SEO Isn’t Just About Quality Content

Posted on April 27, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
Marketing, Search Engine Optimization

Over time, those who are unfamiliar to advanced search engine optimization (SEO) strategies have the perception that the quality of written SEO content is the most important factor to being top ranked on search engines. This perception isn’t entirely incorrect. However, it is misleading and can cause a casual SEO strategist to focus the wrong factors.

When you search a keyword on Google, or another search engine, and click onto a specific result, you’re most likely going to judge the page you land on based on different needs. Does the web page give you the content you were specifically looking for? Is the page easy enough to navigate and view? Does the content actually peak your interest, and does it seem accurate? In terms of quality content, many of these questions are very important to answer. They overall impact the experience of a website’s visitor and how search engines can measure the worth of the page.These elements are important for writing quality, but don’t do much for the actual optimization robots are looking for when indexing websites.

What Is SEO Actually About?

Other than writing quality SEO content, optimization done both on-page and off-page largely factors into what can rank a website greatly on a search engine. Here are the other factors that truly determine SEO success:

Time

SEO is all about time. It is not a process that is completed within a simple couple hours. It can take months, and almost years to gradually build ranking for multiple keywords. It can take a long time to build links externally, that are meant to support your website overall. Gradually and slowly, search engines will discover all connections you are trying to build within your website (from possible internal links), or even links you may have created on other websites that connect back to your site.

Link Building

Search engines could care less about content either being the best or worst if the content itself is not being found through a proper link. If your audience cannot link to it, search engines are very unlikely to even rank it and this will result to no traffic being driven to your website. Think of it this way: The more people can link back to a certain piece of content, the better its chances are of actually ranking for a specific related keyword. Quality links truly do matter, and they can sometimes push a link that has been stuck at position 5 to position 1 on search engines.

HTML Tags

Meta tags, such as title tags, meta descriptions, and keywords, are extremely important. Title tags and meta descriptions are the first impression a possible visitor could have on a specific web page you have ranked. What is displayed in the SERP can make or break whether a person clicks on your website or not.

Source of Content

Link building can play a big factor in giving a website high domain authority. But why is domain authority important? Google will give priority in ranking to those websites that have built such authority and credibility over time. When optimizing a new page, if the website already has high domain authority, they already have a huge head-start in SEO.

Other Factors

Other factors that could affect search engine ranking involve simply having more spend on using better SEO tools, or having a bigger ream of people working on the factors listed above. Another factor is also simple luck. Despite a lack of optimization of SEO strategies, some websites have specific pages ranked up well.

Writing the best SEO content may not be the only way to get your web page top ranked. Overall, SEO is a competition of strategy ‒ strategies that are achieved by multiple levels of optimization. However, perseverance and patience are important and are almost key to such a competition.

Different Kinds Of Content Marketing

Posted on April 24, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
Content Writing, Marketing

Content Marketing is something that at first seems simple. You create content for marketing purposes so obviously it’s something only see in commercials, emails, and in those banners on websites. However, content marketing can exist well beyond those realms. There are multiple areas of content marketing that are going unexplored.

If you look hard you can see content marketing in so many different planes of the current world that it’s honestly staggering. So many ways to sell yourself, your business, and do so in a creative and interesting way. The days of just sticking a billboard on the interstate and hoping someone notices it are gone. This is a virtual age.

In this virtual age there are so many more opportunities for content marketing. Opportunities that not enough businesses are taking advantage of. If you can understand where these business opportunities are and where you can grow then there is no limit to your content marketing potential.

Podcasts

One of the quickest growing platforms, podcasts are becoming more popular every day with millions of listeners opting to listen to them while they exercise, drive, or perform chores over music. These podcasts can range from political, comical, or dive into a whole different realm like sports and video games. Podcasts are an untapped market for content marketing and one that a few smart businesses are beginning to take advantage of.

Content marketing in podcasts can exist in multiple planes. There’s the classic radio style ad that some companies choose to go with and on some podcasts it works. If the listening demographic of that podcast leans on the older side then they’ll be more willing to sit through a traditional radio style advertisement on their podcast than someone younger. A younger person is more likely to seek out the fast forward button.

Which is where a very podcast specific kind of content marketing comes in. Many companies have realized that younger listeners, especially younger ones, don’t want to listen to traditional commercials, but what they will listen to are the podcast hosts sell them a product. This is particularly useful when the podcast itself is very personality driven.

The best content marketing in podcasts usually gives the hosts a general script to follow. They can either read it the entire way through or they can ad-lib sections to help create more interest in their podcasts. These ads usually last 32-38 seconds long. Why the weird number? Because most podcast apps let you skip ahead 15-30 seconds at a time.

Good content marketing sees the untapped potential of podcasts and can create content for them. With over half of the United States listening to at least one podcast in the last year you can bet that they’re here to stay.

Webpages

Who doesn’t take advantage of webpage based content marketing? You would be shocked. Having a well built website with plenty of content on it can change your website from an okay one to a brilliant one in the span of months. Too many places focus on their homepage, and while important, the web pages spread throughout your website can bring it just as much value. They can stand alone and bring in their own individual traffic. These individual numbers can help bring up the rest of the site as a whole. Not to mention good content on one page will help push someone to keep reading on other pages.

Strong webpage content marketing will tell users what they can and can’t get from a service. These webpages are designed to draw the consumer in and keep them there. Once they’re around the webpage then needs to sell them on the service that is being provided. Not enough webpages put value in this and instead opt for quick explanations that, while valuable in their own right, don’t get the job done.

If someone is looking at an individual web page and sees only a paragraph of information there’s a strong chance that paragraph is missing vital info that the user can use. Not to mention it doesn’t do well in the analytics of SEO. Content marketing is about creating great and valuable content while also appeasing to SEO analytics. It can be a tightrope walk, but the best content marketers can do it perfectly.

Social Media

Most businesses have a social media page, but the amount of effort that goes into them is nowhere near enough to meet their competitors. Content marketing in social media is a skill in itself that involves following trends, being smart about those trends, and knowing your audience. Sadly, many companies with a social media presence don’t understand how to do this.

Content marketing in social media is usually a shorter form of writing. If you’re on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram you don’t want to read a post that’s 1000 words, because more often than not you’re on your phone. Even if you aren’t you probably aren’t looking for long form writing on those platforms. That’s why staying short, sweet, and to the point is important in social media content marketing.

Not to mention that content marketing on a social media platform is a dangerous game. Many social media posts want to go viral with funny jokes, memes, or videos, but one misstep and you’re going viral for all the wrong reasons. Posting something cute and adorable is fine, but make sure it always has good taste. Poor taste in a social media is the biggest and most easily avoidable mistake. If you have to think about it then it’s probably not worth doing.

Great content marketers understand all platforms. Even if they’re currently not working in one area they still understand this and do their best for the possibility of one day needing to work in that kind of content marketing field. Content marketing is a constantly changing world and you have to be ready to adapt with what the future holds. One day social media, webpages, and podcasts might be obsolete as something else takes their place. You always need to be ready for change.

At The AD Leaf ® we understand more than anyone how much the landscape of the industry can change. If you want to speak with a team of experts that can help you understand that landscape then why not try contacting us via our phone number, 321.255.0900, or set up a consultation at TheAdLeaf.com, or you can email us to info@theadleaf.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Promoting Positive Customer Reviews on Social Media for Your Businesses

Posted on April 24, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
Marketing, Social Media

Every business owner knows how valuable positive customer reviews are. Customer reviews have become one of the number one ways that drive new customers to businesses. All it takes to find reviews is a quick google search, and a lack of positive reviews can just as easily take potential customers away. But getting past customers to post customer reviews or give positive feedback of any kind often feels like pulling teeth so what can you do to drive your customers to give your business positive feedback. Research has shown that one of the best ways to get positive feedback and reviews for your business is through social media. Here are some ways you can drive your customers to give you good reviews on social media platforms so you can drive new customers right to your business’s door.

Encourage user-generated content

User-generated content on social media means that your customers will be posting their experience at your business on social media. Most people like to put their best foot forward on social media so it is not uncommon for customers to post a positive experience at a business on social media. Encourage your customers to take pictures of your business, of themselves at your business, or of the services your business provides. You can even ask to take the pictures yourself. Customers will usually oblige, and may even ask that you share the photo with them if they are in it. The more content you can get a hold of, the better the chance of them sharing their experience online, and the more content you will have for your own social media posts.

Post Interactive Stories

Stories have become more and more popular in recent years. Almost all popular social media platforms now have the option to add stories, but the best thing about stories for businesses is that they can be easily interactive. Stories have options that allow your customers to directly ask you questions, take polls, rate what they like and what they don’t like, and so on. The possibilities are endless, and it often takes less than a few minutes for a customer to give their feedback. Just like customers prefer speed when coming to your business, they also prefer speed when it comes to giving feedback. Stories are the perfect way to do this, and you can post them whenever and however you want.

Post about your customer reviews and your customers’ experiences

If you see a great review online why would you want to keep that to yourself? Your customers want to be heard, and posting their experience can be a perfect way to make sure that happens. A great way to share your customer reviews is by creating a graphic template where you can easily copy and paste your favorite reviews to be shared on your social media or website. You can also repost photos that your customers took at your business or photos that your customers took of your business’s product or services to show your appreciation. Tagging your customers can show appreciation as well. Social media users often want to gain a larger following and more exposure. By sharing their content, you are showing them that you value their social media posts which can be a great ego boost for many people. Be sure to request permission before posting a photo that isn’t yours and before tagging a profile to make sure the customer is ok with it.

Try to leverage video testimonials

A great and unique way to promote your business while also getting positive reviews is by asking for video testimonials. Video testimonials are when customers make a video letting people know how much they love a business service or product. This is something that you may want to ask a friend who has been a customer in the past to do because it takes a little bit more time, and not everyone enjoys being shared on video on social media. But regular customers who have told you how much they love your business in the past are also an option. Regular customers and friends have probably established a close enough connection with you and your business to where they would feel comfortable doing this. You could even ask to record the video yourself. Make sure you let them know that if they don’t like the video you won’t post it. Videos like this often see a large increase in business and social media engagement.

Create weekly customer features

Weekly customer features can show your brand’s appreciation for your customers and can create more customer engagement. Using customer content, tweeting about customers you appreciate, promoting reviews, and sharing positive customer experiences are all ways you can feature your customers on your social media platforms to promote more customer engagement and feedback. If your customers are expecting their experience to be shared because you share customer experiences on a regular basis, they may be more inclined to share their experience in hopes of getting a shoutout. This will increase your business’s feedback and once you share a customer experience, there is a chance that they will reshare your post because it includes them in it which will increase engagement. The more you reach out to your customers and show your appreciation, the bigger the chance of them showing appreciation back.

Create a rewards program to incentivize reviews

Sometimes simply asking for reviews isn’t enough. Customers often need an incentive to give reviews, and while social media exposure and recognition is enough for some customers, others may not feel the same way. Creating a rewards program to encourage your customers may just be the extra push that your customers need. Offer a complimentary product or service from your business or some other type of reward system that motivates your customers to leave reviews online. The most successful reviews are ones that are authentic and relatable so this is one of the best ways to create growth online and in your business.

At The AD Leaf ® Marketing Firm, we know how difficult it can be to get the engagement you are looking for when it comes to your business, especially online, but that is why we do what we do. We are the experts in our field, and we have the research and knowledge you need to make sure your business continues to progress in an everchanging online world. If you’re running a business, the last thing you want to be worrying about is how many followers you have on social media, but your social media following still plays a huge part in the business world today. Let us help guide you through so you can worry about what’s really important to you. Call us today at (321) 255-0900 for more information or email us at info@theadleaf.com

You Want Me to Design What?

Posted on April 10, 2020 | by Daniel Combs
Graphic Design, Marketing

What separates good graphic design from great graphic design? You will get many different answers to this question, but is there a single definitive response? Yes, there is: Having an eye for what works and what doesn’t. This is what takes graphic design from good to great. It’s looking at a project from many different angles and weighing it against the industry you’re designing for to produce a piece that pulls someone in and causes them to want to take action on it.

Think of it this way, graphic design skills are the tools, but the eye is the “hand” that wields the tools. Below are 8 design principles that make up having a great “eye” and can mean the difference between someone just looking at your design or a great project that draws people into your message and causes them to act on it.

“There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for” – Milton Glaser

Elements of a Great Eye

Alignment

Every element of your project should flow together seamlessly: text, shapes, imagery. Each part should align to each other and not look like it was just “thrown” together. There is a place for everything. Alignment is critical to give the reader/viewer a “path” to follow in the design.

Visual Hierarchy

The primary focal point is the message you’re relaying to the reader/viewer, so you want to make your message stand out. What you want people to see first needs to have the most attention in your design. Big, bold, fonts; colors based on the industry, etc. This will go a long way to getting the reader’s attention.

Contrast

This plays well together with visual hierarchy and can help your message stand out even more. Contrast simply means opposites and doesn’t just apply to colors only, it is the opposing of thick vs thin, modern vs traditional, and many other things. It will assist in navigating the viewer to where you want them to go.

Repetition

Repetition is the overall layout of your design. It helps your project remain organized & consistent. This entails colors, font choices, layout (for certain projects), etc. At most, you should only have:

2 to 3 colors in most instances (use a good color pairing tool).
1 to 2 font styles, or “font family” (one family if the font has many different thicknesses, like Montserrat or Bahnschrift).
Consistent layout design, especially if only a certain part of the design changes like a different image or dates.

You don’t want to have all of your elements competing against each other from project to project (outside of normal planned visual hierarchy & contrast implementations).

Proximity

This is all about organization and placement and goes hand in hand with alignment and repetition. Where does everything go? How does the text go with the images? Where do I need to place the text? Grouping elements together by color, size, shape, etc., will help to keep the overall design clean and uncluttered.

Balance

Keeping your design balanced is vital. When the overall design looks messy and sloppy, it can push readers/viewers away and you’ve lost their interest. A great design is well balanced and not overpowering in visual appeal and impact. Are you portraying a message of action? Do you want people to be informed? How about bringing people joy? Keep people’s attention with a balanced design and they’ll be enticed to want to see and know more about your message.

Color

Ok, we’ve mentioned color a few times so far. There is a lot to color that most people don’t know, yet alone understand. Colorology (yes, that is a term, you can Google it) is a vast area when it comes to great graphic design. Colors can cause people to respond in certain ways. A staggering 85% of buying decisions are made just on color alone. Logos are the “frontline” of marketing. How many times have we stopped at a McDonald’s just seeing the “golden arches”? Was it a planned trip? No, we just saw the bright logo and stopped in and grabbed something to eat. Color goes a long way in portraying your message.

Oh, and by the way, Yellow is optimistic & youthful, it grabs the attention of window shoppers. Think about that the next time you stop and grab a Big Mac or walk into a store because you saw the Yellow ##% off sale sign in the window.

Spacing

Adding space to your design can help drive the focus to the area that contains your message. Most often this is called “negative space”, areas of the design that doesn’t contain any design elements. It can often be a solid color, or even blurred out parts of an image (such as part of the background image). Using this effectively when needed will make your design stand out and allow for a huge impact.

The Final Draft

In great graphic design, some or all of the above elements are used to convey a message to your readers/viewers. The most important first step is to look at graphic design as a consumer and not as a designer. Start with asking questions to yourself. What makes me interact and engage with a graphic? How do I respond to the overall design of a graphic that I’ve seen? What is it that pulls me in and keeps my attention?

Having the skills along with the eyes for graphic design in one package are hard to come by and here at The AD Leaf ®, our designers have both. They are ready & desire to take your projects to great new heights. Give us a call at 321-255-0900 and let us help you make your graphics pop! (Ok, I had to use it at least once, lol)

Social Media in a Time Like This

Posted on April 9, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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

How To Manage PPC Campaigns During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on March 31, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
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!

Why Businesses Need Digital Marketing To Survive COVID-19

Posted on March 24, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
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 March 19, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
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.

Is Facebook Trying to Take Over Pinterest?

Posted on March 5, 2020 | by The AD Leaf Studio West Palm Beach
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.

Category: Marketing