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The end of Tik Tok, ( in the US ).

In Digital marketing, Inbound Content Marketing, Social Media, Video by Julio Ahumada

At the beginning of the year I wrote a story about Tik Tok’s moment, reports from the battle front in Ukraine. How it had just broken out here in the United States and the rest of the world. Tik Tok is this endless stream of video shorts that is very addicting. A window into the lives of so many people, many teaching, pontificating or just doing silly human tricks. For a platform that started with lip synchers and young kids doing dance moves, it has morphed into every niche imaginable. I love it. I put in a patio this summer ( myself ) because I saw someone on Tik Tok do it.

TikTok is available in over 150 countries, has over 1 billion users, & has been downloaded over 210 million times in the United States alone.

Of course it took them much less time to finish.  Even my cooking has improved with watching the many domestic hacks that are everywhere. Laugh, cry, get angry or learn, Tik Tok has got you. It seems that is more a valid statement than I had realized.

Popularity

To truly get a grasp of the viral nature of Tik Tok globally take a look at the numbers. Tik Tok is now available in more than 150 countries and has more than 1 billion users. In the US alone it has been downloaded over 210 million times. It was my full fledged belief that if your needed to market to anyone ages 13 to 60 you had to be on Tik Tok. However, to all this sizzle the lurks something ominous and potentially dangerous.

The Concern

It seems that ByteDance the parent company of Tik Tok has been keeping tabs on all of us using the platform. The immense data streams from each mobile unit that has the app, is fed into ByteDance’s headquarters. Combine what the CCP ( Chinese Communist Party ) has been focused on in regards to AI, and it gets a little scary. The CCP has been allocating enormous resources to become the predominant AI power in the world. AI is what you would use to make sense of large buckets of data in the form of machine learning. What do you think they want to do with the analysis of that data? In July of 2022 scientists in China developed an AI platform that could measure people’s loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. All based on a user’s behavior online. 

Monthly Active Users in the United States – TikTok now has over 138 million active users in the U.S.

The Danger

Why do I bring this up now? Local governments around the USA have started banning the use of Tik Tok on government issued phones. The Federal government is likely to follow suit. Furthermore, Congress may move for an outright ban on the application itself. Even as the parent company ByteDance responded to privacy concerns, and tried to calm fears about American data being funneled back to China for some nefarious use, they were found to be not truthful. 

2/3rds of Americans under the age of 30 are on Tik Tok

Where does this leave marketers and those of us who have started experimenting with running ads for our clients on the platform? Limbo. Sorry to say, DNA Digital Marketing will no longer be actively working on Tik Tok for the foreseeable future. We will be monitoring the Tik Tok question, perhaps it will bring stronger and much needed privacy legislation to the forefront. Regardless, Tik Tok will still be around, it just might not be here.

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What Are the Benefits of Digital Marketing?

In Digital marketing, Inbound Content Marketing, Local SEO, Marketing Automation, Search Engine Optimization, SEO Search Engine Optimization, Social Media by Julio Ahumada

Asking yourself why is it important and what are the benefits of digital marketing? Let’s take a peek at some of the benefits for small business owners:

  • Cost Effective — Digital marketing is actually less expensive than traditional marketing. If done right, the return on investment or ROI on your digital marketing budget can be huge. One reason for this is focusing marketing efforts in areas where people already spend their time online results in higher-quality leads.
  • Smart Reach — Operating a business online costs less and expands your reach to even more audiences across the world or just in your little corner.
  • Potential for viral content — Distributing content online comes with the possibility of viral sharing via social networking, bringing in more business to you for generally no added cost.
  • Analytics — Your efforts are much more trackable than traditional marketing, due mostly to the fact that many analytics tools now exist. These tools can help you with specifics like form analytics or Google analytics.
  • Keep up with competition — It’s becoming more and more common for customers to expect all brands, products, services, and small businesses to have an online presence. It isn’t a question of if you should be – it’s a must.
  • Personalization — One of the reasons digital marketing does so well for small businesses is the fact that you can use personalization to automatically alter the user’s experience based on their interests. This way, you can present them with page-level targeted offers for specific customer profiles based on behavior.

Obviously, digital marketing is a fantastic way to grow your business online, but what if you’re not sure where to start? Contact DNA Digital Marketing and schedule your free consultation and learn how DNA Digital Marketing can help grow your business.

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TikTok’s Moment Part 2 the Ukrainian Offensive.

In Digital marketing by Julio Ahumada

Back in February of this year I reported on how TikTok was fast becoming more than just a fun app, but one where news and propaganda can be almost instantaneously fed into our social media streams. Now with the Ukrainians in their masterful offensive in the east, TikTok is really the only place to view first hand what the Ukrainian troops are doing. You see scene after scene of liberated Ukrainians dancing in the streets, hugging Ukrainian soldiers as they march past destroyed Russian military equipment. Reminds me of the newsreel footage of American troops liberating France in WWII. It is emotional to see. The Ukrainian troops are heroic, stoic and full of dark humor. Just the way we Americans like it. Their rapid advance in recapturing the Donbas region is extraordinary. With every new TikTok post there is a deeper human connection with the Ukrainians. From the rough cut from the soldiers themselves or the more polished very propaganda minded pieces that make you want to learn Ukrainian. This is TikTok’s moment and lucky for the west, their moment is on full display.

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Branding a Small Business, and Owners guide.

In Digital marketing, SEO Search Engine Optimization, Social Media by Dean Burgess

Building a Brand

As a small business owner, you are tasked with creating a brand that makes a lasting, positive impression on customers. It's the best way to build customer loyalty and make a name for yourself in your industry. If you're not sure where to start, this brief guide can help you build your brand from the ground up.

What is Branding? 

A brand is the total of all the concepts, products, and impressions that define your company and you, the owner. Research shows that if you intend to be the face of your company, you need a personal brand to define your intentions as a business owner. Some basic concepts of a personal and company brand include your values, tone, promise, mission, and identity. Additionally, you need a visual brand. For example, your logo, including font and imagery, becomes a visual identifier for customers. 

What Does Branding Do for the Customer Experience?

The product or service you provide should match the experience your customers have when working with your company. For example, if you sell personalized art, does your website appear creative? Do you speak directly to each customer to get a better understanding of what they want from the piece they order? Do you offer something special, such as a unique type of material, that makes you stand out in your industry? Your goal is to create an experience that makes customers think of you anytime they need the product or service that you offer. 

How Do You Reach Your Target Demographic?

Finding your target audience and market is a vital step in branding and building a business. It starts with research. First, are you looking for groups with a particular interest or intention? Use Google Analytics to help you collect data, such as the content your audience reacts to online. Once you know your audience, you can target them in a marketing campaign. Work with digital marketing professionals if the process is too complex. 

What Can You Do Yourself?

There are parts of the visual brand you can create for yourself. For example, you can DIY a logo or banner for your website and social media pages that make your brand stand out so that customers remember you. Use an online banner creator and include the text, font, colors, and images that you consistently use across all your visual branding efforts. You can even include a video or some type of animation in the banner to make it stand out online. 

When Do You Need a Professional Marketing Team?

Unless you are a marketing professional, you will struggle with the nuances of concepts such as inbound content marketing, search engine optimization, lead generation, website development and design, and social media management. You can certainly manage your own social media page, but do you know how to engage with people online in a meaningful way? Can you create strong ads and direct them to your target audience? 

Your website is also extremely important. It is your first chance to make a lasting impression. Talk to DNA Digital Marketing about what you want from your webpage. 

Now you have an idea of what you need to create your brand. Take this information and tweak it to fit your company and the experience you want for your customers. As long as you always prioritize the customer experience, you'll find success.

Need help implementing what you just learned, we are here for you. Just set up a Free appointment with us to discuss your challenge  julio@dnadigitalmarketing.com.

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5 SEO Trends of 2022

In Inbound Content Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, SEO Search Engine Optimization, Voice Search by Julio Ahumada

What to expect 2022 

If there’s one thing constant about SEO, it’s that SEO is always changing. In order to maintain your digital market share, you need to monitor and adjust your SEO to keep current with digital “best practices.” In 2021, there are had been five trends we have been watching unfold with great interest and we feel they will dominate 2022.
To keep your SRP (search results page) ranking from slipping or to leap ahead of your competitors, you’ll want to take advantage of these trends. Semantic, Voice, Brand, Mobile, and Speed.

1.    Determine what your customer wants when they type a keyword:

Knowing who your customer is and why they would want to buy from you is a critical part of any keyword strategy. By understanding what your prospect or customer wants when they type in their query, you can begin to predict the contextual nature of their search. By knowing the keywords they use, you can be one step ahead of them, strategically inserting your company at every step in the buying process. This persistent presence will keep you in the mind of a potential customer.

2.   Optimize for Voice Search:

Voice is one of the SEO trends that need to be addressed by your marketing team. With the introduction of Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, voice searches are becoming more and more popular. Your business needs to become familiar and relate easily with the more conversational tone of questions that would be asked of these devices. This includes “Hey, Alexa, where is a ___ near me?” Or “Hey, Google, find a ____ in [city name]”. By optimizing your website to voice searches, you can tap into the new market of people “searching” via these voice-controlled devices.

3.   Your Brand Matters:

Your brand’s reputation matters more now than ever. People are looking to see how a company “behaves.” It is necessary to create and maintain a good reputation for your brand in order to be selected ahead of your competition. Bolster your standing by encouraging reviews. Ask your customer to write a review in person after purchase. Then, follow up their purchase with an email – first asking if all went well with their purchase, and, if so, request a review. (If things didn’t go well, find out why and FIX IT!) These reviews can be seen by other potential customers and good reviews will help your brand’s stature. Also, responding to these reviews will show that you care. Not only do reviews boost your reputation but they also increase traffic. Customers see the reviews and trust your business enough to consider it further.

4.   Higher Rankings on Mobile Indexes are More Desirable:

87% of smartphone users use as a search engine at least once a day,  Take a look at these statistics: 18% of local mobile searches lead to a sale within one day, and 78% of local-based searches from a mobile devices end in a purchase being made offline. This shows how vital mobile optimization is in the world today. But to take advantage of these stats, your business must rank high in the mobile search engine results. Mobile users are not going to scroll through numerous results looking for you. They choose from the top few results.  Make the font easy to read on a mobile device. Make sure your website loads quickly. And don’t add filler content that crowds the page. Absolutely, optimize your site for mobile devices. Increasing your mobile traffic will help you to increase conversions.

5.   Page Speed Matters: 
The technicalities of your website are important - a fast load speed, solid SEO, and clean design all contribute to your page’s ranking. Search engines crawl around the internet collecting information about all the websites. So, while speed is important for ranking, it is also important because how quickly your site appears can give your customers either a bad or good first impression of your business. When your pages load faster, customers will stay longer on your website and be able to find more information faster. A good first impression can go a long way for a customer. Fast page speed is a necessity to SEO in 2022.
Technology is ever changing. We are only becoming more and more dependent on it and its ability to connect dreams with reality. You can’t afford to neglect your digital presence, so keep up with the trends. If you can’t keep up, get help from an agency or professional who can. Learn more from one of our SEO experts at DNA Digital Marketing
For more on SEO trends we offer further reading at DesignRush a trusted source, https://www.designrush.com/agency/search-engine-optimization/trends/seo-automation.

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The Process of Building a New Website:
What to Expect

In Digital marketing, Inbound Content Marketing by Julio Ahumada

To build a strong business, you first need a compelling website. Designing a successful business website is one of the most effective ways to capture and maintain your audience’s interest. Not only does a new website showcase all of your company’s most important features, but it also gives your viewers the chance to form a meaningful connection with your business. However, building a website on your own can be a daunting task. That’s why hiring a web developer is the best way to bring your vision to life without any of the hassle. A professional  in website design in Rochester, NY has the skill and expertise needed to build the perfect site for your company. Here are some important things to consider before you hire one of our developers to create your business website.

Form a Plan

The best way to get the results you want from a web developer is to have a clear plan in mind. Once you know what you want to get out of the process, you’ll be more equipped to achieve your goals. For example, what do you want the general layout of your website to look like? What types of images do you want to feature on your homepage? How do you want to incorporate search engine optimization (SEO)? No matter what you have in mind, it’s helpful to have an idea of the type of site you want to create. This will make it easier for our experts to work closely with you to bring it to life.

Identify the Theme

Before you build a new website, it’s crucial to know what type of theme your website developer is offering. Some developers, especially beginners, rely on templates to create your entire website. Meanwhile, others have the tendency to charge more money for a website design that’s more complicated than it needs to be. It’s important to find a middle ground by identifying the theme that’s best for your needs. Whether you want a completely custom theme or prefer more input from the developer, communicate your preferences with us right from the start.

Optimize for Mobile Devices

In a world where everyone is constantly connected, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile devices. Your customers should be able to view your entire site on a smartphone, tablet or other device without any difficulty. Be sure to confirm ahead of time that the web developer you choose can make your website easily accessible for mobile devices. This will help you reach a wider audience in the long run.

Build a New Website the Right Way

If you’re ready to start attracting clients to your business, it’s time to find an expert in website design in Rochester, NY to create your ideal business website. By utilizing SEO tactics and employing lead generation strategies, our experienced digital marketing professionals can ensure that your customers stay interested in everything your company has to offer.

For more on Web Designing trends we offer further reading at DesignRush a trusted source, https://www.designrush.com/agency/website-design-development/trends/b2b-website-design.

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Even if it is just you: You can still market your business effectively.

In Digital marketing by Dean Burgess

Marketing you can do for your business.

Though it looks very different than it did decades ago, marketing is just as critical for businesses as it has ever been. Without people knowing about your product or service, your growth and long-term success will have limits.

To maximize your potential, you need to build your online and local presence. People need to recognize your brand when they see it, and they need to connect with your offering. DNA Digital Marketing has listed some fundamental marketing tips to help you get started!

Understand the Various Marketing Avenues     

First, it can help to grasp the many different marketing avenues or “channels” available for promoting your business. Essentially, there are digital and traditional channels worth considering. The specific avenues you choose should depend on the type of company you run and your specific marketing goals.

For example, most businesses can benefit from focusing on digital marketing because more and more consumers are using the web to find businesses and purchase products and services. Here are a few of the most common online marketing mediums to look into:

  • Social media
  • Blogging
  • Email
  • Paid ads
  • Video

To get the most from your digital marketing efforts, you will need a top-notch business website to which all of your promotions will lead. If you have minimal experience, you can save time (and, ultimately, money) by hiring a professional web designer and developer.

Then, there is traditional marketing, which is still valuable to businesses today. This includes channels like brochures, flyers, billboard ads, cold calling, letter drops, and word-of-mouth advertising.

One of the most practical ways to promote your company is to create a memorable business card that accurately reflects your company. Not only is a business card more visible than email, but it provides consumers with something they can hold in their hands, and it can keep your business at the forefront of their minds. Try using an online business card design tool that comes with a variety of templates to choose from so you can customize your card to your needs.

Conduct Market Research

Before getting too deep into building your marketing strategy, conduct thorough market research. This means collecting valuable data for insight into potential customers’ thinking, behavior, and location. Researching the market can also help you create financial projections and notify you of important market trends and competitor behaviors.

Find Your USP

Every company needs a unique selling proposition (USP). This is what your company offers that others do not. Try to define what you do differently and figure out a way to convince potential customers why they should choose your business.

Profile Your Target Customers       

If you try to pull an Amazon and market your products and services to everyone in the world, chances are it will prove costly and ineffective. The best approach is to group or segment your potential buyers by specific characteristics.

That way, you can focus your marketing efforts in the right places. Generally speaking, it’s good to start by segmenting your target customers by geography, demographics, behaviors, and lifestyle.

Create Your Brand

Early in your marketing strategy development, try to build the brand you will promote to your target audience. This includes your visual identity, such as your logo, color scheme, typography, and other elements. It also consists of the voice you will use to convey your message.

All of your promotional materials will include messaging, whether or not they involve words. Your messaging refers to the primary directive you wish to convey to your audience. If you use words, be sure to use consistent language across all your marketing channels.

Establish Goals

Finally, you don’t want to strategize your marketing efforts without setting goals. Establish realistic goals that you can measure to keep track of which marketing tactics are yielding the best outcomes. As you establish your goals, research the various costs involved to create a marketing budget that helps you succeed.

You will be hard-pressed to sustain growth and achieve long-term success without an effective marketing strategy. Consider the tips above as you develop a plan for promoting your brand, and keep looking for other ways to position your company to reach more of your target customers. And don’t hesitate to connect with professionals like DNA Digital Marketing for any tasks and projects you need help with! Schedule a free consultation.

For more marketing resources check out this link https://www.internetadvisor.com/important-internet-statistics-every-marketer-should-know-in-2022

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TikTok’s Moment

In Digital marketing, Social Media by Julio Ahumada

The explosion of TikTok

Sometimes it takes surprise events to move the needle on a particular something. In this case I want to talk about a social media app that pretty much started out as a place for people to lipsync to their favorite trending songs. Sure it blossomed into more than that. Short bites of DYI, dancing boobs, comedy skits, historic educational material, but the recent events have shown its real value. TikTok has become a place to get near real time updates from the Ukraine. News straight to the viewer. We have witnesses with game day fascination how a grandmother would stand up to a Russian soldier and gift him sunflower seeds. “Put these in your pocket, so you will have flowers when you die” is heroic badassery of monumental proportions. We have seen how brave soldiers of Ukraine when told to surrender answered back with a “F*@K you before being killed. We have admired and not so secretly envied having a leader who when offered a way out by the US, responded with “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition”. This Chinese owned platform has become this amazing window in the lives of regular Ukrainians as they struggle to survive an invasion from a bully neighbor. Brothers who are both world champion boxers refused to leave but reported for duty. Grandmothers & grandfathers showing up to volunteer, learning to make molotov cocktails and fire an AK. A farmer who towed away an unattended APC which ran out of petrol. Soldiers having a bar-b-q while Russian jets flying over head. The now famous Ghost of Kyiv, the first European fighter Ace since World War II with 6 kills.  We are witnessing something amazing and TikTok has helped us in our comfortable chairs and warm homes to see what we have been longing for. Heroes, real heroes. 

Even in Russia, heroes can be found on TikTok. Decreeing the invasion while ignoring the risk that comes with speaking against the Putin regime. Images of people in cities all over Europe and the US, gathering in support of the Ukrainian people’s right to be free. Stories come quickly to the TikTok biosphere. Elon Musk may have tweeted his support by directing his company Starlink’s rapid deployment of internet satellite service over the Ukraine, but it was all over TikTok. As of 2.25.22 #russianinvasion had received 32 million views, while #russiaukraine have racked up more than 132 million views. The volume has been so huge that it has also attracted disinformation and misinformation from the usual suspects and those trying to monetize the platform. 

“This is the first time TikTok has really been central in a conflict situation of this scale,” said Sam Gregory, the program director of Witness, a nonprofit focused on the ethical use of video in humanitarian crises. “And the volume of misleading videos does seem new to me. Some people are doing it because they want attention, some people want to monetize it, others are doing it potentially as misinformation and disinformation,” he said.

When this is over and every war does come to an end a few things will have happened: TikTok will have come into its own much like CNN did during Desert Storm. We will look at our leaders in a more comparative light to Volodymyr Zelensky. But I would say we should look at our argumentative, disunified society and compare ourselves to the average Ukrainian. TikTok has turned into this magnificent teacher. I hope we learn. 

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Local SEO is More Important Than Ever If You Are a Small Business

In Digital marketing, Local SEO, Search Engine Optimization, SEO Search Engine Optimization by Julio Ahumada

If you are a small business competing with national brands on a tight budget, local SEO can become your most powerful marketing weapon.

Getting found with local SEO will improve your competitiveness in the battle for business survival among customers in your area. It is also one of the most cost-effective ways of generating new leads. Here are the reasons why you need local SEO in your arsenal.

What Is Local SEO?

Most business owners know how useful general SEO is, but local SEO is crucial right now if you want your small business showing up in Google above your competitors for customers nearby. Local SEO is all about getting found based on a searcher’s current location.

For example, if you have a pizza shop in Boston, one among thousands, you can optimize local SEO to be on the first page when diners type “best pizza near me” on Google if they are nearby. Then your customers' hungry bellies will lead them to your restaurant in no time.  

Why Does Local SEO Help with Getting Found?

As the name suggests, you can target local customers more efficiently with local SEO. It offers a significantly high return on investment by adding authenticity to your business.

When your business shows up in Google Maps or local searches, your customers are more likely to trust your brand. Local SEO is also critical for mobile searches by helping you build local partners and connections.

Google is aggressively indexing to a mobile-first algorithm because most people use their smartphones to look up businesses in their area. Since mobile searches tend to be local, your small business should not miss out on this incredible strategy.

How to Improve Local SEO?

To get listed on Google Maps and Google Search, you need to create a Google My Business listing with the most relevant and updated information. This should include accurate work hours with photos and responses to reviews.

Then you need to embed Google Maps into your website. This will add an interactive map or street view panorama, and you need to ensure that all your pages are optimized for mobile use.

If your small business wants to dominate local search results, you will need to work on your on-page SEO with the relevant title, meta, and header tags. Make sure all your content is clear and accessible on smartphones and tablets with the fastest loading time.

Finally, you need to build local citations to improve your prominence on Google. This will also help spread brand awareness through other sites that people rely on. Build strong backlinks to your site, ask local customers to leave reviews, and convince them to follow your social media pages.

Enhance Your Business Marketing Today!

Local SEO is imperative for a small business, and all your marketing efforts should be targeted towards impressing Google so that you are getting found by clients and customers near you. To be the best local company in your area, contact us today, and we can help your online business stand out from the crowd.

Or just schedule an appointment with me directly - it's free. Just hit that light blue button on the right - "Schedule now" and you are on your way to beating your competition. 

 

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Digital Marketing: What It Is, What It Could Be, and Why It Matters

In Digital marketing by Julio Ahumada

What do you know about digital marketing? Are you fluent in the acronym rich, data analysis world that has replaced traditional advertising? 
If you want to learn what digital marketing is, what it could be for your business, and why it matters, then this article is a must-read! We will give you all the tools you need to decide if digital marketing is the right fit for you and your business!

What is Digital Marketing?

The term digital marketing was first used in 1990 as a way to separate marketing done on the internet from campaigns done through traditional means. Digital marketing covers all advertising done through online channels like social media, mobile apps, email campaigns, search engines, video production services, and more!
As the world wide web continues to expand, online advertisements’ options and opportunities will keep growing to meet new needs. The top categories in digital marketing are:

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
  • SEM (Search Engine Marketing
  • Content Marketing
  • SMM (Social Media Marketing)
  • PPC (Pay Per Click Advertising)
  • Affiliate Marketing 
  • Email Marketing

What are Digital Marketing Services?

Marketing has changed more in the past decade than in the previous century! While companies used to market through television and print ads successfully, it’s all about the internet these days. 

Digital marketing services include a comprehensive look at your web design, provide you with expert SEO services, social media marketing campaigns, and more! Each business has its own target audience, which won’t be available on every platform. 

Still, enlisting the help of digital marketing experts can help you better understand where to reach your customers best and how to market to them effectively!

What can a Digital Marketing Strategy Do for You?

Do you want to grow your business, reach new audiences, and increase revenue? The easiest way to quickly and effectively boost your performance is by creating and implementing a digital marketing strategy with your specific goals in mind!

The top three ways a digital marketing strategy will serve you well are:

  1. Increase website traffic
  2. Boost your brand awareness
  3. Improve revenue streams and conversions

Additionally, a digital marketing strategy can drive brick-and-mortar store traffic, if applicable, which means more business for you both instore and online!

Why Does Digital Marketing Matter?

It’s no longer enough to run unfocused digital ad campaigns or skip digital advertising entirely. The internet is becoming more entwined with everything people do, so it’s critical for your business that you let people know you exist!

So, why is digital marketing important to your business’s success and longevity?

  • Reach people where they spend their time and money
  • Level the playing field for big and small business
  • Target the audiences most likely to do business with you
  • Create targeted, personalized advertisements
  • Collect analytical data and learn about your customers
  • Scale your campaigns as needed and adapt to current events
  • Generate better ROI (return on investment)

Where to Start

Do you currently have a digital marketing strategy in place? If you don’t, consider reaching out to industry experts to understand better what services could serve you best and improve your business!

For more insightful articles about digital marketing and to stay up to date with industry trends, check out our blog! To boost your business and learn more about how digital marketing services can help you, contact us!