Make Way for Pinterest Story Pins!

Posted on | by Jasmine Small
Marketing, Social Media

“Meet story pins, where ideas are turned into stories” – Pinterest Newsroom 

Stories seem to be an essential feature for social media platforms today. But did you know that only eight years ago they never existed? In 2013, Snapchat made a significant update to its platform and created stories. With this new update, Snapchat began to gain mass popularity, and it wasn’t long before other social media platforms integrated this story feature into their software. In 2016, Instagram added stories with Facebook and YouTube following in 2017. It was only a matter of time before Pinterest developed a version of their own, and it’s one of the most significant updates for creators yet!

Though Pinterest Story Pins were first introduced in late 2019 overseas, it wasn’t until September 2020, when this beta feature became available to some business accounts. Many users were surprised when they received a notification for early access to this new feature. But don’t worry. If you don’t have access now, you can request access with merely a click of a button. It should be about 5-7 business days for granted access if your request is approved. 

Request access here: https://www.pinterest.com/story-pin-invite/

What are Story Pins?

Think of Story Pins like a slideshow. These Story Pins can incorporate more ideas and inspiration than a standard pin, with up to 20 different content pages, including a mix of pictures and videos. Like regular pins, they can also be added to existing, new boards, or even shared boards.  

With most Pinners on Pinterest searching for inspiration, DIYs, how-to guides, and tutorials, the new Story Pins will work great. You can tag up to 10 relevant topics related to your content with these Story Pins. Tagging is essential and makes it even easier to get the right content in front of the right audience who care the most. Story Pins unlock the door to creativity for creators to generate even more detailed and engaging content. The limitation of a single page of text is eliminated with the option to now go more in-depth and explain a concept. Some ideas of the best types of pins to maximize this feature would be how-to guides, list posts, detailed recipes with step-by-step photos, DIY guides, tutorials, and travel tips. 

They Never Expire

Don’t let the word “Story” fool you. Unlike most stories you see on major platforms, Pinterest Story Pins ever expire! Say goodbye to the 24-hour expiration date because these Story Pins will stay on your boards forever (unless, of course, you make them disappear).

You Will be Rewarded 

That’s right! Pinterest will favor Story Pins over regular pins. With their new algorithm, Pinterest is experimenting and providing more exposure than they typically would with standard pins. To have the algorithm work in your favor, you must take full advantage of the features Pinterest provides. Users that have utilized this feature have seen an increased reach of their pins within 24 hours with inflated numbers. Pinterest is rewarding content creators for using their features with a higher chance of generating more impressions, clicks, and traffic to their website. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Creating Story Pins in 4 Simple Steps

You will find that creating Story Pins is a very straightforward process with a super user-friendly interface, whether you’re on a desktop or mobile device. Below are the four areas you will be prompted with when creating a Story Pin:

  • Upload: You can upload up to 20 images or videos.
  • Design: This is where you can adjust the layout of your images, focal point and add text. 
  • Details: Add a theme with corresponding prompts. For example, if your theme is Crafts + DIY, you will have the drop-down to choose the difficulty level and a box to fill in the supplies needed. 
  • Audience: This is where you will create your Story Pin title, choose the board it will be uploaded to, and add up to 10 tagged topics.

So What’s the Catch?

With this fantastic new feature, you may be wondering, “Okay, what’s the catch? There has to be something”. Well, this is true. The biggest controversy is that the links you provide in Story Pins are not direct links. Go figure! Pinterest’s goal is to keep pinners on their platform as long as possible. Previously pinners would search through content, and then it was easy to visit the creator’s website from a pin. With Story Pins, this discourages Pinners from leaving Pinterest by eliminating direct links, making it a little more complicated. Sneaky right? But there is a bright side. There may not be direct links, but there will now be a follow button at the end of your Story Pins, which will link back to your Pinterest business page. This prompt is an excellent reminder for Pinners to follow you, especially if they enjoyed your content enough to read until the end. 

Where Do I Go From Here?

I’ll leave you with these few key points:

  1. Pinterest will favor Story Pins in their new algorithm. 
  2. Story pins are super easy to make.
  3. Story Pins never expire.

Even though you may not have access to this exciting new feature yet, you can either attempt to request early access or sit tight and wait patiently. If you decide to wait, this is still a great time to get familiar with Story Pins until it is available for everyone. In the meantime, it never hurts to educate yourself and be prepared to elevate your business’s presence on Pinterest. Get ready for the biggest update yet! 

Ps. Remember to have fun and get creative!

Interested in Pinterest’s official release video? Check it out here: https://youtu.be/j3xzahNK27Y

 

Understanding Google’s SMITH Algorithm

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Search Engine Optimization | , , , ,

Google’s Latest SMITH Algorithm – What We Know So Far

SEO SpecialistsThe infamous ALGORITHM. An algorithm is just a set of rules that a program or calculation follows. But when someone says “THE Algorithm”, it’s the Google algorithm most people think of. The latest update is the SMITH Algorithm. Google’s search algorithm is a mysterious set of rules that decide which sites to display on the coveted first page of Google’s search results. This algorithm is always changing. But the more we learn about it, the more effectively we can use it to our advantage. Here’s what we know so far about the latest SMITH algorithm.

What is the goal of Google’s algorithm?

In essence, as far as anyone can tell, Google’s goal for search is to provide the most relevant content possible. In a perfect world, this relevance would be judged by humans themselves. However, with billions of websites online, this would be an impossible task. Search algorithms are designed to leverage real human interaction and draw conclusions about the relevance of a site by analyzing different metrics. Based on these metrics and other factors, the algorithm calculates what would be the most relevant pages for a given search term or keyword. The exact, specific details of this calculation are only held by Google. We only know what information they reveal and what we can interpret on our own through testing and experimentation.

What algorithm does Google use?

Google doesn’t say exactly what they are using and how they are using it, but they do give us hints. If we knew exactly what it was, we may be able to “beat the system” and outrank the competition. Unfortunately, once everyone caught onto this, they’d all be doing it. The whole point of organic search results would be compromised; it would just be a race to the top. Google is constantly evolving their algorithms to understand language and web content in a more and more human way and deliver search results that people actually want to see.

What DO we know?

The latest update to Google’s algorithm is called SMITH. We don’t know a whole lot about it so far, but it seems like it is picking up where BERT left off. The last update was called BERT and it was not so much an algorithm itself as it was an ingredient or tool to the existing algorithm. The purpose of BERT was to increase “natural language understanding”. This means that instead of relying on specific keywords, Google’s algorithm can actually interpret the meaning and intent of the words.

So, if lingo or wordplay is used, the algorithm could detect their meaning and serve up search results that apply to the meaning of a keyword, not just the actual text. For content writers, this is great news. If Google is able to understand clever and more subtle language use, you won’t have to go out of your way to “please the algorithm” with your content. You can write more naturally and have more fun with your language without worrying about Google’s judgment as much.

The SMITH algorithm

SMITH takes the next step in understanding language. BERT increased the understanding of individual words, but SMITH can interpret entires passages. Basically, if BERT was for words, SMITH is for sentences. This opens up huge possibilities and takes the understanding gained by BERT to the next level. This means that SMITH will excel at interpreting long documents when compared to BERT. The longer the document, the more SMITH outperforms.

While Google has not officially announced that it is using SMITH, it makes sense they would add it to BERT to help understand large pages online. Until that time, we can only speculate. But if SMITH is beating BERT in testing, it would be surprising if Google didn’t add it to their algorithm. This could mean a big leap in Google’s ability to understand the content. If your website writes great content already, this could be good news for you. If your content is weak, however, you might want to consider improving.

 

SMITH algorithmThe AD Leaf Marketing Firm has a team of SEO experts who stay on top of Google’s algorithm. If your business’ website is struggling to get traffic, contact us to find out how we can help you!

Is Your Marketing Cutting It? Here’s How To Make The Most Out Of Your Budget.

Posted on | by Wren Kurgis
Advertising, Email Marketing, Pay Per Click, Search Engine Optimization

Let’s cut to the chase: without proper marketing, your business is set to struggle. In today’s digital age, having an online presence is more important than ever. Even if you do have a digital presence, are you truly making the most of it?

Whether you’re new to digital marketing or have been in the game for a while, it might be time to reassess your budget. According to BDC, your marketing budget should be between 2 and 5% of your revenue for business to business, B2B, and between 5 and 10% for business to consumer, B2C. The term marketing is broad, so you may be wondering how you can know what you should be putting your investment in. The AD Leaf is here to break down how you can truly make the most of your budget.

Marketing Is An Investment

Something to keep in mind when planning out your budget is that marketing is an investment you are making and not simply an expense. When you pay for marketing, you are hopefully going to see results that will help your company endlessly. While it can be hard to justify spending the cash, especially for small businesses, there are so many reasons why marketing is worth the investment. When you market your business, you are:

  • Building brand awareness
  • Increasing your sales
  • Alerting potential customers and clients to new deals, offerings, and sales
  • Building a customer base
  • Taking advantage of social media and other online spaces
  • Putting your business where your customers are
  • Receiving analytics to help improve your future business strategy

Get The Most Out Of Your Marketing Budget

Marketing budgets can be hard to set for small and big businesses alike. It takes a lot of trial and error to find the right combination of online platforms to get a good ROI, return on investment. We have a few tips and tricks up our sleeve for you to use to get your business off the ground.

  • Start your business off on the right foot: New businesses can have a harder time breaking into an established field. By spending a little extra money upfront, around 15-20% of your revenue depending on your industry, you can get a boost into your target market. Once your business becomes a little better established, you can drop your spending to about 5-10%.
  • Try competition matching: Take a look at what your competitors are doing that’s working for them. Could it also be applied to your marketing strategy? If so, you might be able to get inspiration from other players in the field.
  • Keep your goals in mind: Having a goal-driven marketing strategy is one of the best ways to reach your objectives. Try using the acronym S.M.A.R.T. to set your goals: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Keeping this acronym in mind will help you set goals you can realistically hope to achieve with specific ways to achieve them.
  • Imagine yourself in the customer’s shoes: While this is a pretty straightforward piece of advice, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that you should always think of what’s happening on the other end of your marketing. Are you solving a problem for a customer, or are you just trying to sell a product? Always keep in mind your customer’s journey all the way from your advertisement to them clicking “complete purchase”. What keeps them clicking through? You should also ask yourself how many leads you are getting, and how many are turning into paying customers. Focusing on the buyer is crucial to your marketing success.
  • Keep your ROI in mind: When you start spending on marketing, make sure you are tracking your ROI. By measuring your ROI, you can determine if your budget needs to be adjusted, or if you should increase your spending.

Who We Are

The AD Leaf Marketing Firm is made of experts well-versed in social media research and content creation. We would love to conquer the world of ever-changing social media and research for your company and help sky-rocket your business’s online presence and social engagement. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you grow by using our online form or call us at 321.255.0900. You can also email us at info@theadleaf.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How 2020 Shaped The Social Media Landscape For 2021

Posted on | by Layla Soboh
Uncategorized

  For many ringing in the new year, the excitement to dispel the old year outweighed the enthusiasm for the new one. Our country experienced tremendous hardship economically, medically, and individually. But where there is suffering, there are survivors who see adversity as an opportunity to innovate. We’ve all become experts at social parkour, jumping from one challenge to the next in the swiftest way possible. In the old advertising landscape, corporations acted in unison, all offering the same press releases in response to social events. In 2020, social media changed all that. Corporate approaches to social commentary were widely-varied, ushering in a new era of unique brand personality. Brand voices are now as distinct as human voices; no two are the same. Social media is the first line of defense to a company’s brand character and the swiftest form of communication that a company has with its audience. Being able to balance expediency with substance is the mark of a great social media guru. Here are three things social media managers learned in 2020. 

 

  1. Trade in customer experience for quick acquisition.

    Traditional methods for building customer loyalty through exceptional customer experience are not possible in the new distanced merchant environment. You can’t try on your clothes, you can’t have a food sample, and you can’t even get into a conversation with an employee at close range. These used to drive our purchases and create a sense of fondness (and eventually loyalty) to our favorite brands. While we can’t replicate these organic experiences digitally, we can shift focus. Acquiring new customers and holding their attention spans will be critical for increasing your return on investment.

 

    In social media, “less is more” thinking will defeat you. Multichannel campaigns have higher returns than single media ones. This is also true for features. Use every feature available to you. This will improve your relationship with algorithms and help to replace the in-store experience. For example, use live streams to show off products. Scrolling through product search results isn’t a good substitute for fun window-shopping with friends. Inspire users to buy things by showcasing them with a charismatic showman. 

 

  1. Slow and steady wins the race.

    Addressing a global pandemic and a rocky political climate while still prioritizing sales was a huge challenge for brands last year. Brands that chose to center themselves in important conversations were the ones that missed the mark. People were seeking to connect with each other rather than companies during times of crisis, and brands who ignored this came across as insensitive and selfish. Brands that stepped back from advertising to listen intently to their audience were the ones that we’re able to connect in a meaningful way once they returned. The lesson to be learned is that saying the right thing should be prioritized rather than saying something first. Even if self-promotion seems critical to your business, there are times when it could backfire. Don’t be afraid to hold back until the correct narrative is clear. Customers admire restraint and integrity. 

 

    When Nathan Apodaca went viral for his skateboarding TikTok video set to the calming ambiance of Fleetwood Mac and while enjoying swigs of Ocean Spray cranberry juice, Ocean Spray took over a week to address the viral moment. After taking the time to conduct “social media listening,” they used the moment to give back to Apodaca rather than soak in the free publicity. Ocean Spray sent him a new truck and a supply of cranberry juice, much to the delight of TikTok users (a notoriously hard audience for corporations to win over). They even got their CEO to recreate the viral video, adding a moment of lightness to an otherwise heavy atmosphere. 

 

  1. Stop underestimating baby boomers once and for all.

Brands initially considered social media the direct link to Millenials and Gen Z, leaving a generation of users (and potential customers) in the dark. According to Hootsuite’s Digital 2020 data report, 70% of internet users between 55 and 64 have bought something online in the past month. So why do marketers keep ignoring them? Ageism is a real issue manifested on social media through a constant lack of representation of older people in images. In 2021, neglecting to appeal to this older audience could mean being surpassed by brands not tied down by stereotypes. 

Merely including this demographic isn’t enough. Monolithic views of an entire generation are not rooted in reality. Not every boomer is a potential customer of your brand. Thoughtful segmentation of this demographic will lead to increased brand favorability. Instead of targeting audiences by age, try clustering them by shared passions. Facebook is the biggest platform for boomers, but Pinterest is the second-largest and offers a more valuable insight into all users’ interests. Assuming that boomers are elderly people incapable of exploring new things is a dated stereotype that is hurtful to a group that is perhaps suffering the most in this current situation. Compassionate creative can help us show a new world that is kinder to those over 50.

 

We do our homework. 

At The Ad Leaf, our social team is paying attention to the trends shaping the new-age media space. We scan the internet and analyze data so that we can pass those insights on to our clients and generate success both in terms of brand favorability and return on investment. 

 

New Content Marketing Trends to Watch

Posted on | by Erin Brady
Content Writing

2021 is a new year, which means new beginnings. That is why you should keep an eye out for new business trends, as they could result in significant benefits for your business. You might be wondering why marketing trends are important for your business. This is because they have the potential to show your audience that your company is innovative and not stuck in the past. By following current marketing trends, you are saying that you are committed to change and adaptation.

Here at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC., we can help you utilize current trends to your advantage. The content marketing team is well-versed in what is currently hot and can use them to help your business grow. If you are interested in utilizing current marketing trends, we can help!

Videos 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have turned to videos to learn more about products and services. As the pandemic continues, so has the effectiveness of videos. You do not have to be a master video editor to make an engaging video for your website and social media channels. The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC. can help you create the best informative videos for your business.

Social Media Stories

The novelty of social media story features is that the content shared can only be seen for a limited time. This time limit can create a sense of urgency in your audience if done effectively. The popularity of stories does not seem to be going away in 2021, as more social media platforms are rolling out their competitive story features. For more information on how you can use these stories to your business’s advantage, check out this blog post. 

Ultimate Guides

Some consumers want as much information as possible when researching products or services. If you are a company with customers like this, creating an ultimate guide can attract new business and have you rank higher in organic search results. You can expect an influx of these guides to pop up on your competition’s websites, so do not wait to start compiling one today!

Content Marketing Services in Melbourne, FL

Here at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC., we are committed to helping your brand succeed through content marketing and other services. Our team of content writers will collaborate with you to bring out the best of your pre-existing content, as well as create new content ideas and pages. There is no need to feel nervous about your current content when you work with us, we will work hard to showcase what sets you apart from your competitors. 

Are you ready to bring out the best of your website’s content through our extensive content marketing services? Contact us today at 321-255-0900 to schedule a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Content Marketing Questions

Posted on | by Erin Brady
Content Writing

Many clients who are interested in content marketing services usually have some questions or misconceptions. Sure, social media is all about creating posts and web design is responsible for creating a website but, content marketing might seem a little unclear to those who are not familiar with it.

If you need assistance with your content marketing research, look no further! The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC. is here to assist you with all of your content needs. We can help explain and answer any questions you might have. Here are a few questions that are usually asked about our content services. 

So, What Exactly Is Content Marketing?

This is probably the question we get asked the most by clients. Content marketing is defined by the Content Marketing Institute as:

“Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.”

In simple terms, content marketing is creating copy that perfectly encapsulates your business and services. Content can take some different forms, but arguably the most common form is website copy. Potential customers are searching for specific products or services, leading to your website being one of many results given to them through a search engine’s organic search results. Copyediting your website’s current pages and adding new ones are great ways to boost your listing without having to pay for ad space.

How Does Content Marketing Help Boost My Brand?

Consumers want to purchase products and services from a company that knows what they are doing. When browsing a website, consumers want to access everything they need to know promptly. Unorganized website content can potentially harm your business because the information that some consumers want is not present. 

Thankfully, a team of content marketers that can better articulate your brand online can help. Pages and product descriptions that have lots of relevant information can establish you as more credible, and a better choice to do business with compared to your competition. 

Why Should I Get Content Marketing Services?

There are several different benefits to investing in content marketing services. For starters, more cohesive content can result in an increase of traffic on your website and social media accounts. When you cross-post new website content, your followers can see and engage with it. 

Another benefit to content marketing is the potential to strengthen your relationship with your audience. Many consumers are less likely to purchase products and services from businesses that do not engage with them. By writing new website content and posting about it on your social media pages, you are showing your audience that you care about educating them. 

Content Marketing Services in Melbourne, FL

Here at The AD Leaf Marketing Firm LLC., we are committed to helping your brand succeed through content marketing as well as through any other marketing service you may need. Our team of content writers will collaborate with you to bring out the best of your pre-existing content, as well as create new content ideas and pages. There is no need to feel nervous about your current content when you work with us. We also offer many other marketing services to help expand your business’s online presence.

Are you ready to bring out the best of your website’s content through our extensive content marketing services? Contact us today at 321-255-0900 to schedule a free consultation.

Business Owners and Social Media: The Struggle for Relevance

Posted on | by Lindsey Waite
Marketing, Social Media

Since the beginning, social media has been a phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. The world of AIM and Myspace seems like one we lived in so long ago. These platforms have procured a more powerful influence than many of us could have ever imagined. 

 

Trends are made and then declared “untrendy” seemingly as soon as they begin on social media apps. If caught outside the facet of what’s popular, you can easily be seen as “irrelevant”. This may seem brutal, yet it shows us that our modern society is constantly changing, especially online. The positive of this is the ability to message a company without ever having to speak to them on the phone. This is heaven for many anxious young people, yet foreign to many of those who once relied on phone calls for so many interactions.

 

Maintaining a Successful Social Media

 

How do businesses maintain successful social media accounts, grow, and yet still stay relevant? Of course, a successful business always takes priority, but these two concepts are intertwined. 

 

As a business owner, social media needs to become an instrumental part of your success. An outdated social profile could cause people to think your business is closed. Plus, those who do not feel comfortable calling your business, will not be able to message or email you.

The struggle for relevance on social media seems like an uphill battle when it comes to committing large amounts of time to the research needed to maintain a successful social media campaign. A large problem with this commitment is that there isn’t enough time to monitor and research trends and consistently post on social media while running a productive business. 

 

The Necessary Trend Research

 

Is trend research necessary? Why can’t I simply post business updates on my existing social media when needed? The short answer to both of these questions is yes. The long answer is more involved. Posting on social media is simple, but making it an effective use of a business owner’s time is another issue altogether. This is where research and forethought become essential.

 

Social media trends are a large part of relevancy. The average person spends 144 minutes on social media per day, and they’re looking for what’s trending. The struggle is to become involved in a trend while it’s still relevant. If the news is reporting on a trend, then it is likely it is already dying out. By the time a news company commits to verifying the information within the trend, the social media app as a whole may have already moved on. One example of this is the ALS ice bucket challenge. While obviously one of the most important and beneficial trends to come from social media, if you participated in it today, you wouldn’t be participating in something that is actively trending, and people likely wouldn’t find your post.

 

Social media, for better or for worse, has seemingly lessened the attention span of millions. From 2000 to 2015, the average person’s attention span has decreased from 15 seconds to eight seconds. Among multiple devices and millions of sources for consumption, you must first attract a user, and then manage to grab their eight seconds of attention. If you come into a trend late, the attention held for it will already be exhausted. This is why research has become monumental within the social media space. 

 

The Agency Approach

 

The job of a social media department in an agency partially rides on the concept of ensuring their clients stay relevant. Constantly monitoring trends and staying up-to-date on industry news are the catalyst for this. Often, this is achieved within a much more affordable price point than developing an internal social media team in your company.

 

Technology is frequently changing, and for many, once they’re finally comfortable with an app or feature, it is already becoming out-of-date. How do you as a business owner conquer this?

  • Use and understand multiple social medias 
  • Monitor publicly reported changes 
  • Interact daily with your followers and post multiple types of content
  • Create graphics and posts that will engage people from multiple perspectives
  • Analyze your results over time and make changes to your actions based on results
  • Create and monitor advertisements
  • Repeat

 

Unfortunately, many business owners simply do not have the time for this.

 

How do ad agencies conquer this effectively? All of these steps are part of their daily routine. Social media is constantly consumed in both a professional and personal aspect by most specialists. Consider an agency as simply hiring an expert. Just as you may hire a professional to paint your house versus buying all of the supplies and learning through trial and error.

 

Hiring an agency is almost a no-brainer when considering if you should sacrifice the time to dedicate yourself to continuous research into the social media world while simultaneously running and innovating your business. Agencies are an effective use of your money and your tremendously important time. The battle of staying relevant in the essential world of social media is best won by someone constantly engulfed by the ongoing research, leaving business owners to continue to do what they do best — be successful.

 

The AD Leaf Marketing Firm is made of experts well-versed in social media research and content creation. We would love to conquer the world of ever-changing social media and research for your company, and help sky-rocket your business’s online presence and social engagement. Contact us for more information.

It’s Time to Rebuild Your Outdated Website.

Posted on | by Wren Kurgis
Graphic Design, IT Services, Website Design

Today, good design is everything. People laugh at websites from 2005. It’s time to elevate your online presence and make a website that stands out. Whether you’re building a new site from the ground up or updating an old one, keeping your image sharp online can help put you at the top of your game for business.

Think about your own experience online. Do you prefer looking at images or long bodies of text? What colors stand out? Do you really like those clunky buttons? Having a sleek website doesn’t have to be hard. With many easy site-building tools on the market today, it’s easier than ever to get an up-to-date look for your online hub. And if you can’t put in the time or don’t quite understand how newer tech works, The AD Leaf can help with web design too!

 

Why It’s Time to Update That Old Site

  • First Impressions Are Everything.

When a customer searches for your product, it is likely that the first thing they will see is your website. Taking advantage of this is crucial in today’s digital world; even word of mouth will lead to potential customers searching for your site for hours of operation, products, and more. Creating a website that offers the answers to these questions in a good-looking package means that consumers will have a more enjoyable experience browsing your site. Happy customers = good business. 

  • Your SEO Will Benefit.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is one of the most important factors that goes into making a website. Everything down to the code used to build your site needs to be SEO-friendly in order to get the best online visibility. By utilizing key phrases and words, marketing teams like The AD Leaf can help your website rank higher in Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other searches. Making sure your website can be found is a great way to reach new and existing customers with good web copy, new blog updates, and more. 

  • You’ll Come Across Better to Customers.

If you put in the time to create a good-looking website, your audience will know that you will put in the time for them too. The best websites are created with the reader in mind; everything from button placement to how the content is written is crafted to make the browsing experience more enjoyable. With a bright, welcoming website, your customers will feel welcomed as if greeted by a friendly customer service representative. On the other hand, an old, forgotten page can come across as untrustworthy.

  • It’s Important to Keep Up With Competition.

Think about this: your competitors probably already have updated websites. With the push for more and more online services, the demand for website development has skyrocketed, meaning you might be falling behind. Don’t be left in the dust, update your site as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

  • It Creates a Consistent Image.

Having a website that is accessible from a laptop, phone, tablet, or any other internet-using device is part of being up-to-date. Being visible on all platforms will help your brand stay consistent, creating a better image for you and your product. Combining a fresh new site with high-quality graphic design can be the best way to elevate your brand.

  • Your Audience Will Trust You More.

Let’s be honest. People don’t trust sketchy websites. Just like a house, if a customer doesn’t feel comfortable on your website, they’re going to leave it. A disheveled, dusty shop isn’t going to sell as much as a shiny new one, no matter what the quality of the product.

 

Just like an interview, you want your business to make its best first impression. In today’s digital age, people are turning more and more to the internet to search for products and services. Keeping up with current design trends and digital interfaces can help put you ahead of the competition. Whether creating your own site from an easy online source or taking advantage of creative services like ours, get your site up to snuff for the new year.

How E-Commerce Can Increase Your Profit

Posted on | by Wren Kurgis
Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media

The world has never been as digital as it is now. Companies are flocking to the web to create websites, update blogs, access social media, and set up online stores, especially with this year’s inability to shop in-person. With easy-to-use tools like Shopify, the landscape of the internet is becoming more saturated with ways to purchase goods and services. And there’s good reason, too.

You may have heard of e-commerce, but what is it really? Simply put, e-commerce is defined as the buying and selling of goods and services online. E-commerce has taken off in a way no one could have imagined during the pandemic. From huge sites like Amazon to independent online stores, people have been spending more and more online, making the demand for online shopping skyrocket. 

Think about your own experience online. Chances are, you’ve probably needed a food delivery or a quick shipment of toilet paper. Imagine if you could give your customers the same quick experience. The ease of e-commerce is one of its biggest appeals, and offering that to your customers will likely increase your sales as well as help you build your brand identity, not to mention keep your business alive as technology rushed forward.

 

How to Use E-Commerce to Increase Profits

  • Build an online site.

Obviously, you’re going to need a website in order to sell products and services online. If you already have one, site hosts like WordPress or Wix likely have an option to add a store. If you don’t have a website already, that’s okay! There are lots of options for website development that are user-friendly; The AD Leaf offers affordable and effective web design too.

  • Decide on products.

Almost anything can be sold online, but sometimes it’s easier for some products than others. If you sell ice cream and candy, for example, you might choose to only offer candy for purchase online to avoid difficult and costly shipping methods for special items. Think about what you can offer that you already have, or what you could add to your inventory that might sell well online.

  • Upload products.

Once you’ve decided on which products to sell, you’re going to want to upload them to your shop. You’ll need great photos of your stuff, which means you can either try to take professional quality pictures or seek the help of professional services. Choosing prices, layouts, menu options, and other details to fill out your shop is the next step, followed by writing up product descriptions.

  • Utilize SEO and Content Writing.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of helping your business rank higher in searches on sites like Google or Bing. SEO professionals use strategic keywords and market research to help your webpages rise above the competition. SEO teams work closely with content writers who fill out your website with relevant service pages, blogs, product descriptions, and more, all to make your website the optimal marketing tool. Without proper SEO strategies, your website could suffer from being buried at the bottom of the pile of endless other sites, making it hard for customers to be able to find you.

  • Get on social media.

Your customers are on social media already, so why not reach out to them there, too? Utilizing social media channels is a great way to build your brand image, reach more potential customers, and run campaigns. You can advertise or just be present to raise awareness of your shop. If being on social media seems like too much of a hassle, there are also professionals who are experts in navigating the apps who can help take your store to the next level.

  • Run promotions.

Being active with your customers is also an effective way to drive sales. By running promotions, you are offering your customers a chance to save a bit of money while also attracting more attention to your online store. This can be done directly on your site or through social media channels as well.

 

Just like an interview, you want your business to make its best first impression. In today’s digital age, people are turning more and more to the internet to search for products and services. In 2020 especially, people can’t even go into stores to buy essentials, making e-commerce crucial for businesses to stay afloat. Keeping up with current e-commerce trends and digital interfaces can help put you ahead of the competition. Whether creating your own online shop from an online source or taking advantage of creative services like ours, get your site up to snuff for the new year.

2021 Content Resolutions Your Business Should Make

Posted on | by Erin Brady
Content Writing

With every new year comes new resolutions to make. A new year brings change and optimism for the future, and 2021 is no exception. Perhaps you started a new business in 2020 or were able to persevere during difficult times. Either way, you should view 2021 as full of new opportunities to market and grow your business.

One great way to boost your company’s presence is through content marketing. Anything of the written word, from emails to webpages, falls under the content writing sphere. However, you might not be able to find time to do all of this yourself. 

That is why the content specialists at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC.  are here to help! We can help create a content marketing strategy that could boost your business in the new year. Here are some of the things your business could add that you should start considering:

Take Notice of Your Web Copy

If you are interested in content marketing services, it is crucial that you know what kind of content your website already has. Check to see if your web pages or product descriptions are accurate to what you are advertising. If you do not like the web copy, do not be afraid to send it to us! Our content marketers are here to turn your current copy into pieces of content you and your customers will love.

Start Your Own Business Blog

Your target audience is specific and in the market for the product or services you are offering. That is why a blog can help drive new traffic onto your website. Writing about your products and how they relate to current events or problems can create interest in your company. You can also write about current industry topics or even answer questions that your customers might have. The possibilities are endless with a business blog, and that is why you should talk to us here at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC.  about launching one.

Increase Your Social Media Presence

Here is something that you are probably already starting. Social media networks are a great way to connect with your audience and advertise your products. However, they are also great pathways to your website, thus driving up traffic. By linking an exclusive deal or a new blog post to your social media accounts, members of your target audience that are interested in your company will engage with what you have to say. 

Start a Contest

Who doesn’t like free stuff? Chances are, not your customers. To kickstart the new year, try advertising a contest on social media! You can give away a gift card for your services, a product of the winner’s choice, or anything else that fits your company best. As far as advertising this contest goes, we can help! 

Start The New Year Right with The AD Leaf

Are you ready to kick off 2021 with a brand new content marketing strategy? Call The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC.  at 321-255-0900 today for a free consultation!