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How To Create Social Media Ads That Actually Convert

How to create social media ads that actually convert

Alright, social media mavens and digital dynamos, buckle up! We’re about to embark on a whirlwind tour of creating social media ads that don’t just look pretty but convert. You know, like turning those likes and shares into cold, hard cash. Or warm, soft cash. Whatever floats your monetary boat.

First, let me tell you a little story. Picture this: It’s 2015, and I’m working with a client who sells… wait for it… artisanal, small-batch, organic cat food. (Yes, that’s a thing. No, I don’t know why.) We crafted what we thought was the perfect Facebook ad – beautiful images of sleek, healthy cats, witty copy about nine lives and gourmet tastes. We were so proud. We hit publish and waited for the orders to roll in.

Crickets. Tumbleweeds. The sound of one hand clapping.

Turns out, we’d created an ad that was great at getting likes and comments (mostly people tagging their cat-loving friends), but terrible at actually selling cat food. It was like throwing a party where everyone shows up, has a great time, and then leaves without buying anything from your totally not-suspicious garage sale.

So, how do you create social media ads that don’t just get attention, but actually convert? Well, grab your favorite caffeinated beverage (or a glass of wine, I don’t judge), and let’s dive in!

1. Know Your Audience (No, Really Know Them)

First things first, you need to know your audience better than they know themselves. It’s like being a mind reader, but instead of guessing card numbers, you’re figuring out what makes people click “Buy Now.”

Start by creating detailed buyer personas. These are like imaginary friends, but instead of helping you blame mysterious messes on them, they help you understand your target audience.

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Why Your Business Could Benefit From Fire Sprinklers

When you start thinking of ways to protect your business, your first thought might be business insurance. While it’s essential to have business insurance, it’s worth considering whether fire services equipment like fire sprinklers could also be a valuable measure for your establishment.

Fire sprinklers are a cost-effective and highly efficient way to manage fires and reduce the risk of loss of life. If you haven’t yet considered fire sprinklers as a valid addition to your business, the following information from Integral Fire Protection may just change your mind.

Reduce the Risk of Lost Lives

Statistics provided by the US Fire Administration are very telling about the ability of fire sprinklers to reduce the risk of people dying in fires.

Their National Fire Incident Reporting System showed that the death rate out of 1,000 reported fires in the US was 87 percent lower in properties with sprinklers than in those without any form of automatic extinguishing system.

According to the same statistics, the civilian injury rate was also 27 percent lower, with the firefighter injury rate per 1,000 fires lower by 67 percent.

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Workforce Trends in Australian Mining: Skills for the Future

Workforce Trends in Australian Mining: Skills for the Future"

G’day, career seekers and mining enthusiasts! Grab your hard hats and polish up your resumes, because we’re about to dive into the rapidly evolving world of mining jobs in Australia. It’s 2024, and the skills needed to succeed in the resources sector are changing faster than a kangaroo on a hot tin roof.

From the dusty pits of the Pilbara to the high-tech control rooms in Perth, the face of mining is transforming, and with it, the skills that are in hot demand. So, let’s strap on our steel-caps and explore the workforce trends that are shaping the future of Australian mining.

  1. The Rise of the Tech-Savvy Miner

Let’s kick things off with a trend that’s turning traditional mining roles on their head – the increasing demand for tech skills across all levels of the industry. These days, you’re more likely to see miners tapping on tablets than swinging pickaxes.

I visited an underground gold mine in Kalgoorlie where even the most grizzled old-timers were getting to grips with technology that would make a Silicon Valley start-up jealous. The site manager, Bluey, was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he showed me around.

“See that fella over there?” he said, pointing to a young bloke who looked more like a computer geek than a miner. “He used to be a coder in Melbourne. Now he’s programming our autonomous drilling systems. It’s like we’re mining data as much as we’re mining gold!”

But it’s not just about bringing in tech experts. Mining companies are upskilling their existing workforce to handle new technologies. I had a yarn with Emma, a former haul truck driver who’s now operating a fleet of autonomous vehicles from a control room.

“It was a bit daunting at first,” she admitted, chuckling. “I went from driving one truck to managing a whole fleet of robots. But you know what? It’s a lot easier on the back, and I reckon I’m using my brain more than ever. It’s like I’ve gone from being a truckie to an air traffic controller!”

The trend towards tech skills isn’t just changing individual roles – it’s reshaping entire career paths in the industry. I spoke with Tom, the HR manager at a major mining company, who explained their new approach to recruitment.

“We’re not just looking for mining engineers anymore,” he said. “We need data scientists, AI specialists, robotics experts. Heck, we even hired a team of gamers to help design our new virtual reality training programs. It’s like we’re building a team for a sci-fi movie, except the movie is real life!”

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Content Marketing 101: Crafting Valuable Content That Converts

Content Marketing 101: Crafting Valuable Content That Converts

Hey there, content enthusiasts and marketing mavens! Ready to dive into the world of content marketing? Grab your favorite note-taking tool, because we’re about to embark on a journey that’ll transform your marketing game.

Before we jump in, let me share a quick story from digital agency SLINKY. A couple of years ago, they were working with a small tech startup. The founder, let’s call him Alex, was brilliant at coding but struggled with marketing. “I’m not a writer,” he’d say, looking at us like we’d suggested he juggle flaming torches. Fast forward a year, and his blog was driving 60% of the company’s leads. How’d we do it? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to explore today.

  1. What is Content Marketing, Anyway?

First things first, let’s break down what content marketing actually is. In simple terms, it’s the art of creating and sharing valuable, relevant content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience – and ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not about constantly pitching your products or services. It’s about providing genuinely helpful information to your audience. It’s like being the go-to friend who always has the best advice, instead of the pushy salesperson everyone avoids at parties.

According to the Content Marketing Institute, 91% of B2B marketers use content marketing to reach customers. Why? Because it works. It costs 62% less than traditional marketing and generates about 3 times as many leads. Not too shabby, right?

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Effective Marketing Strategies for Funeral Homes

Effective Marketing Strategies for Funeral Homes

Navigating the unique challenges and strategies in marketing funeral services, including digital versus traditional methods.

Marketing funeral services requires a delicate balance between sensitivity and strategic outreach. Unlike most businesses, funeral homes face the unique challenge of addressing a service that people naturally prefer not to think about until necessary.

However, funeral homes can reach families effectively and compassionately with thoughtful marketing strategies that respect the emotional nature of the business while leveraging both digital and traditional media.

Understanding the Market Dynamics

The Target Audience: The first step in any effective marketing strategy is understanding who your audience is. For funeral homes, the target market isn’t just the elderly but also includes middle-aged adults planning for their elderly parents or themselves as part of pre-planning efforts. Understanding this audience’s mindset—who are typically in a state of grief or pre-emptive planning—is crucial.

The Messaging: Your marketing campaigns’ tone and message should be compassionate and respectful. They should create content that provides value, whether it’s educational information about funeral planning or supportive resources that assist in the grieving process.

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How Should a Landscape Designer Market Their Services?

How Should a Landscape Designer Market Their Services?

Look, as a landscape architect, you pour your heart and soul into every project. Transforming blank canvases into living, breathing masterpieces that dazzle the eyes and soothe the soul. It’s what you live for!

But here’s the cold hard truth – unless you get those marketing muscles flexing, no one’s going to see your brilliant work. And in this digital age of short attention spans, you’ve got to get scrappy to stand out from the crowd.

So let me break it down for you with some real-world tips straight from my own landscape marketing trenches.

Optimize for Yo’ Neighborhood

While we’re on the digital grind, let’s talk local SEO. As landscape designers, we’ve got mad advantages working locally. We know every quirky microclimate and Homeowner’s Association rule like the back of our green thumbs.

That’s why it’s critical to optimize your whole online presence for localized keywords and location-specific content. This helps you stake your claim at the top of those coveted “near me” search results.

I can’t stress enough how much of a game-changer this was for my landscape biz. Like that time a couple in my city landed on my Google My Business listing after searching “backyard redesign Sydney”. They booked me right away because my complete profile and stellar reviews put them at ease.

Score one for the home team!

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Preparing for a Stress-Free Office Relocation with your Removalist Team

Moving day looms on the horizon, bringing with it a mix of excitement and anxiety. The prospect of a new office is thrilling, yet packing up your office space and halting business progress can seem daunting. However, with the right preparation and your trusted team of office removalists, this transition can be a smooth process. Read along to uncover how to prepare for a hassle-free move, weaving through real-life examples and expert advice.

Early Preparation

The secret to a seamless move lies in early preparation. As soon as you have your moving date, start organizing. This means decluttering, deciding what to take with you, and beginning the packing process for items you use less frequently.

Choosing the Right Removalist

Selecting the right removalist is like choosing a partner for a dance. They need to understand your rhythm and move in sync with your needs. Look for a team that offers a range of services, from packing to storage solutions, ensuring they can tailor their services to your unique situation. A good removalist will also offer an in-office consultation to assess your needs and provide an accurate quote, setting the stage for a successful move.

Packing Like a Pro: Strategies and Tips

Your removalist team will be equipped with all the tricks of the trade to pack your belongings safely and efficiently. They know that good packing is an art form, requiring the right materials and techniques. You can learn from their expertise by:

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Pros And Cons For Web Designers When Doing Business As A Sole Trader

Pros And Cons For Web Designers When Doing Business As A Sole Trader

When web designers take their knowledge and skills and use them to start a business such as a web design agency, there are numerous legal obligations to be met and decisions to be made. One of the first and most important is what legal business structure their web design agency is to have. There are three main options, which are sole trader, partnership, and company.

Unless they are starting the business with another person, a partnership will not apply, and for many web designers setting up a company is often not necessary at this stage. That leaves us with sole trader, or sole proprietor, as some call it. Being a sole trader is a hugely popular way for web designers to establish a business, but, as with anything business-related, it does have rules, pros, and cons, so let us look at them in some detail.

What Being A Sole Trader Means

First, being a sole trader is a perfectly legitimate way to operate a business, and is the choice of millions of business owners. In effect, it is you, the individual, which takes on the responsibilities and obligations of your business. As the business is yours, you have complete control and are not answerable to directors or shareholders when making decisions concerning the business.

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3 Actions That Will Ensure Your Keyword Selection Process Boosts Your SEO

For as long as Google and the other search engines have existed, the basis for how they produce results for each search is keywords. Whether a single word, two words or a complete phrase, we will refer to them all as ‘keywords”. These keywords are used to marry up the search being made by the person entering it and the website pages throughout the internet that Google deems to be the most relevant for them.

What this has resulted in is a huge effort by website owners, SEO experts and online marketing agencies to ensure that every website page is optimised for specific keywords so that when a search is entered, Google is aware that this page should be considered as relevant.

The process by which this is achieved has many elements to it, and unless each one is followed the chances of Google’s algorithm calculating that a page should be ranked on page 1 is extremely small. So, the question that follows is what can you do to make your keyword selection the best it can be? Well, here are three actions that form the basis for that being achieved.

Research Keywords Effectively

Above any other action, you can take, researching for keywords effectively will produce the best results. The irony of those who fail to do this is that all the information they need is available to them. Apart from Google’s keyword planner tool, numerous other keyword research tools can help you identify which keywords are the ones you should be optimising for.

This research will help you avoid those that will simply be too difficult to compete for or get next to no traffic whilst at the same time identifying keywords that are less competitive, but which attract a reasonable level of search volume and traffic. If you are unsure where to start, you can employ a local SEO agency that will have keyword research as one of its primary services.

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3 Key Questions Start-Up Business Owners Should Ask Their Commercial Lawyer

Starting a new business can be an exciting time. Still, it can also be fraught with doubts, trepidation, and undoubtedly questions concerning the legal implications of starting a business, so anyone considering doing so should approach commercial lawyers for advice.

Even if you are starting small and, to begin with, will be operating on your own, it will do you no harm to speak to a commercial lawyer who will be more than happy to give you sound commercial legal advice, which can mean you get started correctly and with peace of mind.

For those who may be starting in a more significant way, then having a commercial lawyer available to advise you will almost certainly be essential to prevent you from starting your business only to find that you have transgressed one or more commercial laws that can prove to be a considerable setback so early on.

We mentioned above that there will be questions that you might wish to ask a commercial lawyer about starting a business, and like many other new entrepreneurs, you may be unsure what to ask. As such, here are three key questions commonly asked concerning starting a business, along with the answers we hope are helpful. However, before deciding on any of these, please get advice from your commercial lawyers.

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Understanding Career Guidance and Its Role in Your Path to Becoming a Brand Manager

Understanding Career Guidance and Its Role in Your Path to Becoming a Brand Manager

Discover the transformative power of career guidance in your professional journey and discern if it fits you as you aspire to become a brand manager.

Career counselling is a supportive service designed to assist individuals embarking on, shifting, or progressing in their careers. It can encompass personalized consultations between guidance professional and an aspiring careerist and various assessments, tasks, and projects tailored to maximize an individual’s capabilities.

Career guides are akin to career coaches as both professions can aid you in plotting your career journey and defining your career objectives. These terms are often used synonymously, but specialists may distinguish themselves as one or the other and define their services nuancedly.

For instance, you might discover that career guides often possess degrees in psychology, counselling, or human development, while career coaches might have obtained coaching certifications or academic backgrounds in specific industries they are coaching for. Another distinction lies in the support provided, with guides focusing on career exploration and coaches assisting you with specific career-linked steps.

Expectations from Career Guidance

Regardless of whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or in the middle of your professional journey contemplating a career switch, career guidance can assist you in making informed decisions about your career path.

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5 Essential Questions Family Lawyers Must Answer Before Building Their Website

5 Essential Questions Family Lawyers Must Answer Before Building Their Website

We must immediately say to any family lawyers who think that they have to build a website themselves, do not panic. What we mean by the title is that, if you have decided that you want a new website designed and created, then you will play a role in that process, however, the technical aspects of it you will leave to the web design agency you hire to create the website.

What plays an essential role in the building of your website, is setting out what its objectives are, and determining several aspects of how the website is going to achieve those objectives by identifying who you are building it for. You must be clear that you are not building the website for your law practice, those who work there, or yourself, but rather for the visitors who come to that website, aka your prospective clients.

This is a mistake numerous business owners make when they decide they want a new website built, as they have it created to suit them, not realising that it matters little what the owner of a business thinks about a website. Instead, it is the prospective customers and clients of that business whose opinions matter most, and that is the same for your family law practice’s website, and why there are five key questions you must answer before it is built.

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Why Digital Brochures Are The Perfect Marketing Tool For Bridal Retailers

Why Digital Brochures Are The Perfect Marketing Tool For Bridal Retailers

How many of you are bridal store owners that have a brochure which you make available to prospective clients and customers? Another question. How many of you who answered “Yes” assumed we meant the physical printed brochures that are made using glossy paper? We are certain that almost all of you did.

We did not ask this to try and trick you, but rather to raise a point that traditional printed brochures are not the only type of brochure that bridal stores can use. Better still, the alternative type of brochures we are going to discuss is perfect for bridal stores for several reasons.

We are talking about digital brochures, and are sure many of you may never have heard of the term before. Fear not, for we are going to explain exactly what a digital brochure is, and highlight how you can use them to market your bridal business and provide it with a huge advantage over your local competitors.

What Is A Digital Brochure?

The simplest explanation we can give you is that a digital brochure takes what can be seen and read in a traditional printed paper brochure, and makes it available in digital form. This way it can be accessed and consumed on devices such as a computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

The simplest way this can be achieved is to request that the company which prints your physical brochures also send you it in a digital format such as a PDF. You then make that PDF available to anyone who would like a copy.

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5 Benefits Of Hiring Professionals To Clean Your Commercial Carpets

5 Benefits Of Hiring Professionals To Clean Your Commercial Carpets

If you own or manage a large company with multimillion-dollar budgets and numerous offices, it could be that you employ in-house cleaning staff whose number might include an office cleaner with the responsibility of ensuring all the carpets throughout your commercial premises are cleaned properly.

That is a big ‘If’ because we are certain that the vast majority of those reading this who own or run a business do so in smaller, local businesses that have no intention of hiring carpet cleaners for internal use. Instead, if you want carpet cleaning done, you are more likely to hire an outside company, and almost certainly that will be a professional carpet cleaning company.

All good, but there might be some of you reading this who have never hired professional carpet cleaners before and may be wondering if there is a genuine benefit to doing so. Well, not only is there a definite benefit to hiring professional carpet cleaners, there are several of them. We are going to focus on five of the most important of those benefits, which you can read more about below.

You Can Fully Research Them Before Hiring

One of the great benefits of the internet is that it allows you to research just about anything. That includes local carpet cleaning companies that you may be considering hiring. Firstly, you have their website which often indicates their level of professionalism, plus this website will have details about the carpet cleaning services they provide to check if they match what you need.

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A Business Owner’s Guide To Industrial Cleaning

A Business Owner’s Guide To Industrial Cleaning

As the owner of your business, how much do you know or get involved with the commercial cleaning of your premises? Do you even use commercial cleaning services such as carpet cleaning services? We ask these questions because our research tells us that many business owners are oblivious to the benefits of commercial cleaning, and even if they do know that it can provide several advantages, many do not know enough about commercial cleaning to move forward with hiring a company to do so.

We hope to change all that by providing you with a short but detailed outline of commercial cleaning so that you have all the information you need to take forward your quest for a commercial cleaning company to clean and enhance your business premises, and that includes making them healthier for all who work there.

Business Premises That Can Benefit From Commercial Cleaning

We appreciate that everyone reading this will own or manage a huge range of different business types and sizes, and be operating within equally different business premises. We can safely say that regardless of where your business and its premises fit in terms of types and sizes, commercial cleaning can benefit it. Here are just some of the many businesses and organisation types that commercial cleaning applies to.

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3 Ways To Outsource Your Digital Marketing

3 Ways To Outsource Your Digital Marketing

When embarking on a digital marketing campaign different business owners will view the project from a variety of perspectives. Some will love digital marketing and will relish carrying out all the necessary takes themselves. Others will dread the idea, have no clue how to start, and even if they did, will want no part in its implementation, meaning they will have to find a suitable digital agency to take on the task.

We are not here to state that either of these viewpoints is right or wrong. However, the fact that they exist means that many business owners need help with their digital marketing and that includes carrying out the planning and implementation of it. Invariably that will mean turning to outside sources.

Outsourcing can be done for a multitude of business tasks, and that includes digital marketing. There are also different ways in which it can be done, however, to keep matters as simple as possible we are going to explain just three options, each of which has its pros and cons, as you will discover.

Digital Marketing Consultant

Using a digital marketing consultant is where you hire someone for their expertise, knowledge, and experience to advise you on and create your digital marketing campaign, however, it is you who have the role of implementing that campaign.

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A Guide To How Often Your Office Building Should Be Professionally Cleaned

A Guide To How Often Your Office Building Should Be Professionally Cleaned

We are sure that most business owners and those responsible for office management know that the most effective means of keeping business premises clean, including office buildings,  is to use the services of professional cleaning companies such as Gleam Clean. They may have tried to use internal cleaning staff, but most soon realise that if they truly want offices that are cleaned correctly for the benefit of both staff and clients, then professional commercial cleaners are the answer.

Whilst that deals with the question of who should clean offices, it does not answer another highly important question concerning office cleaning, and that is how often it should be done. Before you jump in and say, “Surely it should be every day”, we hasten to add that, whilst some cleaning tasks should be done daily, there are many that should not.

This points to the fact that commercial cleaning of offices covers a huge array of specific cleaning tasks and, for example, although vacuuming might get done daily, to shampoo those same carpets each day, would be completely illogical and impractical. So, how do you determine the frequency of the cleaning tasks that you want your commercial cleaners to undertake within your office building? Read on and you will find out.

The first step is to take the time to assess your office building and consider several factors that are specific to it.

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5 Digital Marketing Channels That Enable Ambitious Divorce Lawyers To Expand Their Legal Practice

5 Digital Marketing Channels That Enable Ambitious Divorce Lawyers To Expand Their Legal Practice

We believe that most divorce lawyers are ambitious, not just in terms of wanting to successfully represent their clients, but more specifically, that they wish to expand their law firm. That expansion could take the form of taking on more clients by employing more divorce lawyers or on a greater scale, being able to open additional offices in other towns and cities.

Whatever the level of ambition any divorce lawyer reading this might have, surely you at least want to have the means to attract new clients. For those whose ambition is at the other end of the scale in wanting multiple offices across the country, and those whose ambitions lie between those two extremes, there is one thing that you all have in common, and that is you must market your services.

With us being in the age of the internet, the primary marketing outlet is online, and it offers a multitude of ways in which divorce lawyers can promote themselves. However, rather than bamboozle you with dozens of different marketing tactics, we are going to make it much simpler and, instead, focus on five of the most effective digital marketing channels, all of which are 100% proven to work for divorce lawyers.

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7 Key Considerations When Relocating To Your New Office

7 Key Considerations When Relocating To Your New Office

When some business owners read the words “considerations” and “relocation” they believe it relates to the logistics of the move, so, that means considering what removalists to use and what packing materials they will need. As vitally important as those two are for successful office relocation, the considerations we are referring to have more significant and long term effects upon the business in question.

Although messing up the relocation by not using professional Removalists Melbourne or failing to plan property has a negative effect, it will likely be only temporary. However, if the relocation as a whole has not had proper thought and a full assessment of its impact on the business’s long term prospects, then the negative results can be catastrophic and risk that business’s future. Here are seven of those considerations that can prove to be hugely important.

Are The Reasons For Relocating The Right Ones?

One of the core considerations for relocating a business has to be the reasons for doing so. Moving for “a change of scenery” is hardly a valid reason for the uprooting of all your staff, and the upheaval that is associated with an office move. Relocating must be done for sound business reasons that result ultimately in either reducing costs or increasing revenue, and if everything is in alignment, both.

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How To Strategically Position Yourself As The Top Local Landscaping Expert

When discussing how landscapers can enhance their brand and make their local target audience more aware that they exist, one of the goals we suggest a landscaping business should aim for is to make itself the first that local people think of. Wherever you live, you will know lawyers, car mechanics, restaurants, or wedding planners that always get mentioned, which applies to landscapers, too.

That should be something you aim for so that whenever landscaping is discussed amongst your community, your business is mentioned first. However, you may take that a stage further, which is to position yourself as the local go-to landscaping expert.

Imagine not only the kudos but also the many business advantages if you are regarded by those who live locally as the person who is to landscaping what Cesar Milan is to dog behaviour and Warren Buffet is to investing. Granted, you might not achieve the worldwide audience of those two gentlemen (for now!), but think of the benefits to your landscaping business if you are considered of as the local landscaping guru.

All sounds great, but no doubt you are wondering how you could rise to become known as a local landscaping expert. Well, wonder no more, as here are some ways from the landscaping experts at Martin Cuthbert to help you achieve this.

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How Landscaping Businesses Can Benefit From Using Cloud Storage

How Landscaping Businesses Can Benefit From Using Cloud Storage

One of the positives that landscapers have, and can benefit from when running their business, is that modern technology makes that task easier, or at least it should. Nowhere is that more obvious than online, with the internet transforming the way everyone does business, whether that be a global brand, or a local business, such as a landscaping business.

The internet has also produced numerous services, software, and apps that make running a business more efficient, and thus more profitable. One such service, which landscapers should be using is cloud storage. By cloud, we are not talking about the fluffy, white things you see in the sky, but instead, the definition of “cloud” in this context is a remote server that you can access anywhere via an internet connection.

Cloud storage offers a landscaping business a multitude of benefits that can ultimately lead to being able to offer clients a better level of service, which we are sure every landscaper would want to do. So, read on, and you will discover why cloud storage is a must for landscapers.

What Is Cloud Storage?

For anyone unfamiliar with cloud storage here is a simple explanation of what it is. Think of all the files you have stored on your computer, laptop, or smartphone. If they are the only places they are stored, it follows that you can only access those files if you are physically using that device whilst physically in the same room.

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7 Essential Services That Professional Web Design Agencies Should Offer You

9 elements for small business marketing plan

When you are looking for a new website to be created or an existing website to be redesigned if you want it done professionally, then the obvious option is to employ a web design agency. With their experience and the number of professional experts they have working for them, plus the resources that will be at their disposal, your finished website should be of premium quality.

What often confuses business owners when looking for a web design agency is the array of different services that each of them offers. These may be provided as part of the design package or as additional services which complement web design. To try to allay some of the confusion we are going to highlight seven core services that we believe a professional web design should offer.

Some of these seven might not all be essential for every business’s needs, but for the vast majority, they can be assured that a web design agency offering all of these services will be at a higher level than those that do not offer them all.

Website Design Options: With this, we are talking about a web design agency not being a one-trick pony. In other words, not every business needs an eCommerce website but sadly, that is all some agencies offer. The best web design agencies have such an array of expertise that they can offer businesses a wide choice of custom web designs across a variety of website types.

SEO: Assuming you want your website to rank high on Google, it will need SEO. Top web design agencies will offer SEO services and the huge benefit you have there is that in creating your website, they will already have included many of the optimisations required for Google.

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10 Digital Marketing Terms Every Business Owner Should Know

10 Digital Marketing Terms Every Business Owner Should Know

In any business niche, profession, hobby, sport, or pastime there will be terminology, terms, and jargon used which, for the most part, is known only to those who participate within them. That applies as much to digital marketing as it does to anything.

For example, ask a digital marketer what a Panenka penalty kick is, and they will shake their head. Ask a football player what A/B testing means, and you will see an equally puzzled look. Incidentally, a Panenka penalty kick is named after Antonin Panenka, the first player to score a penalty by chipping the ball into the middle of the goal as the goalkeeper dived to the side. Great if it works, hugely embarrassing if the goalkeeper does not move and takes an easy catch.

So, now that we have established that these niche-specific terms exist, here are 10 of them relating to digital marketing that the experts at Slinky Digital put together for us, and anyone who wishes to create a digital marketing campaign for their business should be aware of.

A/B Testing: Just in case anyone reading does not know what A/B testing is, it is setting up two variables and testing them at the same time to see which performs better. Examples are email subject lines, sales page headlines, calls to action. The process can continue so that each A/B test is continually improving the results.

Click-Through Rate (CTR): Whether from an email, a Google/Facebook ad, or a sales page, the click-through rate is the percentage of people who clicked the link in them. For example, if 500 people were sent an email and 50 of them clicked on the link within, the CTR would be 10%.

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7 Steps To Effective Online Competitor Analysis

Regardless of the size of the marketplace or the specific market sector, your business operates in, you likely have competition. Whether that competition is fierce, or whether you compete on friendly terms, the success of your business very much relies upon how much of the market share your business can win.

Increasing that market share can be done in many ways such as creating new products, providing great customer service, and offering great value for money. Highly effective marketing, especially online in this internet age, is another great way to beat your competition. However, all of these efforts will be tempered if you lack a crucial piece of the jigsaw and that is having knowledge about your competitors.

If we take sport for example when a team or individual knows a great deal about the person or team they are opposing they can use that knowledge to focus on their strengths and take advantage of their opponent’s weakness. That same pimple exists in business. To be able to take advantage of this, you must first learn about your competition using competitor analysis. Read on and we will highlight 7 steps to doing this most effectively.

Decide And Describe Who Your Competitors Are: Do you know who your real competition is? It is amazing to see so many business owners carry out this step and find competitors they did not they had, and discover companies they thought were competitors, were targeting a different audience completely. Take time over this and ensure that the businesses which you are going to analyse further are those targeting the same audience as you.

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3 Facts about eCommerce Website Builders That No Expert Is Telling You About

3 Facts about eCommerce Website Builders That No Expert Is Telling You About

In the last few years, digitization has been gaining momentum. With e-mails, writing letters are becoming irrelevant. Social media is replacing text messages. Also, automation is replacing manual operations. As the changes take place, the business arena is not left out. E-commerce is taking shape each dawn. More entrepreneurs are launching online stores. Customers are also adapting to online shopping. In a word, virtual space is becoming the main customer-seller interaction point.

For you to become a successful entrepreneur in this era, you do not have an alternative than establishing an online store. An e-commerce website builder is the highway or building block to joining sellers in the virtual world. With the demand for virtualization surging each day, more developers have come up with builders promising heaven to new entrants. However, before subscribing to any builder, here are facts you need to know about them:

No builder is 100%
Regardless of the features and tools availed in an e-commerce website builder, no builder is 100%. Each of the top rankings has their benefits and shortcomings. Also, each of the builders has its limitations that have some impact on what you can do about them. For instance, if you are a code pro, open sources are a good option for you. They offer you an opportunity to customize your templates and other features through tweaking the availed codes. However, if you lack these skills and cannot hire an expert, you do not have an option rather than going for the hosted builders.

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How to Market your Business in 2020

Did you know that there are literally tens of thousands of businesses out there? This means that if you are trying to launch a business, you will need to find a way to make your business more noticeable. One of the ways to do this is to market your business. Many potential and existing business owners know this, but they are staying away from marketing because they believe that this activity is expensive. The good thing is that they are wrong and that marketing can be inexpensive and effective.

As a matter of fact, there are many different methods of marketing and tactics that you can use in order to stand out from the crowd without affecting your budget. We are talking about low cost, highly effective marketing. Keep reading this guide if you want to find out more about this type of business marketing.

Stay connected

First and foremost, the basic objective is to ensure that your business message and your business in general stay in the minds of your potential customers. Let’s say that you are selling pet food. The main goal here is to make the customers think of your business whenever they need pet food. With a successful marketing campaign, they might think of the business you are running even when they have already chosen a pet food brand.

Social media marketing

Gone are the days when social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter were used just for small talks. Today, they have become great marketing tools for the businesses of all sizes regardless of the industries where they belong.

But, being present on these networks is not enough. On the other hand, spamming your followers and fans can result in a counter effect. That’s why you must build a solid social media marketing strategy. Don’t forget that a strategy like this includes free and paid activities. For instance, you have to be active on your page/account at 2-3 times a day by sharing new statuses. You should also respond to all your followers and fans. Furthermore, you can create a PPC (pay-per-click) campaign to attract more fans/followers on your website.

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Retail Point of Sale for Small Business

Retail Point of Sale for Small Business
Do you run a small online business? Then having the best point of sale (POS) systems will do wonders for you. But just how will getting the right point of sale systems for small business actually benefit you? In many ways. In the first place, it will help you control your business expenses more efficiently.
You will be able to discover the kind of products that sell best. Once you know this, you can better organize stocks and monitor the overall progress of the product. Indeed, you will see where you are making profits and where you aren’t. Ultimately, it will help you engage your customers and potential clients with a loyalty rewards system. At the end of the day, the greatest challenge involves getting the perfect POS that suits your best business needs. This is because many software and point of sale systems currently exist.
Tips for Choosing the Best POS Systems
What features are most important when choosing the best POS Software? You need to know that modern POS retail systems are not just replacements for the traditional cash register. Instead, they are typically a jack of all trades that should help you manage critical areas of business. That, however, is not the same as saying that every other POS will work well for you. If what you are doing is a retail business, then you need a POS system specializing in retail. To be able to identify what is right successfully, you still need to identify critical features of a good POS system that will serve you best.

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How Can I Value My Business for Sale: A Short Guide

How Can I Value My Business for Sale A Short Guide
It doesn’t really matter whether you are interested in buying a business or selling one, you must find out how much that business is actually worth. In case you are selling a business, offering a very low price will definitely help you sell your business faster, but you may lose some of your profit. On the other hand, if you are buying a business, overpaying will affect your budget. This is the reason why so many people are looking for an answer to a very simple question – how can I value my business for sale.

For starters, it may be a good idea to hire a business attorney. These professionals can help you find out the real value of your business. They have the necessary experience in this field and vast knowledge which helps them find the right way to evaluate a business of any kind.

Next, you should check your revenue reports for the past few years. Analyze the profits before compensations and taxes. It’s the best idea to focus on the last two or maximum three years because the reports from before are not that relevant. You must be realistic and see how your company performs at this moment.

The next step is to check the revenue numbers. Don’t skip the details. In case the revenue stream points out that there is a steady growth in the last 3 years, this has a positive impact on the price. But, if these numbers are going down, then you should be prepared to lower the price. Of course, these numbers won’t mean that much if you have a plan to boost the sales and present it to the potential buyer in the right way.

During this process, it’s also a smart move to hire an independent appraiser to confirm the value of the business. These appraisers have knowledge in different areas and in many cases, they are more experienced in different fields than you are. This is a second opinion that can help buyers make the right decision.

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Where Can I Find a Business for Sale: Top 8 Places to Keep in Mind

Where Can I Find a Business for Sale Top 8 Places to Keep in Mind

Finding a successful business for sale can be an excellent way for you to get into business and start making a profit! Where can I find a business for sale? Read and find out!

So, you have decided to get into the business world? That’s great! Are you interested in finding a successful business for sale?

Finding a small business for sale is a great way for you to get into business without investing in an unproven startup. You can find a small business for sale in Miami or Los Angeles by using local papers, business brokers or online business-for-sale websites.

We will discuss these options below.

Before we present you the places you need to keep in mind, you need to make sure you have all the necessary resources to buy the business. And now let’s start:

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Main Reasons To Use A Logo Maker Generator

Main Reasons To Use A Logo Maker Generator

So, you have finally acknowledged the fact that logos play a very important role in the world of business. Now, you are interested in creating a special logo for your business, but you are not sure whether you should use a logo maker generator. This is not a surprise because there are many positive and negative articles focused on logo maker generators. Just like in the case of any other online tool that you can use, it’s crucial to understand what these tools represent and to analyse their pros and cons.

Logo maker generators are online and offline applications and software solutions that can help literally any Internet user to create a unique logo. Some of these generators are completely free, others have free features and some of them are available only in paid form. But, what they all have in common are some benefits that literally any business owner can find useful.

The positive aspects of using a logo maker generator
To start with, these generators are generally inexpensive. Thanks to a good logo maker generator you don’t have to break the bank to get a unique piece of artwork that you will use as a logo. There are many platforms providing inexpensive software online. Some of them are doing this for free. All you need to do is to pick one that has all the necessary tools and download your final work on your computer or mobile device. There is no need to pay freelancers or design agencies to finish this important task. Saving money is very important for many business owners and logo maker generators look like a reasonable solution.

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5 Effective Ways of Marketing a Product Online

5 effective ways of marketing a product online

You have a new product that is ready to meet the customers, but something is holding you back. You are not sure which creative ways of marketing a product are going to be effective enough. More importantly, you concerned that better marketing strategies are beyond your budget. You are worried that if you can’t generate enough buzz for your product, it will fail before it has a chance.

You are right to be worried, but don’t let that stop you from putting your new product out there. It is possible to effectively promote your product without breaking the bank.

In this post, you will learn low-cost and effective ways of marketing a product launch online.

Start a Blog

An online blog can be a vital resource for your product launch. It is an inexpensive way to educate your followers. You can provide details about the new product, why people need it, and what it can do. It is also an effective strategy for creating attention around your product launch.

Make sure to update your blog regularly with details about the product. You can share photos and information during the product’s development and allow people to know what stage you have reached. Don’t forget to share your blog posts with your social media followers, your mailing list, and key influencers in your industry.

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10 Different Ways of Marketing a Product

10 Different Ways of Marketing a Product

Creating a new product for your store is challenging enough but if you want to promote your new creation and increase sales, you will need a better plan.

As an entrepreneur, you are doing everything, working with customers, creating products, building your online store, marketing, social following, and much more. This can be daunting and incredibly rewarding at the same time.

So, how can one effectively promote a product these days? Here are ten different ways of marketing a product.

#1:Share Your Product Socially

Whether your customers hand out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest, share posts about your product with customized content for each platform. Make your promotions as visual as possible so your fans get a quick sense of what they are purchasing.

Successful Businesses Share Insider Marketing Tips for Social Media

#2: Run a Social Contest

If you want to promote your product on social media, consider running a social media contest to attract attention and spread awareness among your audience.

One great example is Encircled, women’s travel clothing company which ran a road trip contest to promote their leggings. To enter the contest, you could subscribe to their newsletter, follow them on social media or comment on their blog post. Each activity resulted in four winners. These ecommerce promotions are great because they involve customers describing the product in their own words.

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5 Simple Marketing Tips for Social Media

5 simple marketing tips for social media

Getting started with social media marketing can feel overwhelming for start-ups and small businesses. You don’t have to have millions of followers or a slick campaign to make effective use of these friendly tools.

Social media is one of the best ways to connect with your people. If you don’t have a presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other networks, you are missing out customers that are ready to connect with you.

Using social media doesn’t have to be time-consuming, expensive or complicated. Using these simple marketing tips of social media, small businesses and start-ups can reach new customers, build awareness, and boost sales.

#1: Have a Plan

Every good strategy starts with a plan. Social media marketing is no different.

Without a plan, you don’t know what you are trying to accomplish with your blog posts and no way to measure your efforts. Taking the time to create a plan right up front will make sure your social efforts support your goals.

When creating your social media marketing plan, you need to set social media goals and objectives, research the competition, Conduct a social media audit, find inspiration, and create a social media calendar.

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3 Small Business Marketing Plan Examples

3 Small Business Marketing Plan Examples
Having trouble writing your marketing plan? You don’t know where to start because you’ve never done this before.

We got you.

We’ve selected the best marketing plans to help you write your own small business marketing plan that is rooted in details and produces accurate results.

What is a Business Marketing Plan?

Marketing plan for small business is a strategic guide that businesses use to set, execute, and track their marketing strategies over a specific period of time. Business marketing plans can include marketing strategies for different teams across your company, however, the important thing is that all of them work toward the same goals.

How to Write a Marketing Plan?

Writing a small business marketing plan requires including your business’s mission, KPIs for the mission, buyer personas, content strategies, your plan’s omissions, marketing budget, competition, and your responsibilities.

Stating your mission is one of the most important parts. You need to be specific but not too much. Remember, you will have plenty of space in the plan to explain how you will acquire new customers and achieve your mission.

Next, you need to determine your KPIs or Key Performance Indicators. KPIs are individual metrics that measure the elements of your marketing campaign and can help you establish short and long-term goals within your mission.

Each buyer persona should be a reflection of your customers. It is important that business leaders agree on what your buyer persona is.

Your content strategy should include types of content you will create, how much content you will create, the goals you will use to track each type, The channels on which you will share the content, and paid ads that will take place on the channels.

The marketing plan explains what your team is going to focus on. If there are other aspects that aren’t serving in this plan, include them in your plan’s omissions section.

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Create Your First Small Business Marketing Plan

Create Your First Small Business Marketing Plan

One of the main reasons why small businesses fail is due to unsuccessful or ineffective marketing. Using strategies or tactics just because other businesses do it is not a good plan.

Having a small business marketing plan that includes all the important pieces needed to consistently market your business out there is something every business, regardless of size should have. Think of the marketing plan as your map guiding you towards your goals.

You may have the best product or services but no one will know about them unless you promote them, right?

This article outlines the most important elements you need to include in your plan. Regardless of how it is organized, your business marketing plan should be easily understood and straightforward document. It should provide you with a clear direction for your goals and efforts for the whole year and give a quick look into your company.

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