examples are questionnaires, quizzes, and polls. These help you gather information while grabbing consumer attention.

Additionally, things like virtual reality videos and augmented reality have opened up even more possibilities, allowing brands to get creative with the ways they attempt to grab consumer attention.

Email Is a Rising Priority

Although it might not sound as appealing as other channels, email is one of the most important tools in digital marketing. It is even considered a critical avenue of success to most people that is worth additional investment moving forward in 2022. There are a few reasons for its popularity, which include:

• Automation
• Personalization
• Privacy
• Visibility

Email allows much of the process to be automated, which is great for companies and ensures consistent communication between brand and consumer without much effort. Despite that, it is still easy to personalize both the content and frequency of email communication. Plus, by its nature, email is private and highly visible.

The one thing to remember about email is that it still requires the same thought and care as any other marketing tool. It should be well-crafted, and it should be interactive and engaging. Email is important, and what is delivered should have the same high standards as any other marketing tool.

Influencers Are Only Growing More Important

Influencers have been relevant for some time, but their ability to help market products is only increasing, especially in the digital world. This trend can be seen in many places, but live stream shopping is one great example, especially since it has a proven track record in China and other countries.

Live streaming is not limited to shopping. Twitch houses a massive number of steamers, with overall site traffic of more than 30 million users per day. The numbers are huge, and while it is partially due to the emergence of COVID-19, the platform has boasted a large community for some time.

Twitch is not alone in this realm, though, with platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok having popular influencers who have a tight-knit relationship with their viewers. Their relationship with their followers makes for a great marketing tool, and it is an avenue that is only expected to grow.

Social Media Stories Are Spreading

What began as a trend on a single platform has evolved into something seen on every big social media service around. The key to their popularity and success in digital marketing is their limited lifespan. A story only lasts for 24 hours, which accomplishes a few things:

• Companies and brands can share more genuine posts
• Content can target people who actually want to see it
• The posts connect with audiences on a deeper level
• People feel the need to keep in touch with a brand they like

There are many ways to use stories. They can be a live video that feels rawer, or they can serve as a call to action. Digital marketers can even use them as a great way to gather information through polls and quizzes. Moreover, using location and geofilters, stories can reach specific audiences.

Podcasts Continue to Skyrocket

There are two ways to approach podcasts from a digital marketing perspective. The first is to treat them like influencers, advertising through the podcaster to their audience. However, you can also create a podcast of your own, especially since people enjoy podcasts from both individuals and companies.

Podcasts do come with their own challenges, though, such as requiring optimization through keywords, blog posts, and other SEO tactics. There is also a different skill set to master if you want to do it right and have it be an effective strategy. But with podcasting growing by the day, there is a lot to be gained.

Quantum Computing Is Making Waves

Quantum computer? For marketing? Absolutely. While it might sound like a complex tool at first glance, the way it works is easy to understand. Quantum computing allows for data to be gathered more efficiently by tackling many tasks at the same time instead of going through tasks one by one. This helps:

• Improve machine learning and improves AI functionality
• Boost mobile data coverage
• Deliver more accurate ads
• Make ads cheaper to produce

Quantum computing in digital marketing is on the rise. Not only does it have many benefits, but it also increases the value of a dedicated marketing agency for businesses that might not have the resources to dedicate to quantum computing.

AI Being Used to Improve Optimization

It should come as no shock that artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent in marketing. After all, it has infiltrated everywhere else in the digital world and is constantly becoming bigger and more complex. It is behind many services nowadays, including chatbots and search engines.

AI is capable of doing all kinds of things, such as analyzing consumer data, which can help brands figure out a variety of important information about how customers find their products and where they can strengthen their efforts. It goes beyond all of that, though, helping provide benefits such as:

• Improved customer experience
• Better decision making
• Cost savings
• More efficiency and productivity

Google is a big believer in AI technology as well, utilizing it in their search engine for better results. And with their new MUM update, the search engine can accept more complex searches and return smarter results. It even factors in intention and uses that when pulling results, making search intent vital to content.

Therefore, many companies are stepping into the world of AI to help figure out how consumers are finding their products and what they can do to attract more organic traffic through things like content optimization. If you want to compete with the big players, including AI in your marketing strategy is necessary.

Conversational Marketing Drives Engagement

The relationship between a brand and consumer has always been valuable, especially regarding brand loyalty. However, that relationship is becoming more personal nowadays, with many companies taking a conversational approach to communication. The same is true of marketing.

Consumers want to reach and communicate with a business immediately and at all times. They want their questions to be answered, and if that does not happen, it can mean they go elsewhere. Likely, they will go with a business that ensures they get what they want then and there.

Conversational marketing uses the desired dialogue-focused communication style to reach its goal. Ordinarily, it is used to improve engagement and convert leads. And what is really great about it is that it works with almost any channel. In fact, it has to work on multiple channels since consumers want to reach you anytime and anywhere.

Chatbots Lead to Positive Customer Experiences

Chatbots are a combination of conversational marketing and AI technology. They are capable of providing real-time automated messages that have a human-like quality. Of course, they rely heavily on AI technology, but they are a great implementation of conversational marketing that is on the rise. They can:

• Instantly respond to inquiries
• Provide 24-hour service
• Answer simple questions
• Guide users to valuable resources

Moreover, chatbots are well-received by most people, providing a positive customer experience. Because of that, and partially because AI technology is growing increasingly sophisticated, chatbots are expected to become more important. Chatbots also free up resources that might be needed elsewhere.

Geofencing Is Upgrading Locational Marketing

Using a location to make digital marketing better is not a new practice. But geofencing provides some exciting innovation to liven things up, and it is expected to grow rapidly in the coming year. Part of this is due to mobile technology’s equally rapid advancement, but real-time location-based marketing is plenty exciting enough on its own.

The main purpose of geofencing is to provide information about nearby points of interest. It can be a restaurant, a gas station, or a gym. The point is that when you enter the location of that point of interest, you receive an alert. It might even provide a call to action or incentive to pull in business.

One great example is finding a place to eat or a gas station on a long trip without having to actively keep an eye out. You can simply receive a notification when you are within range and head on over. And the method is quite effective, bringing a whole new tool to digital marketers.

Search Intent Is Now Vital

AI technology helps improve your grasp of consumer behavior and search patterns, but it also looks for search intent when returning results to users. Google is big on this, trying to figure out why a search was done to return a category of information that matches user needs. It looks to answer questions like:

• Are they looking to learn how to do something?
• Are they trying to make a purchase?
• Do they want to find a specific site?

Guide posts are a great example of how this works. If a user types in “how to” as part of their search, Google prioritizes videos and websites that act as guides, ranking them higher. It is the same for other types of intent, meaning that to properly market something, you need to make sure the intent is on point.

The same AI pulls out more local results as well, putting things like the website for Amazon above the Amazon rainforest if it is not given a reason to otherwise. Local service providers get the same treatment, appearing above service providers in other areas unless more context is given.

There is no way to avoid it if you want your content to be ranked and noticed. However, it goes beyond this in regards to marketing. It also increases brand awareness and retention when you align content to search intent. So it is important for getting a high ranking and providing consumers with a relevant experience they will remember.

Loyalty Is Out, Membership Is In

Another trend that is necessary to keep in mind for 2022 is that loyalty programs are no longer as effective as they once were. Instead, membership programs are taking their place, seeming the natural evolution of the previous system.

One of the reasons for this is consumers’ desire to be part of an exclusive community. They want to be a part of something, finding it far more appealing than loyalty rewards, even if they are offered the same savings and benefits with that program.

Membership programs attract more people, compelling them to take action and join on their own initiative. Moreover, they pay to join, making it seem more exclusive and as if they are wasting their money if they do not utilize the benefits. Loyalty programs do not have the same urgency, so they will be pushed out in 2022.

Brands that embrace this can then do many things to add value to the membership, including access to certain products, free shipping, and other exclusive events. It is even a great way to utilize the all-important email avenue of communication, reaching out to members to inform them of upcoming events.

Environmentally Responsible Is Good for the Bottom Line

People want sustainable products and responsible brands to align themselves with. The trend is so impactful for younger consumers that they are even willing to spend extra to purchase an environmentally responsible product. That makes it a great place to focus marketing in 2022. It might even be a chance to stand out among competitors.

There are many ways to put an environmentally responsible approach to work in a marketing campaign. It can be featured in videos or through influencers. Green ideas can also be included in the business and culture. A lot can be done, and it goes hand in hand with many other marketing tactics.

Video Marketing Is Always Trending

There are no signs that the video marketing trend is going anywhere in the near future. In 2022, it is just as important as ever, even more so, to have a video presence to help you market products and services.

Videos are watched by people worldwide, with more than 80% of internet users in the US viewing videos every month. Those numbers hold up even on a daily basis, with more than 50% of consumers watching videos every day. And the truth is, they want more.

Video content is popular because it is easy to consume, and it is good for marketers because it increases retention and engages users more than text does. That is why more than 80% of businesses use videos as one of their marketing tools.

And while you might instantly think of sites like YouTube when you consider video marketing, it goes much further than that. YouTube is an effective platform, but you can also make video posts or include them as part of a page. Plus, once you have a video, you can use it in various ways, such as:

• Transcribe it and publish it as an article
• Use the audio as a podcast episode
• Attach it to attract more attention

Video marketing can be used alongside other trends to create engaging and highly effective marketing strategies. Moreover, live streams can be equally effective. People like to watch content, so give them what they want.

Voice and Visual Searching Are Seeing More Use

The way people search has changed. Or, at least, there are more options than ever before. While traditional searching is still alive and well, the use of voice and visual searching is more common than ever. In fact, these things are becoming a major part of how people find things. People use voice and visual searches to find:

• Products
• Services
• Brands
• Related Items

And those are just a few examples. With tools like Alexa and Google Lens, people are becoming comfortable with alternative ways of searching. In fact, it is becoming convenient, especially in the case of visual searching, where you might not know the brand you are looking at or what to search to find it.

New marketing trends have emerged because of these increasingly popular types of searches. Now, photographs and other images are more important than ever. Moreover, with voice-activated ads quickly becoming a reality, it is something companies need to be prepared to respond to.

People Want Hybrid Events

The COVID pandemic changed many things, especially when it comes to the digital space and people’s willingness to engage with the world through the internet. Of course, since then, normal life has started up again. However, many people have become fans of virtual gatherings and events.

Because of the new preference for virtual happenings, there are two audiences to engage: in-person and virtual audiences. Fortunately, catering to those audiences is much easier using hybrid events and gatherings, which provide the best of both worlds. In fact, it brings in more people than before since it makes events more easily available.

Another factor at play with hybrid events is virtual reality and augmented reality. Immersive technology has emerged and led to an entirely new way of doing things.

Immersive Technology Is the Future

Like it or not, immersive technology is here to stay. Many people are calling it the next stage of the internet, and even if it never reaches that point, the possibilities are endless. That is why many companies are beginning to explore the virtual world, especially with the metaverse, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR).

Many people find virtual reality exciting, especially when it comes to video games and sci-fi ideas. However, augmented reality is what is most on the rise for digital marketing. Not only is it expected for AR revenue to rise, but there are already useful applications. For instance, apps that let you see what wallpaper or furniture looks like in your home.

Digital Storytelling Elevates a Brand

If you have a good product, it might speak for itself, but consumers do not want to hear about how good it is or how much better it is than the competition. What consumers want is a story, one that is directed at how a brand’s product or service benefits them.

There are a lot of companies that struggle with this concept, despite the fact that it has become one of the many focal points over the past few years. The key is to deliver a story that tells consumers how they will benefit and succeed if they utilize the advertised product or service.

While it might sound simple, it can be very complex to tell a convincing, engaging story that stands out for the right reasons. Weaving in stories and testimonials is a good way to go about digital storytelling. If done properly, it will elevate the relatability of your content, which in turn increases its value.

Privacy Will Play a Bigger Role Than Ever

Digital marketing relies heavily on advertisements and data, but people have become highly suspicious of those resources. Ad blockers are used by more than 40% of internet users around the world, and third-party cookies have been or are being shut out by browsers.

Additionally, users choose not to use certain products because they have security concerns, partially due to being more aware of what is going on behind the scenes. Products and services, such as DuckDuckGo and ProtonMail, are even built with increased security in mind.

The overall trend is that people want and will get more privacy moving forward. This trend can be seen with Apple’s new iOS, which requires voluntary opt-in by consumers to track their data. All of this means that in 2022, digital marketers will need to adjust their strategies to deal with this rising trend.

However, this is not entirely negative for marketers. Users are all about transparency, and if you give them a reason to trust you by being honest and upfront, you can build a stronger sense of community with consumers. It can be a way to improve relationships, especially if you get ahead of other brands and prepare for what is to come openly.

First-Party Cookies

The death of the third-party cookie. It had a long run, but the time is night, and third-party cookies are facing their inevitable demise. As stated, people are more concerned about privacy than ever, and that means an end to third-party cookies. And it is a big blow to marketing, especially where data is concerned.

However, first-party cookies are on the rise. Marketers are becoming more reliant on their own data, which changes how things need to be done. But the same rules apply with first-party cookies as they do with privacy as a whole: be transparent and give consumers control over what data they share. And be creative.

Security Is a Priority

People value their privacy, and they also value security. Consumers need to trust the brands that they do business with, and they want to feel like the brand is taking care of their information. Moreover, whether a consumer trusts a website is decided almost immediately when they navigate to a page.

One major reason for the quick division is the HTTPS protocol. If there is a problem with something so expected and basic, people will turn and leave. The same is true of websites with obvious errors and slow load times. These things reduce a site’s trustworthiness and cause consumers to navigate away quickly, which hurts rankings.

Personalization Is Expected

The technology and means available have made personalized content more accessible, and it draws in consumers far better than broad marketing. Therefore, it is expected for personalized marketing to play a bigger role moving forward, and it can be used in many ways:

• Content
• Products
• Emails

You can apply personalization to many of the other trends discussed. Send emails that target a specific customer, even if it is just their preferred type of content being delivered. In fact, more than 70% of shoppers only act when marketing messages take their interests into account.

Personalized content can be approached in many ways as well, from product recommendations to personalized video campaigns and apps that display user data in fun, interactive ways. Plus, the more time you spend understanding your audience, the more value you can get out of your efforts.

Progressive Web Apps Provide Accessibility

So much of what people do and how they search for things now involves a mobile device. And while apps are a big part of that, they can also be restrictive based on the type of phone or operating system. Progressive web apps (PWAs) combine apps with websites to circumvent the need for an app, offering the best of both worlds.

PWAs are not simply websites. They can be used while offline and offer things like push notifications. They load quickly as well, making them incredibly convenient and accessible applications. Moreover, since mobile marketing is becoming more important by the day, it can be a major factor in success.

Omnichannel Marketing Cannot Be Ignored

There are countless trends, and the market changes quickly, giving you no time to grow comfortable or relax. However, one trend that deserves to be stressed above most others is omnichannel marketing. Omnichannel marketing aims to give consumers access to your goods across all channels. You want them connected, too.

The idea of omnichannel marketing is not new, but its relevance has only increased, and it is continuing to be a dominant trend in the market. You can see it everywhere, with marketing campaigns for a single product or brand spanning across multiple platforms, including social media, apps, emails, and more.

There are many benefits to this approach compared to single-channel marketing, and it goes beyond reaching a wider audience by covering all of your bases. By branching out and utilizing omnichannel marketing, you can expect:

• More consumer engagement
• A greater number of purchases
• Higher retention rates

Marketing strategies that utilize omnichannel marketing are simply more successful. And part of that is giving consumers a variety of ways to reach out as well, including phone, email, and chat options, among others, to follow up. There should never be a case where a consumer cannot see your marketing or act on it.

When you are looking at digital marketing trends, remember that they can change quickly. These might be the trends now, but a single change can have a big impact, such as with privacy and AI technology. However, as long as you are paying attention and ready for change, you can get ahead of the game and make an impact.

Additionally, think of ways to combine these trends for a greater effect. A few examples are adding videos and interactive content to email marketing. There are many ways to make these trends work for you, and if done right, you will have a solid edge that consumers will appreciate and talk about.

The post 24 Digital Marketing Trends of 2022 appeared first on Grit Daily News.

By Ellen Chang Tech companies are promoting health and saving consumers both energy and time through their wearables and latest tech products. Tech companies launched their latest wearables and smarter devices as the Internet of Things (IOT) is one of the pillars of Web 3.0 at the Consumer Electronics Show . The latest tech innovations demonstrate how companies are getting smarter to lure consumers and own the system. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that occurs in Las Vegas was held both in person and online and online focused on AI technology and the emerging metaverse — as a futuristic w…

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Today, Walker leads TSMA. The company was formerly known as The Social Media Advantage. Currently, the company’s moniker is The Social Media Agency and has experienced meteoric growth over the last decade since he founded it. As one of the pioneers in the influencer economy, TSMA quickly gained notoriety amongst the celebrity crowd. Walker’s agency quickly emerged as a global leader in social media management. Influencers liked the perks and financial remuneration. And developing economies like Argentina were receiving tens of thousands of dollars per month by bringing international followers to celebrities’ social media platforms. Indeed, TSMA had found the path to the triple win.

Grit Daily queried Walker about how TSMA manages to stay one step ahead in a very competitive market. He explained, “We incentivize the creator community with giveaways and we’ve leveraged that influencer economy for a long time, even before it was trendy to do so. TSMA is the first and only firm that uses the creator economy.”

Social media is constantly changing

Of course, TSMA’s success wouldn’t be possible without two critical components. One, a focus on developing the talent within. And two, a lot of hustling and hard work. When asked how social media has shifted since TSMA launched, Walker had this to say, “Prior to the pandemic, we didn’t anticipate a large boom and pivot to e-Commerce. That high influx led to new departments and adding a dozen new hires which was a boost to our social media community.”

Along the way, they’ve also had to make adjustments to evolve in parallel to how consumer habits were changing. “We’ve seen a massive shift in how people consume content and how individuals and businesses use it, and the strong desire for education in this space,” Walker said. He continued, “What I’m most proud of is the educational content that we’ve created. We’ve seen the impact that education can have.”

Maintaining compliance with ever-changing policies on social media platforms is an essential hallmark of the TSMA brand. “We’re always compliant so that we can attract the level of client base that we have.” However, one effort maintaining social media compliance threw them for an unexpected loop. “Back in October, 2019, Instagram made a wide-sweeping shift that wasn’t well documented publicly. They changed the way they allow third-party software to access their back end. Automated actions changed the way our clients were getting engagement literally overnight. Each account went from say a thousand likes to just a few hundred. Billions of actions per month went away which put a lot of social media agencies out of business. And engagement levels have been been lower ever since.”

What consumers want

Consumers want fresh, quality content. Short-form video content around 30-seconds at a time, “TikTok style,” is being voraciously consumed. In fact, TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform. Stock imagery is no longer resonating with the audience. People want authentic material; videos in particular. Each day, more than one billion hours of video are consumed on YouTube alone.

Walker shared his thoughts on how social media was likely to shift over the months and year ahead. “Short-form video content isn’t going to go away anytime soon.” To hear more insights about social media management and the grit required to build a massively successful company, tune into Grit Daily Like a Boss podcast. As Season 2 wraps up next week, we’ll soon be launching Season 3 under a new podcast title, “The Grit Files: Startup Stories.” Listen to the episode featuring Ryan Walker anywhere that content is streamed.

The post Taking Social Media to the Next Level appeared first on Grit Daily News.

The round was led by Union Square Ventures with participation from other investors like Progression Fund and Owl Ventures. This capital brought Fiveable’s total funding raised by the startup since 2019 to $14.2 million. Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures, Rebecca Kaden referred to the firm’s decision to participate by stating::

“USV’s thesis focuses on opportunities to leverage platforms and networks to broaden access by increasing value and decreasing cost. In education, we believe this is going to happen from outside of the current systems–new networks that emerge to provide value in ways that are far more personalized, accessible, and relatable to students. This is exactly what Fiveable is–a network and community of loyal and passionate students that is bottom-up, devoted, and quickly becoming essential to how students learn. We are thrilled to be a part of it.”

Founded in 2018 by Amanda DoAmaral and Tán Ho with the mission to deliver educational equity through social learning, the startup has enjoyed increasing success over the past years. In 2021 alone, Fiveable’s user base quadrupled and its students’ exam pass rate reached 92%. With authentic content and a specially built community with access to resources, the startup’s platform provides an opportunity for students to grow together and gain exposure to real experienced beyond the virtual classroom.

The new funds will allow Fiveable to focus its efforts on building an online space to boost student-led social learning. The platform developed by the startup includes a content library, community spaces, and interactive research labs. Fiveable Co-Founder and CEO Amanda DoAmara said about the startup’s mission:

“Despite the inequities that remain across schools, this next generation of students refuses to wait for systemic change–and frankly, they don’t have the time to do so. Students are already finding one another online in their quest for support, motivation, and information; we’re just elevating that experience by providing the much-needed infrastructure for social learning.”

With the Covid19 pandemic shifting education to a remote online learning environment, education institutions have sought new ways to improve engagement to ensure students can get the best learning experience possible. The edtech startup believes that it can reach 18 million high school students in the United States by offering just that, ensuring the shift to remote learning doesn’t have a negative impact on their education.

The post EdTech Startup Fiveable Raises $10 mln in Series A Funding appeared first on Grit Daily News.