TAL Admin TAL Admin

content marketing

How to Make Your Small Business Stand Out With Content Marketing

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Content Writing | , , ,

As a business owner, your time is split between all of the tasks it takes to run a successful business, managing your employees, keeping the books, upkeep of your location, and then of course, marketing. With all of the other responsibilities that come with running a business, running a robust digital marketing campaign on top of that can be an overwhelming undertaking and can be easy to neglect. In today’s marketing landscape, content marketing may be a term you are likely to come across, but what exactly does that mean? Content marketing is simply producing and sharing exciting content like videos, blogs, email campaigns and web pages, and showing your customers what makes your business stand out. You already know what makes your business great, content marketing is your platform to tell the world! Here’s how to use content marketing to your advantage to make your business stand out.

 

Create Content That is Your Own

Now let’s think about your consumers for a second. Have you ever tried to read all the content on the internet? It’s exhausting, and spoiler alert, impossible. Among all of the other content we are exposed to on a daily basis, users today crave content that is genuine. That’s where content marketing comes in! Blogs and page content are a great way for you to tell your brand’s story, and sell yourself organically. So think to yourself, what makes your business different from all the rest? Maybe your restaurant is incredibly globally conscious and only serves locally sourced foods. Or you offer a full menu of Keto or Vegan options. Rather than waiting for your customers to find these things out for themselves, use your website and online resources to tell them first. 

 

Once you feel like you’ve hit all of your bases, now it’s time to reach out. You would be surprised what your already loyal customers have to say about you. You may love the fact that your business is sustainable and your menu is diverse, but they might come for your amazing breakfast menu, craft cocktails, or specialty coffees. The truth is, what makes your business stand out to you may not always be what keeps your customers coming back. Gaining as many perspectives as possible will help you to shape your content towards those all-important unique selling propositions, or what your business offers that makes it stand out from its competition. Once you have that, get writing some personalized content that tells your story and shows why you are unique!

 

Create Content That is Dynamic and Exciting 

The key to content is to keep it fresh and engaging. Whether you are writing a page about your brand new service line, or your weekly blog, it is your chance to let your personality shine. Be sure to add photos from the job or entertaining anecdotes to let your customers get to know you before ever meeting you. Blogging is also a great opportunity to establish yourself as a leader in your industry. Stay up to date with current events and industry trends, then use your blog to speak to them. Soon, your consumers will be looking to you for thought leadership pieces. Again, you know that you’re an expert in your industry, so show the world! 

 

Create Content That Will Work for You

Now that your website is full of engaging and insightful content, the last step is to make that content work for you. Let’s go back to the restaurant example. If locals in your neighborhood are searching Google for “Keto friendly breakfast restaurants”, you’ll want to make sure that content you wrote gets seen. If you are spending all of this time building out your website, you will want to make sure it is at the top of everyone’s list when they are searching. This is where content comes into play with your overall digital marketing campaign. Once you write your content, you will want to be sure it is ranking on Google when people go to search for them. A website that has content will always outperform websites that do not have content and can be a vital part of your SEO campaign. Blogs can also make for great social media content, and email content.

 

Given these troubling times, many businesses are operating remotely, running limited hours, or temporarily closed. We encourage you to use this downtime to your advantage with some great content. Not sure where to start? Our dedicated content team at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm can help you strategize show-stopping content that will tell your brand’s story and wow your customers before even stepping in the door. Content marketing is the perfect partner to an SEO or social media strategy to get your brand out there and recognized for what makes you, you! To get started, partner with us today. We will determine where we can develop content, and help you to create your brand identity as a team!

Social Media in a Time Like This

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Social Media

It’s a very strange time in the world right now. The current global crisis of COVID-19 has the world rocking and reeling. And rightfully so. Never before in my life have I seen something like this. Just today I went to order Thai food, temporarily spacing on the mandatory stay home order issue that has closed many businesses and restaurants. I was hit again with the painful reminder that there is a real crisis happening, right outside. And we are all in this together. 

We will make it through.

What does the current global climate mean for your social media? There has been a 70% increase in time spent across social platforms such as Instagram and Whatsapp, a 50% increase of messaging across Facebook’s platforms, and 2x more Facebook and Instagram Live views.

There have been 468 Million mentions of keywords related to the COVID-19 outbreak across social media channels over the past 90 days. That number is staggering. With 62% of adults in the U.S. getting their news from social media while 59% of consumers engage with their favorite brands on social media as well. And from a recent poll, 68% of people learned about company updates from social media, with 79% via email.

These numbers are pointing to one thing: People are turning to social media outlets now more than ever for information, connection, and so much more. Digital attention is drastically on the rise as people turn to social media to what we at The AD Leaf ® believe to be a more grass-roots resurgence of the whole point of social media: to be social. With many staying at home to protect the lives of others and themselves, social media has reminded us once again that it’s of vital importance as a tool to remain connected, to communicate ideas, or organize and collaborate, and see loved ones.

With that being said, there is something of vital importance to insert here. The current COVID-10 pandemic is not a marketing opportunity. 

With the state of the world, there are things that you need to consider as we all navigate into some pretty murky waters. Below are a few quick ideas that we think are vitally important for you, your brand, and social media:

  1. Be careful to not “go dark” – This is huge. It’s important to not just drop off the face of the planet, especially in a time like this. Your brand needs to be seen as a pillar of strength for your audience. What we would suggest is to pause your social media, take a step back, and reevaluate the direction of your strategy. What was communicated last week may very well not fit into the current narrative. It’s ok to take a step back for a few days to reassess the situation, the tone, your strategy, and your in-house staff. But then, once ready, come back as a source of strength and encouragement to others. Going dark for a long time communicates an instability that will hurt you in the long run. Keep the lights on.
  2. Don’t capitalize on the situation – We have never seen such a pandemic like this in our lifetime. This is not the time to try and hijack the situation for personal gain. Many don’t mean or realize that what they are communicating is actually insensitive, so take a moment to think about which foot you are stepping forward with. Make an extra emphasis on empathy, and approach the situation as someone who is here to help. That doesn’t mean however that you cannot sell products, but it does mean don’t use a painful situation to capitalize on. Be careful here.
  3. Tone – We touched on this, but the tone is huge here. Stay true to your brand during this time, but exercise balance. The livelihood of your team may depend on selling products, and that’s ok. But the way you go about things here requires more tact and balance than ever before. Think about staying true to yourself, but being more compassionate. As an additional note, it’s ok that your brand doesn’t have all the answers. Transparency coupled with professionalism is a bright, shining example that we have seen many companies exercise in the light of recent events.
  4. Communicate – Whether it’s with your team or your audience, it’s of paramount importance to over-communicate in this time. And if you are able, work from home to help reduce the spread of the virus. We have a plethora of ways to remain connected, like the video conference call company, ZOOM, to help you and your team remain on the same page. With your audience, it’s important to do the same and let them know what’s going on. As we saw earlier, a large percentage of people use social media for company updates, so once you have stepped back to reassess your direction, come forward with a clear message of hope, resilience, and on-brand messaging. A point of caution here would be to be careful to not communicate information that your audience may not need. There is a plethora of companies, brands, leaders, influencers, politicians, newsrooms, newspapers, authors, actors, and endlessly more voices out there, communicating information. Sending out that email to an inbox that has already received 54 emails before 9 am can add unnecessarily to stressors that are probably already occurring. Only send pertinent info. 
  5. Practice moderation – This one is a gentle reminder about mental health. It’s ok to not have all the answers. It’s equally ok to not be glued to social media or the news where the challenging events are constantly in your face. Our mindset can be greatly impacted by the onslaught of the terrible things that are happening out there and being viewed in real-time at our fingertips. Take this time home as an opportunity to spend additional time with your spouse, your kids, to pick up a hobby, or to go on a walk. Practice social distancing, but also unplug and take a moment to exercise gratitude. Science shows that those who practice being thankful are mentally and physically healthier and happier. Take a moment to smell the roses. 

 

While this is a serious event in human history, we have seen glimmers of hope and encouragement from regular businesses and people, just like you. For example, Krispy Kreme is giving away donuts to all health care workers. The CEO of Texas Roadhouse gives up their salary so front-line workers can get paid. Zoom has made video sharing services free for teachers so at-home classes can commence. Starbucks has extended mental health benefits to its partners. Apple is offering unlimited paid sick leave to any of its employees experiencing related symptoms. Sprint is giving its customers unlimited data and 20G of hotspot access for 60 days to ease remote working. And the list goes on!

We at The AD Leaf ® want you to know that if there is any way we can help you, please reach out to us. We are here for you. 

 

Resources:

https://buffer.com/resources/social-media-management-in-times-of-crisis

https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/#6f75c197183c

https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/03/17/50-ways-companies-are-giving-back-during-the-corona-pandemic/#4cb944dd4723

SEO

9 Ways Your Business Can Use SEO to Stay Relevant During COVID-19

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Search Engine Optimization

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant stress and uncertainty, not only in our daily lives but also for businesses. But some things never change, including the importance of SEO. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is important for all companies, but it has never been more important than it is today. Pulling back or stopping SEO activity now – as a lot of companies may have considered as they reduce marketing and advertising spend – will only hurt your business in the long run. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, your company can benefit from local SEO, updating your website, updating strategies, developing new content, and conducting keyword research. Since many of us are practicing social distancing, the internet is being used more. In fact, Forbes reported at the end of March that internet usage has jumped 50-70 percent. Take advantage of this uptick to increase your business’s online presence. 

Here’s where to start:

How to Optimize Your Digital Presence During COVID-19    

1. Optimize Your Website

A great place to begin to fine-tune your online presence is by optimizing your website design. Here are a few things to focus on: 

  • Simplify the navigation
  • Make sure content is up-to-date
  • Provide a banner or a pop-up on the homepage and other highly trafficked pages to inform your visitors of the steps your company is taking to address COVID-19 and how you’re keeping employees and customers safe. 

2. Take Advantage of a Local SEO Campaign

Local SEO is very effective when marketing your business online. Many people searching typically have local intent – which means, the searcher is looking for a business located close to him or her to either go to or buy from. Here are some local SEO tactics you can use to promote products and services locally:

  • Regularly update your Google My Business profile to help search engines recognize and understand your business. Be sure to keep your profile up-to-date so Google views your website as trustworthy and continues to serve users relevant content.
  • Consider adding posts to your Google My Business page to provide users with updated news and information, such as promotions, delivery options, and changes in business hours.

3. Update or Add Meta Descriptions and Meta Keywords

Adding meta descriptions and meta keywords to your web pages helps Google get a better understanding of your website and helps with the indexing of your pages. Taking time to do thoughtful keyword research will benefit your website tremendously. This can help your site appear in featured snippets, which are used for voice search results, thereby gaining additional visibility for your brand.

4. Know and Optimize Your Page Speed

A good page speed decreases bounce rates and increases the overall engagement on your site. Page speed is also a ranking factor for Google. 

5. Focus on Link Building

Make sure the links on your site include your target keywords. This is important because Google reads links to decide if the content is relevant. Having quality links and providing backlinks increases the value of your website. Search engines use links to find new web pages and to determine how well a website should rank in search results.

The more high-quality websites linking to your website, the more likely you will rank well in search results.

6. Utilize Email and Social Media Campaigns

Email and social media are both great channels by which to reach out to prospects and even current clients. Stay active on both to keep communication flowing. Campaigns are a great way to connect with your clients, which will also set you up for long term success. Be sure to write content to show that you understand the gravity of the current situation. Empathy goes a long way during stressful times! 

7. Review and Update Your Website Content

Update your website content regularly to maintain your relevance. Regular updates tell Google your website is trustworthy and has authority. This will help with your search rankings, as Google’s goal is to provide users with the most relevant content. Make sure the content is easy to find within your site structure and navigation and provide fresh photos. 

8. Keep Up with Ever-Changing Trends In SEO 

COVID-19 is impacting SEO trends significantly. Stay on top of what people are searching for and how they are searching. Keywords are changing every day. You can start by monitoring keyword changes more closely than you normally would. 

9. Look for Ways to Deliver Content Differently

  • Video: Take advantage of new strategies and be in “the know.” With everyone spending more time on the web, you should start developing video content. Think outside of the box to get ahead of your competitors and create entertaining original content. Since many people are inside and bored, providing fun and exciting content will help your brand stand out.
  • Blogs: If you have blog content already, consider increasing how often you post. Having a blog gives you the opportunity to create relevant and educational content. This will also increase the number of clicks throughout your website. Take advantage of linking to other parts of your site in your blog postings. 😉
  • Webinars: Webinars are a great way to reach out to clients and prospects and to provide a more personalized approach. Having a real-time conversation helps to build personal relationships. Since people are practicing social distance, seeing a face or hearing a voice can calm the anxiety and stress that many are experiencing. 

Don’t Forget to Measure

People are searching online more frequently during COVID-19, which will change Google trends. The way you measure results and data may change, too. 

Although you may see an increase in traffic to your website, this traffic may not convert into sales. Instead, consider measuring engagement with heat maps and other tools to better understand your users and to develop content that will resonate with them. Being a valued resource in a user’s time of need will help your brand long-term, even if it doesn’t result in an immediate sale.

Final Thoughts

The COVID-19 outbreak has created a dramatic change for all of us. While the internet is getting more use than ever before, take this time to focus on your SEO efforts. Make updates, do your research, collect data, keep up with the trends, and develop an SEO strategy. 

Doubling down on your SEO efforts now will not only help you weather this current challenge but will also prepare you for long term success.  The team at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm is here to help if you need us. Contact us today to get started on your COVID-19 SEO Campaign and stay relevant during these trying times!

The Fine Line of Social Media

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Social Media

During times of national emergency, or in this case, global, companies need to walk the fine line of continuing with business as usual while being sensitive to the problem at hand. Companies and individuals alike are going through a scary, uncertain time. During times of uncertainty, people turn to what is secure. It may seem minor, but a sensitive and robust message on social media from brands does help provide a sense of normalcy. It’s a gut reaction for many companies to pull back on social media marketing and advertising but is that the right call? To be frank, no. Let’s talk about some common concerns and how to confront them.

Continue reading →

PPC management

How To Manage PPC Campaigns During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Pay Per Click

As you well know, the world is in a major panic because of COVID-19. Not only is it affecting the lives of others, but it is also affecting businesses on a local and global scale (offline and online). Also, If you’re a business that implements online campaigns (Google, Bing, etc…) and PPC management strategies, you may have these questions come to mind:

  • Should I pause my campaigns in order to manage expenses?
  • Should I scale back my budget?

These are important questions to ask and hard decisions to make should you want to play on the defensive end. However, there’s always a flip side.

You can take charge of your business in this crisis by playing on the offensive end. There’s a popular saying that goes like this:

“When Everyone Goes Right, You Go Left.”

We’re not saying you should go crazy on your spending, but to keep your business moving forward so you can gain profits for your survival.

This is where you, as a business owner, will need to courageous, flexible, creative, and patient with our ever-changing environment.

In this post, we’ll provide some tips on how you can manage your PPC campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adjusting Your Budget and Spending For PPC Management

We mentioned earlier about pausing your PPC campaigns or scaling back your budget. Of course, pausing a PPC campaign would be considered playing defense. But what about scaling back your budget?

This may be also be considered playing defense but you’re actually playing both ends of the floor (We know we’re using sports references).

Instead of spending $100 a day on a campaign, cut your budget in half and spend $50. Also, take a look at your campaigns to see where you’re getting more clicks and conversions and focus your attention there.

Let your campaigns run for a week, look at your data, then adjust your budget and spending accordingly to see if you’re gaining a profit or taking a loss.

Mentioning Your Business Proposition In Your Ad Copy

Many businesses are closing their doors which means that many people will be staying at home which also means that many people will be online. This is where you can take advantage and pivot your message by adding a promotion on your PPC campaigns.

For example, if you’re a restaurant business, you can add a discount of 5% on orders that are over $40 if they apply a particular coupon. In addition, you can provide a Free Touchless Delivery Service in your message to show that you’re concern about their health and want to protect them.

Of course, whatever promotion that you’re providing to your customer, make sure it’s adjusted on your website.

Now that you know how you can manage your PPC campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re fully equipped to make a decision to play defense or offense for your business.

There’s no reason why you should just sit on the sidelines. Your competitors are experiencing the same fears you are, but at least you can take matters into your own hands by using sound PPC Management principles as well as having your PPC campaigns online so your business can survive in the upcoming future.

If you’re in need of PPC Management for your campaigns,  contact the team at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm and learn how you can grow with us today and weather the storm that is COVID-19!

Pinterest: A Safe Haven From COVID19 Misinformation and Negativity

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Social Media

With a pandemic raging and social distancing the norm, we are all secluded from our family and friends trying to stave off boredom. So many of us turn to social media to stay connected, find out the latest information on the Coronavirus or COVID-19, and to keep ourselves occupied and from climbing the walls in our isolation. A quick scroll of Facebook is enough to stress anyone out–alarming headlines, political posts blaming and finger-pointing, misleading information that hasn’t been properly vetted, sales pitches for cure-alls for the disease, and alarmingly negative posts from fearful people. It makes you want to put down your phone, get into bed, and pull the covers over your head. But fear not, social network destination Pinterest is taking steps to protect you from that!

In 2017, Pinterest started restricting health-related content and searches, beginning with anti-vaccine information. Pinterest directed vaccine-related searches to pages with information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention starting in August 2019. Then it expanded to other health topics over time.

When people go on to Pinterest and search for COVID-19 or Coronavirus, they are directed to a sparse page with content form the World Health Organization and get the following message “Pins about this topic often violate our Community Guidelines, which prohibit harmful medical misinformation. Because of this, we’ve limited searches to Pins from internationally-recognized health organizations.” Social media posts are rampant laughing about how Pinterest is shaming your mom for searching for homemade DIY surgical masks. A search for COVID-19 brought up a whole page of frequently asked questions like “Is it safe to receive a letter or package from China?” and “Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?”, almost all provided by WHO.

All this means that Pinterest has become a safe haven from all the negative and misleading information about the COVID-19 virus and people are very happy about that! But Pinterest has gone even further! On Tuesday, they launched a new feature called Today tab which is refreshed daily to user-curated topics and trending posts. It offers advice from experts and health agencies, as well as timely posts like home workspaces and study tips for kids.

The Today Tab has Boards with titles like “TT-Pilates”, “TT-Baked Pasta”, “What to Watch”, “Toddler Art Projects”, “TT-Bedtime Yoga”, and “Jump Rope Workouts”. This is the mecca for everyone who needs some distractions from all the fear-mongering and finger-pointing. There is enough information to lose a couple of hours exploring fun activities, recipes, workouts, homework assignments, and crafts to do to make social isolation a lot more interesting and fun!

The microblogging platform is also a wonderful resource for self-care from everything from how to wash your hands to stave off disease to how to calm an anxiety attack. So if you’re feeling anxious, you can search for meditations to calm your anxiety and connect to your inner peace.

Are your kids restless and bored being cooped up at home? You can find DIY crafts and activities that will hold their attention and keep them occupied.

Or, if you’re trying to get your children on a schedule and don’t know where to start, there are plenty of homework assignments and homework trackers that you can print off from your home computer to keep your family on track.

If you are looking for activities and projects to use as homeschool lessons, Pinterest has a wealth of information for you. It has DIY science projects for every age to support the homework that schools sent home with your children.

With kids home from school, meal planning is a little bit tougher–Pinterest has got you covered there, too!

Pinterest also added a new “Compassionate Search” option on the website which prioritizes activities that help you relax with content from health authorities.

So take a break from all the scary news about COVID-19 and lose yourself in the wonderful world of Pinterest.

If you need help with your social media game and want to add Pinterest to your social media marketing, please call The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm LLC at (321) 255-0900. We would love to show you how to increase your online presence and market your products to your clients via social media!

Digital Marketing Strategy

Why Businesses Need Digital Marketing To Survive COVID-19

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Content Writing, Email Marketing, Graphic Design, Marketing, Pay Per Click, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Website Design

Why Businesses Need A Digital Marketing Strategy To Survive COVID-19

In the coming months, businesses of all sizes are going to become extra reliant than ever on their digital marketing strategy. Without wanting to sound too much like a killjoy, in many cases, it will be the deciding factor in whether they make it through the tough times that are ahead. 

The unparalleled, and almost-total disappearance of all channels related to live events and conferences, and the increasing barriers on face-to-face business, pose an enormous challenge to any business model. 

B2B companies, in particular, rely on the annual circuit of trade shows and exhibitions to network and build customer relations. In industries that are not digital-native, they may also be less sophisticated in their digital growth and customer relations strategies. Especially in the case of smaller businesses that are used to getting new customers strictly word-of-mouth referrals or on the strength of a hard-won reputation, their loss is going to come as a shock if it hasn’t already.

Larger companies are now finding themselves in the position of having potentially lost millions of dollars from canceled events alone. They won’t claw back the hours of time and expense spent on preparations for this year, but insurance and flexible cancellation policies are going to leave them with some marketing budget to reassign. Digital Marketing in any aspect is likely going to be the clear and obvious choice here, and companies that may not so much as had a Facebook page before will need to move into social media marketing, content marketing, SEO, and even influencer-led campaigns. 

This, of course, means there are opportunities out there for the taking and a key factor in resilience is adaptability. If it’s standard in your industry to go out and meet new customers face-to-face before you do business, adapting may mean opening new channels over web or social media platforms where introductions can be made and relationship fostered. In the coming months, you prospective clients are going to be less open to the idea of letting you walk through the door and shake their hand, and no-one really has any idea how long this will last and whether this will lead to longer-term change. 

We are going to be in some uncertain times, but with the increase of remote working and a collaborative approach, companies are going to turn to digital channels and embrace the transformation. There has already been a real spike in the last few weeks from companies wishing to create or update their websites, launch new social media channels and campaigns focused on home-workers and a real focus on using influencers and SEO to reach new audiences. 

Being confined to the office — or even the home — rather than on the road on sales visits or at events, means marketers are going to have more time to develop digital marketing strategies. This means researching where your customers can be found online, and how different approaches and tactics might impact your success. If your organization previously put minimal efforts into digital channels, now is going to be a prime time to revisit them. That could be as simple as giving your website or social media pages a refresh, or a more innovative approach. 

A key point to note is that a lot of corporate entities use up about 50-60% of their marketing budgets on events. When things go back to normal, budgets will most likely be going back to those live face-to-face events, but if organizations can see the benefits and opportunities that digital marketing can offer, they might understand the benefit of adding it to their long-term marketing strategy. 

Channels such as Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn Live are going to be crucial moving forward as the ability to connect with a targeted audience real-time is very beneficial, if not essential. 

It’s certainly true that the coming weeks, or months – or however long this situation lasts – will be a challenging time for any company that isn’t ready to think about how they will replace the opportunities that have been lost. 

As long as businesses can approach the shift to digital marketing strategically, there’s no reason why it should just serve as an emergency fill-in but could carry on providing long-term value when the world eventually gets back to normal. And of course, this would make companies more resilient to deal with any future pandemics. Do you need help with your Digital Marketing Strategy? Looking to take your social media or SEO to the next step? Contact the team at The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm and learn how you can grow with us today and weather the storm that is COVID-19!

How Has Social Media Impacted The Corona Virus?

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Social Media

Going from an Epidemic to a Pandemic, the Coronavirus is sweeping news headlines and social media across the world. What started as an unknown illness at the beginning of 2020 has turned into a global pandemic with many companies, schools, and organizations taking action to prevent the spread of the disease. While there have been disease outbreaks such as the Avian flu, Swine flu, and others, no disease has been quite like the coronavirus. If you’ve been on social media within the last month you have most likely seen news updates, company updates, and memes all revolving around the virus. It is clear that social media has played a key role in the panic and news updates involving the virus.

How have companies addressed it?

Many companies have used social media as their biggest communication platform to address the virus. Companies such as Planet Fitness, Comfort Inn, and multiple restaurant chains are using social media to address the extra safety measures they are taking in order to prevent the spread of the virus and keep everything sanitary. Many companies have taken extra safety measures with their employees by having them work remotely from home, with some businesses even closing temporarily to prevent the spread of the virus. Companies now have to make the tough choice of losing profit and business by taking costly safety measures to stay safe or risk losing the trust of the public and employees by not taking proper safety measures. This can be clearly seen on social media as companies who are posting in regards to the virus are getting mixed reactions from those who believe the virus is being blown out of proportion, to those who don’t think some companies are taking safety seriously enough. It seems that there will be backlash regardless of which stance the company takes regarding the virus. Now, Public Relations workers are being challenged with the tough tasks of deciding how their company will handle the coronavirus.

How have people addressed it?

Social media has also been the biggest communication platform for personal reactions and opinions regarding the coronavirus. While many have used it to share news articles and updates regarding the virus, some have shared and created fake news which has helped play into the panic involving the virus, and exaggerates its symptoms. This has resulted in many people taking unnecessary actions such as stockpiling toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and other cleaning supplies creating a shortage across the country. Some people have also reacted very poorly to the virus regarding school and business closing announcements on social media with some students going as far as rioting. According to the New York Post on March 11th after classes were suspended at the University of Dayton in Ohio due to the coronavirus, many students began rioting at the campus with over “1,000 students gathered on Lowes Street starting around 11 p.m., throwing objects and bottles in the street and at police, and jumping on cars,” the school said in a statement. Other events such as concerts, music festivals and sports events have also been canceled with many fans angrily reacting on social media. On the bright side, not all social media involving the coronavirus has been negative. Some users have taken to social media in a more humorous approach regarding the virus posting funny memes as well as many celebrating the discounted prices of cruise lines and flights. Some users have also offered to help anyone with coronavirus and shared ways on how to prevent the coronavirus such as proper handwashing techniques, and ways to stay safe.

Misinformation and false posts

While social media can be a great source of information and news regarding the coronavirus, it can also be misinformative, overexaggerated or completely false. When reading articles make sure that it is accurate by using fact-checkers and your own judgment. A great free fact-checker that you can use is factcheck.org. This fact-checker can help you find false or partially false information to help you find reputable sources as well as avoid using inaccurate information and articles. Another important thing is to make sure of is that the article or news is from a trusted and credible news source before you share it yourself. A helpful tip is to look for news articles that come from sites that end in .edu or .gov as they are always credible sources from the government or universities. Facebook has also been tightening its grip on false news and information articles to stop the spread of panic and misinformation. Facebook now flags false articles and posts with their own fact-checkers but that doesn’t mean that it is able to detect all misinformation and fake news. Keep this in mind as you scroll through your newsfeed what measures businesses are taking to keep everyone safe and also be aware of the information that everyone else is posting in social media so you can make the best judgment calls regarding the virus. 

SEO Company in Melbourne FL

Why Choose An SEO Company For Your Business

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Search Engine Optimization

Have you ever tried using online strategies such as search engine optimization to market your business? If you have, you’ll know how labor-intensive search engine optimization (better known as simply “SEO”)  can be to optimize and improve your business’s online presence. Making sure that the proper tools are set up correctly and improving your website’s online presence by optimizing how it is viewed in the search engines on the internet can be a huge time suck that takes away from what you, as a business, should simply be doing – making sales and expanding your brand. So what do you do? Digital Marketing/SEO companies are responsible for improving your website’s ranking through search engines and increasing online traffic which, in the end, should lead to increasing your revenue. So why should you choose to hire an SEO company to handle your marketing?

An SEO company is up to date with the latest Google algorithm changes

As Google and other search engines have evolved, they have developed tools and tactics to reward businesses that optimize their website through Google’s standards as well as providing an excellent UX experience for users. However, it takes a huge amount to time to keep up on the latest Google algorithm changes and you need the time to learn in-depth about SEO and to actually implement all of the strategies. All the time that a person might spend on doing SEO is better spent actually working on products and running operations smoothly. If you’re a business that’s doing your very best in generating sales, we don’t think you should learn how to do search engine optimization. We believe hiring an SEO company is always a more viable option. You can try doing all common SEO tactics, but you will not be able to get the quick results that only a professional SEO company can offer.

SEO has become much more complex and more difficult to master with growing competition and marketing trends that are constantly changing to increase the difficulty of becoming a top-ranked website. SEO companies are constantly figuring out ways to stay ahead of the curve. SEO companies can easily measure changes in the way that online searching is done using analytic and webmaster tools to compensate by optimizing websites to keep pace with the ever-changing online world. Something that may have worked just days ago, may not necessarily work today, which is an additional reason why you as a business owner, only having a limited time to create content and learn software and webmaster tools often fall behind the trends rather quickly.

At the end of the day, Google has remained the most prominent search engine in providing the vast majority of traffic to all Internet sites. Google updates are always changing and an SEO company that keeps up with most emerging trends is always able to provide quality services to local and regional businesses.  An experienced SEO company is quite capable of launching a website, be it theirs or clients, and have it create the impact that is ultimately needed to further push a business to its fullest potential.

Now that you understand the importance of choosing the services of a professional SEO Company is clear to you, it is time to choose a high-class SEO service to optimize and improve your website’s ranking. If you are looking for a reputable SEO Company in Melbourne FL to improve your website’s ranking, please don’t hesitate to contact The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm at 321-255-0900. We’d love to help you.

 

Is Facebook Trying to Take Over Pinterest?

Posted on | by TAL Admin
Marketing, Social Media

In a world where it feels like everyone is “taking a break from social media” or doing a “social media detox” (Cough, cough, we’re looking at you Ariana Grande…) Pinterest seems to be the one that is never in the spotlight. In the midst of all the drama, you don’t see Pinterest having any scandals or having to partake in congressional hearings. It prides itself on being a platform where users can connect with themselves versus connecting with others. It gives you free rein to create your ideal vision of your true future self. There are many users who utilize Pinterest as a search engine to plan a party, build a shopping list, or revamp their wardrobe. In the eyes of a marketer, this means that the typical user who is navigating Pinterest is in “discovery mode”. They are looking for content to consume and are susceptible to suggestions as well as well-placed ads. 

While Pinterest is often viewed as the “little sister” of social media, it’s actually the fourth most popular social media platform in America. Right now, it outranks Snapchat, LinkedIn, Twitter, and WhatsApp. As of September 2018, 250 million people use Pinterest every month and that included 77.4 million people in America alone. Last year, Pinterest added more American users than Facebook and Twitter combined! 

Let’s break down the user demographic a bit more for you: 

  • Pinterest reaches 83% of American women ages 25-54
  • 50% of the new sign-ups last year were men
  • 80% of new sign-ups are from outside the U.S.
  • 80% of Pinterest users are on mobile devices
  • 98% of users go out and try the ideas they find on Pinterest
  • 59% of Millennials have discovered products on Pinterest (which puts them ahead of Instagram in terms of product discovery. Impressive considered Instagram has 4 times as many users)

This spike in users has caught Facebook’s attention. So much so that Facebook decided to launch its own version of Pinterest to try and compete with the competition. The day before Valentine’s Day, Facebook announced the release of Hobbi in select countries including Colombia, Belgium, Spain, and Ukraine. Hobbi’s describes itself as an application that allows you to “organize your photos into visual collections and see the progress you’re making over time”. Facebook is holding their cards close to their chest but we’ve already seen this limited release affect Pinterest. The day Facebook announced the limited release of Hobbi, Pinterest’s shares fell 3% while Facebook’s shares rose 4%. 

We’re excited to see how this newly developed social media networking site evolves over the next few months. We know we’ll be following this closely and quickly developing a strategy to help you utilize it to grow your business and generate leads. We know that you’ve got bigger things to worry about than to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in social media. That’s why you have us. To get started with our cutting-edge social media program, give us a call at 321-255-0900.