Friday, 31 January 2020
Thursday, 30 January 2020
Wednesday, 29 January 2020
Where Social Media Is Headed in 2020
Social Media Trends to Watch
A social media marketing strategy is on the minds of many small business owners. And if it's not on yours, it should be!
The major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram battle for market shares by adjusting their business models to balance providing better returns for shareholders with improving the user experience.
As these platforms develop, how you use them for your small business must change too.
Let's look forward to some ways to promote your business on social media in 2020.
Facebook
More than 18 months later, the Federal Trade Commission has officially ruled that Cambridge Analytica deceived Facebook users. The company had harvested the personal data of millions of Facebook profiles without people's consent and then used it for political advertising purposes.
While Cambridge Analytica went bankrupt soon after the scandal, Facebook is still working hard to tighten up its data access processes and convince people to trust in its new dedicated news platform.
Facebook rolled out Facebook News to a subset of people in the US. That means that while you'll still see posts from family and friends in your main feed, Facebook News will post content from a team of journalists (employed by Facebook).
This year, the company is also focusing on cryptocurrency and establishing its Facebook Pay feature. This could mean that your small business could soon incorporate on-platform selling into your account.
While the Facebook Watch launch didn't go as expected (only 140 million people daily are watching the videos and shows, which sounds huge, but isn't compared to the platform's 1.6 billion daily actives overall). Still, it looks like Facebook is going to make another attempt in 2020, so let's see what that means for video marketing.
What do these changes mean for your social media marketing strategy?
We'll have to wait and see. The more proprietary content the company creates, the more marketers may be competing to stay visible.
Twitter
The company recently announced it would stop running political ads, and is updating its global privacy policy to give users more information about what data advertisers might receive.
We're also wondering what the company's vice president of design and research, Dantley Davis, meant by his recent announcement around a series of changes that might come to the platform as early as next year.
How will this affect how you promote your business on social media?
You could have the ability to limit who retweets your tweet (which I can't see being a feature entrepreneurs would use much, we love our retweets!), and the ability to tweet something to a specific group based on their interests.
Learn more about how to use Twitter hashtags.
LinkedIn
Since launching in 2003, LinkedIn has become the world's largest professional networking platform.
Microsoft acquired the platform for $26.2 billion in 2016, and with access to Microsoft's resources, we've seen updated professional insights and more targeted ads.
We've also seen LinkedIn groups make a comeback.
A LinkedIn group lets your business create a discussion board related to your industry. This provides you with the opportunity to start a special interest group of like-minded people that's specific to your product, service and/or expertise.
Groups also provide excellent visibility for your business, since each member who's a part of your group will have your logo showing in their profile. Group owners also now have the ability to post different types of media like images and videos, and immediate notifications enable real-time conversations.
Executive Suite has over 300,000 members, and brings together executives with a web series, practical advice and discussion boards.
What do LinkedIn Groups mean for your small business?
Hopefully, a better way to foster a sense of community, find candidates for open positions and gain brand visibility to name a few.
Instagram
You may remember Instagram testing the removal of likes in several countries, including Australia, Japan, Italy and Ireland. Likes aren't gone-in the US and Canada you can still view the like count on your own photos and videos-just not posts from others.
So where did this come from? Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, has long dealt with people using hacks and workarounds. These come mostly from bots and unscrupulous businesses that manipulate the app to make themselves or other users appear more popular than they actually are. So, this is an attempt to make Instagram more authentic.
Instagram says "We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive, so you can focus on sharing the things you love."
While many entrepreneurs and small businesses are good with this, influencers and video marketing agencies aren't.
How can they show businesses how popular they are? How will they demonstrate engagement?
But for the average small business owner who isn't buying likes or gaming the system with bots, this could be a good thing.
If your social media marketing strategy includes engaging content and you're happy to focus on comments and increased followers, you'll be fine.
While IGTV got off to a slow start, it's now considered one of the biggest social media trends out there. After Instagram announced earlier this year that Instagram would allow one minute previews of IGTV videos on the main Instagram feed, users (and companies) started taking notice.
Unlike your other Instagram videos, IGTV videos can be 10-60 minutes long. This offers a great video marketing opportunity to do interviews, behind-the-scenes features and much more.
Since we can now add landscape-orientated videos as well, I've been adding my Business Edge Show videos that have been getting a lot of traction.
These are just a few of the changes you can expect to see across the major platforms this year. I'm sure there will be many more as the year goes by, as things are always changing!
To effectively promote your business on social media in 2020, it's essential to not only understand social media trends, but to embrace them.
If you're finding it a challenge to stay on top of social media, consider hiring an agency who can create strategies that will be specific to your social media needs and goals so you can focus on building your business.
Susan Friesen, founder of the award-winning web development and digital marketing firm eVision Media, is a Web Specialist, Business & Marketing Consultant, and Social Media Advisor. She works with entrepreneurs who struggle with having the lack of knowledge, skill and support needed to create their online business presence.
As a result of working with Susan and her team, clients feel confident and relieved knowing their online marketing is in trustworthy and caring hands so they can focus on building their business with peace of mind at having a perfect support system in place to guide them every step of the way.
Visit http://www.ultimatewebsiteguide.ca and download your FREE "Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Website's Profitability - 10 Critical Questions You Must Ask to Get Maximum Results".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10220804
https://ezinearticles.com/?Where-Social-Media-Is-Headed-in-2020&id=10220804
Tuesday, 28 January 2020
The Entrepreneur's Beginner's Guide to Hashtags
How a Few Words Can Increase Social Media Engagement
I'm sure you've noticed there's no shortage of social media techniques and tips out there!
But have you also noticed the majority of those tips focus on general info, like how to get more followers or likes, or how to post compelling content to engage your users?
Those resources are important, but I notice that sometimes hashtags get forgotten about.
They're rarely mentioned in marketing articles, but they're such a great tool for building your brand, raising awareness around marketing campaigns and engaging/entertaining your audience.
How Do Hashtags Work?
If you're new to social media, I know it can seem overwhelming.
You may have seen these words with the # in front of them on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest. (The hashtag actually got its start in 2007, when Twitter began using it to index keywords to make them more searchable.)
But what are these words supposed to do? Should you use them? Why are they seemingly random?
I've put together this guide to help you understand how to use hashtags (and what the heck they are!) so you can increase social media engagement and leads.
Think of hashtags as a way to categorize your content.
Ultimately, they help people find and share posts on a specific topic.
When you create your social media post, you take a word or words and put the pound sign (#) in front of it. If you use two words, don't put a space between them. Now, the phrase is clickable and searchable on the social media platform the user is on.
Choosing the Right Hashtags
When done correctly, these tags can help you gain more exposure for your business and increase social media engagement. But like any social media strategy, you have to do your research and think before you post.
I'll make this process easier for you. Here are 7 ways to start choosing the right hashtags:
1. Create them for events.
This is one of the best ways to increase excitement and engagement on your social media accounts. For example, the Cornucopia wine festival in Whistler shared many posts on their Twitter and Instagram accounts with the hashtag #Cornucopia2019, and so did their followers and attendees.
2. Tag famous people or big brands.
Take a look at what's trending on Twitter, and try and incorporate it into your posts; but only if it's relevant. People are going to know if you're trying to force it or be fake.
Some examples are big sporting events, record releases by musicians, holidays and popular books. If someone who's famous in your industry makes the news, you could use that tag in one of your posts.
3. Do your research.
Whether you are doing research on the latest news for an upcoming Canadian Federal election or hockey playoffs, you could do a hashtag search to find several posts on the subject.
Searching tags on social media platforms can be a perfect way to find new ideas and spy on your competition.
A great resource for searching popular hashtags is https://hashtagify.me/hashtag/tbt
4. Encourage sharing.
The more people who share your hashtag and use it in their posts, the more exposure, engagement and traffic you're going to get.
You may remember the campaign #ShareACoke campaign. The company swapped out its iconic logo on 20-ounce bottles, replacing it with 250 of the most popular American names.
It was one of their most successful campaigns, leading to a 2% increase in soft-drink sales and lots of social media engagement as followers shared cans and bottles with their names on them.
5. Turn one tag into a campaign.
Many users "monitor" certain words, so focusing on one consistently can help you gain a following.
For instance, you could come up with a campaign with several posts around a specific product you offer, or a holiday promotion you're doing.
6. Find some weekly post themes.
This is a simple way to tie in a trending tag with your business.
Some common themes include #throwbackthursday, where people post anything from past vacation pics to high school graduation photos; and #wisdomwednesday, where they share their advice on all sorts of topics.
I use #MotivationMonday and #TuesdayTip on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels and often mix in other popular hashtags for optimal exposure.
7. Use humour.
People love to share funny stuff with others, whether it's a trending meme or a relatable story. Here's a hashtag late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon came up with to get people to share: #MyWorstCostume.
By understanding which hashtags will resonate with your target audience, you can tap into a whole world of people looking for exactly what you're offering. So start brainstorming and researching how to add some fun and functional tags to your next post!
Need some hashtag help? We've created a whole social media division for entrepreneurs and small business owners who understand the importance of having a social media strategy but simply don't have the time to make it happen on their own. Let's connect.
Susan Friesen, founder of the award-winning web development and digital marketing firm eVision Media, is a Web Specialist, Business & Marketing Consultant, and Social Media Advisor. She works with entrepreneurs who struggle with having the lack of knowledge, skill and support needed to create their online business presence.
As a result of working with Susan and her team, clients feel confident and relieved knowing their online marketing is in trustworthy and caring hands so they can focus on building their business with peace of mind at having a perfect support system in place to guide them every step of the way.
Visit http://www.ultimatewebsiteguide.ca and download your FREE "Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Website's Profitability - 10 Critical Questions You Must Ask to Get Maximum Results".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10213861
https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Entrepreneurs-Beginners-Guide-to-Hashtags&id=10213861
Monday, 27 January 2020
3 Social Media Marketing Predictions for 2020
3 Social Media Marketing Predictions for 2020
Social media marketing is forecasted to grow rapidly, estimated to more than double in market size from 2018 to the year 2023.
Most markets do NOT double in size within five years. This growth rate is a strong indication that social media marketing is not going anywhere.
However, it is going to morph with the times. If you are a small to medium-sized business, you need to know about any social media marketing predictions, so that you can keep ahead of the already complex social media marketing game.
Therefore, to keep your social media marketing methods effective into 2020—read on and find out how social media marketing is predicted to change.
1. Organic Video Content Goes Big
Advertising prices are rising across platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Thanks to this, it is likely that many marketers will utilize the production of video content for the promotion of their brands.
According to statistics, video content is the content type with the highest level of engagement. 83% of marketers believe it is growing in importance, and 53% of consumers engaging with a brand after watching video content from them.
What’s more, video content offers the ultimate ‘pause scroll’ advantage. Thanks to its engaging format, consumers are likely to stop scrolling when a video starts playing within their feed. Provided that it is attention-drawing from start.
This poses large potential gains on social media, where everyone is vying for the users’ time and attention.
2. Businesses Will Take Advantage of Stories
Social media stories and live video have exploded in popularity. Fed up with staged and stilted content from influencers and brands alike, users are looking increasingly for content that is real, raw, and unfiltered.
While many businesses have held back from posting stories, for fear that it will be unprofessional, 2020 is likely to be the year when businesses access the full potential of stories and give their audience more behind-the-scenes and authentic content.
Incidentally, Joseph Kenney, the president of 316 Strategy Group, often refers to the brilliance of Snap Spectacles which were launched in September of 2016. Spectacles are high-tech sunglasses which carry a tiny camera with a 115-degree field of vision plus a microphone and can be used to create authentic stories and live video via the Snapcat app. Although still in use, they didn’t catch on. Kenney says innovations like these foretell that the future will hold more live video and stories, not only from consumers but from brands as well. Kenney encourages businesses of all sizes to give consumers a behind the scenes look into your brand or business. It’s one of the easiest and most often overlooked ways of building trust with the consumer.
3. Social Media Predictions That Quality Content Will Become Even More Key
With consumers increasingly tiring of typical marketing content and overtly self-promotional advertising—the stage is set to see social media marketing relying more and more on quality content.
Quality content has always been king. However, with increasing competition on platforms, 2020 is likely to see an even more heightened need for social media marketing content that engages users and which speaks to their tastes, interests, and needs.
Are You Ready for 2020?
Do you feel ready for 2020? The advice from these social media marketing predictions will go a long way to preparing you for the new year in social media marketing and what it will bring.
If you are in need of professional social media marketing services to keep up with this ever-evolving (and crucial) form of marketing—you can call on us.
We are avid followers of changes in social media. Our president, Joseph Kenney, has spoken on social media across the country, throwing to light developments in the space and what is to come.
We are the proud leader for social media in the Omaha, Des Moines, and Nashville markets. So, do your marketing strategy a favor, and browse our services today.
Sunday, 26 January 2020
What Social Media Do Millennials Use?
Millennials account for a quarter of the entire U.S. population.
That comes out to 320 million people. In other words, a vast consumer audience.
Once a millennial is loyal to a brand, they’re likely to stay faithful. They’re careful with their money, but in a way that’s smart and calculated.
What much of it comes down to is social media. Businesses with a dynamic, engaging social media presence attract millennial dollars. Companies that customize the shopping experience have even higher odds that these young adults will return the favor—with their money.
But what social media do millennials use?
Here, we explain what exactly millennials are (because let’s be honest, do you?) and how you can advertise to them through their favorite social media platforms.
First Things First: What Are Millennials, Exactly?
You may have a preconceived notion of who millennials are or what their lifestyle entails.
But it helps to have some factual information. After all, how can you cater to an audience you only know a little bit about?
Millennials are those born between the years 1981 to 1996. That makes them, respectively, those ages 24-39. Likely, you didn’t imagine a millennial to be almost 40 years old!
So, you’re not marketing to teenagers so much as you’re selling to job-holding, graduate, young adults.
Millennials grew up in the digital era. They utilize technology for everything—grocery shopping, GPS, remote controls, communicating, working. That’s why it’s so important to know what social media they use (because they are indeed using it).
Another reason it matters is that traditional marketing efforts don’t have the same effect on millennials as they do on other generations.
Before millennials purchase something, they do the work. They conduct research, ask their peers, test the products in stores, or through free trials. They want assurance that what they’re spending their hard-earned money on is worth it.
One way to show that your product is worth it is by communicating with them through curated social media marketing efforts. Personalize their shopping experience, treat them like people; and, interact with them online by solving problems or addressing concerns.
Now that you have a better understanding of who millennials are (and why you need them!) let’s continue.
What Social Media Do Millennials Use?
79% of millennials use social media more than once a day.
They also divide their time between several different platforms rather than sticking to just one.
This is good news for you because you’ve got options when it comes to where to spend your marketing dollars. It makes sense that advertising on multiple platforms increases your exposure, too. But even dabbling in the top few is a worthwhile endeavor.
So, here are some platforms that should be high on your consideration list.
87% of millennials use Facebook at least once a week. This number is much higher than other generations—for example, only about 36% of Gen Z use Facebook once a week.
So, Facebook is still running for the leader of social media when it comes to the millennial generation. Its main strength is a wide range of content, which can be anything from texted-based to visual and everything between.
Right now, this variety appeals to millennials.
YouTube
86% of millennials use YouTube at least once a week. This number is enormous, especially when considering that video marketing was the most effective marketing technique in the last few years.
In fact, if your website features video content, it’s 53 times more likely to show up on Google’s first page of search engine results.
Keep in mind, if advertising with video, that the average attention span is pretty low: about 30 seconds. So, keep your videos under two minutes—30 seconds to gather attention, and 90 seconds to pitch your product or service.
71% of millennials use Instagram at least once a week.
Many younger generations love platforms like Instagram for its lack of content and text. They get all the good visuals with none of the annoying rants or long-winded arguments.
80% of users follow at least one business account on Instagram, but usually more. Two hundred million users actively visit business profiles at least once a day. And over half of their users use the app to discover new products or services.
Snapchat, Twitter, and Pinterest
52% of millennials use Snapchat at least once a week. 42% of millennials use both Twitter and Pinterest at least once a week.
People love these apps for the same reason they enjoy Instagram—all of the visuals with none of the ‘boring’ stuff. Also, it’s relatively short-lived, appealing to their instant gratification.
75% of saved pins on Pinterest are from business sites. Two million people pin products every single day!
Twitter is great for spreading your business around the globe. 78% of users live outside the States—so be sure to capitalize on that fact when looking to expand your business internationally.
Snapchat is similar to TikTok, so read on for more regarding these video platforms.
TikTok
Say hello to the new kid on the block!
TikTok was the most downloaded app in the U.S. in October 2018. It’s nothing to scoff at.
Video advertising on this platform is in its beginning stages, which means your company has the potential to spearhead the efforts in your industry.
Why should you begin to advertise on this platform you may not have even heard about?
Well, TikTok hosts up to 500 million active users globally, the average of which spend up to one hour on the app per day.
When it comes to advertising on this platform, consider similar efforts as those you’d use on Instagram.
Speak Their Digital Language
To get their business, you need to speak your client’s love language.
What social media do millennials use? By now, you not only know the answer to this question but should have an idea of how to start marketing within those platforms.
But social media marketing takes time—time that you may not have if you’re wearing many hats within your company.
We can help with that!
Our team uses a results-driven, proven digital marketing system that knows no bounds. We work with all types of businesses all over the nation.
Please contact us today for answers to any questions, or email info@digitalmedianinja.com to schedule a talk.
We look forward to working with you!
Saturday, 25 January 2020
Friday, 24 January 2020
Facebook Ads on a Budget
Facebook Ads on a Budget
by Prafull Sharma
Last Updated: Nov 6, 2019
Facebook ads on a budget can be effective if you know the right strategy to use. Learn how to create effective Facebook ads that bring results, even if you can only afford the advertising equivalent of a cup of coffee.
Image source: Depositphotos.com
One of the most significant changes social media has brought to advertising is affordability. Not long ago, the cost to reach your audience was prohibitive for most. Only the biggest fish in the pond could afford running ads on TV, radio, or print to reach their audiences and stay relevant.
Thanks to social media, today https://www.businessknowhow.com/internet/facebook-advertising.htmadvertising costs less than your daily dose of coffee: the cost of advertising on social media between 2018 and 2019 was $6.04 to reach 1,000 people.
For successful Facebook advertising, though, especially on a restricted budget, you have to plan before you act. Decide what your intended goals are, understand your audience, and create suitable campaigns that will reap the highest results. Then, you should continuously monitor your campaigns, gauge their performance, tweak and "evolve" them.
The following is a pretty straightforward path for successful Facebook Advertising. Even if you keep your daily spending around the cost of a single latte.
Last Updated: Nov 6, 2019
Facebook ads on a budget can be effective if you know the right strategy to use. Learn how to create effective Facebook ads that bring results, even if you can only afford the advertising equivalent of a cup of coffee.
Facebook ads on a budget can be effective if you know the right strategy to use. Learn how to create effective Facebook ads that bring results, even if you can only afford the advertising equivalent of a cup of coffee.
Image source: Depositphotos.com
One of the most significant changes social media has brought to advertising is affordability. Not long ago, the cost to reach your audience was prohibitive for most. Only the biggest fish in the pond could afford running ads on TV, radio, or print to reach their audiences and stay relevant.
Thanks to social media, today https://www.businessknowhow.com/internet/facebook-advertising.htmadvertising costs less than your daily dose of coffee: the cost of advertising on social media between 2018 and 2019 was $6.04 to reach 1,000 people.
For successful Facebook advertising, though, especially on a restricted budget, you have to plan before you act. Decide what your intended goals are, understand your audience, and create suitable campaigns that will reap the highest results. Then, you should continuously monitor your campaigns, gauge their performance, tweak and "evolve" them.
The following is a pretty straightforward path for successful Facebook Advertising. Even if you keep your daily spending around the cost of a single latte.
Facebook Advertising Strategy
1. Target Your Audience
Small budget campaigns can work if they are pragmatic: don't try to reach a global market on a strict budget, or you'll spread your budget too thin. It's better to narrow your reach to a smaller, more targeted audience that's more likely to respond to your message.
Like your existing audience, that you could—and should—re-target. Only 2% - 4% of your site visitors will convert during their first interaction with your business. Don't disregard the 96% - 98% that did interact with your site, but didn't bite the bait the first time around. Re-target them and change those numbers to your favor.
Alternatively, you could look into lookalike audiences. Let Facebook identify common criteria in your existing audience, and then offer recommendations for new-but-similar groups of potential customers you could target.
You should also further refine your reach by reaching for audiences that would maximize your ROI. There's no point in trying to target mobile users on a restricted budget if most of the sales on your site come from desktop users. The results wouldn't justify the cost—however low that might be.
Small budget campaigns can work if they are pragmatic: don't try to reach a global market on a strict budget, or you'll spread your budget too thin. It's better to narrow your reach to a smaller, more targeted audience that's more likely to respond to your message.
Like your existing audience, that you could—and should—re-target. Only 2% - 4% of your site visitors will convert during their first interaction with your business. Don't disregard the 96% - 98% that did interact with your site, but didn't bite the bait the first time around. Re-target them and change those numbers to your favor.
Alternatively, you could look into lookalike audiences. Let Facebook identify common criteria in your existing audience, and then offer recommendations for new-but-similar groups of potential customers you could target.
You should also further refine your reach by reaching for audiences that would maximize your ROI. There's no point in trying to target mobile users on a restricted budget if most of the sales on your site come from desktop users. The results wouldn't justify the cost—however low that might be.
2. Set Your Goals
The lower your budget, the more you need to know what you wish to achieve before you let your campaign loose. As Robert Kiyosaki said, "Always start at the end before you begin."
- Do you want to expand your page's fan base?
- Do you want more conversions?
- Do you want to increase your traffic?
Those are some of the goals Facebook allows setting for your ad campaigns, and you should make sure beforehand that your ads work towards them. Boosting a random post from your company blog doesn't equal a sale.
Properly setting up your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is nearly as important. You can think of them as the metrics you can use to benchmark the performance of your advertising relative to your goals.
Then, keep an eye on them while your campaign is running, monitoring and optimizing its performance. If something doesn't work, you should respond swiftly and course-correct your campaign. Try alternate takes on your images, colors, or copy.
The lower your budget, the more you need to know what you wish to achieve before you let your campaign loose. As Robert Kiyosaki said, "Always start at the end before you begin."
- Do you want to expand your page's fan base?
- Do you want more conversions?
- Do you want to increase your traffic?
Those are some of the goals Facebook allows setting for your ad campaigns, and you should make sure beforehand that your ads work towards them. Boosting a random post from your company blog doesn't equal a sale.
Properly setting up your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is nearly as important. You can think of them as the metrics you can use to benchmark the performance of your advertising relative to your goals.
Then, keep an eye on them while your campaign is running, monitoring and optimizing its performance. If something doesn't work, you should respond swiftly and course-correct your campaign. Try alternate takes on your images, colors, or copy.
3. Create the Most Effective Ads
An easy way to create an effective ad is to repurpose existing content that already performs well. You can use a post on your company's blog as the basis for an advertisement. Or export a small but recognizable part from the most popular video on your YouTube channel, and use that instead as an animated GIF.
The combination of your ad's design and message will define its success. Keep these quick tips in mind when planning your campaign:
- Look at Facebook. All of it. As in, the whole page. Then, choose "popping" colors—or animated content—for your ads that will separate them from everything else on the screen.
- "Popping colors" should be an objective, but if you use specific colors for your branding, don't ignore them; build on them. A blue Coca-Cola ad would look alien.
- Utilize the power of contrast in the ad to grab your audience's attention. Think of how movies like Pleasantville and Sin City used color “to make some things pop” while everything else was greyscale, and try to replicate the effect.
- Make sure your images look professional: don't settle for low quality "because it was free."
- "Contrast" doesn't only have to do with color and brightness. Mixing a "light" with a "heavy" font in your message can boost its impact.
- Make sure to incorporate in the ad why its viewers should respond: what they have to gain from clicking. Include in the image, not the copy, any factors that make you a better choice than your competition—"factors" like discounts, free shipping, or cheaper bulk pricing. Or find ways to add value to your products instead of relying on discounts and promote that.
- Display your product in action. Draw attention to its positive defining features. Present its results (the most straightforward way is with "before and after" image combinations).
- Bet on emotion and empowerment by using intimate photos of events or "hero shots" of individuals.
- Use a spellchecker.
An easy way to create an effective ad is to repurpose existing content that already performs well. You can use a post on your company's blog as the basis for an advertisement. Or export a small but recognizable part from the most popular video on your YouTube channel, and use that instead as an animated GIF.
The combination of your ad's design and message will define its success. Keep these quick tips in mind when planning your campaign:
- Look at Facebook. All of it. As in, the whole page. Then, choose "popping" colors—or animated content—for your ads that will separate them from everything else on the screen.
- "Popping colors" should be an objective, but if you use specific colors for your branding, don't ignore them; build on them. A blue Coca-Cola ad would look alien.
- Utilize the power of contrast in the ad to grab your audience's attention. Think of how movies like Pleasantville and Sin City used color “to make some things pop” while everything else was greyscale, and try to replicate the effect.
- Make sure your images look professional: don't settle for low quality "because it was free."
- "Contrast" doesn't only have to do with color and brightness. Mixing a "light" with a "heavy" font in your message can boost its impact.
- Make sure to incorporate in the ad why its viewers should respond: what they have to gain from clicking. Include in the image, not the copy, any factors that make you a better choice than your competition—"factors" like discounts, free shipping, or cheaper bulk pricing. Or find ways to add value to your products instead of relying on discounts and promote that.
- Display your product in action. Draw attention to its positive defining features. Present its results (the most straightforward way is with "before and after" image combinations).
- Bet on emotion and empowerment by using intimate photos of events or "hero shots" of individuals.
- Use a spellchecker.
4. Monitor and Optimize Your Campaign Performance
To make the most out of a small budget, you have to make every single cent count. That's why you can't just follow a "set it and forget it" strategy with your low-budget campaigns. You must keep monitoring them, even by the hour, and regularly adjust them for optimal results.
Take note of how different types of ads are better at achieving different results. For example, photo ads are better for driving traffic to a page or site and raising awareness of a product. Check Facebook's guide on the topic before you decide which one to use.
Smart use of Facebook’s Lifetime Budgets allows you to A/B test your ads with little to no cost, and then scale up those that perform well.
If your advertising budget is over $100, it's worth using alternate ads or landing pages and UTM parameters in your URLs. Do A/B tests to find which ones perform better. Then, prioritize them over the others. You can use Lifetime Budgets for small-scale "test runs" of multiple ads and then scale according to what works and what doesn't.
To make the most out of a small budget, you have to make every single cent count. That's why you can't just follow a "set it and forget it" strategy with your low-budget campaigns. You must keep monitoring them, even by the hour, and regularly adjust them for optimal results.
Take note of how different types of ads are better at achieving different results. For example, photo ads are better for driving traffic to a page or site and raising awareness of a product. Check Facebook's guide on the topic before you decide which one to use.
Smart use of Facebook’s Lifetime Budgets allows you to A/B test your ads with little to no cost, and then scale up those that perform well.
If your advertising budget is over $100, it's worth using alternate ads or landing pages and UTM parameters in your URLs. Do A/B tests to find which ones perform better. Then, prioritize them over the others. You can use Lifetime Budgets for small-scale "test runs" of multiple ads and then scale according to what works and what doesn't.
Win on a Budget
With smart thinking and proper planning, even a minuscule budget can work wonders. It's also worth remembering that Facebook is a social network. So, don't only use it for promotions, but also as you were supposed to: be social. Interact with your audience to prove that you care about them on a personal level, and remember that even a simple thank you can mean a lot.
Prafull Sharma is the Founder of content marketing agency LeadsPanda. He shares tips to 2x your content marketing results on LeadsPanda’s blog. Do connect with him on twitter @prafullsha.
With smart thinking and proper planning, even a minuscule budget can work wonders. It's also worth remembering that Facebook is a social network. So, don't only use it for promotions, but also as you were supposed to: be social. Interact with your audience to prove that you care about them on a personal level, and remember that even a simple thank you can mean a lot.
Prafull Sharma is the Founder of content marketing agency LeadsPanda. He shares tips to 2x your content marketing results on LeadsPanda’s blog. Do connect with him on twitter @prafullsha.
Thursday, 23 January 2020
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