With the Holiday Season approaching, our thoughts turn gratefully to our clients and those who have made our progress possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you, and best wishes for the holidays and Happy Thanksgiving!
– The team at Onimod Global
Recent use of blockchain in cryptocurrencies is leading experts to believe that its uses may go far beyond the crypto market. This technology could be utilized in many different ways, particularly in digital marketing and advertising. While it is still early, the possibilities of blockchain have caused quite a stir in the digital world.
As defined by Don and Alex Tapscott, “The blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value.”
BlockGeeks released an article that breaks this definition down in many different ways. This article quotes several experts in an attempt to break down the technical jargon in a way that makes it easy for every reader to understand the concept of blockchain.
Specialist William Mougayar explains blockchain by comparing the differences between a typical Word document and a Google doc. The major difference between the two is that the Word document can only be accessed by one user at a time, while the Google doc can have multiple authors editing it simultaneously. Mougayar goes on to explain that many systems in today’s society are like that of the Word document, and the blockchain is revolutionizing this system with its Google doc qualities.
The most notable qualities of a blockchain, as given by BlockGeeks, are:
This means that no one can alter or corrupt the data within a blockchain. This keeps everything honest and transparent, which as we have discussed in our article, “The Importance of Transparency in Digital Marketing”, is incredibly important to consumers. The entire concept of using the blockchain in digital marketing and advertising is to create a better experience for the consumer.
Consumers are the center of the marketing world. Without them, our efforts would be meaningless. That is why blockchain is such a game changer. It provides ways in which to enrich the consumer experience, and put more power in their hands.
While this may not bode well for major digital advertising platforms like Google and Facebook, it is ultimately the consumer that we have to keep in mind when considering the future of this compelling technology.
The Holiday Season is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to develop marketing strategies to prepare for the increased traffic. According to Google, “U.S. retail eCommerce sales are expected to increase 15.8% during the 2017 holiday season.” Moreover, this demonstrates the impact that Holiday shopping has on businesses and the importance of digital preparation. Listed below are some digital shopping trends to watch out for this Holiday Season.
Mobile continues to dominate
It’s not much of a surprise that mobile shopping is still dominating online purchases, as this pattern appears to continue in the near future. Adobe announced last year that “mobile accounted for 50% of website visits during the Holiday Season and 30% of all online sales during that period from Nov 1 – Dec 11.” It’s evident that shoppers during the Holiday Season and in general are reliant on their mobile devices in terms of product comparisons, making quick purchase decisions, convenience, etc. Therefore, as a marketer mobile optimization is critical and needs to be a major focus during the season of Holiday shopping.
Voice search on the rise
The use of voice searches has been an increasing digital trend and continues to be a focus for marketers moving forward. According to Google, “about 50% of U.S. teens and 41% of adults use voice search daily through AI such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google Assistant.” Artificial intelligence (AI) is continually evolving and changing the scope of digital marketing tactics. From an SEO perspective, it should be noted that search queries for voice differ from typical text searches. Optimizing for “conversational language” and longer keyword phrases are two aspects that marketers should be focusing on. Ultimately, the use of voice search for shopping implications will be huge this Holiday Season and it’s essential for marketers to focus on this trend.
Focus on shareable social media content
With increased activity on social media channels during the Holiday Season, having engaging content is key. Creating content that is “shareable” is an effective way for businesses to reach potential consumers. A few tactics of shareable content include referral codes, influencer involvement, in-store incentives, giveaways, contests, etc. Generating valuable and optimized blog content to share on social platforms is another beneficial strategy. Essentially, keying in on social media engagement is beneficial in general, but especially important during the Holiday Season.
Online spending projected to outperform in-store purchases
It’s being predicted that for the first time in history e-commerce sales will outperform in-store sales during the 2017 Holiday Season. Deloitte predicts that “51% of all dollars spent this Holiday Season will be online and 42% will be spent in store. The other 7% will be contributed from catalogs and direct mail drivers. They also project an “18 to 21 percent increase in revenue for online retailers from last year.” In the end, although these are just predictions, there’s no denying how popular online shopping has become during the Holidays and this trend isn’t going away anytime soon.
Contact Us: For more information regarding digital marketing expertise and news, visit the Onimod Global Website. We look forward to hearing from you!
Many people still have their doubts about the immense effect that digital marketing can have on a particular product or service. A common caveat of marketing is that its results are not always entirely measurable. We have already discussed the internal struggle organizations have between finance and marketing departments in our article, “Ending the War Between Finance and Marketing Departments in Your Company”, but this issue is a bit different.
Now we are talking about companies that question their marketing strategy altogether. Is digital marketing really that important? Let’s explain why the answer to that question should always be a resounding “Yes!”
One of the biggest benefits of digital marketing is that it allows your business to keep its finger on the pulse of consumer culture. An article from Mashable highlights a recent report stating that there are currently over 3 billion active social media accounts around the world. This means that half of the global population is using social media every single day.
This consumer base is so incredibly large that there is no reason why it should ever be overlooked. Digital marketing strategies are focused around these kind of users, and getting them to purchase products and services of virtually any company. Without such strategies, your business is missing out on truly massive opportunities.
It is also a common misbelief that these avid social media users exclusively consist of tech-savvy millennials, meaning that they are worthless to companies targeting other age groups. This is, of course, completely false.
Use of smartphones and tablets increased in every age grouping between 2015-2016, according to a Nielsen report. This same report states that smartphones reach 85% of all 35-49 year olds, and 60% of all 50+ year olds. Clearly, digital devices are not just for kids. To learn more about marketing specifically to older age groups, please take a look at our article, “How to Reach Senior Citizens Using Digital Marketing”.
Digital marketing can do more than just help you access your target audience. An article by SmartInsights discusses 10 of the biggest reasons why your company needs a digital marketing strategy. Some of the reasons listed are:
When implementing a digital marketing strategy, many companies look to outside professionals at a digital marketing agency. These agencies provide specialized knowledge in all of the major digital mediums and paid online advertising platforms.
CampaignLive released a publication by Brent Trimble detailing the process of choosing such an agency, and what to look for in the very best of them. Trimble highlights many important features of digital marketing.
It is always crucial to remember that there is so much more to digital marketing than social media posts and Google Adwords. Not every business requires much in terms of digital marketing, but typically, those looking into partnering with an agency have more complex wants and needs from their digital campaigns.
Trimble expresses similar opinions as he says, “Impressions, clicks, click-through-rates, starts and stops are easily obtained by basic web analytic platforms like Google Analytics. This is useful information and certainly important, but true data science requires more patience and talent investment.”
In the world of digital marketing, you get what you pay for. Many agencies are primarily driven by the bottom line: profit for themselves. This can leave organizations to wonder which angency is really worth trusting with their future investments. When searching for a credible agency, Trimble suggests that companies focus on the 3 C’s:
Naturally, we would like to use this opportunity to tell you about the digital marketing expertise that we have to offer here at Onimod Global. We strongly believe in the impacts of digital marketing, and that we are a credible agency that is qualified to deliver positive results to a wide variety of clients.
Our approach is based around working closely with your organization on an ongoing basis to adapt and stay ahead of your competition in a dynamic digital marketplace. We combine experienced and knowledgeable talent with world-class technologies to efficiently create digital marketing programs that deliver real results.
Learn more by visiting our website, or scroll through several of our client case studies by clicking HERE.
Google has recently announced that there is a “posts function” now available to businesses registered with their Google My Business program. There appears to be plenty of benefits with the addition of this function, especially for local businesses who frequently compete for higher search rankings. Essentially, this post will explain the importance of Google My Business for local businesses and how this new posting update can impact organic search results.
Google My Business Overview
Google My Business from a general standpoint is a program that gives businesses the capability to be found by visitors on the Google Maps system. In more technical terms, Google describes their Google My Business program as a “free and easy-to-use tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. By verifying business information, you can both help customers find you and tell them the story of your business.” Some major benefits of utilizing this tool include interaction with customers, expanding presence, information management, and mobile responsiveness. Therefore, Google My Business clearly helps local businesses increase their online visibility and is ultimately a small investment that can lead to high rewards.
Posts Function Information
With the implementation of this new posts update in Google My Business, there are multiple ways businesses can take advantage of this tool. According to an article from Search Engine Land, this update will give businesses the ability to “share daily specials, promote events happening, showcase top products, and provide more options to connect with customers directly.” Users also have the capability to add images and call to action buttons to help increase post engagement. It should also be noted that posts have the potential to show up in both the Google search and map results.
Impact on Search Results
One of the more important aspects of this Google My Business update is it’s correlation with better search results. According to a case study analysis from a Search Engine Land article, “Posting on Google My Business was found to have a mild impact on rankings and do help improve local SEO for small businesses.” It was also found that since it’s launch, posting on Google My Business has been “surprisingly underutilized by businesses and agencies,” but that pattern is expected to change soon. In the end, using this new posting feature on Google My Business appears to be a “no brainier” for any local business out there. And at Onimod Global we have been implementing this practice with some of our clients, as their organic search rankings have started to increase over time because of this feature.
Contact Us: For more information regarding digital marketing expertise, visit the Onimod Global Website. We provide weekly news updates on the latest in the world of digital marketing. Enjoy!
There are numerous questions that an organization may have when outsourcing a website development project to an agency. Investing in a new website is no small expense for a business owner, so addressing any questions that arise is a must. With our previous website development work at Onimod Global, there have been many questions we have received from clients over the years. Listed below are just a few critical questions that every business should ask their agency when it comes to a new website development project.
1. What does the previous work look like with other clients?
Knowing what an agency is capable of when it comes to their website development expertise is extremely important. Request case studies from agencies to see what an agency has to offer in terms of website development, and what benefits can be provided for your organization. Click Here to view our previous website development work and case studies at Onimod Global. Ultimately, conduct research on multiple agencies to ensure the one you select is legitimate and will produce the final product you are looking for.
2. Is Google Analytics being utilized to track data and set up goals?
Ensuring that a Google Analytics tracking code is installed to a new website is crucial and it’s amazing as to how underused this tool is by many businesses today. One major benefit that Analytics provides is where website traffic comes from and what adjustments can be made. Setting up goals in Analytics to track certain conversions like form completions and downloads is another critical aspect that Analytics provides. Essentially, being able to monitor general website traffic information is huge and implementing Google Analytics should always be a step in the website development process.
3. Will the website be optimized to increase online visibility?
Regardless of the objectives an organization desires for their website, online visibility and being able to drive traffic should always be a priority. Therefore, if a site is not optimized for search engines how will it drive traffic? Ensuring that a website is highly optimized will require a lot of SEO knowledge and time. There are many components of SEO that involve “on page” optimization like paying attention to title tags, content, meta descriptions, keywords, and internal link building. There are also “off page” optimization tactics like blogging and utilizing local directory sites. In the end, having a highly optimized website is a must and be certain that the agency developing your website is familiar with these practices.
4. Is the Google Tag Manager being used?
Application of a tag management system like the Google Tag Manager to a website is extremely beneficial for any organization. In technical terms according to Google, the Tag Manager “replaces hard-coded tags on a website with dynamic tags that are easier to implement and update.” Tag management systems like Google’s provide multiple benefits such as adding AdWords, Analytics, and even third party tags instead of having to manually edit the site code. Therefore, this reduces errors and allows the simple deployment of tags on a website, so be sure to address this area of concern with your agency.
5. What does the timeline look like until the site officially launches?
It’s important to be on the same page with your agency about the development of a timeline and what the expectations are. Depending on the complexity of the site a website development project can take anywhere from months to years. It’s essential to stay in contact with your agency throughout the entire process as new requests may arise and an agency should always be adaptable to client changes. An experienced team like ours at Onimod Global has worked together on multiple web dev projects and understand how important client timelines are.
Contact Us: If you’re a business seeking an upgrade in website development, feel free to reach out to our expertise at Onimod Global and check out Our Work. We look forward to hearing from you!
When it comes to the best search engine optimization (SEO) practices, it can be difficult to know what methods are currently working and what is not. Search engine algorithms on Google, Bing, Yahoo, and others are frequently changing and this factor makes it challenging for marketers to adapt. There are numerous myths floating around about what a “good” SEO strategy consists of. Listed below are four common SEO myths that all marketers should be aware of.
1. Stuffing keywords is the way to go
The method of stuffing keywords is both outdated and falls into the “black hat” side of SEO practices. Search engines these days (Google especially) are more focused on rewarding legitimate organizations trying to drive real traffic to their sites. Don’t confuse implementing rich keywords in good content development compared to “stuffing.” An article from Entrepreneur describes keyword stuffing as “having too many keywords stuffed into your domain, this will be viewed as a spammy tactic that Google can pick up on.” Ultimately, the practice of keyword stuffing not only destroys credibility, but can ban sites from being shown on search engines at all.
2. The security of a site doesn’t affect rankings
Regardless of the other benefits a secure site offers, many marketers and organizations either don’t believe or realize how important having an SSL certificate is for optimization purposes. According to an article in 2014 from Google’s Security Blog, “security is a top priority at Google, so we’re starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal.” Other search engines like Bing and Yahoo have adapted this practice as well. In general, secure sites (SSL installed) are starting to become the norm online and do have important implications when it comes to optimization and higher organic rankings on search engines.
3. Blogging isn’t that important for SEO
This is one myth that appears to be going away soon, but is still present among organizations who aren’t in touch with today’s digital environment. Maintaining a well kept blog in general will only increase online visibility and fuel your SEO. Google and Bing’s algorithms reward valuable and fresh content for specific search queries. The major SEO factors of blogging consist of relevant content production, attracting internal/external linking, expanding of keywords, and many more. Regardless of the industry, maintaining a well written blog is one way to increase your organization’s SEO presence and appear ahead of competitors in the search engine results.
4. “Having a contact at Google will get me on the first page”
Some organizations actually believe having a contact at Google will help their site rank better for relevant searches. Although knowing a Google representative is very beneficial in regards to the Google Partners Program and latest information, Google doesn’t staff employees to help businesses with their SEO. According to the Entrepreneur article, “this is the fascinating component about Google; you have to follow the latest trends to make sure your SEO strategy aligns with Google’s constant algorithm updates.” Moreover, if an agency or marketing professional claims to have a contact at Google relating to SEO and first page rankings, they are lying.
Contact Us: At Onimod Global we know that organic search engine optimization or SEO, is absolutely vital to achieve long term search engine visibility for your website. Years of experience in SEO is the core of our strategies. We develop organic search engine optimization campaigns that deliver increases in organic traffic and natural rankings on major search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo. Check out Our Work to see what SEO solutions Onimod Global has to offer!
Despite still being a bit young in the advertising world, Snapchat is starting to step up their game with the introduction of the new ‘Snap Pixel’. This new addition to the wildly popular social media app will give marketers incredible insight into their ad’s success rate amongst targeted consumers.
The idea of a conversion pixel may be a bit foreign. Essentially, a pixel is a tool used to help track conversions. Digitaland.tv describes a pixel as being a, “tiny, transparent, pixel-sized images embedded in everything from emails to banner ads during Digital Banner Production.” Digital advertisers use these pixels to see if their advertisements generated the desired response from consumers who viewed the ad.
Once embedded, these pixels can show marketers if the user converted after viewing an ad or not, which helps marketers determine if the ad is effective or not. It also tells them how well their ad dollar is being spent, which is incredibly important on the bottom line.
We have already discussed how pixels can be used to tell marketers about an ad and its effectiveness, but what else can it do? An article by Casey Wilson of Forbes shares insight into how this tiny tool can be used to better understand your target audience.
Specifically, Wilson says that a pixel can help digital marketers produce the following 3 audience segments:
It is always critical to understand your target audience. The more information you can gather, the better. This information is what is going to help you generate solid conversions, and in the end every business is looking for more conversions because more conversions mean more money made.
Google and Facebook have already been using pixel tracking for quite some time, and have received great results. Social media has shown itself to be an incredible digital marketing medium. Facebook recently released their third quarter reports for 2017 to reveal an astounding $10.14 billion in advertising revenue.
This is the very same stage that Snapchat is now competing on. It will be very interesting to see the effects that the new Snap Pixel has within the industry of digital marketing. It is doubtful that Snapchat will ever rise to the same level of advertising at which Facebook currently operates, but it will certainly be intriguing to see how it all plays out in the months to come.
*Feature image courtesy of: ThoroughlyReviewed
When it comes to making marketing decisions for an organization, it is usually a company’s best interest to hire an agency in the ever changing world of digital marketing. When outsourcing these marketing efforts, selecting the right digital marketing agency for your business is critical. According to research from Capgemini Consulting “companies with a strong digital presence in their industry tend to outperform their peers.” Listed below are four tips that every business should use when deciding which agency is right for them.
Evaluate Work and Track Record:
Doing your research on multiple agencies is one of the best first steps to choosing the right one. If they are not listed on their sites, request case studies from agencies to see what benefits can be provided for your organization. Click Here to view our case studies at Onimod Global. Ultimately, doing your research and ensuring the agency you outsource to is legitimate will most likely lead to positive returns on your investments.
Know Your Most Important Needs:
Before the search for a digital marketing agency starts it is essential to pinpoint the specific digital needs your organization is seeking. Is there a higher priority on search engine optimization, social media marketing, or search engine marketing? All three of these areas could be equally important, but it’s important to address questions like this at the beginning of the process. Some agencies specialize in certain areas of digital marketing, while other agencies like ours provide full scale services. In the end, one of the starting points for every business seeking a marketing agency should be building an extensive list of digital needs.
Transparency of Results:
The last thing you want from an agency is a lack of transparency. There are many marketing agencies out there that like to provide reports for clients that only showcase successes. Agencies that want to stay ahead of the game like ours are frequently looking to improve and highlight areas where changes can be made. The ultimate goal for any business seeking the right agency is to make sure they are doing their best with intentions to always deliver a positive ROI and grow your business.
Be Blunt Upfront:
Many organizations can be afraid of being blunt to an agency, yet it’s a major investment being discussed. Be upfront about what the expectations are and don’t be afraid to walk away if the negotiations don’t go as planned. Although the standards for performance need to be realistic, make sure you and the marketing agency are on the right page about what the end goals are. At the end of the day, finding an agency that fits with your business model and is willing to adapt to what your organization wants will most likely be your best bet.
Contact Us: If you’re a business seeking improvements in SEO, SEM, Website Development, or any other digital service feel free to reach out to us at Onimod Global on our Contact Us Page. We look forward to hearing from you!
There is a huge, understated problem with millennial marketing that so many marketers have been ignoring. The fact of the matter is that the millennial market is huge. In 2015, Millennials surpassed the Baby Boomers as America’s largest living generation at 75.4 million people.
It would appear obvious that not all 75.4 million millennials are the exact same. How could they be? Unfortunately, so many marketers and advertisers have failed to remember this simple fact. This mistake consistently results in chaotic and ineffective mass marketing.
A Huffingtonpost article written by Grant Owens brings attention to another problem with this millennial marketing strategy by stating, “Another problem is that we’ve been calling Millennials 18–35 for over 5 years. That’s not how these things work. Despite rumors, science has proven Millennials are aging at the exact same rate as the generations before them.”
The millennial market is extensive. Common millennial stereotypes such as being technology addicted, rebellious, and environmentally conscious, are not the keys of marketing to this generation. The real key lies in your product or service, and who that specified target audience is.
In order to create an effective marketing campaign, you cannot generalize the massive millennial market. You need to find ways to segment within it. This is the only way to save you from wasting your ad dollar, and to find the more concentrated area of your target market that will actually purchase what you have to sell.
Once you have identified a specific target market and found out who is really interested in your product, show them why they should buy from your business. This can be done with relatively little data.
For instance, let’s say you are an outdoor clothing manufacturer who wants to target millennials. You specifically want to target millennials with a higher level of disposable income who will be looking to buy outdoor wear for the upcoming winter season. Using location and previous purchases, you can easily suggest new products to customers that are ready to buy.
For example, Brian in Minneapolis, Minnesota makes regular purchases from your business throughout the year. He would be the kind of consumer that is highly likely to respond to an ad for the latest and greatest winter coat you have to offer.
Our digital marketing agency team members are constantly providing news on the digital marketing industry. Like what you’ve read so far? To access more of our articles please visit our blog by clicking HERE.
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