programmatic vs display advertising

Programmatic vs. Display Advertising: Which Is More Effective for Your Business?

Programmatic vs. Display Advertising: Which Is More Effective for Your Business?

When it comes to advertising your business online, understanding the differences between programmatic and display advertising can play a vital role in determining the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. In this article, we will explore the nuances of programmatic and display advertising, explore their advantages, discuss how they work, and provide insights on when to use each method to maximize your advertising impact.

What is the Difference Between Programmatic and Display Advertising?

Programmatic and display advertising are two popular approaches in digital marketing that businesses use to reach their target audience online. Programmatic advertising uses automated technology to buy and place ads online, targeting specific audiences based on demographics, behavior, and interests. This approach allows for real-time bidding on ad placements and allows businesses to reach their target audience efficiently.

Display advertising, on the other hand, involves creating visual ads that are displayed on websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms. These ads can be static images, videos, or interactive multimedia content. Display advertising is often used to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to a website, or promote specific products or services.

Both programmatic and display advertising have strengths and can be effective depending on the goals of the marketing campaign. Programmatic advertising offers more precise targeting and better campaign performance tracking, while display advertising allows for more creative and visually appealing ad formats. Businesses often use a combination of both approaches to maximize their online advertising efforts and reach their target audience effectively. 

Understanding Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising involves the automated buying and selling of ad space in real time through a bidding system. It uses algorithms to target specific audiences and deliver ads efficiently across various platforms. Programmatic advertising allows for more precise targeting, enabling advertisers to reach their desired audience more cost-effectively. Using data and machine learning, advertisers can optimize their campaigns in real time, making adjustments to improve performance and maximize their return on investment.

One key benefit of programmatic advertising is its ability to scale campaigns quickly and efficiently. Advertisers can reach a large audience across multiple platforms with the click of a button, making it easier to launch new campaigns and test different strategies.

Additionally, programmatic advertising provides transparency and control for advertisers, allowing them to track the performance of their campaigns in real time and make adjustments as needed. This level of insight enables advertisers to make data-driven decisions and optimize their campaigns for maximum impact.

Programmatic advertising offers advertisers a more efficient and effective way to reach their target audience at scale, driving better results and improving overall campaign performance. 

Exploring Display Advertising

Display advertising, on the other hand, includes visual ads such as banner ads, video ads, and native ads that appear on websites and mobile apps. These ads are typically purchased directly from publishers or through ad networks. Display advertising is a popular online advertising that helps businesses promote their products or services to a larger audience. These ads can be targeted to specific demographics, interests, or behaviors of the users to increase the chances of engagement and conversions.

Banner ads are rectangular advertisements that appear at the top, bottom, or sides of a webpage. They contain a visual and a call-to-action to prompt users to click on them and visit the advertiser’s website.

Video ads are short video clips that play before, during, or after online content such as videos, games, or social media posts. They can be skippable or non-skippable, and they are an effective way to capture the audience’s attention and convey a message in a more engaging format. 

Native ads are ads that match the look and feel of the content on the website or app where they appear. They blend seamlessly with the surrounding content, making them less intrusive and more likely to be engaged with by users.

Display advertising can help businesses increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, generate leads, and increase sales. It is an important part of a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that can reach a wider audience and improve ROI. 

Comparing Ad Formats: Programmatic vs. Display Advertising

While programmatic advertising focuses on automated ad placement, display advertising, also known as visual advertising, allows for more creative freedom in designing ad formats to attract potential customers’ attention. Display advertising, also known as visual advertising, includes a range of ad formats such as banner ads, pop-up ads, interstitial ads, video ads, and rich media ads. These formats allow for more creativity and flexibility in creating eye-catching and engaging advertisements that can help businesses stand out in a crowded digital marketplace.

With display advertising, businesses have the ability to use compelling visuals, animations, and interactive elements to capture the attention of their target audience and convey their message effectively. They can also tailor the design and messaging of their ads to specific demographic or behavioral segments to ensure that the right message is reaching the right people at the right time.

Additionally, display advertising can be used across a variety of platforms, including websites, mobile apps, social media, and email, allowing businesses to reach their audience wherever they are online.

This omnichannel approach can help increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, generate leads, and ultimately boost sales.

What Are the Advantages of Programmatic Advertising?

Programmatic advertising offers several advantages that can benefit businesses looking to enhance their digital advertising strategies.

Targeted Ad Placement

With programmatic advertising, businesses can target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and online behaviors, ensuring that ads are displayed to the most relevant viewers.

Real-Time Bidding

Real-time bidding in programmatic advertising allows advertisers to bid on ad space instantly, optimizing ad placements and ensuring efficient use of advertising budgets.

Efficient Ad Campaign Management

Programmatic advertising streamlines the ad campaign management process by providing real-time performance data, enabling advertisers to make data-driven decisions to improve campaign effectiveness.

How Does Display Advertising Work?

Display advertising operates by showcasing visual ads to online audiences, aiming to increase brand visibility and drive traffic to a business’s website or landing page.

Types of Display Ads

Display ads come in various formats, including banner ads, video ads, and native ads, each serving different purposes in capturing the attention of potential customers.

Utilizing Display Ad Networks

Advertisers can leverage ad networks like Google Display Network to reach a broader audience by displaying their ads on a network of websites and mobile apps.

Measuring Ad Performance

Display advertising allows businesses to track ad performance metrics such as click-through rates, conversions, and impressions, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns.

When to Use Programmatic vs. Display Advertising?

Deciding between programmatic and display advertising depends on various factors, including your advertising goals, target audience, and budget constraints.

Considerations for Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic advertising is ideal for businesses seeking precise audience targeting and real-time campaign optimization. It works best for brands looking to reach specific demographics or run dynamic ad campaigns.

Suitability of Display Ads

Display advertising is suitable for businesses aiming to enhance brand awareness through visual storytelling and creative ad formats. It can be effective in capturing the attention of a broad audience and driving engagement.

Integration of Both Strategies

For optimal results, businesses can integrate both programmatic and display advertising strategies to leverage the strengths of each approach. By combining targeted audience reach with visually appealing creatives, businesses can maximize their advertising impact.

Maximizing Advertising Impact with Programmatic Display Ads

By combining the strengths of programmatic and display advertising, businesses can create impactful ad campaigns that resonate with their target audience. Programmatic advertising allows businesses to effectively reach their target audience through data-driven strategies and automation. Display advertising, on the other hand, enables businesses to create visually appealing ad creatives that can capture the attention of their audience.

Businesses can leverage the targeting capabilities of programmatic advertising to reach the right audience at the right time while also utilizing the engaging visuals of display advertising to effectively communicate their message.

This combination can help businesses create more impactful ad campaigns that drive meaningful results, such as increased brand awareness, leads, and sales. Additionally, the ability to track and measure the performance of these campaigns in real time allows businesses to optimize their strategies for better outcomes.

By harnessing the strengths of programmatic and display advertising, businesses can create comprehensive ad campaigns that resonate with their target audience and drive success for their business. 

Utilizing Different Ad Formats

Experimenting with various ad formats, such as video ads, interactive ads, and native ads, can help businesses capture the attention of their audience and drive engagement.

Optimizing Ad Placement

Strategic placement of ads on high-traffic websites and mobile apps can increase visibility and ensure that ads are seen by the right audience at the right time.

Utilizing Data for Targeting

By leveraging data analytics and insights from programmatic advertising, businesses can refine their targeting strategies and create personalized ad experiences for their audience, leading to higher conversion rates and ROI.

Q: What is the difference between programmatic and display advertising?

A: Programmatic advertising involves automated buying of ad space, while display advertising involves placing ads on websites manually.

Q: Which type of advertising is more cost-effective, programmatic or display?

A: Programmatic advertising is usually more cost-effective as it targets specific audiences and optimizes in real time.

Q: How does programmatic display advertising work?

A: Programmatic display advertising uses ad exchanges and real-time bidding to automatically buy ad space and show ads to relevant users.

Q: What are the advantages of display advertising campaigns?

A: Display advertising campaigns help increase brand visibility, drive traffic to websites, and target specific audiences effectively.

Q: What is the Google Display Network, and how does it relate to programmatic advertising?

A: The Google Display Network is a network of websites where advertisers can display ads. It can be used in both traditional display advertising and programmatic advertising campaigns.

Q: Which type of advertising is more suitable for small businesses, programmatic or display?

A: Programmatic advertising can be a better option for small businesses as it allows precise targeting and efficient budget allocation.

Q: How can businesses benefit from integrating both programmatic ads and display ads?

A: By combining programmatic ads’ efficiency with display ads’ brand visibility, businesses can reach a wider audience and maximize their ad campaign impact.

More About The AD Leaf

The AD Leaf specializes in marketing services designed to boost your business’ success through strategic partnerships, data-driven insights, and compelling campaigns. Let’s work together to fuel growth, elevate customer experiences, and establish your business as a standout in the industry. Reach out today to see how we can help take your business to the next level!

Selling Beyond Products: The Importance of Brand Identity and a Unique Selling Proposition

In today’s saturated marketplace, businesses constantly grapple with the challenge of differentiation. With a vast array of similar products and services at consumers’ fingertips, simply touting the features of your offerings is no longer a sufficient strategy. The modern consumer seeks more than just a product; they want to invest in brands that align with their values and aspirations. Thus, businesses must shift focus from product-centric selling to creating a compelling brand identity that resonates with their target audience. This strategic emphasis on branding not only distinguishes your business in a crowded market but also fosters a deeper connection with your audience, driving customer loyalty and increasing brand value.

Building a Strong Brand Identity: The Key to Business Success

Brand Awareness

Crafting a distinct brand identity is an essential aspect of a successful business strategy. This process goes far beyond creating a catchy logo or a visually appealing color palette. It involves understanding your business’s core values, mission, and unique selling propositions and articulating these elements in a way that resonates with your target audience. A well-crafted brand identity not only differentiates your business from competitors but also fosters customer loyalty, as consumers are more likely to associate with brands that reflect their own values and aspirations. According to Crowdspring, 64% of consumers form brand loyalty because of shared values. This alignment creates a solid foundation for meaningful and lasting customer relationships, driving long-term business growth and success.

The Power of Brand Image: Boosting Recognition through Visual Identity

An essential component of brand identity is the brand image – the visual elements that represent your brand, from typography and color palette to logo design. A strategically designed brand image can significantly enhance brand recognition. For instance, choosing a signature color for your brand can increase recognition by up to 80%, according to a study by the Pantone Color Institute. This statistic underlines the fact that visual elements play a crucial role in making your brand memorable to consumers. By carefully crafting your brand image, you can create a lasting impression on your audience, leading to increased loyalty, engagement, and, ultimately, business growth.

Harnessing the Potential of Brand Voice: A Cornerstone of Effective Branding

A critical yet often overlooked aspect of brand identity is the brand voice. This refers to the distinctive personality and tone conveyed through your company’s communication, be it via website content, social media posts, or customer service interactions. Far more than just words, your brand voice is an embodiment of your company’s values, ethos, and unique selling proposition. A consistent and compelling brand voice can significantly enhance your brand’s credibility and foster a sense of trust and familiarity among your audience. Investing time and resources in crafting and maintaining a strong brand voice is not just desirable but vital for the longevity and success of your business.

The Impact of Brand Consistency: Driving Revenue Growth

Maintaining brand consistency is paramount for businesses looking to make a lasting impression and foster customer loyalty. A consistent brand experience across all touch points reinforces the brand identity, building recognition and trust among customers. It ensures that the brand’s mission, values, and unique selling propositions are consistently communicated, thereby enhancing the brand’s credibility and reinforcing its market position. Two-thirds of businesses have reported that brand consistency has contributed to revenue growths of at least 10%. This statistic underscores the fact that consistency in branding is not just about maintaining a unified image but also about driving tangible business results.

Leveraging Unique Selling Propositions: The Backbone of Successful Branding

Unique Selling Propositions (USPs) are a critical facet of a potent brand strategy. A powerful USP captures the essence of your brand, communicating its unique attributes and providing clear reasons why consumers should choose your offering over competitors. Whether it’s unrivaled quality, innovative features, or exceptional service, a compelling USP can effectively differentiate your brand in a crowded marketplace, driving consumer interest and fostering loyalty. By developing and promoting a strong USP, businesses can not only carve out a competitive edge but also reinforce their brand identity, anchoring their place in consumers’ minds.

Why The AD Leaf?

At The AD Leaf, we understand and appreciate the intricacies of brand identity and consistency. We recognize that a brand is more than just a logo; it’s an amalgamation of your core values, mission, and unique selling propositions. Leveraging our extensive experience and cutting-edge strategies, we work diligently to articulate and amplify these elements, creating a compelling brand identity that resonates with your target audience. We also prioritize brand consistency, ensuring that your brand message remains coherent across all platforms and communication channels, reinforcing your market position, and building trust among your customers. Our team of experts uses a results-driven approach, employing robust analytics to assess and refine your brand strategy, ultimately driving customer engagement, loyalty, and business growth. With The AD Leaf, you’re not just getting a service provider but a strategic partner committed to your brand’s success.

Influencer Marketing: Leveraging Industry Experts for Brand Promotion

Since the early 2010s, the increase in influencer marketing has become second nature to most active social media users. #Ad and #Sponsored are hashtags that come across feed posts and videos combined, especially with over 64 million influencers on Instagram alone in 2023. With additional influencers across Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and additional sites such as Amazon, all people working part-time or full-time in 2023 are estimated to be a part of a $21.1 billion Influencer Marketing industry.

Influencer Marketing

The Return on Investment (ROI) of Influencer Marketing is higher because of one key element- trust. The audience that follows an influencer typically already trusts the influencer or creator. Utilizing smaller influencers, such as nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) and micro-influencers (10K-100K), is an additional benefit as their audiences tend to be more specified. 

With smaller influencers, their audiences are more specific and can end up slightly out of targeting that may already be used for paid social media-based marketing. By partnering with a face they already know and trust, your brand can move into a new target market and expand your client base. Additionally, influencers can be anyone who influences the buying choices of people. This means that they can be industry experts who have gained the trust of other individual bloggers and content creators who have gained respect within their industry of choice through hours of content created.

Influencer marketing has joined the forefront of the marketing field when it comes specifically to promoting businesses that focus on products in the fashion industry, home decor, and personal expression. The utilization of influencers is a strength because not only are items such as clothing, books, and decor shown on screen, but when the products are used in content, that shows how a product can be used. Their viewers can be turned into a client for the business as they now have a better idea of how the product can bring added value into their own lives.

Compensation for Influencers

Gone are the days when brands could ask influencers to talk about the brand without compensation. Working with brands, while considered an honor to newer influencers, bigger-sized influencers know that their time and platforms are worth much more than just listing working with a company on their resume. 

Payment can be determined by the influencer’s brand kit, based on content creation, number of posts, and other factors within the marketing deal with the influencer, but budgeting within your brand’s budget on what forms of compensation will be utilized. Overall, payment breaks into 1 of 4 categories for Influencer Marketing.

While some brands will choose multiple categories, the split of what brands will offer the talent who works with them can split from being offered free products to monetary compensation and can even include influencer trips, such as when companies like Shein, a discounted fast-fashion website, flew influencers out to see their factories and working conditions with all expenses were covered by the company. But not all marketing needs to be to this level of extravagance to get your marketing across from a trusted internet persona.

Implementing influencer marketing into your business’s marketing plan can feel overwhelming. There can be so many questions running through your head, such as:

  • What level of influencer makes the most sense to pair up with?
  • How many influencers should I be partnering with?
  • How much of my marketing budget should go to programmatic ads, paid social, and influencer marketing?
  • Do I need all the different forms of marketing? Or will a couple work better over all of them?
  • What is the best way to compensate any influencers I partner with?

If all of these questions and more are running around in your mind, it’s time to partner with The AD Leaf Marketing Firm. Our specialists cover all the different forms of marketing and can help explain which options fit your business the best. From marketing successfully for small businesses to mastering your PPC ads, there is a knowledgeable specialist who can assist with all your business needs at The AD Leaf. If you’re ready to put roots in that will grow your business to the next level, The AD Leaf Marketing Firm is ready to nurture your business with you. 

people connecting

What is Marketing?

Do you own or run a company? Do some people say you should market your business? But what is Marketing

It About Connecting

The definition of marketing is the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising. What marketing is really about is connections. Connecting your brand, product, or service with an audience’s desires, wants, and needs. Marketing solves, provides answers, and can offer a promise. An effective promise will help you attract new customers, paving the way to increased sales, revenue, and profitability. However, be mindful of delivering on those promises. Missing the mark of false claims can quickly sever that connection. 

people connecting

The Gap

What is your business’s current state? How many clients or customers do you have? How widgets do you sell a week/month/quarter? What are your monthly sales? Step one in planning a marketing campaign is understanding your current state.

The next step is identifying what your desired future state is. How many clients or customers do you want or can handle? How many widgets would you like to sell? In 30/60/90/120 days? Desired monthly sales?  

The place between the current state and the future state is the gap. Marketing fills the gap, is the bridge from the current to the future. Marketing is not an expense. It’s an investment in the present and future growth of your business.

Investment and Not an Expense. 

a bridge connects

I often hear from businesses that they don’t “believe” in marketing or advertising. Well, did you know that marketing and advertising are not a religion? No, seriously, they are not 🙂 When you hear this, they really mean that they don’t believe it is an investment but rather an expense. Marketing is an investment. Including digital marketing: Ex. SEO, Google Ads, Social Media.  And what you put in is what you receive. And much like financial investments, it is something you have to let work and grow over time to achieve a meaningful yield. An expense is a line item on your balance sheet. Something you will probably look at with angst and find a way to reduce. An investment is an action and effort to realize gains. One is aligned with anxiety, and the other with hope—an investment in you, your employees, and the future of your business. When you see marketing as a growth vehicle for your business vs. another payment, you will start to see and enjoy results.

 

help to grow

The AD Leaf Can Help!

Contact us today to help develop and implement a successful campaign! Talk to one of our experts here at The AD Leaf! To schedule a free consultation with our team, call us today at 321-255-0900.

Why You Need a Brand Strategist

Brand Strategist may sound like a fluff position to you; in reality, it may be the most important person you hire for your company.

A Brand Strategist specializes in research, analysis, positioning, messaging, and developing an informed PR/marketing communications plan to effectively connect your company to your customers and build and further your brand equity. Strategists are the experts at seeing the big picture and generating results. Your Brand Strategist should be able to forecast your company’s future and position your company to benefit from it. Will this be a high-tech, high-growth, or high-value company? Your Brand Strategist is the strategic expert that can look at the overall state of your industry, the competition, your position in the industry, and other issues.

Brand equity is the commercial value derived from consumer perception of the brand rather than from the product or service itself. Your Brand Strategist has first-hand knowledge of the product or service. They know consumers, marketing and advertising, sales, distribution, and other key issues that determine the success of your brand. The Brand Strategist also possesses the ability to identify brand opportunities that would have a significant impact on your company and achieve strategic objectives.

What worked for your friend’s business may not work for yours.

No two businesses are the same. Even if you work in similar industries or have similar target customers, the same strategy should not be blindly applied. Can you imagine if Coca-Cola and Pepsi deployed the same brand strategy? Customers would likely be confused and turned off. The Brand Strategist has a critical role in determining, building, and protecting a brand’s unique image and positioning, as well as determining how these elements will be expressed (written, spoken, image, sound, etc.) in the strategic communications of your business. 

Not all of your customers are created equal.

As I mentioned, research with your target audience(s) is important. And, if you think your audiences are the same, think again. Your brand likely has several audiences – investors, customers, employees, etc. And, the message and strategy won’t be the same for them all. So, which audiences get a say? How do you filter through all the material to come up with one short, powerful statement that encapsulates the innate qualities of the company’s core philosophy? A core set of values can be distilled into a single sentence. Not all of your customers are created equal. 

Because you don’t ‘just need social media support.

For many brands, a presence on social media is essential. But, I wouldn’t recommend any brand prioritize social media before identifying their best brand message and strategy. The time to build this knowledge is BEFORE you need it. That’s when you should use your newfound intelligence to turn social media into a platform to test the tone, voice, and feel of messaging. Re-purpose the dull. Do you know why? Most people aren’t good at messaging. They aren’t good at copywriting. They think messaging = relaying information to the public. It’s NOT. It means how are you going to define who you are, what’s your unique value proposition, how are you going to inspire and motivate your audience, and what kind of experiences are you going to offer? “As a result, many clients don’t have the emotional connection to their brands because, you know, they’re just so busy, they don’t have time. 

You’re not a PR pro or marketing guru.

Nor are you expected to be! And the only thing you should DIY is your business’s core competency. Unless marketing or PR is in your background, it is not expected of you as a business owner to know everything inside and out about successfully marketing your business. That is why hiring a brand strategist to manage and ensure all marketing assets create the success you are looking for is essential. Did you know there are thousands of people currently operating as Brand Strategies?

Wherever your business is today – the beginning, two years in, five years in, or more – it’s never too late to invest in your brand! The most successful stories in the world all began with an investment in their “brand” and ensured their success. A Brand Strategist is a connector between marketing deliverables and success for your business. There are thousands of Brand Strategists throughout the United States, but The AD Leaf is ready to work with you and meet your goals today. Meet with our Brand Strategist,  Joleen Santos, to get started! (321) 255-0900. 

How does graphic design services elevate my business?

How Does Graphic Design Elevate My Business?

 

In today’s highly competitive business world, it’s more important than ever to make an excellent first impression. One of the most important ways to do that is through graphic design services. Whether it’s creating a logo, designing a website, or developing an advertising campaign, graphics can help your business stand out from the crowd. 

But What Are Graphic Design Services?

Design is all around us, in the logos we see on products in the store, on the websites we visit, and in the apps we use on our phones. It’s everywhere, and it’s an essential part of our modern world. But what is graphic design, and why do we need it?

At its best, graphic design is all about creativity and communication. It’s about finding new ways to capture people’s attention and communicate your message in a way that is both visually appealing and memorable.

Design is all around us, in billboards, logos, packaging, and more. It’s a crucial part of marketing, as it helps to communicate information about a product or brand in a visually appealing way. Graphic designers use their creativity and technical skills to create designs that are both eye-catching and informative.

It is the art of creating visual content to communicate messages. It involves a creative and systematic plan to solve a problem or achieve specific objectives using images, symbols, or words. Graphic designers use various methods to create and combine words, symbols, and images to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. They may use typography, visual arts, and page layout techniques to create graphics. Typical uses of graphic design include identity (logos and branding), publications (magazines, newspapers, and books), advertisements, product packaging, and websites.

In short, graphic design can help you reach your target audience and achieve your business goals. So if you’re looking to give your business a boost, consider investing in some good graphics.

How Do Graphics Benefit My Business?

Good graphic design art can set your business apart from the competition. By creating a visually appealing brand, you can communicate your company’s values and mission to potential customers.

In today’s world, first impressions are more important than ever, and a well-designed logo or website can make all the difference. Graphic design can also help target specific markets, as different demographics respond to different images and messages.

With the help of a skilled designer, you can create marketing materials that will reach your ideal customer base and help your business to grow.

Why Do I Need Graphic Design?

Graphic design is essential for businesses of all sizes. From start-ups to established companies, a professionally designed logo and website help to create a solid and recognizable brand. Design assets can also be used to produce marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, and posters, which can help to raise awareness of your business and attract new customers. 

There are many reasons why graphics are essential. For businesses, it’s a way to stand out from the competition and attract customers. For individuals, it can be a way to express themselves creatively. And for society as a whole, it can be used to communicate messages of importance (such as public service announcements or awareness campaigns). Whatever the reason, graphic design plays a vital role in our world today.

By investing in graphics, you can give your business the competitive edge to succeed. 

94% of first impressions people make on your company are based on graphic design.

Examples of Assets:

  • Logos
  • Business Cards
  • Print Design (flyers, billboards, letterhead, signage, and banners)
  • Web Advertisements
  • Promotional Item Design (apparel, pens, koozies, etc.)

Graphic Design Assistance

Good design is imperative to a company’s branding and marketing strategy. It can create trustworthiness with customers and help to set your business apart from the competition. If your business needs graphic design, The AD Leaf can help. We have years of experience creating beautiful, compelling graphics that reflect the essence of businesses. Contact us today at 321-255-0900 or email info@theadleaf.com and ask about our graphic design services.

Helpful Practices for Getting Started in Social Media

Helpful Practices for Getting Started with Social Media in Business

When it comes to social media content and engagement, most businesses don’t know where to start. Companies at times will fail to consider the color schemes, fonts, or styles that they would like to become their online brand. Choosing how your social media will look is as important as choosing your logo. It could be the potential consumer’s first impression of your business or product. These quick and easy rules to follow will show you how to expand your reach and create the ideal appearance for your business. 

 

Find your Target Audience

First and foremost, your audience is an essential factor on your page. A business could post every day, but their business isn’t destined to increase if they have no following. For instance, if you are trying to up your traffic at a restaurant, it might not be the best decision to spend most of your time on LinkedIn. For this crucial reason, one must choose an audience to target and choose their social media platform based on that information. 

Some insights to think about are gender and age range. Pinterest has 431 million users, but 78% of those are female, and 38% of all users are 50-64 years old. On account of those statistics, it is not surprising that not many men’s products are featured on Pinterest’s ads. 

Social media in business must use more strategically than most individuals do; one must know what, how, and when to communicate optimally with your following. To get your point across clearly, sellers must first pinpoint what they are hoping to accomplish, whether it is an increase in reach, leads, traffic, etc. You need to have a communication objective to market your target audience properly. A person can then analyze what needs their business has and how to optimize their time on specific platforms. 

 

Find your look

Most users don’t consider all of the elements that go into making an ad; neuromarketing is everywhere and can influence your consumer decisions regardless of if you realize it. Even font psychology, which is the study of how fonts have the potential to impact thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, can be used to persuade a possible consumer to ‘swipe up’ or add something to their cart. Companies from Google to Cheetos utilize neuromarketing; we overlook the slight details companies have included to sway our behaviors a certain way. 

  After you’ve chosen which platforms to utilize for your business, it is a great idea to choose the theme and overall look of the page. Deciding which colors to use or avoid, finding templates you could use more than once, and if you would like to use primarily graphics or photos without editing are all excellent starting points when building a page. You want a page to look uniform and consistent when making posts. Don’t use a different font or a slightly different color every time. 

Overall, ensure that the account or page represents how you would like to be seen. Look at the big picture of your business account, not just each post. Doing this will ensure that either way a user sees it, they know what your purpose is. Capturing a potential consumer’s attention is more important on social media than ever before because if a user is not impressed, they can swipe away. 

 

Post Strategically

Depending on where the content is posted, it will look slightly different. With Facebook, the key is to post strategically and provide links and more information in the caption because Instagram doesn’t allow links in their captions. Twitter posts should be short and focused due to a character limit. Pinterest and Instagram should be more visual content branding, while blogs offer insights and information. 

How frequently an account post is also essential. We recommend posting new content about 3-4 times a week. The time you post should also be thought out. Sprout Social supplies the best days and times to post on specific platforms based on the industry you are marketing for. For example, “Retail: Wednesday (3 p.m.) and Friday (11 a.m.–12 p.m.) Media and entertainment: Friday (9 a.m.) Tech: Wednesday (6 a.m. and 9 a.m.).”

There are key concepts to remember when posting any content, such as where it is being posted and why anyone would choose your company over someone else’s. From the formatting to the caption, every detail plays a part in making the customer say, “I’ll take it!” If you have more questions or needed guidance about social media in business, contact us!

Getting Started with Social media

Why is Social Media Important for Small Businesses?

In the past few years, B2B marketers have been forced to change their strategy due to COVID-19. Luckily for them, social media is the perfect solution to an un-wished change in networking, communication, and growth for many B2B companies.

The top marketers of B2B companies refocused stronger on their social media strategy. Social media creates a lasting connection with your audience. It has been a phenomenal way to grow relationships with partners and potential prospects! 

B2B marketing is built on relationships, even if the end goal is to sell products or services. Social media allows marketers to unlock and ignite these relationships without in-person events. Recent studies show that 55% of consumers learn about new brands, products, and services through social media. Another 78% of consumers are willing to work with a business after a positive interaction with them on social media. That’s how powerful of a tool it is! 

Social media allows B2B marketers to connect with their audience wherever they are: Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Youtube, Pinterest, and more. Now you know the importance and impact of social media marketing. Here are 5 ways you can use it!

Build brand awareness. Tell your story across various platforms, share customer stories, and explain why you provide the services you offer. 

Generate leads. Focus on your target audience by creating engaging and meaningful conversations.

Build a community. Listen to customers and what they have to say about your company.

Connect social media posts to opportunities.

Drive social posts to your CRM to fully understand customers.

Measure marketing efforts. Research management and social media platforms to help you track key performance metrics (KPIs).

How do I create engaging content? Why do I need it?

You may be wondering what to do with all of this information. Keep things simple, and focus on creating relevant and engaging content for your social media platforms and audience. That’s what matters the most! 

If you want your audience to listen to and engage with you on social media, you have to speak to them in a way they can understand. Your content needs to resonate with your audience. You can ensure that by:

  • Providing value
  • Solving problems
  • Being relatable and transparent

Have You Considered Employee Advocacy?

Some marketers allow their employees to speak about their company online for them. It’s a unique and effective approach to marketing. Employee advocacy is a great way to develop meaningful relationships with your audience. When consumers see that employees genuinely love and support the company they work for, they’re more likely to trust and support you!

Think about it. Word-of-mouth marketing is highly effective. When your employees share their work experiences, consumers see the authenticity. An audience is more likely to comment and engage with the content knowing they are speaking directly with an employee. Several studies show that people are three times more likely to trust a company’s employee than the company itself. 

Get Started With Your Social Media Marketing Strategy

People follow social media accounts to get more in-depth information about a particular company they are interested in. So now that you know you need to be on social media, how do you develop a strategy to achieve success?

  • Identify questions you commonly get asked by customers.
  • Research and choose a social media tool to make things easier for your team.
  • Hire or train a team to execute your social media strategy.
  • Identify your competitors and collaborate.
  • Create a content calendar to organize your ideas.

After establishing a strategy, ask yourself a few questions to ensure your strategy is adequate or if you need to adjust it. 

  • What are your goals? 
  • How do you plan on measuring these goals? 
  • What social media platforms do members of your target audience use? 

The Future of Digital Marketing

Look ahead to the future of digital marketing. It’s never too late to get started! Create, define, and implement your social media strategy to blossom beyond what you could ever imagine! Use employees to build advocacy and trust online for your company. Remember, social media can help you quickly reach a wide variety of audiences. Now is the time, so don’t miss out! Social media has never been more remarkable or accessible. Schedule a consultation today, or complete our contact form!

How to Humanize Your Brand Through Social Media Marketing

How to Humanize Your Brand Through Social Media Marketing

How to Humanize Your Brand Through Social Media Marketing

 

Don’t suck the personality out of your brand while trying to keep up with the ever-changing world of technology. You know that your business needs to be on social media, but do you know how to portray yourself in a way that entices your audience? Sounds like you need help to humanize your brand through social media. 

Humanizing your brand means making your online presence personable rather than acting like a robot behind your follower’s phone screens. If your business appears mono-tone and cold on digital platforms, customers will look away. You need to build trust with your audience and create a social media presence that users can relate to. This will also result in more success for your business. Here are some ways that social media marketing can bring life back to your brand!

Attach a Face to the Name

Customers want to see the faces behind the business they are supporting. Posting pictures of business owners and employees is a great way to humanize your business. This also builds trust by showing potential customers who will perform the service or handle the product they are paying for. 

Better Communication

Social Media marketing taps into a whole new world of communication for businesses. Your business can interact with customers about anything and everything. These communication efforts could be providing support, giving more information on your services, or simply discussing relevant topics in your industry. If your business can communicate with people in ways other than throwing advertisements in their faces, people will trust and engage with your brand.

User-Based Content

Are all your posts telling your followers to “buy now” or “call today”? That feels very robotic and is not content people want to see while scrolling through social media. To humanize your brand, you have to post content with your target audience and industry in mind. Your followers should be looking forward to your next post.

Participating in Trends

Joining in on popular trends is a great way to humanize your brand. TikTok is a social media platform with daily trends that businesses should be jumping on. Not only does this add personality to your brand, but it also gives your business more exposure from millions of people who keep up with the trend. 

Consistent Posting 

Social media is how we connect with others. If you go ghost for a while, your friends and family will worry that something has happened to you. The same principle applies to businesses. In today’s world, consistent posting is how you show that your business is alive and well. Being inactive on social media will leave your followers with unanswered questions, and your business will fade from their thoughts. With social media marketing, your content will be scheduled to post multiple times a week to keep your audience engaged. Your followers will never be left in the dark with no contact.

Hire a Professional

Does your social media truly reflect the personality of your business? Do your followers look to you as a trustworthy source in your industry? We can help.

The AD Leaf Marketing Firm’s highly experienced social media marketers will develop an online presence that is unique to your brand. We understand how running a business can leave you with little time to put intention into your social media presence. Give us a call today at (321) 255-0900 to unlock all the benefits social media can bring to your business.

 

Is Paid Social Media Marketing Beneficial to My Brand?

Social Media for Businesses

Long gone are the days of antiquated advertising. 

As bystanders, we watch while technology expands our careers, futures, and perspective on the mundane. 

With so much available at our fingertips, we sometimes think that we can conquer it all on our own, often forgetting that it sometimes takes a village. And while we all love to budget where we can, paid social media advertising is the one area we should not have last on the list. Especially, through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or any other social media platform. 

What is Paid Social Media Marketing?

When you post organically, your content is shared for free to users who already follow your account. With Paid Social Media Marketing, your content is shared with a larger targeted audience through the social media platform that you paid to provide this service. For example, when a business contributes $10 of their advertising budget to Facebook to Boost a Post, this would be Paid Social Media Advertising. In this example, a Boosted Post would increase the efficiency of the marketing budget and provide a new subset of customers.

 

How Does it Work?

It’s all in the name; you pay to play and reap the benefits sown. 

One of the first things a business does when starting up is creating an Instagram and Facebook. Why? Brand Awareness, of course. 

You want your name out there in the world, and what better way to represent yourself than with pictures, words, and a wide range of audience of your choosing. 

When you post content on either platform, initially, the followers you already have will be the only ones who see your posts with the hope that your followers will do the work for you by sharing your content on their social media and therefore cause a chain link reaction of notoriety. That sure would be nice, but how often do you find this happening? 

An alternative and sure-fire way of reaching a new audience you haven’t yet found is to get good use out of these platforms. These platforms allow you to contribute ‘X’ amount of dollars so they can target audience members who match what you’re looking for and post this content outside of your initial group. 

 

Benefits of Paid Social Media Marketing.

So what are you getting out of this other than a lighter wallet? The benefits far outweigh any cons Paid Social Media could implement on your brand, especially if your company has not attempted this before. As they say, you never know until you try.

One of the more exciting benefits of this method is its power to strengthen your brand’s credibility. Your content will still be shared with your regular group, but the Social Media Platform chosen will also target audience members that fit your brand’s criteria and aren’t already following you or aware of your company. 

By default, it will target a few audience members who may not be interested in your brand but now know you exist. Your image will live in their minds rent-free and may even be shared during the daily water cooler meetup.

Think about it like this: not everyone shops at Walmart, but surely everyone knows where their nearest Walmart is. When Target is closed on Christmas Day, where are those last-minute shoppers headed? Walmart. 

 For more on Paid Social Media Marketing benefits, check out our Blog explicitly written on this topic.

 

Why Does My Company Need Paid Social Media Marketing?

Spending money can be the least fun thing you do. We get it. However, you have to pay to see results, which has never been more true than in 2022. 

Are you satisfied with the flow of your business? Are you okay with settling for okay results? If so, then maybe you don’t need Paid Social Media. But if you’re a company that wants to become a household name or, at the very least, a community gem, you’re missing out on a lot Paid Social Media has to offer. 

However, this can be a full-time job managing and ensuring you’re not overspending on your budget. The AD Leaf Marketing Firm provides many complex solutions to complex problems; it’s just what we do.

So let us do it for you and contact one of our Social Media Specialists who will get you growing in the right direction.