Posts in category: Tips & Tricks

Suppose you are not already familiar with SEO (search engine optimization). In that case, this blog article will teach you all you need to know about the importance of SEO and how to build better links!

Companies utilize SEO practices to improve the position and appearance of their website. It can help bring a company’s link to the top of their customer’s search results, generating purchases and engagement. SEO is critical for three key reasons: to boost organic search results, to increase the quality of organic traffic, and to increase the quantity of organic traffic.

According to MOZ, organic search results are “unpaid listings on a search engine results page (SERP) that the search engine has determined are most relevant to the user’s query.” Not to be confused with an advertisement, search engines’ organic ranking algorithms place organic search results on a SERP. As a result of these algorithms, money and status cannot change the order of organic search results. Furthermore, the quality of organic traffic matters. Quality organic traffic arises when the content on your website aligns with the user and their search. You could appear on thousands of SERPs, but the quality of your website’s visitors and their interest in browsing matters more than the number of SERPs your company reaches. However, as important as quality is, reaching a large number of your company’s users through SEO and organic search results is essential to success. Users are more likely to click on your company’s website than visitors. Consequently, more high-quality visitors to your web page will result in an increased level of conversions. 

Now that we have analyzed the importance of SEO let’s dive deeper into link building. Link building is an important factor in driving organic traffic to your website. It is “the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own.” The need for relevant links is essential today, as many consumers fear spam websites and accounts. Not only is link building crucial to SEO, but it also stands on its own as an effective marketing tactic.

A link is a way for users to navigate between web pages. Search engines use links to crawl through pages on a company’s website and between different websites. Companies may create links to sell a product, share a story, or comment on a service. By spending time to ensure your link is utmost quality, you will increase the probability that other websites will reference your content. As we previously talked about, traffic from organic search and users browsing the web will help your company in terms of SEO.

Before we discuss link building in more detail, let’s take a moment to understand the components of a hyperlink. Hyperlinks, or links, start with a tag that tells the search engine something else will follow. Next comes the link referral location. It comprises the “href” (hyperlink referral) and the URL to which the link is referencing. The URL portion of the link can lead to a website, image, or file to download. The visible/anchor text of the link is a snippet of text users see on the page. Users would click on this text to open the link. It is often formatted to stand out and signal to users that it is clickable. Lastly, the closure of the link tag lets the search engine know the link tag is over.

Search engines use links in two principal ways: to discover new web pages and determine how to rank them in their results. Search engines browse the external links that point to your website and assess their relevance and reliability. So, if many high-quality websites lead users to your page, it will most likely be ranked favorably. 

Link building can improve your company’s rankings, increase traffic from organic searches, and has a multitude of other advantages we will touch upon now. Link building can help your company establish relationships with other relevant websites and blogs. Outreach opportunities like this can help your company become a trusted industry member, which is extremely valuable. Effective link building can help your business build a brand. Utilizing content creation in your company’s link building can showcase your company’s skillset and attract customers. Finally, sending referral traffic can impact sales as well. If you place links on your website for customers to see, they will likely be genuinely interested. Even if they don’t immediately make a purchase, you just built a relationship with another customer, which is invaluable. 

At Straight Forward Media, we focus on helping our clients produce well-written and well-researched content. Creating high-quality content, an essential aspect of SEO, will help organically lift your page ranking. We hope this information about how to build strong links and utilize SEO effectively will aid your business. If you have any further questions or are seeking advice, feel free to reach out:

Address:
100 Terminal Drive
Suite 2
Plainview, NY 11803
Phone: 516-430-6699
E-mail: info@straightfm.com

No matter how advanced and technical marketing tools have become over the years, nothing can replace the one and only Google Analytics. According to Databox, Google Analytics is “a powerful and accessible (free) tool that lets marketers track more than 200 metrics that span the entire funnel—from acquisition to conversion.” As Google Analytics has a ton of capabilities, your company must focus on the metrics that will be most beneficial. A Google Analytics metric analyzes a unit of information during a selected period. The data collected can be used to assess your company’s performance over that timeframe. 

To most effectively utilize metrics, your company must sit down together to discuss how you are performing. Before we dive deeper into the top 10 metrics to track, keep in mind these three questions:

• Is our company’s website presence growing, and do we frequently get new visitors?
• What do customers do on our website; how many pages do they visit, how long do they interact with it, etc.?
• What is the conversion rate? A conversion rate describes the percentage of website visitors who also make a purchase on the site. 

Now that you have a better grasp of how metrics can be helpful, it is time to learn about the top 10 metrics to track.

• Users

The term “Users” translates to “unique visitor” in the world of Google Analytics. As soon as you log into Google Analytics, you will see the users on the dashboard. 

Each time a new visitor lands on your site, they will be assigned a unique ID that will be stored as a cookie in their browser. This metric is effective because if a visitor returns, Google Analytics will log them in as a returning visitor. However, there is a catch. If you visit the site on Google Chrome and then Safari, you will be logged in as two separate users. 

“Users” is the most tracked Google Analytic. Marketers are increasingly concerned with how often new people visit their website, as opposed to the number of sessions each visitor logs. 

• Bounce Rate

A bounce is a single-page session on your website. For instance, if a user opens a single page and then exits the site without triggering another request, they “bounced.” Thus, the bounce rate displays what percentage of visitors produced only one request. It is the ratio between the number of single-page sessions, or bounces, and the total number of sessions. A high bounce rate can be damaging if success on your website depends on users browsing through more than one page. However, a high bounce rate can be expected and positive if the site is a single page of information. 

• Sessions

A Session occurs every time someone visits your website. It measures the time from when someone logs onto your page to thirty minutes after inactivity. Every action on your site is tracked during this one session; therefore, if the same user revisits your site the next day, a new session is counted. Sessions are not practical when tracking unique users for this reason. 

• Average Session Duration

The average session duration describes how long, on average, visitors stay on your website and is calculated by dividing the total duration of all sessions (in seconds) by the total number of sessions. Google Analytics finds individual session durations by subtracting the time of the first hit on the last page from the time of the first hit on the first page. Tracking average session duration allows your company to understand the average time people spend on content on your website. If the number is low, maybe it is time to rethink the layout or scope of your website to increase the time people spend on it.

• Percentage of New Sessions

If a visitor does not already have a client ID, they will be logged into a new session. The percentage of new sessions is the total percentage of first-time sessions on your website in a given amount of time. This metric is useful when tracking the retention of users and how successful your company is at gaining new users. 

• Sessions by Channel

Google Analytics utilizes channel groupings. These groupings characterize your website traffic so your company can track the performance of individual channels (organic, paid, direct, social, email, etc.). These respective channels are utilized when analyzing the overall sessions by channel, as the sessions by channel is the number of sessions attributed to each channel grouping. Tracking sessions by channel can help your company identify where the largest audiences originate from and what channels need improvement. 

• Pages Per Session

Pages per session, or pageviews per session, refers to the average number of pages on your website that users access per session. It is calculated by dividing the website’s total pageviews by the total number of sessions. A high average of “pages per session” is positive because it indicates that the average visitor is interested in exploring your website beyond the landing page. 

• Goal Completions

Goals on Google Analytics measure how successful your company is at fulfilling its target objectives. A goal, also known as a conversion, describes a completed activity that will aid your business in becoming more successful. Goal completion represents the number of times a website visitor accomplishes a goal on your website. Goals will vary between companies based on what they are trying to accomplish. Examples of goals include the number of purchases, signups, or visits to a specific URL.

According to Google Analytics Help, “goals can be applied to specific pages or screens your users visit, how many pages/screens they view in a session, how long they stay on your site or app, and the events they trigger while they are there.” Goals are assigned a monetary value so your company can measure the value of the conversion. Thus, tracking goals is essential to the overall success of your company. 

• Pageviews

Any view of a page being tracked by Google Analytics is a pageview. If you land on a page, reload the same page, or leave the page and come back, you just completed three separate page views. Pageviews can help your company ensure that new and returning visitors spend time on your website viewing various content from different pages. 

• Pageviews by Page

Pageviews by page show the number of pageviews each page of your site received in a specific period. Tracking pageviews by page can help your company discover which pages are most visited and can aid in SEO. We promise that if you track these 10 metrics, you will learn more about your visitors, accomplish more goals, and gain the ability to improve your website. We hope you learned something valuable about tracking Google Analytics metrics. If you have any further questions or are seeking advice, feel free to reach out

Marketing experts spend time and resources formulating eye-catching content to grab the attention of their target audience. Although marketers employ a variety of mediums, one of the most effective tactics is email marketing. Email marketing generates an ROI of $36 per dollar spent and allows companies to foster meaningful relationships with their customers. 

Email marketing has high potential; however, achieving high email deliverability can be challenging. HubSpot describes email deliverability as the “rate at which your email makes it into recipient inboxes.” Email deliverability rates can be decreased in two ways: if an email bounces back or goes to the spam folder. 

No matter how experienced you are in email marketing, some invisible barriers may come between the email and your customers’ inboxes. As spam filters continue to become more complex, your company must adapt to ensure all messages will be successfully delivered to your customers. We are excited to teach you how to enhance email deliverability and ensure you avoid sending spam filters to get the highest ROI.

Should you Buy or Rent Email Lists?

NO! Let’s say you decide to purchase or rent an email list of all young couples living in the greater New York area with at least one child. Although these demographics match your target market, you do not know anything about these families’ likes, dislikes, buying habits, or interests. Thus, buying or renting email lists is a highly ineffective marketing tactic.

Should you Personalize your Email List?

YES! To maintain a positive sender score, it is in your company’s best interest to only send emails to individuals who have requested to be emailed. Messages should only be emailed to those who have subscribed or agreed to receive these communications. It is also crucial that you make unsubscribing simple for the customer if they change their mind. Also, if an individual has bounced repeatedly or hasn’t opened any of your emails, filter them out to increase your email deliverability rate. Lastly, personalization is key. Frequently clean your email list and send messages that your individual customers can connect with.

Should you Use ALL CAPS or Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!?

NO!!!! No one wants to be yelled at. A study by the Radicati Group shows that more than 85% of people prefer lowercase subject lines. Instead of trying to grab your reader’s attention BY USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, try employing catchy phrases. Furthermore, along with CAPITAL LETTER SUBJECT LINES, people also feel overwhelmed by a string of exclamation points!!!!!! To bypass spam filters, you must maintain a professional format. 69% of email recipients report a message to spam SOLELY BASED ON THE SUBJECT LINE!! We are here to help you perfect your email marketing strategies to yield the most success!

Should you Use a Recognizable Sender Name?

YES! An email from emailmarketer123@gmail.com would go straight to the spam folder. People are tentative to open emails from unfamiliar senders, so your company needs to utilize a straightforward address. Alternatively, sending emails from a real person at the company can be even more effective than from a generic email address. Although this will be a little more time-consuming, it will be more than worth it when your email does not see the spam folder. 

If done correctly, email marketing can generate success for your company. Once you employ these tips to avoid the spam folder, you will be unstoppable! We hope you now understand better the dos and don’ts of email marketing to bypass spam filters. If you have any further questions or are seeking advice, feel free to reach out:

Address:
100 Terminal Drive
Suite 2
Plainview, NY 11803
Phone: 516-430-6699
E-mail: info@straightfm.com

Understanding how to utilize consumer psychology to better connect with your target audience is essential. According to the American Psychological Association, consumer psychology is “the branch of psychology that studies the behavior of individuals as consumers and the marketing and communication techniques used to influence consumer decisions.” Thus, consumer psychologists analyze individuals’ behaviors and responses to for-profit and not-for-profit marketing. They then study these results to discover consumers’ buying patterns and reactions to specific marketing materials. Using consumer psychology can help your company increase positive brand recognition and establish a strong relationship with your customers. 

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of consumer psychology, consumer behavior trends, why online advertising and social media marketing are essential to understanding consumer psychology, psychological influences on consumer behavior, and how marketers use consumer psychology to generate success. 

The Importance of Consumer Psychology 

Understanding your consumer’s wants/needs and likes/dislikes is the first step to effectively tapping into their psychology. However, it is challenging to understand why consumers make certain choices; for example, what drives a consumer to purchase specific products? 

That’s why trends play an important role. It is much easier to know how to influence consumer behavior when you can study consumer trends. As markets evolve and advance over time, so do people’s interests, tastes, and preferences. Consequently, your marketing practices should reflect the principles your target audience values so you can relate to them.  

Specific Consumer BehaviorTrends

Here are some current consumer behavior trends that you should take into consideration when devising your company’s marketing strategy:

Transparency 

Consumers’ interest in the transparency of businesses has increased over time. People are more likely to support a company that presents its values candidly. To gain the trust of your consumers, you must be clear about your values, goals, and past accomplishments. Additionally, to create meaningful connections with your consumers, be straightforward with your marketing tactics to build loyalty with your partners.

Online Advertising and Social Media Marketing

Online spending has increased since the pandemic in 2020, and people will likely continue to shop online in 2022 and beyond. Therefore, your company needs to focus many of its efforts online. Consumers can use your website and social media pages to shop, communicate with employees if they have questions, and learn more about your company’s values. To use your online presence to the fullest, it is imperative to conduct extensive research. We are here to help you learn more about your target consumers while still producing quantifiable results. 

Furthermore, building a visually appealing and informative website is vital to your company’s marketing portfolio. A strong web presence will draw traffic to your company’s pages and produce positive outcomes. Design and create a website that utilizes your target market’s behaviors to be successful. 

Psychological Influences on Consumer Behavior

Psychological determinants govern consumer purchasing habits. A consumer’s attitude towards a company depends on the brand itself and the individual’s purchasing motivations. Understanding a consumer’s physiological and psychological desires is crucial because motivations are the primary influence on a consumer’s decision-making process and buying behavior. 

Marketing and its Influence on Consumer Decisions

So, now that you understand consumer psychology and how psychological factors can influence buying behavior, it is time to see these ideas in action. To conduct effective marketing that takes into account consumer motivations and behavioral trends, it is necessary to understand these four stages of the purchasing process:

1. A consumer first recognizes a need; for example, they realize they are hungry, thirsty, cold, warm, etc. 
2. Once this need is identified, an individual will be motivated to fulfill it; maybe someone will begin to brainstorm different snack options or locate the nearest location that sells beverages.
3. A consumer’s motivation translates into a specific desire, want, or product; an individual decides they want a salad from a particular store to address their hunger or a smoothie from down the block to quench their thirst. 
4. Consumers satisfy their needs through behaviors that fulfill them; the consumer eats the salad or drinks the smoothie they were craving. 

Companies need to understand this process so they can develop communications strategies that align with the needs their consumers are trying to fulfill. Consider how this advancement will meet your consumer’s goals when developing new products or services. 

We hope this blog displays the importance of utilizing consumer psychology to strengthen your company’s marketing strategy. If you have any further questions or are seeking advice, feel free to reach out:

Address:
100 Terminal Drive
Suite 2
Plainview, NY 11803
Phone: 516-430-6699
E-mail: info@straightfm.com

Marketing tactics grow and change over time. Technological advancements provide companies with many strategic options to connect with their target audience efficiently. Although still effective, basic marketing tactics alone don’t carry enough influence over the population during these evolving times. Thus, companies need to utilize various tools to enhance their marketing portfolio. Email Marketing and SMS Marketing are two effective tactics, and when used together, they will give you an advantage over the competition and create an effective communication technique.  

Email Marketing

Constant Contact describes Email Marketing as “sending marketing messages directly to your customers’ email inboxes.” This personalized approach allows companies to educate their consumer base, establish brand recognition, and fabricate meaningful relationships with consumers. Email Marketing is most effective when you send specific emails to targeted customers at the perfect time. Although this seems like an intimidating process, it is a simple recipe for success. There are many types of Email Marketing, ranging from welcome emails to promotional materials and surveys. Email Marketing has a Return on Investment (ROI) of $36 per dollar spent. It is known to increase website traffic and credibility for your brand.

Although Email Marketing is a fantastic way to engage with consumers, SMS Marketing messages are shorter, more compact, and powerful. People live busy lives and don’t always have time to read through longer email messages. Therefore, SMS Marketing is a simple way to reach a large audience in a short amount of time.

SMS Marketing

SMS is an acronym for “short message service.” It goes beyond text messaging; SMS messages are limited to 160 characters and cannot contain images. Therefore, these messages are concise, powerful, and timely. Many companies have already embraced SMS Marketing, and the industry is expected to grow to $12.6 billion by 2025. 

It is vital to use SMS Marketing in tandem with existing Email Marketing content. Here are some suggestions on how to leverage both forms of marketing simultaneously:

• Make sure to stagger SMS messages with email messages. Spacing out message release times will ensure your customers’ inboxes aren’t overwhelmed. They will thank you for this and be more receptive to all marketing materials. 
• Ensure that email messages match up with preceding SMS messages. These tactics are supposed to complement each other, so be strategic about what you send out on each platform.

SMS Marketing messages are compact and clever. They contain valuable information at all of your potential consumers’ fingertips. If your company has not yet tried utilizing SMS Marketing, here are some simple tips to ensure your trial is a successful one:

• Although individuals are on their phones practically 24/7, they do not want to hear from your company every hour of the day. Limiting SMS messages to an office window of 9-5 almost guarantees you will not interrupt their time away from work. 
• SMS messages should always include an opt-out option. Opt-out options ensure that customers don’t feel pressured by your brand and instead feel that they have independence and consumer power. The interested customers will stay subscribed, so do not worry if a few individuals opt out. 

We hope you now understand better the differences between Email Marketing and SMS Marketing, how to utilize them together, and how implementing these strategies will boost engagement. If you have any further questions or are seeking advice, feel free to reach out:

Address:

100 Terminal Drive, Suite 2

Plainview, NY 11803

Phone: 516-430-6699

Email: info@straightfm.com