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Digital Marketers Chicago

Nov 09
0

Best SEO Tools in 2020

By | SEO

Best SEO Tools In 2020What are the Best SEO Tools In 2020?

The year is going by fast, make sure to learn about the Best SEO Tools in 2020.

  • Yoast SEO
  • SEM Rush
  • Adobe Premiere (for videos)
  • Alexa (alexa.com)
  • SpyFU

Best SEO Tools 2020 Yoast SEOWhat is Yoast SEO? – Best SEO Tools In 2020

One of the Best SEO Tools in 2020 is Yoast SEO. Yoast SEO is a plugin for WordPress and it is a useful tool for either blogs or a professional site making both search friendly as possible. When using Yoast SEO there are multiple features a user has to go through before publishing their content.

Such features are: the primary keywords or keyword phrases, keyword density, meta title, meta description, links and having a good amount of words within your post. Before writing anything on your blog post or professional website, come up with a keyword or a keyword phrase that you want to use throughout the post.

A keyword or keyword phrase are focus words that someone on the internet would look up. For example, if you are writing “Best Sports Store in Chicago”, generally you would want your keyword or keyword phrase to be something like that. That way, when someone looks up those your words, your page, depending how you wrote it, will come up on page one on Google.

Keyword density is something you should look out for if you want your post to be on the first page of Google.  The recommended amount regarding density is around 1.3% to 1.6%. Any more than those percentages and you might have to either add more words to the post or delete some of the keywords.

Another feature that is useful when using Yoast SEO is that the website will tell you what you are doing well at, what needs improvement on and what could use some changes. The Best SEO Tools in 2020 is here for you! Use them to help your own content to rank well.

Best SEO Tools 2020 SEM RushWhat is SEM Rush?

The second tool on the Best SEO Tools in 2020 is SEM Rush. SEM Rush is a tool that helps blogs or companies find profitable keywords. SEM Rush also helps check rankings and back links. In order for your site to do well, it all depends on the amount of profit and traffic said site is bringing in at the end of each day.

Something to look out for when using SEM Rush is keyword research. This is important to know because it will help your site with search traffic.

When using SEM Rush, as a user you can see the average number of searches for each keyword or keyword phrase. This can help your blog or professional website by seeing what works and what does not work for better content ranking.

By using the Best SEO Tools in 2019, such as SEM Rush, you can look at your competitor’s website and see what keywords or keyword phrases they use. So that way, you can get a better understanding on how your site can do better than theirs.

You can also look up to see your past and current rankings when using SEM Rush. It is helpful to know whether or not you are improving or not and will help you get a better understanding for using new keyword or keyword phrases. Always be on the lookout to see what you can do to improve your site, by doing that your traffic will improve as each day passes.

Adobe Premiere SEO Tool 2020Adobe Premiere

The third tool for the Best SEO Tools in 2020 is Adobe Premiere. Anytime you upload video content on your site, YouTube or LinkedIn, you should definitely be using Adobe Premiere.

When you finish recording a video, the next step is to edit the footage into a clear and concise little segment talking about whatever it is you want to say. It says a lot to viewers when you save money and learn to edit things on your own. It not only adds a personal touch, but makes it more professional.

Generally, since people are always in a hurry and wanting to look at something else, keep the video short with interesting details and an interesting introduction that will grab the viewers’ attention until the video is over, making them wanting to watch more.

It is important to have videos that include graphics, you want to make something that is not boring and dull. Before and during video production, think about what exactly you could do that would make this video stand out from others and have more viewers keep coming back for more.

On the topic of saving money, before deciding on hiring a graphic designer for your video, there are multiple features on Adobe Premiere that have graphics on it. Use the Best SEO Tools in 2020 if you want to have your video rank well on Google. Applying good keywords can be useful so that it can show up on the first page.

Alexa SEO Tool 2020Alexa (alexa.com)

The fourth tool for the Best SEO Tools in 2020 is Alexa. Alexa, not to be confused with Amazon’s device Alexa, is used as data analysis for websites. By using Alexa, it will help with your blogs effectiveness and look into what your competitors are doing.

Alexa Rank will tell you where exactly your blog or site ranks among the many other sites on the internet. If your blog has a high rank count, that means there are other blogs or sites that are better in regards to where they rank. It is important to get a high rank count, so that more people are looking at your content instead of other peoples.

Alexa can also tell you where exactly your viewers are looking at your content across the world. It is important to understand why this is impacting your audience and how you can keep writing to build off better content so that you can keep getting a good ranking.

Alexa also has bounce rate, a feature where it tells you how many people are coming and going from your website. Alexa will also tell you how many people come onto your site and how many page views you get each day. Again, it is all about improving your ranking and content so that you can gain more traffic. Make sure you pay attention to keyword or keyword phrases because that is also another feature to help you with content ranking.

SpyFU SEO Tool 2020What is SpyFU

The fifth and final tool for the Best SEO Tools in 2020 is SpyFU. SpyFU shows the keywords that Google Ad words purchase so that they show up in your search and appear on the first page of Google. SpyFU also grants cost per click and also determines what websites are using Google Ad to purchase certain keywords.

SpyFU can help get a head start and compete with your competitors to see what keywords they use. Seeing what keywords, they use can help you get a better understanding on how you can get your content rank well.

In Conclusion

Now that you know the Best SEO Tools in 2020, they all can help you with getting your content to rank on the first page of Google. Contact Digital Marketers Chicago Here if you have any questions to learn more.

Nov 08
0

Benefits of Joining the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

By | Uncategorized

Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce ImageStarting a business or already have an established business? It is never too late to have a broad networking circle! Grow your network by joining the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. In this blog, you will learn about the Chamber and how beneficial it can be to you and your company.

What is the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce?

This organization is one of Chicago’s most influential businesses. It is a community of business professionals and civic leaders working together trying to make Chicago the best place to live and work.

There are more than 125 business professionals and civic leaders in the Board of Directors for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. They meet every quarter to discuss and address any problems that might be an issue to the business community in Chicago. The Chamber works hard to be a voice that is heard from the businesses in Chicago.

Why you should join?

More than 1,000 businesses from major industries are represented by The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. There are various business professionals from the Chicagoland area that are: non-profit organizations, startups, small businesses, mid-market businesses and huge corporations. You never know who you will run into and what opportunities will arise from those interactions. Reasons to join the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce are:

  • Tons of Networking opportunities: Super easy to make connections with The Chamber hosting more than 100 educational conferences, networking events and seminars every year
  • You are able to make your mark in the community: Join forums to share your knowledge about the business world, learn about business issues that are going on and engage with peers
  • Engage in business policy issues: Your voice can be heard on all levels of the government.

Chicagoland Chamber Of Commerce ImageBenefits to Becoming a Member

Other than the abundance of networking events, joining a community and being engaged with business politics, there are many benefits to becoming a member. Think of it as an investment to you and your business that starts paying off right away.

There are 4 different levels of membership that a person can sign up for:

  • Executive
  • Premier
  • Leadership Circle
  • President’s Circle

Each level has a different set of benefits for each member.

Executive Member: In this membership you get: 4 vouchers for networking events, may get a discounted service or good from another member, get business newsletters, and receive an opportunity for digital advertising or sponsorship.

Premier Member: In this membership, not only do you get all the benefits that is included in the Executive Member level, you get extra perks! Instead of 4 vouchers you get 6 vouchers for networking events, can serve on a business committee or council, showcase your business on their digital platforms and receive invitations to Premier Luncheons.

Leadership Circle Member: In this membership you get everything that is included in the Executive and Premier membership plus more benefits! Instead of 6 vouchers you get 10 for networking events, exclusive legislative event invites, to lead a business committee or council and participate in March Matchmaking Madness.

President’s Circle Member: In this membership you get everything from the other levels of membership and special perks! You would get:  15 vouchers for networking events, get a company video on the website and digital platforms, invites for Public Policy Committee Meetings, and one on one meetings with Chamber CEO.

As you can see, each level has its own perks and you can see which one best fits you and will benefit your company the most!

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Through Time

Now that we know what the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce does and represents, aren’t you curious to find out how this organization was formed? Below is a brief timeline of the Chamber showing how it evolved and impacted Chicago in positive ways.

  • 1904: Alfred McDonald Compton started The Chicago Commercial Association
  • 1912: The Chicago Association of Commerce helps create the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • 1912-1919: The Association helps found Chicago Institutions such as: The Advertising Council, American Red Cross, Chicago Better Business Bureau, Chicago Plan Commission, and the Chicago Safety Council
  • 1930: The Association creates a Justice Committee who then form a case against Al Capone
  • 1945-1949: The Association supports the Rehousing Program Act to modernize buildings and helped finance Chicago’s Parking Plan
  • 1959: The Association meets Elizabeth, Queen of the British Commonwealth while she visits Chicago
  • 1962: Thomas H. Coulter, who is the CEO of the Association accepts an award from President John F. Kennedy for “E-for Export”
  • 1974-1991: The Association invests in the community by helping in the creation of the Regional Transportation Authority and the Chicago Drug Free Workplace Program
  • 1993: Their name changes to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
  • 1996: They present their first website
  • 2000- 2005: The Chicago Land Chamber of Commerce introduces the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and supports disability workers
  • 2007: They win a 5-star designation award by the U.S Chamber of Commerce
  • 2013: Their 5th President and CEO of the Chamber is Theresa E. Mintle, who is the first woman to be President in the Chamber

Take away: Become a member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Be part of the evolving organization that is bettering the Chicagoland area. No matter what type of member you are within the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, you will always have a voice, get to extend your network circle and get involved in business politics.

As well, you will bring more awareness to your business with the connections you make! You never know what can happen until you go. There are tons of opportunities waiting for you, so join the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce! Receive the perks you deserve to expand your business.

Jun 17
0

2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

By | Instagram

Photo of Hashtags In Instagram Guide for Businesses2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms for businesses to market themselves on right now. Instagram has many tools to optimize awareness to your brand and or company. There are tons of people every day that go on Instagram that look for companies to follow or people to inspire them. We hope this 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses will help you in utilizing Instagram as a powerful tool to help grow your business!

If you do not have your business on Instagram, you are missing out on a ton of marketing potential in 2019. We want to work smart, so our businesses can succeed. Follow this guide for Instagram and watch how many followers and views you will be gaining!

First things first; before you even create a business account on Instagram for your business, make a game plan. Start off deciding what you are trying to sell or offer to the world and how you want to spread the great news of your company!

Obviously, you are using Instagram to showcase your business to as many people as possible. What you need to start thinking about is if you want to do daily posts, an Instagram story, a live story, interacting ads and Instagram’s multi-photo carousel tool.

Why Post on Instagram? – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses  

  1. Different Platform To Share Content-While users could use their own website or LinkedIn to upload their content, Instagram provides a different style to how you share your own or companies information. This style operates through followers and likes. Instagram grants a new account the ability to look at other accounts that are similar to them and see how they gain popularity.

Another way to share content is to look at what your followers like on their accounts and see how your page can get them to spread your posts around. Instagram is a perfect building block to gain more views for your company by reaching out to your audience.

  1. More Personal-Speaking in the third person provides a more professional outlook on the way your site speaks to its viewers, but with Instagram your account can also speak in the first person providing a more personal touch to what you or your company is trying to say. Instagram is a fantastic platform to say what you need to say, evaluate what works and does not work, then redo it all over again to find new ways to gain an even greater following.

Being able to use Instagram’s stories and live video, your followers will get to see a closer look at what you or your company is trying to do. When your followers see that you are doing something different to your routine, they might appreciate that you are trying to reach out to them.

  1. Gain Popularity Through Likes-Whoever is running your or your companies Instagram account should know that engaging in the social media community is crucial if one wants to build a great following. Requesting to follow other pages demonstrates that your account is clearly active and is simply not just only publishing their own content and that is it.

If the account had a lower count of following numbers, it would show that you do not have the people who like your companies interest at heart. It is also important to get likes, if one were to get more likes, followers visiting your Instagram page will see that you are growing page and those followers would be interested to get on board with what you are trying to say. We hope this 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses at the very least shows you the importance of Instagram and the powerful impact it can have on your business if you start using it as a marketing tool!

What Are the Different Ways to Post on Instagram? – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses New 2019 Instagram Guide for Businesses

  1. Stories-Instagram stories are a key feature on Instagram that allow you to post photos or videos onto your account, but they will vanish after 24 hours, which is similar to Snapchat’s stories features. Using the stories feature can be a news outlet for your viewers interested in what you or your company is doing.

Some of these things could be when a new product is coming out, when something is going live, showing pictures of the company working hard in a meeting, etc. It can range to something simple or to something broad and great, so long as it makes sense and it is not harming an individual or a group of people.

  1. Instagram Live-Instagram live acts as a feature that is similar to a conference call, only everyone who follows your Instagram account has the option to watch it or not. Something that is interesting about this feature is that your followers also have the option to comment on it, while whoever is speaking can see those comments as they are posted during the live video.

It is a great way to be personal to your viewers and have the opportunity to answer whatever is on their minds, so long as it is appropriate and perhaps it could benefit your company. Having the ability to be open to whatever people has to say to you, truly shows that you care about your followers.  Follow this 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses to ensure success when you’re using Instagram!

What are the Rules for Posting on Instagram? – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

  1. Timing is Key-Timing is extremely crucial when you want to upload your content on your Instagram account. The very first thing that you need to be aware of when using Instagram is know when your followers are active.

Be careful when posting on Fridays or Saturdays due to the fact that people might be out doing things with friends or family, so it would be best to post on other days. Of course, do not post at an absurd time, say 1 AM or 5 AM, some sensible time that your followers will be awake and have the time to look over your posts and like what they see.

  1. Do not write TOO much-There is a word limit for Instagram and it is 2,200 words with 30 hashtags. Something to remember when posting content to any social media account, not just Instagram, is that people are extremely impatient. There might be a few readers that will take the time out of their day to read your lengthy post in its entirety, while the rest will either just skim through it or just skip it entirely due to the fact that people are always constantly on the move. A good way to get your viewers to read what you have to say is to summarize it or include a link in your post or bio. Doing that will get your followers to go onto your other pages, granting you more hits.
  2. Post Frequently-No one likes a dead account, however no one likes an overactive account. It is important to remember that sometimes 2 posts a day is fine, but keep it at that. Keep your content original so that your followers will have something new to see on their feed and continue to enjoy liking your content.

Also remember in our 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses that when posting original content—keep the word lengths at a moderate level. If that does not happen, your followers will begin to lose interest. Always be engaging in your social media community, if someone likes your post and writes a comment, reply to them. Show that you genuinely care what you have to say to build a strong follower to company relationship.

Followers on Social Media Platforms Instagram Guide for BusinessesKnow Your Audience and How to Reach Them – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

You want to make sure that you have a target audience. By targeting an audience, it will maximize your chance on getting clicks to your Instagram page or webpage. How do you filter your audience? You would use Instagram’s Insights Tool. This tool takes you step by step to create your own ad or post – we thought it would be extremely helpful to address audiences & how to reach them in our 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses.

It starts you off with a Campaign Objective. Once you have chosen your objective, you move on to the next step, which is the Ad Set. Within the Ad Set, you have options to edit the type of:

  • Audience
  • Placements
  • Budget
  • Schedule

You can customize the type of audience you want, by filtering by:

  • How many people do you want to reach locally or nationally?
  • What age group is your product or service best suited for?
  • Is this more of a feminine, masculine or gender-neutral product or service?
  • Did you only want it in only one language or multiple?

Instagram Insights will also provide you with an estimate of your Audience Size and Daily Results.

The next step to Insights is the Ad. This is where your creative side can come out to design the perfect Ad or Post. This section includes:

  • How do you want your business to be represented?
  • Will you be using the simple photo, the multi-photo carousel, interactive navigation, or a 30 second video?
  • Where you can upload your pictures or videos.
  • Where you can come up with a clever phrase, use hash tags, and attach your website URL

It’s All About The Details and Timing – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

When posting on Instagram, you want to think of all the details that go into posting that will make people want to look more into your company. You want to talk with your followers, not at them. There are plenty of ads that talk at them and they end up getting unfollowed or blocked. Be part of the conversation for your followers to join in.

  • Calls to Action – Use a call to action in your posts when applicable and appropriate. Ask your followers to share photos of them with your product or service. Ask them to come visit your website. Ask them about their opinions.
  • Timing & Best Times to Post – You want to think about what time you want to post on Instagram. Believe it or not, the timing of the post is one of the biggest factors of whether a follower will see it. If you post during working hours, not many followers will be able to see it.

The best times to post will be in the morning before people go to work, and after work. More specifically, between 7 to 9 PM.  Everyone will be off work and looking at their phone for either a relaxing break or while they are trying to go home.

Your goal is to post during non-work hours. If you are a B2C company, you should also post on the weekends. The best days for engagement would be on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Always try to avoid posting during 3 to 4 PM. This is the worst time for engagement.

  • Hashtags, Hashtags, Hashtags! – Another detail we want to add to this 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses is to make sure you use Hashtags! These are one of the most powerful tools created to help find content on Instagram. But when used incorrectly it can become a disaster. You do not want to overdo it with Hashtags. Remember, Less is More!  Also, try to use popular Hashtags that people are actively searching for on a regular basis. Don’t use irrelevant Hashtags; always keep them relevant to your post!  Click here to see a more detailed 2019 Instagram Hashtag Guide.
  • General vs Branded Hashtags – There are 2 types of hashtags, General and Branded. The General Hashtags are the ones that are the broadest that anyone can find. Branded Hashtags are personalized hashtags for your company. These are the hashtags that could go viral.

Image of Instagram on Phone in Instagram Guide for BusinessesBe Creative and Create Your Own Style! – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

It is not enough to just post a picture; you have to make it aesthetically pleasing. You want your content to have different variations. If it is all of the same content, followers are going to become uninterested and decide to un-follow you. You can avoid this by having:

  • Influencer content – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses
  • Authentic videos of yourself with the product and or service – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses
  • User Generated Content – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses
  • A contest to win one of your products or services – 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses

For some, creating beautiful pictures or posts come naturally, for others it is a bit difficult. That is why you should utilize sources like Canva, Wordswag or Phonto and why we included these in our 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses.

People love originality. Making sure your company has a personality of its own is one of the best things you can do. That is why so many bloggers have become Instagram famous. They do this by telling their story. Tell your story to the world. Share what your company is all about, people will be happy to share your story.

Be you!  Be authentic; when you are your original self that is how you can create unique content that will leave your followers wanting more.  Do you have questions or want to learn more about our 2019 Guide to Instagram for Businesses?  Feel free to contact us Here or give us a call at 312-626-7445!

May 26
0

10 Instagram Marketing Tips to Boost Your Brand

By | Instagram

Instagram-Marketing-TipsIf you’re one of Instagram’s 800 million monthly users, it’s no secret how strong the social network has grown to become as a marketing platform. With over 25 million registered business accounts, Instagram is the ultimate outlet for building your brand’s online presence. Specifically, the app now has the highest engagement rate compared to other platforms, like Facebook and Twitter. This is a must read for Instagram marketing tips to boost your brand, as Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms today!

Due to the platform’s growing popularity, many businesses have capitalized on the potential opportunities to expand their brand to this new market: Instagram users. If you and your company wish to maximize the social network’s potential for engaging loyal customers and attracting new ones, follow these Instagram Marketing Tips:

1. Switch to a Business Account

When you switch to an Instagram business account, followers will easily be able to get in touch with you through clicking on your profile’s linked contact buttons. Another beneficial feature of making the switch is that Instagram’s Business tools allow users to create and publish sponsored advertisements to specific targeted audiences. Other than this, business accounts have a better chance of being seen on users’ Instagram Explore pages. Finally, creating a business profile on Instagram gives you access to Instagram Insights, the platform’s free analytics tool. In terms of Instagram marketing tips, this one’s essential!

Instagram-Marketing-Tips-Digital-Marketers-Chicago

2. Learn About Your Target Audience

Instagram Insights measures the number of profile visitors your account has, and statistics such as impressions and reach for both paid and organic growth on the platform. Using analytics tools help you understand follower demographics such as gender, age, and location.

Insights can also benefit your social media strategy because knowing this information allows you to published tailored content to targeted audiences to generate more community engagement. Usage of Insights is one of the best Instagram marketing tips on this list yet so many people fail to utilize it!

Some of my favorite Free Instagram Analytics Tools for Digital Marketers are:

3. Create an Appropriate, Searchable Profile Name

Your Instagram Profile is the first thing users see when they search for your brand on the social network. That being said, it’s important to begin optimizing your Instagram account by creating a recognizable and appropriate handle (@username). Be sure to make your Username as similar to your business name as possible. That way, when users or customers go to search for your brand, they can easily find your company’s page. This may be obvious in terms of Instagram marketing tips but you’d be surprised how many people don’t do it!

4. Constantly Update Your Instagram Profile Picture

It’s essential to change your Instagram profile image to be your company logo. Then, frequently update the image by altering the logo to comply with current campaigns or seasonal trends. Doing so is a great way to keep your page fresh and up-to-date. Creating and updating variations of your logo to be specific to a marketing campaign will certainly motivate users to search for your profile more often than they would have otherwise.

Best-Instagram-Marketing-Tips-20195. Create a Compelling, Informative Bio

Like your Profile Picture, your Instagram bio is one of the very first things a follower sees when they come across your page. When someone lands on your Instagram, it’s important that they immediately understand who you are and what your company does. With a maximum of 150 characters, be sure to identify how following your Instagram profile will benefit others and make a lasting impression by adding some personality and flare.

6. Put a Call to Action in Your Bio Link

Instagram profiles feature a space for a trackable link. Treat the last line in your Instagram bio like your call-to-action button and explain to followers what they are going to get when they click your link. Include a link to your company’s relevant page or website, depending on what content you post. For instance, if you are a clothing retailer and post a picture of a shirt, you might say in the image’s caption, “link in bio!” to direct consumers to view and purchase the shirt.

7. Be Strategic With Your Posts’ Captions

Interesting, exciting images may be Instagram’s main focus, but creating compelling captions will spark instant growth, getting you more post likes and comments. Posts with lots of likes and comments will have a greater chance of appearing at the top of users’ news feeds, due to Instagram’s algorithms. When a photo receives a lot of likes and reposts or comments, Instagram will perceive this to mean the image would be appealing to other users, as well, and most likely put it higher up on people’s’ feeds. With enough engagement, your post could even end up on the Explore page!

  • One of the most obvious ways to get more engagement on your posts is to use your caption to ask followers a question. Asking people what they are doing this weekend, who their best friend is, or what they think of a celebrity’s new hairstyle will undoubtedly promote community engagement, and get you tons of new followers.  
  • If your post features another Instagram user or company, be sure to mention them by tagging their account. you’ll likely compel that user—and possibly some of his followers—to also engage with your content.
  • Including a call-to-action in your Instagram posts is essential in terms of Instagram marketing tips. Whether its asking followers to click the link in your bio (to your company website, hopefully), purchase a product, tag a friend, use your branded hashtag, or answer what their favorite color is, you will be driving further engagement.

Instagram-Tips-On-Hashtags-Digital-Marketers-Chicago8. Use Brand or Campaign Specific Hashtags

Coming up with a company hashtag is basically free advertising to widen discoverability.

  • Customers and employees will easily be able to find your brand by searching for your tag and will be able to search through all content relating to your brand.
  • Users can also tag their user-generated content with your hashtag, allowing you to find more relevant content that you may want to consider reposting on your page to foster community interaction.
  • Each time a user posts an image using your hashtag, they are further exposing more people to your brand.

If your company has a popular slogan or tagline, consider using this as your hashtag. It’s also important to create an interactive, branded hashtag relevant to your marketing campaign to create immediate engagement. Picking your hashtags thoughtfully and purposefully is so important in terms of Instagram marketing tips!

9. Post High-Quality Content

One of the most important Instagram marketing tips on this list is to create compelling captions and hashtags – but only comes after users are attracted to your post. The first thing people look at on Instagram is the photo or video being posted, especially since the caption is posted below. That being said, it’s vital you post company-relevant, interesting, and engaging photos and videos.

Sharing professional photos of your products or company will grab the attention of followers. Showing off your brand’s aesthetics while also showcasing your products adds variety, and is a less hands-on way to get people to buy your items. Be sure to post tons of images not only promoting products but also your brand’s culture, like designs or scenery. Use Instagram to:

  • Promote company events
  • Share company or brand news
  • Engage with audience by reposting followers’ photos featuring your branded hashtag or tagging your company
  • Feature products or services
  • Build a community by sharing relevant, compelling images and videos

10. Create Content in Advance

When it comes to Instagram marketing tips, consistency is key. While it might seem obvious, brands that post more often will receive more engagement. However, it’s important to regularly remain in followers’ feeds without overwhelming your audience. If users feel they only see your brand’s promotions while scrolling through their feeds, they’ll most likely end up unfollowing your account. Unfortunately, there is not some special formula for when and how often to post on Instagram for every brand. It’s important to see how your audience best responds to your posts.

Luckily, apps like Union Metrics determine when the best time is for your specific brand to post. Knowing when your content receives the most engagement will help you improve your marketing strategy to posting. Posting during peak days and hours when followers are most online will help your posts gain more engagement. Consider looking up the best times to post on Instagram.

Posting consistently is essential in terms of Instagram marketing tips to make sure you stay relevant in followers’ feeds and minds. But not everyone has the time every day to make this happen. Therefore, consider using social media calendar tools to schedule your content in advance.  

Last of Our Instagram Marketing Tips: Cross Promote Content Across Social Media Platforms

So, now you’ve taken significant time to create, post, and manage your Instagram posts. If you’ve followed these Instagram marketing tips, you company’s Instagram account has most likely received significant engagement, increased growth, more likes, followers, and comments. Why not spread the love?

Be sure to connect your Instagram business account to your Facebook page, and directly share posts to Facebook at the same time you do on Instagram. Also, platforms such as Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are great places to share Instagram posts and Instagram marketing tips such as these to help boost your brand.

We hope these Instagram marketing tips helps you thrive on Instagram! Want to learn more?  Visit our Instagram Marketing Company page or feel free to Contact Us Here!

Dec 05
0

The Importance of User-Friendly Websites

By | User Experience

When it comes to websites, the term “user-friendly” cannot be stressed enough. It is also equally important to realize that an aesthetically pleasing design does not mean that your website is easy to navigate. It’d be a shame if you invested in a website developer to build your site just to find out that it has a high bounce rate due to its difficult navigation for visitors. That being said, a user-friendly web design is key.

 

For businesses, it is especially vital to realize what a poorly functioning website is actually costing you. If people come to your website and have a bad experience, then they are likely going to reflect that onto your company as a whole. This could be costing you so much business! If you lack a user-friendly website, then you could be lacking positive representation on the internet. Now having a user-friendly site is not dependent on one aspect. There are numerous aspects that come together to form the best user experience for website visitors.

 

What Makes A User-Friendly Website?

 

Consumers want to be able to find what they want on the internet in an efficient manner. Most people do not want to waste their time searching around and bouncing between sites. When someone gets to a website that makes it easy to find the information that they were searching for, then there isn’t really a need to jump onto another site. Now hopefully you website is the stopping point due to its easy use for visitors, but if it is not, don’t worry because we are going to walk through what makes a user-friendly website.

 

Typically the main parts associated with a user-friendly website are quick load times, mobile compatibility, ease of navigation, and readability. First we’ll discuss quick load times. It is no secret that now, more than ever, people are very demanding when it comes to the Internet. No one wants to wait around for a page to load. In fact, if people have to wait more than a few seconds for your webpage to load then they are probably going to find a better, competitor’s website that will give them higher speeds. If you want a user-friendly website, then you’re going to have to have a site that loads very fast.

 

Another key aspect to a user-friendly website is mobile compatibility. Nowadays people practically live on their smartphones and rely on them for fast information at the palm of their hands. If your company’s website isn’t compatible with smartphones and tablets, then it’s simply not going to survive. If mobile phone users have a bad experience on your website while they are likely not going to try and visit your desktop website. Don’t give people a reason to count your website and your business out before it gets a chance to show them what you’re made of. Instead, make sure that you have a mobile user friendly site.

 

The third aspect that goes into a cohesive website is ease of navigation. If you were to go into a store looking for a specific item, you would probably get very frustrated if you had to spend a long time meandering through aisles to find it. This is the same idea with websites. No one wants to go to a website, only to be met with a confusing maze. User-friendly websites will have the information up front and center so people are sure to find it. Website visitors will have a far more positive experience and association with your company if they are able to access their desired info on your site with ease.

 

The last piece in the user-friendly website puzzle is readability. When visiting a website looking for services or products, consumers don’t want to be met with a difficult to read, dense bit of text. This is not only hard to decipher, but can be intimidating to visitors. Overly complicated phrasing can push customers and clients away because it may confuse what your brand’s message actually is. Unless you run a website catering to scholars, it is probably best to avoid writing in a way that is more advanced. Try keeping the written content on your website at around an 8th grade reading level.

 

The Takeaway: Cater to Consumers With a User-Friendly Website

 

Having a hard to navigate and use website can really hurt your business. That’s why it is so important to make sure your website is user-friendly. Don’t let your competition get waves ahead of you because their website is superior to customers and clients. After reading this, you may be wondering how you can tell if your website is user-friendly or not. If you give us a call here at Digital Marketers Chicago, we would be able to answer all of your website usability questions. We offer website usability analysis services to businesses both large and small.

Dec 05
0

Social Media Marketing For Branding

By | Social Media

It’s no secret that social media is booming. In fact, there are billions of people worldwide that use some form of social media. Social media marketing for branding phenomena isn’t going to be coming to an end anytime soon either. For businesses, this provides a great opportunity to reach more potential customers and clients.

Advantages of Social Media Marketing For Branding Campaigns

Your brand needs to be seen to be appreciated by customers. As stated previously, social media has an unbelievable reach. This means there is a long list of advantages when it comes to using social media marketing. One advantage of social media marketing is advertising on social platforms. There are so many advantages to Social Media Marketing For Branding Campaigns!

Although it is relatively new, fast-growing and offers a great, relatively low-cost option for businesses. By using ads on social media sites, Facebook for example, you can target specific groups that would actually be responsive to your brand.

If you offer interior decorating services, then being able to target people that like real estate and interior decorating Facebook pages would mean more people that would actually be interested in your brand can be exposed to it.

A second advantage of social media marketing for branding and awareness, would be its ability to make your brand more customer friendly.

Social media provides the wonderful opportunity for you to interact directly with customers. If someone has a complaint about a product or service you offer, you are able to provide nearly instant customer service.

For example, if your company were to send out a tweet and it was met with a negative complaint or someone making a suggestion, then you could provide a public apology, if need be, and have the issue addressed. This would allow people to see that your brand is responsive and cares about consumer needs.

Using a social media marketing for branding strategy is also a great way to humanize your brand. Consumers are more likely to trust a company if they can actually see the brand keeping up with a positive reputation.

On social platforms you can show consumers the people behind the brand and how the values of your company are respected and embraced. You can also make an effort to interact with your customer base and learn more about their needs by implementing tools such as surveys and reviews.

The above reasons are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the importance of a solid social media marketing for branding strategy aimed at boosting your brand. In the end though, it’s all about getting your brand’s name out there and getting people interested in your company.

Tips for Social Media Marketing for Your Brand

Now that you know some of the many ways social media marketing for branding can help get your brand get noticed by more people, you could use some tips on how to do so more effectively. Not every company is going to benefit from the same social media platforms or strategies.

That being said, one tip for better social media branding would be making sure you select the right platform for you company. For example, if your main demographic is teenagers and young adults, then aiming for a strong Twitter and Tumblr presence may be the most beneficial.

Another tip for making the most out of social media marketing for your brand would be consistency. The old saying goes “consistency is key” and that couldn’t be more true in the realm of social media.

Keep your topics relevant to your business when posting on social media so that people know exactly what to turn to your brand for. It is also important to post consistently. If your brand’s Twitter presence goes MIA for weeks then people are probably going to lose interest or forget about your company entirely.

Probably the best tip when it comes to social media marketing for branding would be to hire a professional digital marketing company. When you hire a professional social media marketer, you are assured that someone well-versed and qualified is handling your social presence.

A social media marketer knows how to deal with customer problems over social media outlets and they also know how and when to post intriguing, brand-building content.

The Takeaway: Why Social Media Marketing For Branding

In short, social media marketing for branding is efficient, cost-effective, and targeted. Your brand can greatly benefit from all of the exposure, advertising opportunities, and customer engagement that having a well thought out social media presence can offer.

Digital Marketers Chicago is here to help take care of all of these social media marketing needs. If you have any questions on social media marketing and how it can help grow your brand, please feel free to call us here at Digital Marketers Chicago!

Dec 05
0

Top 5 SEO Writing Tips in 2019

By | SEO

It is extremely important for your business’ website to have quality written content that can help boost SEO. Now you may be a bit overwhelmed and could be wondering where to begin or what to focus on when it comes to the top 5 SEO writing tips. Don’t worry. Our successful SEO writing tips in 2019 can be achieved with a few easy to follow steps.

Here Are The Top 5 SEO Writing Tips When Producing Quality Content for Your Website

  1. Research Relevant Keywords

Now if you’re unfamiliar with SEO practices, keywords are the words or phrases that are utilized in your web content in order to make people find your website when they search for services or products in your industry. For example, people could type in “basketball shoe stores” and that would then be a keyword for your athletic shoe store.

That being said, before you can even start our SEO writing tips in 2019, you have to identify what people are looking for and how they phrase it. Finding relevant keywords provides the foundation and focus for SEO writing and allow you to target more long-tailed searches.

  1. Pick a Main Keyword

Once you’ve done ample research and have figured out what your potential customers are searching and what they’re typing when they search it, then you can select your main keyword. Now this step can be a bit tricky because you have to size up the competition and think about which keywords you can actually rank high for.

Using the athletic shoe store example again, selecting a keyword would have to be more specific. Selecting the keyword “shoes” means you would likely not rank because the competition is astronomical. However, selecting a keyword phrase like “athletic shoe store Chicago” may give you a higher likelihood of ranking.

  1. Make It Interesting

The keyword is selected and now you’ve started to write, but what do you say? When it comes to our SEO writing tips in 2019, it is very important to recognize the fact that you not only want the written content to help boost SEO, but you want it to be beneficial to your website visitors.

You could master writing for SEO and still not see your website stay ranked high in Google search results. This could be due to the fact that you still have to appeal to readers, not just search engine algorithms because it is noticed if your website has a high bounce rate.

A high bounce rate signals to search engines that your website was not what people wanted to see when they searched certain keywords so your ranking will likely be lowered. So, if you’re doing SEO writing, make it intriguing and worth the read.

  1. Let Search Engines Know What Your Keyword Is

If you didn’t want to boost SEO, you wouldn’t be using our SEO writing tips in 2019 in the first place. Having that said, you want to make sure that search engines, such as Google, know what your page is about. This can be achieved by utilizing the keyword you selected. One such way to accomplish this is including the keyword in the URL of the page.

Another way to use the keyword to get noticed by Google, or any other search engine, is using the keyword in a header on the webpage. It would be preferred to include the main keyword in the main title of the written piece.

A final example of how you can use your keyword to help get noticed by search engines is by using the keyword in the beginning of your written work. This signals to not only search engines, but readers that your piece is, in fact, focused on that main keyword.

  1. Links Are Helpful

Assuming you’ve followed all the previous steps listed for our SEO writing tips in 2019, you should have a pretty strong SEO writing project almost complete. To finish off your written work, create links to other pages on your website by using a word or phrase (known as anchor text) so that people can be exposed to more of your website.

In addition to links to other pages on your site, try and get a quality, third-party website to link to your site. Doing this shows Google, or whatever search engine you fancy, that your website and content are quality enough to be linked to by an established, authority in the industry. This may lead to a higher search engine ranking because of the added credibility from the link.

The Takeaway: SEO Writing and You

Our SEO writing tips in 2019 is integral for you company, especially in a digital age where people are using search engines to find services and products. Your company can’t afford to be without the best SEO content. At Digital Marketers Chicago, we specialize in SEO writing and provide high quality content that is not only helpful in boosting SEO, but it is also enjoyable for readers.

If you have any questions on our SEO writing tips in 2019 or if you are interested in hiring an SEO writer, give us a call here at Digital Marketers Chicago. One of our experienced and highly skilled SEO writers will be glad to talk with you!

Dec 05
0

10 Tips to Increase Website Traffic

By | SEO

It’s no secret that the Internet is, arguably, the largest driving force for consumers. When people want to find a service or product, they often times rely in a simple Google search or they check up on social media to see what is trending.  

That being said, how to you make sure your business website is being seen by consumers when they check the web for services and or products that they need or want? Honestly, there could be a countless number of answers to that question, but we have compiled a list of 10 tips to increase website traffic that we find are pretty helpful.

  1. Use Social Media

Almost 70% of people in the U.S. use some form of social media. That’s a massive amount of people! Luckily for businesses, this opens up the door to promote quality content that is achievable with our tips to increase website traffic. Creating eye-catching posts on Facebook or clever tweets on Twitter is a great way to pique interest in your brand and bring people to your website.

  1. Start a Blog

A lot of people may not necessarily be searching for a specific product or service, but rather they are looking for more information. This is why blogs can be so helpful to increase website traffic. Having a blog means you can take advantage of long-tail keywords that maybe wouldn’t make sense to have as a main website category or subcategory page.

  1. Get Creative by Adding Video

Video content is extremely popular and very mobile friendly. This is important for businesses to keep in mind if they want more online traffic, they should follow our tips to increase website traffic. People tend to retain more information from visual content, such as video. Therefore video content can increase website traffic by keeping the attention of site visitors.

  1. Use Paid Advertising

One of the simplest ways to get more traffic to your website is through paid advertising such as PPC. This form of advertising is helpful because it can reach people on all sorts of channels such as social media or when people Google keywords associated with your business.

  1. Email Marketing Is Your Friend

Email is a great way to connect with customers and can give them an incentive to visit your website. Putting a special offer or deal in your email newsletter that links to your website is a clever way to increase website traffic. Emails are also beneficial to the recipient because they can contain useful and entertaining information as well.

  1. Target Your Desired Demographics

Using marketing strategies aimed at targeting groups of people can be very helpful to increase website traffic. This is especially helpful on social media platforms. For instance, if you run a pet supply company, it may be beneficial to target people that like various pet related pages on Facebook.

  1. Have an Updated Website

It is a major turn off for website visitors when they get to a site and it appears dated and drab. It’s not enjoyable to navigate a website that appears as though it was created ten years ago and not updated since. Making sure your website is built for the now is a great way to attract people to your business’ website.

  1. Your Website Has to Be Speedy

Nobody wants to go to a website that takes, what seems like, forever to load. Let’s face it, the likelihood of you, or anyone for that matter, waiting twenty or even fifteen seconds for a page to load is not very high. Nowadays people want information quick and don’t have the patience to be waiting around. This is why it is so important to follow our tips to increase website traffic and to have a website that is optimized for speed. 

  1. Guest Blogging Can Increase Website Traffic

Writing content for other blogs, preferably on high-quality, industry related sites, can lead to more traffic for your business’ website. Providing informational or entertaining blogs to other websites that are relevant to your audience base can give your brand great exposure. This content can then be shared via social media and allow for more people to find and visit your website.

  1. Hire a Professional Digital Marketer

A professional digital marketer is able to help formulate a cohesive plan to increase website traffic for your company’s site. Experts in the field are able to pinpoint what should be done to address weak points that are negatively affecting website traffic. They are also able to alleviate the weight of marketing from your shoulders so you can focus on running your business.

The Takeaway – Boosting Website Traffic

It is so essential, now more than ever, for you to focus on building your online presence. In one day alone Google can get well over 3 billion searches carried out.

In most industries, the potential your business has for growth is dependent on how well you fare on the Internet. Knowing that, it would also be wise to hire a professional digital marketing company to increase website traffic with an expertly crafted digital marketing plan.

Do you have questions on increasing website traffic? Or on digital marketing companies? If so, feel free to contact us here at Digital Marketers Chicago! One of our marketing experts would be happy to speak with you!