The steps to financial freedom are here. Visit our site if you want to be financially free and live a wealthy lifestyle
Marketers should be looking at the brand-building potential across both display and search ads because Amazon is not just about direct response anymore.
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
If you want to get traffic from Google, how would you go
about it?
Chances are you are either going to leverage SEO or pay for
some ads.
But what if there was another way to get traffic from Google? A way that didn’t take as long as SEO and didn’t cost money like paid ads. And no, I’m not talking about Google News… there is actually an easier way.
It’s so effective that it drove 18,800 visitors to my site in the last 3 months. Just look at the screenshot above.
So, what is it?
Similar to how you have feeds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, did you know Google has a feed for you.
It’s called Google Discover.
If you mainly use Google on your laptop or desktop computer, chances are you haven’t seen it. But if you have the Google mobile app or the Chrome mobile app, you probably have already seen it.
Here’s what it looks like on an iPhone:
This is Google’s version of a social feed.
Here’s how it works… Google Discover results, which appear below the search box on the Google mobile app and Chrome mobile app, show a summary of web pages as cards. These cards are a scrollable list of topics, almost like a social feed, that you can browse on your mobile devices.
Tapping one of these cards from Google search home will send
you directly to the page you just clicked on.
And if you are wondering why you are seeing certain stories
that others may not be, it’s because the recommendations are based on search
history, interactions with Google products, and who you choose to follow
directly via Google Discover.
But here is where it’s getting interesting…
Discover results for some topics also appear within the
search engine results under the label “Interesting finds.”
If you click one of these stories, it’ll take you directly to that web page, or, if you click to see “more stories” at the bottom of the Interesting Finds card, it’ll bring you to a new Google Discover user interface where you can follow that topic, follow related topics, and explore related Discover listings.
Now if you have a Pixel phone, you’ve seen Discover a lot, but again you just haven’t realized it.
By simply swiping right on your Pixel phone home screen you
get a customizable and personalized feed just like the image above.
Now, you may be wondering, how is this different than just
using Google News? Because they have a top stories section which is kind of
like a feed, right?
Unlike top stories, Discover doesn’t limit rankings to what’s published most recently.
If Google thinks a user would find earlier content
interesting, then Discover might show it. Discover also features videos, sports
scores, entertainment updates such a movie, stock prices, event info for things
like a music festival, and much more.
Google is positioning Discover as a content hub for all of your interests just like Facebook is doing with their feed.
In other words, this is Google’s version of your Facebook
feed.
Similar to following a hashtag on Instagram, you can follow
a topic of interest on Discover. Also, similar to Instagram’s Explore Page, you
don’t need to follow anything to get content you might like. Discover is aiming
to show you content you’d be interested in before you even know you want
it.
The key is “before you knew about it.” Just like how Facebook and Instagram do the same thing.
Because it can drive you a ton of traffic.
Just check out one of the clients of my ad agency, Neil Patel Digital. Look at their Discover traffic.
They generated 3.64 million impressions in the last 28 days
and 79,000 clicks to their site.
That’s a ton of traffic. In addition, all of those impressions help with branding.
Now you may not care about branding but the larger your
brand, the easier it is to rank on Google. Brand search volume is more correlated
with rankings than links or domain authority.
And as Google’s ex-CEO stated:
Brands are the solution, not the problem. Brands are how you sort out the cesspool.
So, all of those impressions you can generate from Discover are great because they will help put your brand out there. It helps with the concept called the Rule of 7, in which when someone sees or interacts with your brand 7 times, they are much more likely to become a loyal customer.
This can also help with Google’s E-A-T algorithm updates. It is the best way if you want to build up your expertise and credibility as an author. Discover is a simple way to help you get there.
So, how can you get more traffic from Discover?
Luckily, it’s not as complicated as SEO and the results happen
much faster. Still not instant, but over time you should see your Discover
traffic continually rising.
Here are 3 simple tips that will help:
Once you make a deliberate effort to go after Discover
traffic, it’s time to measure how you are doing.
Chances are, you use Google Analytics. But to see how well you are doing on Discover, it’s easier if you use Google Search Console.
Head over to Search Console and log in.
Now, on the left side, you’ll see a navigation menu.
I want you to click on “Discover.” (You’ll only see this option if you hit a minimum threshold in Discover traffic)
You’ll now see a report that looks something like this.
Compared to the screenshot I showcased earlier, I barely get
any Discover traffic.
Why you may ask?
Do you notice a trend with my chart? Well, I tend to publish content every Tuesday and that’s the day I get Discover traffic.
Similar to any other social network (and unlike traditional SEO), you mainly see traffic as you post new content. It’s not long-term traffic that is consistent, instead, you keep getting quick bursts of traffic.
I only blog once a week, but if I write multiple pieces of
content a day, my Discover traffic would skyrocket.
Whether you are a fan of Discover or not, it doesn’t matter. As a marketer, you need to look at it as another channel.
Data has already shown that it is popular and as long as
Google keeps pushing it, people will use it.
So why not leverage it to your advantage and harness it to drive traffic and sales for your site?
Plus, you should never rely on traffic from just one channel alone because the moment an algorithm change happens, it can crush your traffic. That’s why you need to take an omnichannel approach and leverage any relevant channel out there.
So, what do you think of Discover? Do you use it on your
phone? Have you thought about leveraging it for traffic to your site?
The post How I Generate 18,800 Visitors from Google Without SEO or Ads appeared first on Neil Patel.
Marketers should be looking at the brand-building potential across both display and search ads because Amazon is not just about direct response anymore.
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
Jeep’s Groundhog Day spot with Bill Murray was undoubtedly one of the best ads of Super Bowl 54, topping both Adweek’s list of the 10 Best Super Bowl Ads of 2020 and USA Today’s annual Ad Meter. But the last-minute production could easily have never aired as Fox sold out of ad inventory in November…
This Valentine’s Day, forget a dozen roses. You need a dozen GIFs.
The reason: Eye-catching visuals like GIFs in emails can increase click-through rates by 42% and conversion rates by 103%, and may positively impact your sales.
Go ahead and add GIFs to your February email campaigns. The AWeber design team has already done the work for you and created 12 downloadable Valentine’s Day GIFs!
Just download them and add them to your emails using AWeber’s ridiculously easy-to-use Drag and Drop message editor. These GIFs will be a sweet treat for your subscribers — and your bottom line.
Not an AWeber customer yet? Create your FREE account right now, and see how easy it is to use one of these GIFs in our Drag-and-Drop message editor.
Step 1: Find the animated Valentine’s Day GIF below that you want to use in your email.
Step 2: Save it to your computer by either right clicking the GIF and selecting “Save Image,” or by dragging the GIF to your desktop.
Step 3: Upload the GIF into your email template inside AWeber. Under image size, choose “original.” That’s it!
Related: Everything You Need to Know about Using GIFs in Email
You spin me right round, baby.
Right round like a record, baby.
It’s almost like the 80s band “Dead or Alive” is performing in your subscribers’ inboxes.
This is the email version of a hand-written love note to your crush. Your subscribers will LUV the middle-school nostalgia.
Like Cupid, you won’t miss the mark with this heart and arrow GIF in your email.
Here are some of our readers’ all-time favorite GIFs from past V-Days.
Want to make your emails “pop”? Use this fun balloon GIF.
Glow bright in the inbox with this neon sale sign.
Make your subscribers’ hearts burst with this GIF.
What’s almost as good as candy falling right into your mouth? This GIF.
Knock Knock.
Who’s there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive you.
Tell your subscribers how much you love them with this GIF.
What do you call a very small Valentine?
A Valen-tiny. Just like this small heart GIF!
“You must be a keyboard, because you’re just my type.” No cheesy pick up lines required. Get the message across with these two GIFs.
Give your subscribers a hearty hug this V-Day.
Want to show your love for your customers the other 364 days of the year? Here are some clever ways to deliver awesome experiences.
1. Send personalized notes.
Have you ever received a tweet from your favorite company? Or a lightning-fast response from tech support when you’re having an issue? It feels good to be acknowledged, doesn’t it?
Do the same for your customers and send a bunch of individualized emails. You can say “thank you for your business” to a new or interesting customer. You can send a quick note of thanks to your subscribers who gave your product, service, or program great reviews. Or maybe you can send followup emails to the ones who didn’t gave you good reviews — and ask what you can do better.
Include your contact info and tell them to get in touch with you if they ever have any questions.
2. Deliver seasonal content.
Get creative and think outside the traditional holiday seasons. For example, if you’re a coffee shop owner, you could send your subscribers a special coupon that they can use for a pick-me-up during tax season.
Related: Email Marketing Statistics: We Analyzed 1,000 Emails from Today’s Top Experts
3. Reward your customers.
First-time customers could use a push to buy again and return customers deserve to be recognized. Give them a little something — like free shipping on their next order, a free consultation, or a downloadable resource that can help them make a buying decision.
4. Turn your 404 page into an opportunity.
A 404 doesn’t have to be a dead end. Instead, use it as a chance to delight.
One quick example: If you stumble upon a 404 page on the site Flooring Supplies — the UK’s largest online flooring company — it says “Floor…Oh … Floor!” Here are some more awesome 404 ideas.
5. Respond to questions and comments.
Join in on your customers’ conversation. Forums, Twitter chats, and your own social profiles are great places to start. When someone gives you a digital shoutout, respond! It’s a fantastic way to retain customers and maintain stellar customer service.
If a customer has an issue, give them your undivided attention. By simply listening and working with them to solve it, you can turn a negative situation into a position one. Check out these ideas for turning customers into raving fans.
Have more ideas for delighting your customers? Tell us in the comments!
Additional reporting by Kristen Dunleavy.
The post 2020 Valentine’s Day GIF Guide appeared first on Email Marketing Tips.
Is a billboard an affordable marketing tool for a design firm or copywriter? Don’t laugh it off. I spoke with Bart Bradshaw, host of the Built to Stay podcast, who educated me all about the latest in outdoor advertising. It’s not as expensive as you think and depending on your niche, it could definitely make you stand out. Listen to our companion interview on choosing a niche.
If you want to get traffic from Google, how would you go
about it?
Chances are you are either going to leverage SEO or pay for
some ads.
But what if there was another way to get traffic from Google? A way that didn’t take as long as SEO and didn’t cost money like paid ads. And no, I’m not talking about Google News… there is actually an easier way.
It’s so effective that it drove 18,800 visitors to my site in the last 3 months. Just look at the screenshot above.
So, what is it?
Similar to how you have feeds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, did you know Google has a feed for you.
It’s called Google Discover.
If you mainly use Google on your laptop or desktop computer, chances are you haven’t seen it. But if you have the Google mobile app or the Chrome mobile app, you probably have already seen it.
Here’s what it looks like on an iPhone:
This is Google’s version of a social feed.
Here’s how it works… Google Discover results, which appear below the search box on the Google mobile app and Chrome mobile app, show a summary of web pages as cards. These cards are a scrollable list of topics, almost like a social feed, that you can browse on your mobile devices.
Tapping one of these cards from Google search home will send
you directly to the page you just clicked on.
And if you are wondering why you are seeing certain stories
that others may not be, it’s because the recommendations are based on search
history, interactions with Google products, and who you choose to follow
directly via Google Discover.
But here is where it’s getting interesting…
Discover results for some topics also appear within the
search engine results under the label “Interesting finds.”
If you click one of these stories, it’ll take you directly to that web page, or, if you click to see “more stories” at the bottom of the Interesting Finds card, it’ll bring you to a new Google Discover user interface where you can follow that topic, follow related topics, and explore related Discover listings.
Now if you have a Pixel phone, you’ve seen Discover a lot, but again you just haven’t realized it.
By simply swiping right on your Pixel phone home screen you
get a customizable and personalized feed just like the image above.
Now, you may be wondering, how is this different than just
using Google News? Because they have a top stories section which is kind of
like a feed, right?
Unlike top stories, Discover doesn’t limit rankings to what’s published most recently.
If Google thinks a user would find earlier content
interesting, then Discover might show it. Discover also features videos, sports
scores, entertainment updates such a movie, stock prices, event info for things
like a music festival, and much more.
Google is positioning Discover as a content hub for all of your interests just like Facebook is doing with their feed.
In other words, this is Google’s version of your Facebook
feed.
Similar to following a hashtag on Instagram, you can follow
a topic of interest on Discover. Also, similar to Instagram’s Explore Page, you
don’t need to follow anything to get content you might like. Discover is aiming
to show you content you’d be interested in before you even know you want
it.
The key is “before you knew about it.” Just like how Facebook and Instagram do the same thing.
Because it can drive you a ton of traffic.
Just check out one of the clients of my ad agency, Neil Patel Digital. Look at their Discover traffic.
They generated 3.64 million impressions in the last 28 days
and 79,000 clicks to their site.
That’s a ton of traffic. In addition, all of those impressions help with branding.
Now you may not care about branding but the larger your
brand, the easier it is to rank on Google. Brand search volume is more correlated
with rankings than links or domain authority.
And as Google’s ex-CEO stated:
Brands are the solution, not the problem. Brands are how you sort out the cesspool.
So, all of those impressions you can generate from Discover are great because they will help put your brand out there. It helps with the concept called the Rule of 7, in which when someone sees or interacts with your brand 7 times, they are much more likely to become a loyal customer.
This can also help with Google’s E-A-T algorithm updates. It is the best way if you want to build up your expertise and credibility as an author. Discover is a simple way to help you get there.
So, how can you get more traffic from Discover?
Luckily, it’s not as complicated as SEO and the results happen
much faster. Still not instant, but over time you should see your Discover
traffic continually rising.
Here are 3 simple tips that will help:
Once you make a deliberate effort to go after Discover
traffic, it’s time to measure how you are doing.
Chances are, you use Google Analytics. But to see how well you are doing on Discover, it’s easier if you use Google Search Console.
Head over to Search Console and log in.
Now, on the left side, you’ll see a navigation menu.
I want you to click on “Discover.” (You’ll only see this option if you hit a minimum threshold in Discover traffic)
You’ll now see a report that looks something like this.
Compared to the screenshot I showcased earlier, I barely get
any Discover traffic.
Why you may ask?
Do you notice a trend with my chart? Well, I tend to publish content every Tuesday and that’s the day I get Discover traffic.
Similar to any other social network (and unlike traditional SEO), you mainly see traffic as you post new content. It’s not long-term traffic that is consistent, instead, you keep getting quick bursts of traffic.
I only blog once a week, but if I write multiple pieces of
content a day, my Discover traffic would skyrocket.
Whether you are a fan of Discover or not, it doesn’t matter. As a marketer, you need to look at it as another channel.
Data has already shown that it is popular and as long as
Google keeps pushing it, people will use it.
So why not leverage it to your advantage and harness it to drive traffic and sales for your site?
Plus, you should never rely on traffic from just one channel alone because the moment an algorithm change happens, it can crush your traffic. That’s why you need to take an omnichannel approach and leverage any relevant channel out there.
So, what do you think of Discover? Do you use it on your
phone? Have you thought about leveraging it for traffic to your site?
The post How I Generate 18,800 Visitors from Google Without SEO or Ads appeared first on Neil Patel.
The digital media industry juddered when Google said it would join Apple and Firefox in prohibiting third-party cookies on Chrome, its industry-leading browser. The decision stoked uncertainty among investors in publicly listed ad-tech stocks. For example, investor confidence in retargeting stalwart Criteo crashed in the immediate aftermath of the announcement (Wall Street’s ad-tech sweetheart The…
So you’ve decided you’re ready to take your marketing to the next level by investing in a marketing automation tool — congrats!
But as you start your research, you soon discover there are 7,000+ marketing automation solutions available as of 2019. How will you know which is the right platform for your ecommerce business?
Like with every tricky business question, the answer is: it depends.
In this post, I’ll cover seven factors to consider when comparing different marketing automation platforms. These factors will ultimately help you make a more confident and informed decision about the future of your tech stack.
But first, let’s discuss why ecommerce businesses should always use some kind of marketing automation platform.
Marketing automation uses online software to automatically execute your marketing tasks, like sending emails, growing your database, and collecting data to help drive your strategy. Although it’s commonly known for making the lives of digital marketers easier (which I can completely attest to), it also helps your ecommerce business scale.
At Campaign Creators, we help ecommerce brands leverage the power of marketing automation. Here’s a list of some of the immediate benefits we’ve seen our clients reap after implementation:
With thousands of marketing automation solutions available, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your company. Because the buyers journey and sales cycle differ between ecommerce and other types of businesses, some platforms may lack the tools and features you need to manage the customer lifecycle.
Start your research by examining marketing automation tools that have a specific solution for ecommerce businesses, including:
Then, use the following seven factors to guide your evaluation process and help you make the best purchase decision.
First, consider how simple or overwhelming the platform’s user interface is designed. Many, if not all, platforms will claim they have an intuitive and easy-to-use platform — but this isn’t always the case.
To determine whether the platform’s user interface will be easy for you to learn, ask for a demo of the platform. When testing each platform, ask yourself:
A learning curve often exists when jumping onto a new platform. As an ecommerce business, you’ll likely have other priorities such as fulfilling online orders or launching other campaigns. So, make sure you’re able to test the user interface of the platform to determine how quickly you’ll be able to get up to speed — and get to work.
Each marketing automation platform will offer different features, so make sure you’re choosing a platform that has the capabilities you need. Also, consider the existing technology you already have. You may have existing technology you want to integrate with your new platform.
When comparing platforms, ask yourself:
As an ecommerce company, you may have your online shop on a different platform, such as Shopify. If this is the case, it’s essential to make sure your shop natively integrates with your new marketing automation platform. This will make it easier to set up your automated lead nurturing campaigns that are based on your contact’s website activity.
When jumping on a new and unfamiliar system, you’ll want to receive the best help possible. It’s important to recognize that technology isn’t perfect and that things may break — so having that extra help to resolve your unique issue can be critical.
When purchasing a new marketing automation platform, some kind of technical support is usually provided, however, the type of support available can differ.
Ask yourself:
Especially if you don’t have the time or extra help to figure out an issue, customer support can be an essential factor to prioritize when comparing different marketing automation platforms.
When purchasing a new marketing automation tool, having online resources available can help you get the most out of your new system. Some platforms have guides, how-to videos, or even webinars that can help you learn how to use the tool.
For instance, the HubSpot Academy is a great online learning resource. Within the Academy, you’ll find all kinds of how-to videos that teach you how to become an advanced HubSpot user.
When choosing a platform and researching their learning resources, ask yourself:
Although choosing the right platform for your ecommerce business really depends on your company’s personal needs and goals, you’ll want to understand how other users of the tool are making the most of it.
Look for case studies or video testimonials that have existing customers speaking about their experience with the tool. To get a more authentic review of the platform, use outside review sites such as G2’s Marketing Automation Software Comparison. G2 is a trustworthy source that encourages peer reviews and star ratings of business products. Check out their grid below, which ranks the top marketing automation software products.
When researching each platform, ask yourself:
Pricing structures can differ from platform to platform, but most will have a certain price per number of contacts. When researching pricing for different platforms, ask yourself:
As a rule of thumb, the simpler and more transparent a company is about their pricing structure — the better. Jumping on a call with a sales rep can also be an easier way to figure out exactly what the price will be based on the size of your database, the features you need, and the goals you’ve set for your company.
Once you’ve purchased your new marketing automation platform, there’s no doubt you’ll need some kind of assistance getting up and running. However, the assistance offered varies between platforms.
When researching about a platform’s set-up and onboarding process, ask yourself:
Ultimately, ecommerce companies tend to have larger databases that scale quickly, so make sure you’re considering a platform that will benefit you in the future, as well.
To make life easier for you, take a look at Campaign Creators’ Marketing Automation Comparison Guide. While research can be tedious, this chart will make it easier for you to digest and compare multiple platforms at once. The more you know prior to choosing a platform, the easier it will be to choose the right marketing automation system for your company’s needs.
Diminishing third-party cookie data and growing privacy regulations will impact available data, driving more marketers to take control over ID graphs and identity programs.
Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.