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The Best Ad Formats for E-Commerce Brands

4 (7)
27Nov

E-commerce is highly competitive and when creating ads, it can seem like you’re a fish getting lost in the sea, but it’s all about capturing their attention and crafting the right message to find success in your advertising efforts.

To make your brand stand out, you need to go beyond the ordinary and get creative. Lucky for you, I have some helpful tips on how to craft the perfect ads that get seen in a sea of brands.

Show Them What You’re About, Don’t Just Tell Them

To create ads that stand out, focus on showing rather than telling. Consumers are bombarded with information daily, so it’s important to make your ads visually compelling.

Let your audience see how your product or service can improve their lives, solve their problems, or fulfill their desires. This creates a powerful emotional connection and makes your ad more memorable.

The Design is a Major Portion of the Success of the Ad

The design of your ad plays a significant role in its success. Pay attention to the visual elements, such as color schemes, typography, and layout.

Additionally, don’t forget to design for a specific niche, use visual metaphors, and always have a call to action.

Provide Multiple Options to Choose From with Carousels

Carousels are a fantastic tool to make your e-commerce ads more engaging and interactive. Instead of limiting your ad to a single static image, create a carousel of images or products to choose from.

This provides your audience with a more immersive ad experience where they feel like they are in charge of what they are purchasing.

Promote Your PR

Use your PR efforts to make ads. Highlight any positive mentions, reviews, awards, or media coverage in your campaigns.

User-generated content, such as testimonials and reviews, can add authenticity and credibility to your ads as well.

Social proof is a high-performing tool in marketing, and it can make potential customers feel more confident in choosing your products.

Creating e-commerce ads that stand out in a large marketplace is essential for brand success.

By using these advertising strategies, you’ll not only make your brand stand out but also effectively capture the attention and interest of your target audience, leading to increased engagement and conversions.

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The Benefits of Using LinkedIn Newsletters

3 (7)
17Nov

LinkedIn has been the largest professional networking platform for years, and a few years ago, they introduced a new feature to help individuals and businesses improve their presence on the platform: LinkedIn Newsletters.

If you’re wondering why you need a LinkedIn Newsletter, let’s take a look, shall we?

You Establish Yourself as a Thought Leader

Thought leadership is one of the primary forms of content on LinkedIn and using LinkedIn Newsletters enhances your ability to establish yourself as a professional in your industry.

You can do this by regularly sharing well-researched and insightful content showing knowledge and perspective that will help you attract like-minded professionals.

Your Connections Have Direct Access

You don’t have to worry about creating an email pipeline to get these individuals on your email list. LinkedIn Newsletters offer direct access to your network – the more connections you have, the larger the reach of your newsletters.

It appears directly in your connections’ LinkedIn notifications, and all you have to do is stay consistent and relevant with your sharing.

Find Your Target Audience

LinkedIn’s algorithm is designed to show your Newsletter to a highly targeted audience, including your connections, followers, and those who engage with your content.

This piece can be very valuable for B2B marketing and business development efforts. Convinced yet?

Starting a LinkedIn Newsletter is a strategic move for professionals and businesses looking to maximize their impact on the platform. It enables you to share your expertise, engage with your network on a personal level, and drive traffic to your profile and external websites.

And with new features coming to these newsletters (such as hosting up to five under one profile) it is sure to only get better from here.

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3 Ways Brands Can Use Pinterest to Drive Traffic and Revenue

2 (8)
14Nov

Pinterest is an often-overlooked platform that continues to stand out more and more in today’s social media landscape. And how has it become so unique? Ironically, by staying the same.

Pinterest has stuck to its roots as a photo-based platform for years and continues to grow despite the short-form video boom. Even amid the push of video content, Pinterest simply added an “Idea Pin” option but kept their feed roughly the same. Why? Because they have spent years curating a unique audience who expects Pinterest to be, well… Pinterest.

With a focus on visual content and a highly engaged user base, Pinterest offers a truly unique opportunity for businesses to showcase what they have to offer. Let’s explore three effective ways brands can leverage Pinterest to drive traffic and revenue.

Create Engaging Visual Content

Pinterest is all about aesthetically pleasing visuals, and this is an important piece to keep in mind when creating pins. The more appealing your pins are, the more traffic you will drive.

Here are a few design tips when creating pins:

Invest in high-quality images and videos when promoting your products or services. Think of it this way: the prettier your picture, the more likely it is to be shared.

Create informative and visually pleasing infographics related to your industry or niche. Infographics are widely shared on Pinterest and are your key to establishing authority as a brand or creator.

Step-by-step guides or video tutorials are a must. Just as your audience on Instagram or Facebook enjoys a quick tutorial of your offering – so does the audience on Pinterest. So, if you are already posting these videos on other channels – repurpose them and use them on Pinterest as well.

Optimize Your Content for Pinterest SEO

Think of Pinterest as a search engine, you want to use specific keywords when promoting a product or service. Use descriptive titles and descriptions of each pin, and identify who your target audience is and which keywords may be working for your competition.

Be a Continuous Presence 

It’s all about consistency on social media and Pinterest is no different. In order to see results, you need to provide value to your audience and show up consistently. Regularly add fresh content to your boards to keep your current audience engaged and attract new interest.

Don’t forget to use Pinterest analytics! Track the performance of your pins and boards, identify what works and what doesn’t, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Pinterest is not just a platform for finding visual inspiration – it’s a valuable brand tool to drive traffic and revenue. With the right approach, Pinterest can help your brand thrive and grow.

So start pinning!

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Should You Be Using Clubhouse for Your Brand?

1 (10)
6Nov

Let’s talk Clubhouse! The audio-based social platform burst onto the scene in 2020, quickly gaining popularity among professionals, entrepreneurs, and content creators.

It offers a unique space for real-time audio conversations and has the potential to benefit your brand in various ways. Today, we will explore whether using Clubhouse is essential for your brand and how to determine if it’s the right platform for your marketing strategy.

First up, Clubhouse offers a unique opportunity for brands to engage in real-time market research. By participating in discussions and listening to the pain points, needs, and desires of your target audience, you can gather invaluable insights that can play a role in your product development and future strategies.

Now, if your brand regularly hosts webinars, workshops, or niche events, Clubhouse can be an excellent platform to promote them. The audio format allows you to give a teaser of the event’s content, entice potential attendees, and answer questions in real time.

Additionally, Clubhouse provides an opportunity to become a thought leader, by hosting or participating in thought-provoking panel discussions. Being recognized as a thought leader in Clubhouse can significantly enhance your brand’s reputation.

Lastly, Clubhouse is a great way to experiment with new content formats. Having unique content formats and channels can differentiate your brand from competitors and generate more interest from potential customers.

And that wraps it up! Determining whether Clubhouse is essential for your brand depends on a variety of factors, including your target audience, industry, content capabilities, networking goals, and available resources.

Clubhouse has the potential to be a valuable addition to your brand’s marketing efforts if used strategically and aligned with your brand’s objectives and values.

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The Benefits of Creating a Facebook Group for Your Brand

4 (5)
27Oct

Between Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X (Twitter), the last thing on your mind is ANOTHER social media platform to manage. While not all social media platforms are necessary for every brand, I want to tell you why Facebook Groups may be just what you need to boost your reach and improve your customer experience through community building.

The Community Element

Let’s start off strong with the main reason why these groups are beneficial. Think of Facebook groups as a reading circle; it’s a place for people with the same interests to come together and connect with each other.

When your brand creates a group, this helps you with three things: building a stronger relationship with your customers, narrowing down your niche-specific audience in one place, and promoting your products or services to people who are interested.

Customers become your biggest advocates when they trust you and your brand.

Nothing But Engagement

This is a group of people dedicated to your niche, and when you nurture it correctly, the engagement can be off the charts! Members can start discussions, ask questions, and share their experiences, creating an atmosphere that members look forward to coming to every day.

Exclusive Content & Promotions for Your Members

This is the perfect place to give your group members exclusive content, sneak peeks, or early access to products or promotions. The best part? You don’t have to pay to be a member of a Facebook Group and everybody loves a good freebie!

Host exclusive events such as webinars, local get-togethers, or virtual meet-ups to give them the VIP experience.

Use the Opportunity for Insights

Facebook groups are a great source of market research. This is your opportunity to get 1:1 insights on customer satisfaction, pain points, and needs. Start by asking questions and running polls on a consistent basis. Another great way to keep your audience engaged and involved? Ask them for insights on new product or service ideas. You’ll win them over!

So, there you have it! Creating a Facebook group for your brand can be a real game-changer. It’s a space where your audience becomes a part of your brand’s journey: creating loyalty, trust, and engagement.

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How to Improve Your Reach on Facebook

3 (3)
20Oct

Are you worried that Facebook is dead because your account has gone stagnant for a while? If you said yes, then this blog is for you. I am breaking out my own personal tips on how to refresh your Facebook page and increase your reach.

Embrace Your Niche/Industry

Instead of casting a wide net, stay focused on your niche. Target the micro-communities within your industry and create content tailored to their specific interests.

It’s all about quality over quantity.

Stay Trendy and Relevant

Every brand has a different audience but that doesn’t mean you need to skimp out on what’s trending. Just be sure it aligns with your brand’s voice and message.

Go Live Consistently

Facebook Live is a hidden tool many business owners don’t take advantage of. Try to make it a point to go live monthly, weekly, etc. Customers love to see behind-the-scenes shots, attend Q&As, or watch live event streaming. Live videos get priority in the newsfeed so why not take advantage of it?

Ask Your Audience for Ideas

Ask your audience to contribute ideas for a new product, service, or project. Consumers love to feel that they are a part of something, and when you involve them in decisions for the business, it builds trust and excitement.

So don’t let your Facebook audience die on you. Use these unique strategies, mix and match, and find what resonates most with your audience. Do you have any unconventional ideas that tend to perform well on Facebook?

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Why You Should Sell Your Products on Social Media

2 (4)
13Oct

If you run a commerce-based business, have you started selling your products on social media? You may not think it is the right thing to do for your business, but let me tell you a few reasons why you should be leveraging social media shopping to boost sales and increase ROI.

You Get a Wider Reach with Less Effort

Especially if you already have a decent following on platforms like Instagram or TikTok, why not add your shop? One of the most significant perks of selling on social media is being in the center of the shopping action. Every day billions of users are scrolling, liking, and reviewing new products on social media. It’s free publicity without needing to invest tons of money in mega influencers.

Social Media is All About a Pretty Picture

Social media is all about aesthetics. Instagram started as a photo-based platform and what made the app so popular were the aesthetic and real visuals of products, destinations, family outings, and funny memes.

Save some money on ads and don’t let your professionally photographed products go to waste. Put your best foot forward with high-quality photos that are sure to make any scroller stop and click.

The Process is Seamless

With the rise of online shopping, platforms such as Instagram and TikTok now offer detailed in-app shopping features. This means it is a smooth transition for the customers to go from admiring your products to making a purchase without ever leaving the app.

It’s convenient for them and a game-changer for you.

Easier Communication with Your Customers

When it comes to a positive customer experience, it’s a two-way street. Your customers want to feel confident about the products they buy and when they have questions or concerns, no one likes being redirected 200 times before finally getting an answer. Social media allows a more direct form of communication.

If someone purchases a product and there is a shipping delay, it puts them at ease that they can easily shoot your brand a message and receive a quick response back.

So there you have it, friends. Selling on social media isn’t just the latest trend, it’s a smart business move. It’s where your audience is, where your competitors are, and where the future of commerce is headed.

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How to Use Google My Business to Improve the Customer Journey

1 (7)
9Oct

If you have just merely set up your Google My Business account and forgot about it, you’re not using the platform to its full potential. Think of it like your digital storefront (which it is). How do you want your storefront to look to your customers?

Inviting? Or dead?

My guess is that you want your storefront to be interesting to anyone passing by, and if you use it correctly, it can be a major tool in improving your customer experience. Imagine you’re looking for a great coffee shop nearby. You whip out your smartphone, type “best coffee near me” into Google, and bam, a list of coffee shops pops up, complete with photos, reviews, and directions.

Now, if you were trying to make a decision on which coffee shop to try out, would you choose the one that has minimal information and photos on it? Or would you choose the shop that has multiple reviews, tons of photos, and posts about what’s happening with their community?

If you’d like your business to stand out like the second one, here are a few ways you can level up your Google My Business account and improve your customer journey.

1. Keep Your Info Accurate

Fill out your profile completely with your business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and a brief description. You want to make sure your information is up to date and provides some insight into your brand so your customers can find you easily and know what to expect.

2. Show Off with Photos and Videos

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Upload high-quality images of your products, services, and the interior/exterior of your business. You can also post videos to give potential customers a virtual tour. Nobody wants to be surprised when visiting a new place.

3. Engage with Your Reviewers

Customer reviews can make or break your reputation. Respond promptly and professionally to both positive and negative feedback. This shows that you care about your customers and are committed to improving their experience.

4. Get Creative with Google Posts

Those tips, product drops, and local events you’re posting on social media? Post here as well! Keep your Google My Business profile fresh by posting updates, events, and special offers just like any other social media channel. Many people search for a company on Google first instead of Instagram, so having your profile up to date with a post feed is very important.

Using Google My Business isn’t just about being found, it’s about providing a seamless and memorable experience for your customers.

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Are You The Agency Owner Type? Here’s How You Can Tell

4 (63)
25Sep

Running an agency is not just a job; it’s a dynamic role that requires a unique combination of skills, traits, and qualities. Agency owners are responsible for managing teams, fostering client relationships, and steering the company toward success. 

But are you the agency owner type? Let’s see, shall we?

Check #1

Let’s first take a look at your communication skills — are they clear and effective? Owners need to communicate their vision, expectations, and strategies to both clients and team members. 

If you excel at articulating ideas, providing guidance, and listening actively, you possess a critical trait necessary for agency ownership.

Check #2

Successful agency owners should possess strong leadership qualities. They need to inspire and motivate their team members and create a collaborative and creative work environment. 

If you find joy in guiding and empowering others, your leadership skills could make you a great fit for agency ownership.

Check #3

Client satisfaction is paramount in the agency world. Agency owners must not only understand their client’s needs but also anticipate future requirements.

And, while it is important to anticipate needs, you must also be adaptable to changes in industry trends, technologies, and client demands. Resilience in the face of setbacks and the ability to pivot strategies are vital attributes for those considering agency ownership.

Check #4

Running an agency involves more than just creative pursuits; it’s also about managing a business effectively. Agency owners need a keen understanding of financial management, budgeting, and strategic planning.

Balancing client needs, team management, and administrative tasks requires strong time management and organizational skills.

If you excel at these business tactics, you’re on the right track toward becoming an effective agency owner.

Being the agency owner type isn’t just about having a specific skill set; it’s about possessing a combination of qualities that enable you to navigate the complex world of agency management successfully. 

If you resonate with these characteristics and are excited about the challenges and rewards that come with agency ownership, you might just be on the path to building a thriving and impactful agency.

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The First Steps of Marketing for Indie Authors

3 (77)
18Sep

The journey of an indie author is an exciting one. You spend countless hours crafting your unique stories and bringing your ideas to life in hopes that your readers will enjoy your story. Yet, in a world teeming with literary works, getting your novel noticed and launched successfully can be a daunting challenge. 

The key lies in strategic marketing approaches that help you stand out and connect with your target audience. 

The good news is when it comes to being an Indie author, you have full creative freedom, as there is no one to tell you how to market your book. So, let’s explore some essential marketing tips for indie authors to pave the way for a successful novel launch.

Build Your Author Platform Early

Long before your book hits the shelves, start building your author platform. Establish a strong online presence through a website, blog, and active social media profiles. Engage with potential readers by sharing insights into your writing process, discussing your genre, and creating anticipation for your upcoming release.

Building a community around your work will generate buzz and keep your audience engaged.

Craft a Compelling Book Blurb and Cover

Your book’s blurb and cover are the first things readers encounter. First, craft a compelling blurb that conveys the essence of your story without giving away too much. 

Second is to invest in a professional book cover design that captures the tone and genre of your novel. A visually appealing cover combined with an intriguing blurb can entice potential readers to delve into your book.

Leverage Social Media and Content Marketing

Social media platforms are powerful tools for indie authors. Engage with your audience through regular posts, updates about your writing journey, and insights into your novel’s progress. Consider content marketing strategies like blog posts or guest articles related to your book’s themes or your writing process.

This not only showcases your expertise but also helps establish your presence as a knowledgeable author.

Utilize Email Marketing

Building an email list can be a game-changer for indie authors. Encourage readers to sign up for updates and newsletters on your website or social media platforms. 

Send regular emails with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and updates about your book’s launch.

Secure Reviews and Endorsements

Positive reviews and endorsements can significantly boost your book’s credibility. Reach out to fellow authors, bloggers, and book reviewers in your genre to request honest reviews. 

Consider offering advanced reader copies (ARCs) to build anticipation and gather early feedback that you can use in your marketing materials.

Organize Virtual Launch Events

With everything going digital these days, virtual book launch events are a fantastic way to connect with readers globally. Plan a virtual launch party, webinar, or live Q&A session on platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or TikTok. 

Collaborate with Book Bloggers and Influencers

As briefly mentioned above, collaborating with book bloggers and social media influencers can expand your book’s reach. Send them ARCs for review or guest posts. 

Their platforms can introduce your work to a broader audience and lend credibility to your novel.

Launching a novel as an indie author may be a challenging endeavor, but with strategic marketing tactics, it’s an achievable goal. 

Remember that persistence, authenticity, and a genuine passion for your story are the driving forces that will help you stand out in the literary world and connect with readers who are eager to read your novel.

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Bulletproof Marketer