Sep 8, 2018 | SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is fast becoming a US$80 billion dollar industry.
Search ad revenue – the major component of Search Engine Marketing (SEM) – may only be around half that amount, but $40 billion is nothing to sneeze at.
Yet despite how monumentally massive these industries are, there is still a lot of confusion around what these terms mean.
Let’s take a brief look at SEO and SEM, their differences and the definitions of each.
What is Search Engine Optimization?
SEO is a method of optimizing a webpage so that it will attract more organic traffic. By organic traffic, I’m referring to users who find a website through a search engine.
Technically, SEO caters to all search engines, including Duckduck Go, Yahoo, and Bing. In reality, however, virtually all SEO focuses on the kingpin: Google.
Google is notorious for changing their algorithms in a tireless attempt to make the searching experience as effective as possible for the end user. As a result, SEO techniques are evolving rapidly.
Two things remain constant, however: The concepts of on-page and off-page optimization.
What is On-page Optimization?
As the name suggests, on page optimization is undertaken within the website itself. Essentially, these are tricks of the trade that SEO savvy content writers and web designs use to improve the Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) ranking of their article.
- Using targeted keywords in the title and headings of their article.
- Peppering secondary keywords throughout the article in a natural way.
- Achieving the highest possible page load time.
- Including photos which have been SEO optimized by way of file size, file name, and alt tags.
- User-friendly formatting with ample white space.
- Social media sharing plugins.
- Quality content that provides real value for the reader.
What is Off-page Optimization?
Off-page refers to techniques undertaken outside the website. Behind the scenes, if you will.
- Link building by obtaining inbound links (backlinks) from other reputable websites.
- Driving traffic through social media, A.K.A social signals.
What is Search Engine Marketing?
SEM is when a marketer pays a search engine (almost always Google Ad Words) to promote their product to a wider audience.
You’ve probably noticed results at the top of Google marked “[Ad].” These are an example of a pay-per-click (PPC) or cost-per-click (CPC) advertisement, which is a critical component of SEM.
SEM once referred to both SEO and PPC advertisements, although these days there is a clear distinction between the two.
Other aspects of SEM include:
- Targeted advertising campaigns.
- Advertisement groups with a focus on keyword variations.
- Writing keyword rich ad copy.
- Monitoring marketing metrics such as click-through rates and average costs per click.
SEO vs. SEM: Which is Better?
Each excels at different things.
SEO is more of a long game. The practice may not see instant results, but if done correctly, it can result in a considerable amount of organic traffic over time.
SEM, on the other hand, is capable of earning a website fast exposure which is great for short term campaigns or new companies looking to start trading with a bang.
Big online businesses incorporate both, as the two complement each other nicely.
SEO and SEM: Do I Need Them?
SEO is an essential practice for anyone looking to make money through a website. After all, if you can’t hit the front page of Google, then do you really exist?
SEM is a little more variable. If done right, it can drive massive short-term traffic to your business, but for a price.
Who Can Help Me Create an SEO/SEM Marketing Strategy?
Reno Web Design are experts at both SEO and SEM marketing. Get in touch with them today to discuss an affordable and effective online marketing plan for your business.
Sep 8, 2018 | Technology Event
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
8 am to 5 pm / 5650 Riggins Ct, Reno, NV
Vendor Meetup/Coffee and Donuts
Facebook Marketing with Leading Online Marketing Expert, Sandy Rowley
Use Big Data to Develop Quality Leads
Transform the Way You Do Business with Cloud Agent Suite
Break / Raffle
Get More Leads…
Grow Business Pipeline / Manage Client Relations
Box Lunch / Raffle
Up Your Game
Perfect Pricing with Easy, Accurate CMAs
Break / Raffle
Save Time and Generate More Showings
Using the Parcel Map for Fun & Profit
Break / Raffle
Advertising in Compliance with RED
Video Marketing Tools & Techniques
Wrap Up / Questions / Vendors Available until 6 pm
Sandy Rowley
Remine
Alice Heiman
Homesnap
Nobu Hata – Keynote Speaker
Realtors® Property Resource (RPR)
ShowingTime
CRS Data
Scott Beaudry & Jan Holle
Scott Beaudry
Conference Agenda
Time Topic Speaker/Vendor
If you have not yet registered for this Conference and would like to do so, please visit:
https://www.rsar.net/Events/100218_TechConf_Registration_editable.pdf
Makers of
W+R Studios: Cloud CMA, Streams & CMA
Sep 7, 2018 | Promotional Marketing
Believe it or not, a shockingly high number of people are reading spam emails that come into their inbox.
While some of these are opt-in emails and others are true spam, most people don’t know a promotional email from an attempt to steal their credit card number. If you understand email marketing, you might realize that there’s a way to connect with customers on a deeper level if you try email.
Here are six statistics about email marketing that might just blow your mind.
1. Crazy Growth
As of now, there are more than 3.7 billion email users all around the globe. That should grow beyond 4 billion in the next three years, which will place email usage as extending well over half of the population of the planet.
As email continues to grow, new ways to market with email will be discovered. While spam filters will develop, so will the ways that marketers find to reach out to their audience.
2. So Many Emails Sent
There are around 270 billion emails sent every day just in the world of business and consumer interests. It’s set to grow year after year by more than 4%, which means in just a few years, we’re talking 320 billion emails.
The number of emails that are set to be sent won’t be slowing down any time soon. As the number of users grows, email will evolve and find ways into all of our devices and wearables.
3. High Rolling
Email marketing has quickly become a costly affair, growing even faster than the user base. While it only accounted for about $2 billion in spending in 2014, it’s now about to grow beyond $3 billion. With this kind of growth, it’s too big of a market to ignore.
If you’re not taking advantage of email marketing, you need to grab the wheel.
4. Great ROI
Email has a higher median ROI than most forms of promotion. Marketing typically gives you an ROI of around 30-40%. With email, you can go as high as 120%. And given it’s so cheap, you’d be silly not to take advantage of it.
5. Business is Booming, Thanks to Email
Productivity is up, profits are rising, and email use is higher than ever. If you own a business, it’s more than likely that you’re using email for your business communications.
Nearly 90% of professionals claim to use it when they’re conducting business or communicating professionally.
6. It’s How You Generate Leads
While lead generation used to entail a lot of conversations, trade shows, and cold calling, much of that has dropped off thanks to promotional emails. Promotional emails allow you to interact with customers, make offers, and receive feedback all in one message.
With nearly 90% of marketers using email to generate leads, it’s a great place for you to start.
You Can Get a Lot From a Promotional Email
If you haven’t tried using promotional email as a marketing tactic for your business, you’re missing you. The potential returns you get from email marketing are too high to not take advantage of.
If you want to find more inexpensive ways to drive profits, check out this guide to taking advantage of search engines.
Sep 7, 2018 | Advertising Benefits
In 2017, 84% of businesses that used pay per click marketing (PPC) reported success, compared to just 1% who reported no valuable return.
Can you afford to not be using this high-converting, super-targeted, budget-friendly form of marketing?
If you’re still not sure whether this is the right marketing strategy for you, then check out these advertising benefits of PPC.
Advertising Benefits of PPC
Many managers will see ‘Pay Per Click’ and hear the word ‘expensive’ ringing in their ears.
However, there are many advantages to using PPC for advertising – not least that it’s actually much cheaper and more budget-friendly than you may think.
1. Immediate Visible Results
PPC campaigns deliver immediate trackable results. You can see what’s working, what isn’t working, and control your campaigns based on near real-time data.
You can set goals for your PPC campaigns to see the exact efficacy of each campaign. For example, if a campaign aims to get people to add a certain product to their basket, you can see if they do this.
2. Highly Targeted Audiences for Improved ROI
You can tailor your PPC campaign to as specific an audience as you like. This helps you to control costs, but also means that only the most relevant potential customers will see your advert.
The more targeted an audience that sees your advertisement, the higher the return on your investment. Traditional advertising, such as a billboard or commercial, is paid for regardless of who sees it. PPC advertising is only shown to those who are already looking to buy your product.
3. Higher Brand Awareness
Even if people don’t click, they’re going to see your brand advert for their related search query.
People searching for your products and services will see your brand advertised when their search results come up. This means that your brand awareness will rocket – and with the right audience, too.
4. Great Budget Control
You can switch a PPC campaign on or off at the click of a mouse. If your product promotion has ended, for example, then that campaign can be ended.
If you’re not seeing the results you need, then you can pause a campaign while you study the data to tweak and improve the targeting. You’re not spending money on advertising that you know isn’t working.
5. Create a Goldmine of Data
For every campaign that does – and doesn’t – work, you’re going to find out more about how your ideal customer ticks.
You’ll be able to see which high-performing keywords in adverts are driving your customers to your website. You can see where they go once they’re on your site – and what other products and services they look at other than the one advertised.
You can even see the time of day your advert is most successful, the audience demographic, and the PPC channels which drive the most customers.
This data will improve your offline and SEO marketing as you learn more and more about your customers.
Why PPC Needs Great Web Design
The advertising benefits of PPC means a high number of visitors will come to your website – but if your site isn’t easy to use, you might as well just burn money.
You need to make sure that your web design provides an engaging and easy user experience for anyone that visits via your PPC campaign.
Talk to us to find out more about how we can help improve your web design to improve your sales conversions.
Sep 7, 2018 | Traditional Marketing
Is traditional marketing dead?
Marketers have been predicting the demise of traditional marketing since the late 90s. But turn on your TV or listen to your car radio. Companies still pay for tv commercials and radio ads.
The same is true for print advertising. Newspapers and magazines haven’t gone the way of Betamax. Flyers, posters, brochures, and so on are still alive and kicking.
So why do some marketers insist that digital marketing is the only way to go? Let’s talk about the whole traditional vs digital marketing thing in detail. This way, you can choose which is better for your business.
Traditional Marketing Pros and Cons
One of the advantages of traditional marketing is how easy it is to understand. That comes from years and years of exposure.
Everyone has seen a commercial or a mailbox flyer. That includes millennials who can’t seem to figure out rotary phones.
For your marketing goals, it means two things. Using traditional modes of marketing means it’s a sure way to reach your local audience. It also offers tangibility.
There’s nothing like a good business card your customers can keep with them. It’s a good reminder of your brand – something they can look at and not mindlessly scroll through.
Of course, it’s not without disadvantages. The costs alone will make you think twice about print or radio advertisements. Print advertising costs can add up when you pay people to distribute your materials.
Another thing you have to worry about is tracking results. Did your flyers make the right impression? It’s not so transparent compared to the number of likes or website visits.
Digital Marketing vs Traditional Marketing
The great thing about digital marketing is it’s accessible. It doesn’t matter how big or little your marketing budget is. There’s a digital marketing strategy that will work for you.
With TV ads, for example, you’ll have to set aside a huge chunk of your budget. Otherwise, TV stations won’t air your ad. That’s not a problem for Google or Facebook ads.
You set your budget and get real-time results on how your campaigns are doing. If your ads aren’t doing well, pause or stop them. Come out with new ads and try again.
Also, nothing beats social media marketing for sharing your message as fast as you want it. It’s as quick as a click of a button. You can’t get the same results with brochures or billboards.
Online, it’s an even playing level field. All you need is a solid digital marketing strategy.
Traditional vs Digital Marketing: Who Wins?
The truth is no business can afford to not be online. You’ll be losing a huge chunk of potential customers if you don’t have a website. A strong social media presence is a must, too.
But if there are traditional means of marketing that work for your business, keep using them. Just make sure you don’t use up all your money for your traditional marketing materials.
Bottom line: don’t think of it as traditional vs digital marketing. If you want the most bang for your buck, think digital first. When you have more money to spend, experiment with traditional forms of advertising.
But don’t forget to track your results. If you need help with digital marketing, don’t hesitate to contact us.
