Tag: content marketing

Why Your Business Requires SEO Services

Strategic Marketing: How to Help Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry

Posted on | by Jessica Silvey
Content Writing, Search Engine Optimization | ,

– Tips and Tricks for Air Conditioning, HVAC, Construction, and Plumbing Business Owners

Strategic Marketing: How to Help Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry

As a business owner in the service industry, you know how important it is to help your content rank within your service industry and reach the right audience. Whether you specialize in air conditioning, HVAC, plumbing, or any other service, strategic marketing can help your content rank higher on search engines and reach potential customers. Here are some tips and tricks for helping your content rank within your specific service industry.

Make Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry

The best strategic marketing advice we can give you is that no one wants to read dry content or see uninteresting or unimaginative graphics. Writing website content or social media posts about clogged drains may not be the easiest, but it’s essential to everyone. 

Create content that stands out from everything else. Be unique and creative with your approach to content creation, as this will help you get noticed by potential customers. Look at other content related to your service industry and find ways to make yours more engaging or entertaining.

Promote Your Content Across Multiple Channels – Help Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry

You should promote your content on multiple digital platforms to ensure it reaches the widest audience possible. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are all excellent channels for spreading the word about your content. You can also reach potential customers by optimizing your content for local search results. That means creating pages on Google My Business and other local directories that list details such as address and contact information.

Optimize Your Content for SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) improves your website content to help it rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This should be a primary focus for any service industry business owner who wants their content to reach the right people.

Some ways to optimize your content include: 

  • Researching relevant keywords related to your service industry and using them naturally throughout your content 
  • Including links to high-quality external websites and pages 
  • Writing in a conversational tone that is easy for readers to understand 
  • Utilizing meta tags, which are snippets of text that describe your content 

Let’s take a deeper dive into this. 

 

Conduct Keyword Research & Help Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry

The first step to improving your content’s search engine rankings is to conduct keyword research. This will involve researching potential customers’ words and phrases to search for businesses like yours. You can use keyword research tools to help you discover these keywords. Make a list of relevant keywords, then include them naturally in your web copy, blog posts, and product descriptions. The backbone of strategic marketing is ensuring your content is relevant and represents your brand accurately.

Optimize Your Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

To improve the ranking of your content on search engines such as Google, it is crucial to optimize your title tags and meta descriptions. The title tag refers to the title of your page or post, while the meta description is a summary displayed beneath it. Ensure that both the title tag and meta description contain your target keywords and that they effectively entice people to click through to your content.

Create Quality Content

Search engines like Google prioritize high-quality content that provides value to their users. Ensure your website and blog content is well-written, informative, and engaging. Your content should answer the questions that your potential customers are searching for and offer solutions to their problems. Don’t create content just to have content; always focus on creating value for your audience.

Backlinks Are Your Backbone

Backlinks from reputable websites in your industry can help boost your search engine rankings. Reach out to other websites and bloggers in your industry and ask if they will link to your website or blog. Ensure that the other website is reputable and not spammy, or you risk being penalized.

Use Social Media

Social media is an excellent tool for promoting your content, especially when competing with other industry service businesses. Share your blog posts and product descriptions on social media to reach a wider audience. Ensure you engage with your followers, answer their questions and comments, and provide more value.

Create a Google My Business Profile

A Google My Business profile will make it easier for potential customers to find you when they search on Google. You can list your business’s hours, location, and contact information here and add photos and customer reviews. Make sure that your profile is up-to-date with relevant information about your products or services. If you’ve ever seen a company’s information pop up on the right side of your Google search results, that’s their Google My Business profile. It’s a one-stop shop for quick facts associated with your business. 

For reference, here is the AD Leaf®’s Google My Business profile.

Get Into Google Guaranteed

Google Guaranteed is a program that allows credible and verified businesses to become “Google Guaranteed,” which makes them stand out in local search results and Help Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry. If you qualify for the program, your business will be marked with a “Google Guaranteed” badge. To be eligible for this program, you must have an active Google My Business profile and pass a background check. This contributes to overall brand reliability and authority within the market, helping establish your company and bringing credibility to your business, which is particularly advantageous for service-based industries such as HVAC and plumbing, where reviews play a crucial role in attracting and retaining customers.

Follow these simple strategic marketing tips and tricks to help your content rank within your service industry. With proper keyword research, quality content, backlinks, and a Google My Business profile, you can reach potential customers faster. Don’t forget to promote your content on social media as well – it’s an effective way to spread the word and reach a larger audience. Finally, you can consider becoming Google Guaranteed to add credibility to your business. With these strategies, you can take the proper steps toward success in your service industry. 

These are just some ways you can improve your ranking within your industry. Of course, your most time-effective and ultimately cost-effective strategy is to reach out to a professional service, such as The AD Leaf®, to handle your marketing needs. Our trained professionals are experienced and knowledgeable in keyword research, content optimization, portfolio management, and Google My Business profiles. We can create a customized plan that works for you and your service industry business. Get started today and grow with us!

Creating content that helps your business Help Your Content Rank Within Your Service Industry demands effort, creativity, and patience. With the tips we have shared in this blog post, you will be on your way to creating content that resonates with your potential customers and contributes to the growth of your business. Remember to research keywords, optimize your title tags and meta descriptions, create quality content, get backlinks, and use social media to your advantage. By following these strategies, you can improve your search engine rankings and attract more customers to your business within your service industry.

Why Choose The AD Leaf®

At The AD Leaf®, we understand the challenges businesses face in their service industry and strive to provide services that bring visibility to our clients. We are a full-service agency offering digital marketing services, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media management, website design and development, content creation, and more. Our experienced professionals will create a tailored strategy to help you reach your goals and grow your business. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can take your service industry business to the next level. 

The new age of blogging

The New Age of Blogging

Posted on | by Jeremy Barrick
Content Writing | , , ,

The “New Age of Blogging” dawned in the late 1990s, marking a transformative shift in the digital landscape. During this period, blogging gained immense popularity as individuals from all walks of life enthusiastically embraced it. This surge in blogging’s appeal stemmed from its evolution into a more personal platform, allowing people to express their thoughts in a diary-like fashion. Notably, the credit for pioneering this novel form of online expression goes to Justin Hall, a former Swarthmore College student. While Hall’s early online writings may not have been recognized as conventional blogs at the time, they laid the foundation for what would eventually become the “New Age of Blogging,” characterized by its deeply personal and diary-esque style.

This style of writing is much different these days as blogging has turned into a way to help with marketing content. 

 

How Do Blogs Differ from Other Forms of Marketing Content

Blogs are a form of marketing that’s been around for quite some time now. It’s a way for businesses to create branding awareness and share informative and engaging content about products or services. 

What sets it apart from other forms of marketing content is that it’s usually more personalized in nature. Blogs tend to focus on educating and informing a reader rather than just selling them something. 

They’re more about building a relationship with an audience, so if you’re looking for a way to connect with your customers in a more authentic way, blogging is the way to go.

 

Blogging Builds Credibility 

When you create informative, well-written blogs that offer value to your audience, you establish yourself as an authority in your industry. 

This helps build credibility for your client’s audience, who may be more likely to choose their products/services over those of a competitor.

Credibility is everything in marketing as it separates from those who don’t have experience or knowledge in the industry. 

 

Helps Boosts Search Engine Optimization 

Blogging is a great way to improve a website’s search engine rankings. Google and other search engines love fresh, original content, and a regularly updated blog can help keep your website relevant and up-to-date. 

By using relevant keywords in a given blog post, you can optimize the content for search engines and increase online visibility.

 

Blogging Creates Better Content

In the world of content marketing, quality is key. Not only does the content need to be well-written and error-free, but it also needs to provide value to the readers. 

This can be done by providing helpful tips, insights, and advice. Make sure that the content is engaging and shareable, which will increase your chances of reaching a broader audience.

 

Getting to Know Your Audience 

The first step in creating a successful blog is to know your audience. This includes understanding their needs and pain points. 

By doing so, you can tailor the blog content to speak directly to specific needs and provide value to them. 

You can use this information to target specific keywords and phrases that your audience is searching for.

 

Offers Valuable Insights into Audience Preferences

By monitoring a blog’s analytics, you’ll learn a lot about an audience’s preferences and interests. 

This knowledge can then be used to tailor the content and marketing efforts to meet the needs of the target market better. 

Blogging is no longer just a way for individuals to share their personal thoughts. 

Today, it has become an essential tool for marketing businesses and building better branding services.

 

Through effective blogging, you’ll be able to build:  

Blogging has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of modern marketing as it offers multiple benefits. 

 

Why Seek Blog Services From The AD Leaf?

Building a brand can take time for a small business to do with others. Many small businesses do not make it past their first year because they didn’t seek the help they needed.

The AD Leaf is able to take on your marketing with an array of services to choose from. Let us create compelling content that will make your competitors jealous. 

You’ll find that The AD Leaf is able to identify your marketing goals, audience, and brand through better blogging! 

Our Content team works together to achieve proven results, so reach out to us on social media or call today at 321-255-0900! 

Five Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs Content Marketing

Posted on | by Danielle Harper
Content Writing | , ,

Content marketing has become a pillar of modern business tactics. It is a powerful tool to attract potential customers and grow your online presence. At The AD Leaf, our team of Content Marketing professionals understands this importance and provides innovative services to help small businesses take advantage of content marketing opportunities. We create content that is not only informative but also engaging and helps to build a connection with potential customers. Not sure about it yet? Keep reading and discover five reasons why your small business needs content marketing!

Still aren’t sold on adding content writing to your marketing portfolio? According to the Content Marketing Institute, 73% of B2B and 70% of B2C marketers use content marketing as part of their overall marketing strategy. There are plenty of reasons your small business needs to employ content writing on your website and marketing strategy, from brand awareness to reputation. 

Builds Your Identity as a Trusted Expert

Content marketing allows you to educate your community on your field of service. By creating content about your niche, you are positioning yourself as an expert in the field. People want to feel like they can trust your service, and having informative articles on your website shows you know your industry. 

High-quality content on your website helps establish your reputation as an expert in your field. 

Increases Your Brand Awareness

By creating insightful and engaging content, you are increasing your brand’s visibility. Content marketing helps to reach new target audiences and create relationships with them. Think about it in terms of your company. When looking for brand awareness, content marketing sells your values as a business, not the product or service you offer. 

With branded content, business owners can share all the details about their company and what sets it apart from others. Content marketing is a great way to get your brand name out there and increase the number of people who know about you. 

 

Improves Your Search Engine Visibility

Good content has a positive effect on your search engine rankings. By creating content that is relevant to your industry, it increases the chances of ranking higher in the search engine results pages. The better your content and SEO, the more likely potential customers will find you. 

At The AD Leaf, our Content Marketing team will create optimized content for search engines. Optimized content gives your website the best chance of appearing at the top of search engine results pages when customers search for services related to yours.

 

Keep Your Website Current

Creating content allows you to keep your website up-to-date and fresh. When potential customers come across your website, they want to feel relevant and that the company is keeping up with industry standards. Having fresh content helps show that you are actively involved in providing quality services. 

It also helps show you are at the forefront of trends and new products or methods available today. It also helps establish “domain authority,” which is how much authority your company is on a particular subject through your website. The more content you produce, the higher the domain authority will be.

 

Sharable Content Brings Your Community Together

Creating content your readers can share is a great way to get your message out there and engage potential customers. Once someone shares your content, it has the potential to reach even more people. This method increases the chances of connecting with new audiences and potentially converting them into customers. 

Content Marketing is an invaluable tool for small businesses, and The AD Leaf provides expert services to help your business take advantage of this opportunity. Our team of professional writers and marketers understands the importance of creating content that is informative, engaging, and shareable. 

Through our innovative strategies and tactics, The AD Leaf can help create a solid customer base for your small business.

 

Why The AD Leaf Studio Las Vegas?

You are busy running your business as it is, and who has time to research trends within content writing? Why not take the opportunity to provide minimal participation and still receive exemplary results? All this and more is available when creating a partnership with The AD Leaf, a marketing firm that builds your growth goals as a company to make your small business a cut above the rest.

The AD Leaf’s Content teams work together seamlessly with all of our other areas of expertise on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis to ensure that your small business stays on top of the competition!

 

Top 10 Marketing Trends in 2022

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Advertising, Marketing | , , , , ,

As 2022 quickly approaches, we are looking ahead to see which marketing trends you need to keep on your radar. Do you have a plan for your business going into 2022? If not, you still have time to strategize your next moves. 

 

Start by considering your goals for 2022. What do you want to achieve in the next 12 months? What do you want to accomplish in the next three years? Once you have your future goals in mind, you can begin strategizing your next steps into a successful 2022 by following these 10 marketing trends: 

 

#1 Instantaneous Demand 

Leading into 2022, consumers will continue to look for businesses that give quick responses. For example, having a plug-in on your website for instant messaging through messenger with a brand helps to build trustworthiness. Consumers will continue to look for the highest quality and highest response time. If customers do not hear back from a brand quickly, they will move on to the next brand that will be more timely. 

 

#2 Growing of Influencers

Have you ever seen a post on social media and did not even realize it was an ad? These posts are coming from not a brand but their influencers. Influencers will review a product or highlight a product that they enjoy. This growth of influencers is accurate for B2B as well. Consider looking for opportunities to partner with influencers in your industry. 

 

#3 LinkedIn Continues to Grow

If you do not have a LinkedIn Page, you might want one for your company. Not only is LinkedIn on top of updating and improving their app for better results on businesses and pages, but the number of monthly active users is also continuing to grow steadily. 

 

#4 Less is More

With new digital marketing popping up almost daily, be cautious not to spread your budget too thin. Focus on advertising through one social media platform. This tactic will allow you to have more exposure in one area vs. not being seen on multiple platforms. Focus on your primary platform and hit it with your highest quality ads and posts. 

 

#5 Word-of-Mouth

In 2022 you will see that more and more customers will see what others have to say about your company. For example, if someone tweets raving about your brand, future consumers are more likely to trust you will be up to their standards. The same goes for providing quality service to your customers quickly.

 

#6 Invest in Brand Image 

You will build a more trustworthy and legit brand by investing in your brand image. As online advertising continues to get more competitive in 2022, you will need to stand out from your competitors. This includes building up your brand image across your social media platforms because appearance matters. 

 

#7 Custom Content in Newsletters

If you have not begun newsletter marketing, you should consider this as we start 2022. Newsletters are personal since you are in your customer’s inbox vs. their newsfeed. Newsletters are how you appeal to your audience on a deeper level as you get more of their attention. Also, having your customer’s emails will allow you to do email marketing for your ads.

 

#8 Storytelling Balance

We all know consumers do not want to be sold all the time or hear about how excellent your product/service is. Consumers want you to solve their problems through a story. Tell them how your product/service helped others to solve their problem. Storytelling will make your consumers think for themselves, “Hm, maybe I should try this for myself.”

 

#9 Bring Simplicity Back

The marketing noise for consumers is tremendous. You do not need to be louder than your competitors; but instead, you need to be strategic with your posts. You can post a blog post every day, but you will create more impactful articles if you focus on quality over quantity. 

 

#10 Do Not Forget Foundation 

We all love staying on top of the newest technologies and apps, but it is essential to remember to focus on our foundation. This includes making your website easy to maneuver and ensuring your social media has the correct contact information and links. Checking you are reaching your target audience with each post or ad, building a relationship with your customers online or in person, and much more! 

 

Having a stable foundation for your business will allow you to grow organically and branch out into new social media with success while still reaching your target audience. Focusing on building a relationship with your customers will even work to boost your word-of-mouth. 

 

Since 2020, we have seen an enormous shift in the world of technology and average tactics will not get the return on your investment you desire. Get prepared for new ways of operating your business, creating content, and advertising. Have your goals set as you reign in the new year, and let’s all start with a bang! 

 

If you still feel unsure of the proper steps for your business moving into 2022, give our team of marketing professionals a call at The Ad Leaf! We will be able to help you achieve your goals. 

The Importance of Active Social Media

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Social Media | , , , , ,

The use of social media has become a necessity for running a successful business. Whether you are marketing, selling products or services, networking with potential clients, or need to stay in touch with friends and family- it is all there for the taking. However, if your account isn’t active enough, people won’t see what you have to offer, which will lead them not to do further research into your company. 

 

Let’s say a potential customer sees your restaurant on Yelp, and they explore your page. Then, they want to see recent posts, so they click your social media platforms. Your last post is from 2019. Now they are confused if your business is currently open. Why have you not posted any of the delicious plates? Now they scroll onto the next restaurant to hopefully see pictures of their possible food. 

 

In this example scenario, a simple fix would be to begin running your social media regularly. With that being said, here are four benefits and the importance of an active social media presence so that your business can grow!

 

Active Social Media

Having an active social media presence will help you build brand awareness, credibility, brand recall and increase your traffic. Through these benefits, you will be able to boost your brand’s exposure organically. It does not matter how big or small your business is; you are bound to see results through your efforts.

 

Brand Awareness 

Building brand awareness through your social media accounts allows you to reach new customers that might have never heard about your company. Through a consistent social media presence, you are continuously growing your audience reach daily. Keeping your social media presence active will let your potential followers see a consistent and energetic brand. Through keeping your social media platforms active, it will organically improve your reach to more users. These steps will encourage customers to shop from your company more than a company with no social media presence. 

 

Brand Credibility 

Brand credibility is the trust you build with your customers combined with how long your company has been around. Benefits of positive brand credibility include having customers that will continue to choose your brand and advocate your business to others. A few easy ways to build your brand credibility are by sharing customer reviews on your social platforms or website. For new companies that have yet to get many reviews, you can grow brand credibility by simply running active social media or keeping a running blog on your website that posts regularly. Consumers love to see consistent posting, as this gives them something to explore in their spare time. 

 

Brand Recall

Brand recall is what instantly comes to mind when a customer thinks of a product category. Of course, everyone wants to be the first company a customer thinks of, and an active social media presence will improve your chance. As customers scroll on social media, the more often they see your brand’s posting will help them remember your branding and choose your company over another. This is why you want to be sure you are posting content that is always brand-related, and adding your logo onto your postings is another easy way to ensure your customers remember your brand. 

 

Traffic Growth

Through your active social media, you will see positive traffic growth and leads. Targeting your specific target audience through your social media will bring valuable leads. So it is crucial to decide who your target audience is as this will allow you to attract the right audience. You will also be able to interact with local accounts to your business if this is what you please. Naturally, through more exposure to your brand, you will see more interaction. 

 

Now that you know the importance of having active social media channels, having them up to date is crucial. But there is another layer to consider while running your social media! When potential customers view your active social media platforms, they will see your brand as presented to them. 

  • Do your logos match across all of your social media platforms? 
  • Do you post content that will attract your target audience? 
  • Are you engaging with your social media accounts enough to bring in new followers? 
  • Are you using the correct social media to attract your target audience? 

You might find that you need to put in more effort to help grow your social media presence in the way you hope. 

 

It’s time to take action and know the importance of active social media! As you can see, there are many benefits of having an active social media presence for your business. To have a flourishing business, you must have active and brand-matching social media to attract your target audience. If this interests you and you want help getting started, we have a team of experts here at The AD Leaf ready to assist with creating the perfect plan for organic growth through social media channels. We would be more than happy to help your business grow through the world of social media. This is your sign! 

What Makes Great Web Content

What Makes Great Web Content and Why Is It Important?

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Content Writing, Marketing |

Great web content is the foundation for every successful website. Without great content, your readers will leave your website for content-rich pages with the material they can learn from and enjoy. Why? Because without content, there’s no reason to stay on your site any longer than it takes to click the back button and find another page with content more suitable to the reader’s needs.

Create Relevant, Audience-Focused Content

Your content needs to be relevant to your readers. Visitors to your website should quickly understand the purpose of the landing page and how it applies to what they’re searching for. Some of the best ways to do this are:

  1. Start with a buyer persona – Not all content can be relevant to everyone. Marketers and business owners should take the time to research and understand their target audience. Getting to know your customer means that you get a better idea of what they’re looking for, what they like to read, and how they read it. Operating a successful business is about fitting a need and providing customers and clients with solutions to their problems, and understanding them is the first step.
  2. Create a list of keywords – If relevance is all about the user, then identifying what users are searching for and using that on your own website is imperative. How users phrase their queries when inputting them into Google can give you clues as to how to help your content stand out from the rest and stay relevant.
  3. Write good meta descriptions – Consider how you decide which search result is the right choice for you. What things do you look for in a result before you click? Your first line of defense in demonstrating your website’s relevance lies in title tags, URLs, and meta descriptions. Writing engaging, attention-grabbing copy often makes the difference between a click and being passed over.
  4. Solve a problem – The most critical factor in determining whether your content will be relevant to potential customers and clients is if you can solve their problems. The most successful content is that which solves the reader’s pain points.

People Read Web Copy Differently

The content people read online is very different than the content they read in print. Printed content is generally more formal, and as a result, readers expect it to be professional, clean, and clutter-free.

By contrast, online content is often more informal, conversational, and interactive. For example, the web content of an average business will often include viewer comments, testimonials, or reviews.

Online Readers Scan

Online readers are more likely to scan web copy than they are other sources. Nielsen Norman Group found that 79 percent of users always scanned new pages they came across, while just 16 percent read word for word.

Does this mean content doesn’t matter? Absolutely not! If anything, this makes web content even more important (and harder to get right). The natural short-attention-span tendency of people browsing online means that your copy has to be as engaging as possible to hold the reader’s attention. It also means that your content needs to be free of grammatical errors, easily scannable, and written in a natural style suited for your audience.

Demonstrate Your Value Proposition

People search online to find the answers to their problems. By understanding your target audience and the way they search, you can strategically showcase your products and services as the solution.

Over time, accumulating content will help to establish you as the industry expert and a thought leader for your niche.

Build Trust With Customers

When customers are ready to buy, content has been shown to influence up to 50% of their purchase decision. Content helps inform and educate potential clients customers. By building trust with that audience that your site is consistent and reliable, you confirm for them that a real person created it and they’ll be more likely to return.

Content as an Asset

A well-written blog post can become an asset that can be repurposed for multiple platforms. Great copy can be recycled for social media posts, content upgrades, ebooks, and more. Content that holds timeless value, can be re-used again in the future. That means when you write content today, it can drive traffic and leads far into your future.

Great Content Impacts SEO

Well-written content is one of the best ways to contribute to your business’s SEO. That’s because content that focuses on a specific topic is naturally optimized for the keywords you want to rank for in search results.  

As Google becomes more sophisticated, it frequently updates to promote content that is more beneficial to user experience. The more intentional and relevant the content on your website is and the authority it garners in the industry, the higher you’ll eventually rank in search results.

Great Content Impacts Lead Generation

Great content is vital to lead generation. When content is consistent with your business goals, you get the opportunity to convert those website visitors into leads and then eventually paying customers.  

Why Should You Hire A Marketing Firm?

Managing an effective website that drives traffic, engages readers, and generates leads for your business takes time and effort. An effective content strategy is one that isn’t short-sighted. Great web pages require content updates, regular maintenance, and regular posting. These tasks demonstrate to users and Google alike that your site is active and functional.

All of these things can make attending to your site’s content more of a chore, especially when your passion is operating your business. You should hire a marketing firm to write your content not only because content creation takes time away from running your business but because digital marketing professionals understand what it takes to make your website successful.

The History of Social Media

3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the History of Social Media

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Marketing, Social Media | , , , , ,

People seem to have a love/hate relationship with social media. On the one hand, humans are social beings. We crave interactions with others, and relationships play big roles in our everyday lives. Social media allows us to easily connect with friends, family, acquaintances, and even strangers. This can be construed in a positive or negative light depending on who you ask and when you ask them. Whatever your thoughts on social media are, it’s pretty clear it’s here to stay in one form or another. So, how did social media even start? Was it when the first cave painting emerged? When the first telegraph was sent? Did it start with the invention of the internet? The answer to this question isn’t clear cut, but there are plenty of interesting facts about the evolution of social media along the way! Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the history of social media on the internet.

 

1. CompuServe was an early online service provider that used a method similar to time-sharing.

CompuServe Information Service, a.k.a. CIS, was founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1969 as a subsidiary of Golden United Life Insurance. Initially, CompuServe had two objectives. The first was to provide computer processing support to the company, and the second was to sell excess computer capacity to other corporations through a kind of time-share system. In 1979, it began providing dial-up online information services to the owners of personal computers. CompuServe is known as the original online portal, offering message forums, online chat services, software libraries, and even online games! It grew in popularity in the 80s and 90s and was sold to AOL in 1997 with WorldCom acting as a broker for $1.2 billion in stock.

 

2. One of the first social media services was SixDegrees.com.

This social network site was named after the six degrees of separation concept, which is the idea that people have an average of six degrees of separation from each other. SixDegrees was founded in 1996 by Andrew Weinreich, and the website launched in 1997, making it one of the earliest social media sites on the internet. SixDegrees allowed users to create profiles, list their friends and acquaintances, and interact with other users. At its peak, SixDegrees had about 3.5 million registered users. Just two years after its launch, it was sold to YouthStream Media Networks for $125 million. SixDegrees was short-lived, though, in part because of the limitations of internet connectivity in the late 90s and early 2000s. It shut down in 2001. 

 

3. Users could rate the attractiveness of strangers on AmIHotOrNot.com.

James Hong and Jim Young, both engineers based in Silicon Valley, disagreed one day over whether or not a woman they passed on the street was attractive. Their solution? To create a website, of course! In October 2000, the two friends launched AmIHotOrNot.com. The site allowed users to voluntarily submit photos of themselves to be rated on a scale of 1 to 10 by others based on their attractiveness. It went viral. Within one week of launching, the site had reached nearly 2 million daily page views. The site incorporated dating and matchmaking elements.

Aspects of Hot Or Not impacted later dating apps like Tinder and OkCupid. The site was even said to have influenced Mark Zuckerburg to create FaceMash.com, where Harvard students could rate the looks of fellow students based on their student ID photos. Unlike Hot Or Not, FaceMash did not allow users to submit photos voluntarily. FaceMash received major backlash, both because students felt it violated their privacy and because it was seen as a copycat of Hot Or Not. After being called before the school’s administrative board, Zuckerburg took the site down. Hot Or Not was sold for a rumored $20 million to Avid Life Media in 2008. 

 

There are plenty of interesting stories when it comes to the history of social media. From computer time-sharing processes to rating the looks of strangers, there is a lot to learn about how social media has evolved. If you own a business, you probably know how important it is to be able to connect with your customers, whether it’s through an interactive website or your social media channels. If you’re looking for a marketing company with a stellar reputation to assist with any aspect of your digital marketing, look no further than The AD Leaf. We offer web design, search engine optimization, email marketing, social media management, digital advertising, and more! Give us a call today at (321) 255-0900 to learn how we could help you grow your business.

Be Concise! Less Is More With Email

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Content Writing, Email Marketing, Marketing | , ,

Email: The Foundational Tool

In the world of marketing, email is one of the most fundamental tools at our disposal. It maintains its mainstream appeal through its accessibility to clients and consumers alike in communicating time-sensitive information. As foundational as email marketing is to the practice, new trends are still emerging that maintain its modernity.

One emerging cultural trend that has been incorporated into the way we use email in marketing is minimalism. Minimalism has impacted email marketing by transforming emails from long-winded chunky blocks of text to concise straight-to-the-point communications that are easily digestible for consumers. 

Why Less Really Is More

  • Ease of Consumption

Skimming has taken over the way we digest media. Our eyes pick up on keywords and bolded text to access the importance of information and let our minds fill in the blanks. With such an excess of media to consume, our time to absorb it all has remained the same. To account for the discrepancy, we’re largely left with one of two options: skim the content or condense the material itself so that it’s less to read. As a marketing professional, making the material easier to interact with is where we step in.

  • Consideration for the Reader’s Time

Clients and customers are on a time budget. Their email accounts are bombarded with numerous emails not unlike your own. Being courteous and condensing your content and information into concise language delivers your goals without sacrificing the time of your clients and customers which they will be appreciative of in the long run. Requiring less reading time from your customers and clients inevitably allows them more time to follow through with the action your email is asking of them.

  • Earn the Favor of Your Audience

Recipients on your email list will value your content more if you show respect for their time and energy. Being concise and writing clearly consistently builds a reputation for the communications you disseminate to your audience. They’ll know what they’re getting every time they open one of your business’ emails and know that it’s going to be easy on the eyes and easily digestible. This will improve your open rate and translate into more conversions for your goods or services and better business for all parties involved.

  • Condensed Writing Encourages Clearer, More Engaging Content

Whittling down the length of your email content forces you to weed out unnecessary information. It forces the writer to think carefully and consider the necessity of each word and sentence. Editing your email content in this way inspires creativity in the way each piece of information gets delivered. Editing out extra sentences and words encourages clearer thinking on the part of the writer and the intended audience as well. The result is writing that gets straight to the point and tells the recipient what they need to know without requiring a substantial time investment.

  • Images and Bulleted Lists Are More Substantial

Substituting lengthy blocks of text with pictures and bulleted lists break up monotonous reading. They capture interest, convey meaning without requiring as much reading, and make for a more aesthetically pleasing design. The old adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words” exhibits the staying power of this email marketing trend of conciseness.

Bulleted lists benefit this strategy as well by grabbing the attention of the reader and directing them to smaller blocks of important text. This gives you as the writer the opportunity to position some of the most valuable pieces of information to a spot you know the reader will see them.

  • Know Your Audience

Of course, different emails and different email recipients require a different depth of information so it’s important to consider your target audience and who it is that will eventually be opening your marketing emails. A technical client will likely require more in-depth dialogue in their marketing emails based on their industry than regular clients will. If the situation calls for more writing follow your gut and do what you think is best given the situation.

Transform the Way You Reach Your Customers

Looking to increase the open rates or improve conversions of your email campaigns? The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm, LLC is specially fitted to transform the way you reach your customers and clients. Our team of marketing experts has the experience and knowledge to take your future email campaigns to the next level. Contact us today for more information about how we can help!

content marketing

How to Make Your Small Business Stand Out With Content Marketing

Posted on | by The AD Leaf Marketing Firm
Content Writing | , , ,

As a business owner, your time is split between all of the tasks it takes to run a successful business, managing your employees, keeping the books, upkeep of your location, and then of course, marketing. With all of the other responsibilities that come with running a business, running a robust digital marketing campaign on top of that can be an overwhelming undertaking and can be easy to neglect. In today’s marketing landscape, content marketing may be a term you are likely to come across, but what exactly does that mean? Content marketing is simply producing and sharing exciting content like videos, blogs, email campaigns and web pages, and showing your customers what makes your business stand out. You already know what makes your business great, content marketing is your platform to tell the world! Here’s how to use content marketing to your advantage to make your business stand out.

 

Create Content That is Your Own

Now let’s think about your consumers for a second. Have you ever tried to read all the content on the internet? It’s exhausting, and spoiler alert, impossible. Among all of the other content we are exposed to on a daily basis, users today crave content that is genuine. That’s where content marketing comes in! Blogs and page content are a great way for you to tell your brand’s story, and sell yourself organically. So think to yourself, what makes your business different from all the rest? Maybe your restaurant is incredibly globally conscious and only serves locally sourced foods. Or you offer a full menu of Keto or Vegan options. Rather than waiting for your customers to find these things out for themselves, use your website and online resources to tell them first. 

 

Once you feel like you’ve hit all of your bases, now it’s time to reach out. You would be surprised what your already loyal customers have to say about you. You may love the fact that your business is sustainable and your menu is diverse, but they might come for your amazing breakfast menu, craft cocktails, or specialty coffees. The truth is, what makes your business stand out to you may not always be what keeps your customers coming back. Gaining as many perspectives as possible will help you to shape your content towards those all-important unique selling propositions, or what your business offers that makes it stand out from its competition. Once you have that, get writing some personalized content that tells your story and shows why you are unique!

 

Create Content That is Dynamic and Exciting 

The key to content is to keep it fresh and engaging. Whether you are writing a page about your brand new service line, or your weekly blog, it is your chance to let your personality shine. Be sure to add photos from the job or entertaining anecdotes to let your customers get to know you before ever meeting you. Blogging is also a great opportunity to establish yourself as a leader in your industry. Stay up to date with current events and industry trends, then use your blog to speak to them. Soon, your consumers will be looking to you for thought leadership pieces. Again, you know that you’re an expert in your industry, so show the world! 

 

Create Content That Will Work for You

Now that your website is full of engaging and insightful content, the last step is to make that content work for you. Let’s go back to the restaurant example. If locals in your neighborhood are searching Google for “Keto friendly breakfast restaurants”, you’ll want to make sure that content you wrote gets seen. If you are spending all of this time building out your website, you will want to make sure it is at the top of everyone’s list when they are searching. This is where content comes into play with your overall digital marketing campaign. Once you write your content, you will want to be sure it is ranking on Google when people go to search for them. A website that has content will always outperform websites that do not have content and can be a vital part of your SEO campaign. Blogs can also make for great social media content, and email content.

 

Given these troubling times, many businesses are operating remotely, running limited hours, or temporarily closed. We encourage you to use this downtime to your advantage with some great content. Not sure where to start? Our dedicated content team at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm can help you strategize show-stopping content that will tell your brand’s story and wow your customers before even stepping in the door. Content marketing is the perfect partner to an SEO or social media strategy to get your brand out there and recognized for what makes you, you! To get started, partner with us today. We will determine where we can develop content, and help you to create your brand identity as a team!