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November 2021 content planner is here

November 2021 content planner is here

by | Oct 27, 2021 | Blog, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing

It’s time! The holiday season is upon us.

As you know, spending and donations increase significantly during the holiday season, presenting huge opportunities for small businesses and nonprofits. To help maximize your results during the holiday season, start engaging with your audience through email and social media marketing today!

november content planner

As a Constant Contact partner for nearly 10 years, we believe in the product and the results it provides to our clients. Get started with a free 60-day Constant Contact trial today. We know you’ll agree. Click here to get started.

 

Is Google My Business Good for SEO?

Is Google My Business Good for SEO?

by | Oct 18, 2021 | Blog, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing

The quick answer is yes, Google My Business is good for SEO, especially for local business. If you know how to use it right, you can get more clients and grow your business in a smart way.

Let’s take a quick overview of what it is and how to use it.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a platform that helps businesses manage their online presence on Google search engine as well as in the mobile ecosystem. It includes many tools such as managing your information as it appears on Google Search and maps. You can add photos, videos and updates, and other useful information about your business.Google My Business has the option to create posts and updates that allows users to get up-to-date info about your business.

A major feature is Google Reviews that enables you to manage reviews. However, your Google My Business profile will be automatically listed on Google search page for each of your locations, which can bring you a lot of traffic.

What are the benefits of using Google My Business?

Google My Business is an essential part of building an effective local SEO strategy for your business. It’s also a great way to increase brand awareness in your area. A completed listing will have a link to your website, and research shows a complete, active listing can have a direct 

Google My Business is very important in mobile search. That’s because mobile users tend to engage more with local businesses, so your clients are likely to use a search engine on their phone while they’re at the venue.

There are some other benefits to using Google My Business for a local business:

Keep your clients updated with the latest information about you and your company – they’ll know when you have something new to offer and will be more likely to come back (especially if it’s a newly opened location).

Give them a direct way to communicate with you and ask any questions they might have. This will make your job easier if issues arise that need urgent attention.

Give your business more credibility and portray you as an established brand. This can help to get more clients in the long term.

There are a number of ways that Google My Business listing can be useful for a local business – you just need to learn how to use it right! Don’t forget that success is all about growing a loyal client base. You can easily do that by creating a business profile on Google My Business and using this tool to truly get the most out of it.

Join our free Facebook group if you want more tips and tricks; be sure to subscribe to The Collective Scoop!

https://www.melaniediehl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MelanieAndCoMarketingCollective

7 Ways to Optimize Google My Business

7 Ways to Optimize Google My Business

by | Oct 12, 2021 | Blog, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing

In the past couple of days, I’ve been given a few questions about Google My Business.

More specifically, how to make your GMB listing as optimized as possible. Since the answers are so extensive and thorough, I’ve decided to answer these queries in a blog post instead of answering them directly.

Here we go!

  1. Update your listing name.

This is a pretty easy fix, but it’s always the small things that count right? The page title needs to be updated so that when someone searches for “Brick House Solutions,” the page title shows up as such: Brick House Solutions. This way you’re sure Google knows what your business is and removes any confusion.

Just sign in to Google My Business, click on the Info & Photos tab, and update your page title.

  1. Use the right category(s).

If someone just searched for the term “pizza” how do you think they’d like it if you came up as a result with “pizza restaurant” in your category line?

Especially if you’re not a pizza restaurant. They’ll be left wondering where this odd result came from and they may even get confused as to why Google presented them with a random result that doesn’t even come close to their search query.

So always use the right categories for your business.

When you sign in to Google My Business, click on the Info & Photos tab and make sure your category(s) are correct. Luckily, if you’ve selected the wrong categories before now, you’ll notice a red notification at the top of this section that will give you a prompt to either select or unselect these categories. So don’t worry if you’ve made mistakes in the past.

  1. Clean up your category hierarchy.

Do you use categories for your business? Good! But are there too many or is it difficult to decide where to put which business? If so, it’s time to simplify and clean things up a bit. When someone searches for “Dog Grooming” you should be listed under this category.

But if you’re in the categories of “Pet Supplies,” “Animals & Pets,” and “Pet Services,” there’s a good chance Google won’t be able to figure out that Pet Services is what you do, which defeats the purpose. Make sure your category structure makes sense, is easy to read, and that you only have a max of 5-6 categories at most.

 

When you sign into Google My Business, click on the Edit or view all Categories button and see how many categories are listed under each category line. More than five? Then it’s time to trim down!

  1. Optimize your photos with the right metadata.

What can you do to ensure that people will see your business and know what it is? You must give Google appropriate information about yourself through pictures! When you upload a photo, make sure there are keywords in the description such as “dog grooming” or “pizza restaurant.” This can be done with the Google My Business dashboard or by uploading them directly into Google+.

When you upload a photo to Google+, make sure that you add appropriate tags. For example, if I were taking photos of myself and my dog (who is adorable), I’d want to tag them with “dog” and “pizza.” This way, anyone who has “pizza” or “dogging” in their search query will see my photos!

Please consider taking an hour to go through and tag all of your photos. Your business will thank you later.

  1. Make sure your hours of operation are correct.

Believe it or not, this one is a biggie. If someone searches for “pizza” and they’re presented with results that say “closed,” there’s a high likelihood that they’ll bounce right off of Google! And let’s be honest, you don’t want a potential customer to leave your website the second they land because you didn’t make sure your hours of operation were correct.

You can check and update your business hours directly in Google My Business by clicking on the Info & Photos tab, scrolling down to “Hours,” and then just click on the calendar icon that is in the top right corner of this section (next to where it says “Edit Hours”). If you’d rather just edit it directly from this page, then click on the pencil icon to the right of “Hours.”

You should probably even check these regularly and make sure they are correct. (I’m not saying that no one is going to ever work your business again but mistakes happen!)

  1. Check your rating, reviews and responses.

This is an easy one to do right now. Google takes user feedback very seriously and those ratings can make or break your business online. You should make sure that the reviews you have are relevant (meaning no negative/bad ones from 2015 that haven’t been updated) and that they’re positive (8-10 stars.)

If you have any negative reviews at all, it’s worth reaching out to the user who left them and see if you can come up with a solution.

Google has done an excellent job of making sure that when a bad review is left that they show your response right below the comment so viewers know that Google has given you the opportunity to respond. This is a really great way of handling things!

This is all handled through Google My Business. If you’re logged in, click on “Responses” under the Main tab and then just scroll down until you see them.

  1. Review your payment methods and online ordering formats.

If you take payments online, Google’s search results will also show your customer reviews. Check out TripAdvisor.com to see how this works and always strive for a high rating! You can review your payment methods through the Payments section of your merchant account.

Also make sure that if there are any errors in the way orders look when you’re on mobile, Google can read that easily. If there are any problems, make sure that they are fixed before your review is published!

Google My Business is a great way to draw people to your business, but if your listing is neglected or needs updating it won’t bring any traffic your way. Spending a few minutes occasionally checking your business on GMB and adding relevant information can go a long way to optimize your listing.

Join our free Facebook group to get help with the process. If you want more tips and tricks, be sure to subscribe to The Collective Scoop!

https://www.melaniediehl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MelanieAndCoMarketingCollective

Why Should I Use Google My Business?

Why Should I Use Google My Business?

by | Oct 4, 2021 | Blog, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing

In just 3 years Google My Business has grown to touch over 1 billion consumers every month. That’s a lot of traffic! So what is Google My Business and why should you care?

Google My Business (GMB) gives people a place to add or claim their business on the web. This helps them show up in search results so that more people can hear about their business. In other words, if you have a website and/or want to be visible in local search results, Google My Business is probably something you should be using.

Here are the top reasons more businesses should claim their Google listing:

#1-It helps people find your website

A huge goal of GMB is to help people find businesses on the web, so make sure yours is one of them! If you’re not appearing in local search results, then you are missing out on potential customers and revenue.

#2- It helps people find your business location

GMB is also a great way to show up in Google Maps so that when people are searching for businesses near them, they’ll show up too!

#3-It makes it easier for customers to contact you

Customers ask a lot of questions before making a buying decision. They’ll often search to find out as much about a business as they can, and Google My Business is one way they can do this. By having accurate information on GMB, you’re providing great customer care before even speaking with them.

#4-It helps you stay up to date with Google

When you claim your GMB listing, Google will send you all sorts of helpful information about how and why people are searching for your business. This keeps you up-to-date on the latest search trends so that you can optimize your website and local search strategy as needed.

#5-It makes your website rank higher in organic search

Google wants to make it easy for people to find businesses online and that’s why they made Google My Business. By optimizing your GMB listing, you’ll be increasing the amount of traffic coming to your website organically. This will help your site show up higher in search results and get found by more people who are searching for you online.

#6-It helps you collect customer feedback and reviews

Another amazing benefit of GMB is that it gives customers a way to give great feedback about your business. With Google Local Guides, customers can review businesses as well as answer questions from other users or add tips on how to find your business. They can even take a picture of your business to add to their review.

#7-It helps you connect with others in your industry

By using Google My Business, you’re joining an online community and connecting with other businesses in your area. As more people use GMB, it’ll help you make new connections, share information, and spread the word about your business.

#8-It helps you connect with customers faster

With over 1 billion monthly active users on Google, it’s important to make sure that people can find your website fast! Having a GMB listing gives customers another way to get in contact with your business quickly and easily.

#9-It could improve your SEO

If you’re doing everything else right as it relates to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and want to kick things up a notch, claiming your GMB listing is a great way to boost your efforts. With that said, there are no guarantees; the powers of Google’s search algorithm are complex and in constant flux.

#10-It could improve your local rankings on Google Maps

You probably already know that if you have a website, it’s important to show up in the first few pages (1-3) of Google search results. Local businesses with a GMB listing can also show up in Search Results for their address, but they’ll also show up in Google Maps. If someone searches for businesses near them they are likely to see your business, driving more traffic and revenue to your website.

#11-It helps you create personalized marketing campaigns

With a GMB listing you can track who visits your website from search engine queries and other sources so that you can create personalized marketing campaigns and promotions for your customers. This is a great way to directly reach out to new leads and create relevant content that matches their interests. 

#12-It helps you get found on Google Search

In the past, if someone searched for a local business on Google, they would have to scroll through a list of businesses, usually with only 1 or 2  being visible at a time. Now, if someone searches for your business by name on Google Search you’ll show up as one of the businesses located closest to that address.

So there you go, 12 reasons your business should be on Google My Business. Join our free Facebook group to get help with the process. If you want more tips and tricks, be sure to subscribe to The Collective Scoop!

https://www.melaniediehl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MelanieAndCoMarketingCollective

7 Most Effective Email Elements

7 Most Effective Email Elements

by | Sep 27, 2021 | Blog, Constant Contact, content marketing, email, email marketing

Some of the most effective and memorable emails are those that begin with, “This is a message from…” followed by an individual’s name. The realization that it was a personal email can significantly boost engagement, as people feel more connected to the sender.

But how do you gauge this kind of impact? How do you measure the effectiveness of an email marketing campaign?

To find out, Sender Score, an email evaluation service, surveyed more than 2,200 U.S. adults and asked them to rate the extent to which they found various elements of a company’s emails—such as personalization, frequency, and timeliness—to be effective in persuading them to engage. 

Respondents to the survey were able to select multiple options as their answers.

Below are the seven elements that respondents found to be most effective in increasing engagement. 

  1. The use of personal, branded salutations: 51 percent found this to be highly effective.
  2. Use of the recipient’s first name: 47 percent
  3. Personalized images and graphics: 44 percent
  4. Using a call-to-action button for direct responses (such as “shop now” or “download now”): 43 percent
  5. The use of a recognizable, branded sender name: 42 percent
  6. Offering useful content and product information: 38 percent
  7. Frequency (the number of emails sent per month): 37 percent

 

On the other end of the spectrum, responders also identified email elements that they found least or not at all effective. Here are the three most identified:

13 percent found the use of an attachment to be least effective. (Respondents were reminded that many email providers block attachments, so if a company sends one, there’s a good chance it won’t be seen.)

11 percent found the use of high-pressure tactics such as “unsubscribe now” to be least effective. (These tactics are widely considered to be unethical under CAN-SPAM laws.)

15 percent found ads and offers for other products or services to not be at all effective.

 

The takeaway? It’s important that your emails have a personal touch, include useful content, and are received in a timely manner. 

 

10 Tips for Effective Email Marketing

10 Tips for Effective Email Marketing

by | Sep 20, 2021 | Blog, Constant Contact, content marketing, email, email marketing

In the first post of this series on email marketing, I shared that your email’s content has a direct impact on conversions. Even with a great offer and compelling subject line, you won’t get very far if your copy isn’t well written. Here’s 10 tips to consider when creating a marketing email.

  1. They are personalized. Personalization can increase click through rates by up to 96%. When you send your emails from a company-branded domain name or use the recipient’s name within the copy, you’re going to see better results.
  2. They are mobile friendly. Since 85% of us check emails on a smartphone or tablet, it’s important that our email is formatted for easy reading on these devices. This includes short paragraphs, read more links, and sub-headers for skimming through.
  3. They include an enticing offer. Subscribers want to know WIIFM: what’s in it for me. So make it about them! Create a juicy offer they can’t refuse. And bonus: reward repeat customers by offering referral rewards or other bonuses.
  4. They have unique and interesting subject lines. One of the most critical components of a successful email campaign is the subject line. The inbox is a busy place and you want your email to stand out from the noise. A well-crafted subject line can help get your email opened.
  5. They include promotional codes or exclusive offers. If you’re offering an incentive, provide information on how to redeem it (offer codes, discount links). 
  6. They are timely. Watch your analytics to see what days and times you get higher open rates and schedule your future emails accordingly. Try A/B testing if you don’t already know your best days/times to send.
  7. They have an inviting design. I’ve touched on this in previous blog posts (like here and here) and we all know that the more visually appealing your email is, the more clicks you will get – especially when it comes to click throughs for mobile users. 
  8. They include images and videos. Including images and videos are proven ways to get more clicks because they appeal to the sense of sight, not just words. Research shows that including a video in an email campaign can increase CTRs by up to 60%!
  9. They have a compelling call-to-action. A call-to-action is what you want your reader to do when they’ve finished reading the content within your email – whether it’s to visit a website, download an app or make a purchase. If you can communicate that to them right away, you’ll get better results. 
  10. They are targeted to the right audience. Segmenting your audience and creating content just for them can increase your conversion rate by 760%. Segmentation is basically grouping your list based on specific criteria. You can segment your email list based on demographics, location, level of email engagement, previous purchases, and more.  

Takeaway: When designing your marketing emails, follow best practices for design and copy you’ve learned in this article. Be consistent with your style and ensure every email sent by your company looks professional.