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YouTube Shorts Are Your Business’s Next Social Opportunity

September 9, 2021 by Sierra Foraker Leave a Comment

YouTube Shorts are the newest way for you to market and create content for your business. This social media platform is already connected to YouTube, so it’s that much easier for existing businesses to integrate Shorts into their social media marketing strategy if they are already YouTube users. Here’s why YouTube Shorts are the newest social opportunity for your business.

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are YouTube’s effort towards short-form video. Similar to platforms like TikTok, short-form video has gained popularity in recent years due to it’s lightweight and catchy nature. Users also prefer this type of experience since it provides instant satisfaction and doesn’t require as much commitment when compared to longer video content. Shorts videos are 60 seconds or less, vertical (mobile 9:16 ratio), and show up in the designated YouTube Shorts app or on the “Short Shelf” within the existing YouTube app.

In the Shorts environment, YouTube shows an endless loop of videos to you that YouTube thinks you would like. YouTube bases this loop on your interests, searches, and watch history. The appeal of this short-form video loop is its “stickiness”. Each 60-second clip is immediate gratification after the next, which keeps users swiping.

How to Create Shorts

You can create a YouTube Short by uploading a video, filming the video within the App, or sampling available content from other YouTube creators, then using the Shorts editor to add music, text, and more. Keep in mind, if you sample content or music from another creator and that creator deletes that video, any Shorts that sampled the deleted video will automatically be set to “unlisted” and scheduled for deletion in 30 days.

You can add Shorts as another content hub on your existing YouTube page or create an entirely new YouTube dedicated to Shorts. The ladder is what is recommended if you believe adding Shorts will disrupt your current audience. For example, if your existing audience enjoys the way your content is already set up on YouTube, they may be turned off by Shorts, and that is when you would want to create a new YouTube page for your Shorts. On the other hand, keeping your Shorts connected to your existing YouTube page creates a home base for all of your content for watchers to enjoy.

YouTube Shorts for Businesses

Businesses have already begun using Shorts in creative ways to market them and their businesses, and it’s time for you to start now! The earlier you start adding content to Shorts, the more likely you are to show up on someone’s loop. This is because YouTube is doing everything they can to promote the new short-form video platform, and will reward creators who are attempting to share their content through it.

Another great thing about Shorts is that users don’t actually search for you to find you. YouTube puts your content right in front of people they think would like it, which adds viewers to your page organically and increases your potential for leads and new customers. Once they see your Short, they have the option to subscribe.

Shorts Best Practices

With Shorts, you only have 60 seconds (sometimes less) to grab the attention of your audience. The great thing about Shorts is that users can decide within a few seconds if they want to keep watching, but this is vital for creators to keep in mind. To combat this, creators must make the first few seconds of their Short captivating and keep the rest of the content shared in the video snappy. To add, Shorts loop if the user doesn’t swipe next, so when creating Shorts, pace the video accordingly and optimize it for replayability.

Another best practice is to keep your content relevant. Make sure to keep up with trends on the App. Whether it’s a popular song, moment, event, or practice, keeping up with the times is extremely important on a platform like this. Lastly, make sure your videos are rewarding. This could mean that your Short provides a solution, teaches the user something new, or simply entertains them.

All in all, the Shorts you create for your business on YouTube need to execute a promise to be successful. Viewers need to be shown a reason to keep watching within the first few seconds of a video, and then by the end of the video, they need to feel that reason was fulfilled. Start using YouTube Shorts for your business today to stay socially relevant and attract more leads to your business. Need some help with YouTube Optimization and setting up Shorts? Call Us Now! (302) 407-0431

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Why Should You Outsource Digital Marketing Services?

If you need help, get in touch with Advertising Is Simple. We have quality solutions and products that can help improve your brand’s SEO and make a notable increase in your number of leads.

At Advertising is Simple, we consistently stay up-to-date on the most effective methods of SEO, that’s why we call it Adaptive SEO. What works today, may not work a few months down the road. We monitor your advertising results through A/B testing and in-depth analytics to get you the highest rate of return on your advertising dollars.

Advertising Is Simple | 302.407.0431 | info@AdvertisingIsSimple.com

Google… (aka the Electronic Yellow Pages)

August 12, 2021 by Sierra Foraker

The Yellow Pages were once the fat book of solutions to many people’s problems. Whether it was a locksmith, a contractor, a seamstress, or a dog sitter you needed – The Yellow Pages were the primary business directory you depended on for finding help when you needed it, but not anymore.

Nowadays, you’ll probably only find one being used as a spider smasher or a makeshift “squatty potty”. Ask a millennial what the phonebook is and they’ll say, “You mean my contacts list?” Why is that, you ask? Because… Google, that’s why.

The search engine arrived and solidified its place as the most popular means of finding information through the Internet. Google had essentially swept the legs out from Yellow Pages, making all of this information (that would normally come out once a year) available with a single search and click.

One In The Same

Google and The Yellow Pages accomplish the same task, they help you find a business or service. The Yellow Pages made businesses pay to be featured in their directory, and that made all of the difference.

So, why wouldn’t you invest time and resources into the search engine that is now responsible for getting you to your customers in today’s day and age? The facts speak for themselves – 86% of people rely on the Internet to find a local business and 46% of Google searches are for just that – local businesses.

The difficult part can be having your business show up first on a Google search – which is what matters most. Legend has it – if someone has it out for you, they bury your business on the second page of Google, because who actually ever scrolls past the first?! You would think that if someone searched your business’s name, that you would automatically be the first to pop up. Surprising to most, this is not the case at all.

Pay Per Click

In order to show up first on Google, businesses need to invest in what’s called Pay Per Click, also known as PPC. Pay Per Click is the quickest and easiest way to show up at the top of a Google search. With PPC campaigns, businesses display ads that show up on a Google search using keywords related to their business and advertisers pay a fee anytime their ad is clicked. Costs per click usually range between $1-$200 dollars.

By marketing this way, you are “buying” website visits rather than relying solely on organic traffic. Coming up organically on Google can take major time and effort, so PPC ads can be a great head start to creating a solid organic presence and gaining leads. Google Ads is the most popular and effective PPC system used today, and if you are not using it for your business, are you sure your business even exists?

Search Engine Optimization

Google has an algorithm called Pigeon that is aimed at producing better search results for local businesses that have a strong organic presence, but in order to obtain that organic presence, you need to constantly be working on and monitoring your SEO.

SEO is now a very popular buzzword in terms of marketing and technology, but it’s as simple as this: Great SEO makes it easier to find your business through a Google search. Even if your business is not local, failing to invest in SEO is a big no-no and could be potentially costing you lots of business. Check out this article that shares 7 SEO tips for local businesses to try.

To Conclude

With the start of the Internet & the age of information, the tides of the business-world waters have drastically changed, and if you aren’t keeping up to speed, your business may get swept away and lost in the current. Your business may not be one that involves technology, but regardless of what you do, Pay Per Click, SEO, & Google are essential parts of the marketing machine that you need to be utilizing today.

Top 7 SEO Tips for Local Business

How Local SEO Efforts Can Benefit Your Business

Google Trends as a Powerful Digital Marketing Tool

If you need help, get in touch with Advertising Is Simple. We have quality solutions and products that can help improve your brand’s SEO and make a notable increase in your number of leads.

Advertising Is Simple | 302.407.0431 | info@AdvertisingIsSimple.com

Top 7 SEO Tips for Local Business

April 19, 2021 by Sierra Foraker

Have you heard of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and know that it can be beneficial for your business, but just don’t know where to start? Here is a checklist of our top 7 SEO tips to show you what areas you should focus on, what needs to be optimized, and what you need to do to fix any problems you may encounter to best position yourself for local search traffic and business.

1. Start with a comprehensive audit

When you create a complete snapshot of your current SEO efforts, along with an understanding of your competition, you’re able to curate a plan that is going to be more effective and sustainable. We recommend that you conduct regular SEO audits and maintain an organized worksheet to record and track your progress.

2. Optimize your Website & Landing Page

When it comes to organic and local search, having a properly optimized site is more important than ever before. Organic signals are now tied into the local algorithm and having a properly optimized website will help you outrank your competition.

3. Correct Basic Location Information

Correct all discrepancies and inconsistencies in your business Name, Address, Phone number (NAP) and other related information. Also, ask questions about previous business names or previous experience with SEO or SEO penalties.

4. Seek Reviews & Reputation Management

Reviews have a direct impact on local search rankings. They can make or break a local business regardless of how well their keywords can rank. So, you’ll want to spend some time acquiring them in a manner consistent with the directory or service, such as Google, Facebook, or Yelp. For any directory, we strongly discourage paying for reviews.

5. Analyze and Maintain “Google My Business” Page

Find the proper Google My Business (GMB) URL and record it in your Local SEO Audit Spreadsheet. Follow Google’s guidelines to assure your business NAP, category, and subcategories, and other items are represented properly on your Google My Business listing.

6. Create Organic Link Building & Avoid Penalties

You need to keep the site out of a penalty short term and long term. You need to identify any potential problems and prepare yourself to make effective business decisions. Google penalties can be brutal, and recovery is not a walk in the park.

7. Analyze your Social Profiles

Review your profiles – Facebook, Google My Business, Foursquare, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Instagram, etc.- and verify they have consistent branding, NAP consistency, high-quality photos, a business description, positive reviews, effective geo-targeting, and other elements in accordance with the guidelines of the platform. It’s very important that you post regularly to these platforms for them to be useful in your SEO efforts.

At Advertising is Simple, we consistently stay up-to-date on the most effective methods of SEO, that’s why we call it Adaptive SEO. What works today, may not work a few months down the road. We monitor your advertising results through A/B testing and in-depth analytics to get you the highest rate of return on your advertising dollars.

We believe local SEO plays a big part in the digital marketing arena and we have no doubts it will remain for many marketing light years to come! If you have any questions or would like to find out more about how Advertising Is Simple can help you compete in the Digital Marketplace while managing your online presence, get in touch!

Advertising Is Simple | 302.407.0431 | info@AdvertisingIsSimple.com

8 Social Media Marketing Trends that Are Worth Adapting in 2021

January 14, 2021 by Sierra Foraker

Social media is always evolving and shifting. Your challenge as a business owner is to adapt to these changes, so your brand messaging continues to resonate and drive meaningful results.

In order to make the most of social media marketing, first you need to understand which emerging (or already existing trends) are worth adapting this year.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to having success across social media, it’s still worth implementing techniques that lead to building stronger relationships with your customers, while improving their impact on your bottom line.

8 Social Media Marketing Trends that Are Worth Adapting in 2021

1. Integrate Social Media Across Your Departments

If you want your brand to solve problems for people, then social media is going to tell you exactly what problems people have. By integrating social media across your departments, it ensures that important messages reach the most relevant people in the company. This will help you to build a business your customers and audience will care about.

2. Embrace Short- and Long-Form Video

Video usually works best for companies when it conveys a personalized message to their target audience with an educational, entertaining, or value-based perspective.

The ability to produce a video and then adapt it into different versions to promote your messaging across social media channels is one of the most effective ways to earn more viewership. Lengthier video isn’t necessarily better, but certain subjects, especially those with complexity, are more accurately communicated in depth. And after you’ve created longer video resources, think about the ways it can be broken down into shorter videos for sharing elsewhere later.

3. Invest in Dynamic Ads

Dynamic social ads feature products personalized to a person based on their shopping behaviors and other data points. They’re often more successful because they’re aligned to each specific shopper’s preferences by showing each individual items and messaging catered to them. Each is an opportunity to upsell and cross-sell customers, as well as reaching potential customers for the very first time.

4. Provide Social Shopping Opportunities

The ability to make a purchase directly from social media is becoming more widely available. If you limit the number of steps a person has to go through to make a purchase, you can increase conversions because the process is simpler and created to match the network’s design.

Begin by identifying what social shopping options are available (check out Facebook Shops, Instagram Shopping or Pinterest Shop), and understand the associated costs. Once you’ve set up an integration, it’s important to promote that you’re using the feature so your followers know it’s an option.

5. Use Stories to Engage with Your Audience

Businesses that use stories successfully are able to send a highly effective series of messages that are relatively affordable to create, and easy for audiences to view. Plus, they present an opportunity to showcase the people behind their brand, as well as a less produced, more authentic perspective of an organization.

Before you dive into stories, remember to begin where you’re already active, showcase both produced and impromptu content, and use the unique story features to your advantage.

6. Use YouTube to Build Deeper Connections

YouTube visitors spend over 11 minutes per day on average on the platform, since it’s the second most preferred platform for TV viewers 18 to 34 years old. Plus, YouTube is accessible for brands of all sizes as survey respondents shared that choosing a video based on their interest is more important than video’s production value.

Start by determining who exactly your audience is, and identify what their interests, challenges, and passions are. The goal here isn’t to convert customers with every video, but instead to build a positive association with your organization that lasts for the long term.

7. Create Series to Build Audience

Consider using social media to help your company build an audience for your series that lives on your own properties as well. To make a lasting impression with your social media, commit to a series to regularly reach your audience on an important theme they’ll associate with your organization for the future.

8. Feature Your Employees

People connect most with other people. Therefore, featuring the people behind your brand will help humanize your organization and form deeper connections with customers. Showcasing employees prominently on social media is important as it’s one of the best ways to build trust with consumers and familiarity with the purpose behind your organization.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about how Advertising Is Simple can help with social media marketing, get in touch!

Advertising Is Simple | 302.407.0431 | info@AdvertisingIsSimple.com

25 Days of Email Marketing Tips for the Holidays

November 24, 2020 by Sierra Foraker

With the holiday season upon us, now is the time to up your email marketing strategy in order to increase your conversion rates and make your marketing efforts successful.

Not planning on using email in your Holiday Marketing strategy? You might want to reconsider as email marketing was the #1 driver of online sales on Black Friday last year. Fifty-Seven percent of email subscribers spend ten to sixty minutes browsing emails during the week. People are opening email marketing messages on mobile devices and often while they’re shopping.

According to eMarketer, “One of the main drivers is the fact that email is predominantly viewed on mobile. Mobile is getting better, and retailers are beginning to get that.”

Check out our list of 25 ways to make your email marketing efforts more effective.

25 Days of Email Marketing Tips for the Holidays:

Provide Shipping and Order by Dates
Send out Back in Stock notices
Lighten Up – change email template to blue and silver
Automate Holiday Email Campaign
Highlight Best Sellers
Welcome New Subscribers with a Discount Code
Collect Sign ups to Email List on Facebook and Twitter
Announce Upcoming Events
Add Subject Line Emoji’s
Personalize with Merge Tags
Make Mobile-Friendly
Ask Permission if Sending Emails More Frequently
Reward Best Customers with Special Deals
Auto-post to Facebook and Twitter
Create a Great Subject Line
Add a Popup Form to Website
Analyze Reports & Adjust
Do Split Testing
Target by Age or Gender
Segment Your List
Share Holiday Tips
Use Holiday Promotional Videos
Run Tests for at least 4 Hours
Keep it Fresh
Encourage Social Media Interaction

At Advertising Is Simple, we help small to mid-sized business owners who are too busy running their businesses to focus on their marketing and advertising efforts. We can help with your email marketing plan, as well as all types of digital marketing strategies. If you’re looking to up your sales this holiday season, get in touch.

Share with us on facebook what holiday marketing strategies works for your business.

Call 302-407-0431

Google… (aka the Electronic Yellow Pages)