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06/24/2021

10 Local SEO Mistakes to Avoid in 2021

As you begin to plan your steps into next year, one vital thing you need to address is your local SEO. 

Local SEO is so significant that almost half of all Google searches will be locally related in 2021. However, the following 10 mistakes will jeopardise your efforts and give your competitors the edge.

#1 Claim Your Google My Business Page

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is claim your Google My Business Page. So important in fact, it accounts for 14.7% of local ranking signals

When it comes to local SEO, the information that Google uses to rank your website comes more from your Google My Business page and not your website. You can set up your page directly with Google, but it’s essential you verify your listing so nobody else is able to edit your page in the future.

Once your page is set up, it’s important to ensure it includes a proper and unique description of what your business does, ensure your business is properly categorised, your contact information is correct and you upload relevant pictures of your business.

#2 Having Duplicate Listings

Google really dislikes duplicate content in its search listings. It’s a bad user experience for those searching to see two of the same results, and it’s a waste of Google’s resources (vast as they may be) to analyse and store duplicate information.

And that’s why creating two of the same listings is against Google’s terms of service. Each business location should have one Google My Business listing, use the Moz Local tool to check whether your information has been repeated.  If a duplicate is found, contact Google to get them removed as soon as possible so as not to further harm your rankings.

#3 Ignoring Normal SEO Ranking Factors

Local SEO is indeed a different ballgame in comparison to normal SEO, however, it is dangerous to assume they’re entirely different. Many factors that influence SEO also affect local SEO. For example:

Domain authority: All business are not equal, and one with a higher domain authority will always rank further up the page. Work on improving your initial domain authority first by gaining quality links both internal and external.

Search results in CTR: Just as with normal SEO, Google observes the CTR to your website from the search result page to see just how your business resonates with searchers. This is why you need to maintain and/or adjust your on-page SEO like your meta signals that are shown on Google’s SERP.

Backlinks: Backlinks are also incredibly vital for local SEO success. Things like the quality and quantity of your backlinks will go a long way in determining the strength of your local SEO. If you don’t have a link building strategy then it’s time you create one.

#4 Missing Contact Information On Your Website

Go to your website’s contact page and ensure all your information is correctly listed.

To be more specific, ensure your contact details (name, address, phone number) are displayed as text and not an image. This ensures Google can easily read your information and verify its accuracy.

Showing incorrect information in its search results harms Google’s credibility, and therefore they take the information you’ve listed on your Google My Business Page and compare it with the information listed on your website. If they’re not consistent then there’s every chance Google will ignore you. Which leads us to…

#5 Inaccurate NAP Information

NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is one of the core metrics Google uses to rank in their search results. Not only is it essential your NAP information is publicly displayed, but it’s important this information is consistent across the board. Google’s search engine cross references your NAP information with multiple sites—including your Google My Business Page, Yellow Pages, Yelp and other directories and values consistency.

This handy tool from Moz can help identify these issues.  

Besides the fact that working on your NAP can improve your local SEO, it’s also worth noting having an accurate and consistent NAP will improve your sales and conversions, as many people use Google Maps to look up a location as well as a phone number in one go.

#6 Missing Citations

A citation is simply a mention of your NAP on another website.

In the mistake above, we emphasised the value of consistent information across all your online citations. That being said, consistency doesn’t always mean you’re doing it right. There’s a chance you’re missing you’re missing vital citations that are hampering your Google ranking.

To check, you can start with the Moz Local Search tool. Use this to add your business information to all the relevant sites.

#7 Get Local Reviews

The more high quality, high quantity, and high diversity the reviews you get the better for your local SEO.

Once your My Business page has been created, reach out to existing clients and ask them to leave a genuine review, or even incentivise reviews for future customers. This is because review signals account for almost 10% of local ranking factors, getting good quality and frequent reviews will give your local SEO a massive boost.

#8 Forgetting Social Media

Social media activity is one of the many signals Google uses to rank businesses.

Now, there’s some debate about this. Whether or not you believe social media has a direct impact on rankings, there’s no doubt it’s a great opportunity to generate a buzz about your business

Evidently, the best way to get linked is with great content. And one of the best ways to promote that content is via your social media!

#9 Not Having A Good Mobile Site

Local SEO and mobile work hand in hand because that’s where people look for local services!

Even when at home, most use their phones over their computers when it comes to finding a plumber or somewhere to eat. As most of your prospects will be using their phones to find you, it’s necessary your mobile site works well.

All the way back in 2015 Google updated their algorithm to include mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor. And more recently, Google has shifted towards mobile-first indexing, which means that your mobile website will be the primary website Google analyses for ranking purposes.

You need to create a mobile-optimised website to compete in the local search results this year.

#10 Ignoring Negative Local Ranking Factors

Lastly, you need to realise that there are negative factors that can affect the ranking of your local business in the SERP. You don’t want to ignore these factors either.

  • Having your business listed in an incorrect category on your Google My Business page.
  • Having a false business address, phone number, or inconsistent details
  • Having malware on your site
  • It’s also important to avoid using PO Boxes, UPS mail addresses, and other digital addresses. Google only recognises established addresses.
  • Having an abundance of negative reviews

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23/08/2023

META Ads Training Resources

What is Meta? 

Meta, is a company that has redefined the way we connect, communicate, and consume content. Meta, previously known as Facebook, has expanded its horizons beyond the conventional realms of social networking and now offers a multitude of services under its umbrella. One of the standout components of this transformation is Meta Ads – a dynamic advertising platform that enables businesses to engage with their target audience like never before. Its flagship product, the Facebook social media platform, has grown to encompass a broader vision, leading to the rebranding of the company as Meta. Meta envisions a metaverse that goes beyond traditional digital experiences, integrating augmented reality, virtual reality, and various other technological advancements.

What are Meta Ads? 

Definition 

Meta Ads, an integral part of Meta’s ecosystem, are a sophisticated form of digital marketing that empowers businesses to connect with their target audience across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and more. These ads leverage the vast amount of data within the Meta network to deliver personalized and relevant content to users, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

Purpose 

Meta Ads serve a multifaceted purpose in the digital marketing landscape. They enable businesses to reach a wider audience by connecting people from all over the world as their potential target audience. It provides a diverse range of advertising formats like video or image which caters to various business goals and creative strategies which maximises engagement. It also helps with analysing results as it provides tools and techniques to track the performance of the campaigns in real-time, enabling data-driven optimizations. 

Types of Meta Ads

Facebook Ads

They let businesses use single images to promote their products, services, or brand. Image ads can be used across different ad types, placements, and aspect ratios. Image ads are a good fit for campaigns with strong visual content that can be shown in just one image. These images could be made from illustrations, design, or photography.

Facebook lets businesses use a single video to showcase their products, services, or brand.They’re especially helpful for product demos, tutorials, and showcasing moving elements.

Carousel ads showcase up to ten images or videos that users can click through. Each has its own headline, description, or link. Carousels are a great choice for displaying a series of different products. Each image in the carousel can even have its own landing page that’s specifically built for that product or service.

Instant Experience ads, previously known as Canvas Ads, are mobile-only interactive ads that let users engage with your promoted content on Facebook. Using Instant Experience ads, users can tap through a carousel display of images, shift the screen in different directions, as well as zoom in or out of content.

Collection ads are kind of like immersive carousels — taking the user experience a step up. Collection ads are mobile window-shopping experiences where users can flick through your product lineup.

Instagram Ads 

These are single-image ads that appear in users’ Instagram feeds. They are a simple yet effective way to showcase products or services and can be used to drive traffic to a website or landing page.

Video ads are similar to photo ads, but they use videos instead of images to convey the message. Instagram videos can be up to 60 minutes long, but you should prefer much shorter videos for your ad. Video ads are a great way to tell a brand story or showcase a product in action.

  • Carousel ads

Carousel ads allow businesses to showcase multiple images or videos within a single ad unit. Users can swipe through the images or videos, giving them a more immersive experience.

  • Story ads

Instagram Stories ads are full-screen ads that appear in between users’ stories. These ads are a great way to create interactive and immersive experiences for users and this is why engagement is often higher with this type of ad.

  • Collection ads

Collection ads are designed for e-commerce businesses and allow users to shop directly from within the ad. These ads feature a cover image or video and multiple product images below, making it easy for users to browse and purchase products.

  • Explore ads

Explore ads appear in the Explore section of the Instagram app, where users discover new content. These ads are a great way to reach a new audience and increase brand awareness. Instagram Explore ads do not appear directly in the Explore section, but are shown after someone clicks on a photo or video from Explore.

  • Shopping ads

Designed for e-commerce businesses that have a shop on Instagram, Shopping ads take users directly to a product description page within the app. From there, your customers can easily make a purchase.

  • Reels ads

After the launch of Reels, Instagram has also allowed Reels Ads. These ads are usually videos, up to 60 seconds long, that are shown between Reels.

Process

Step 1. Choose your objective

Login into Facebook Ads Manager and select the Campaign tab, then click Create to get started with a new Facebook ad campaign. There are 3 marketing categories – Awareness, Consideration and Conversion that Facebook provides with consumers on what they want their ad to accomplish. 

Step 2. Name your campaign 

Name your Facebook ad campaign and declare whether your ad fits into any special categories like credit or politics. If you want to set up an A/B split test, click Get Started in the A/B Test section to set this ad as your control. You can choose different versions to run against this ad after it’s published. Scroll down a little further to choose whether to turn on Advantage Campaign Budget+. This option can be useful if you’re using multiple ad sets, but for now, you can leave it turned off. Click Next.

Step 3. Set your budget and schedule

At the top of this screen, you will name your ad set and choose which Page to promote. Next, you decide how much money you want to spend on your Facebook ad campaign. You can choose a daily or lifetime budget. Then, set the start and end dates if you want to schedule your ad in the future or choose to make it live right away.

Step 4. Target your audience 

Scroll down to start building the target audience for your ads. Start by selecting your target location, age, gender and language. Under location, you can even choose to include or exclude cities over a certain size. You can also prioritize people who’ve recently shown an interest in the product or service you sell.

Step 5. Choose your Facebook Placements

Scroll down to choose where your ads will appear. If you’re new to Facebook advertising, the simplest choice is to use Advantage+ Placements. When you select this option, Facebook will automatically place your ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and the Audience Network when they are likely to get the best results

Step 6. Set brand safety and cost controls

Scroll down to the Brand Safety section to exclude any types of content that would be inappropriate to appear with your ad.

Step 7. Create your ad

First, choose your ad format, then enter the text and media components for your ad. The formats available will vary based on the campaign objective you selected back at the beginning of this process. Use the preview tool at the right of the page to make sure your ad looks good for all potential placements. When you’re happy with your choices, click the green Publish button to launch your ad.

Facebook ads Get More Traffic

Tips and Tricks

  • Use vertical videos: Use a vertical or square aspect ratio. Most people hold their phones vertically, so you’ll cover more of their screen.
  • Shorten text: People on Facebook and Instagram scan quickly. In research conducted by the Mobile Marketing Association, it took two to three seconds for two out of three for people to see and cognitively recognise desktop ads compared to 0.4 seconds on mobile. Keep your text short, clear and concise to get your message across.
  • Add multiple images using the carousel format: Carousel allows you to show several images for people to scroll through at the same cost. It’s a great opportunity if you have lots of product or brand images. 
  • Use calls to action: A range of call-to-action (CTA) buttons are available for Facebook and Instagram ads. These buttons draw attention and encourage people to engage with your ad. Based on what you want people to do when they see your ad, experiment with the CTA buttons available for different ad objectives and formats. See which ones get your audience to take action.

Resources

Paid Meta Training Resources 

  1. Become a Certified Digital Marketing Professional 
  2. Facebook and Instagram Ads – Udemy 

Free Meta Training Resources

  1. Meta Blueprint
  2. Advertising with Meta – Coursera 
  3. Facebook Marketing Course: How to Develop Effective Strategies for Organic Content and Paid Ads 

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22/08/2023

Strategic Guide to YouTube Ad Formats: Choosing, Utilizing, and Excelling with Diverse Advertising Options

 

YouTube is not only a platform for sharing videos but also a powerful advertising tool that allows businesses to reach a global audience in creative and engaging ways. Understanding the various YouTube ad formats is crucial for creating successful ad campaigns that resonate with your target audience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different YouTube ad formats, their features, benefits, and when to use each format effectively.

Exploring the differences of YouTube Ad Formats

Exploring the differences of YouTube Ad Formats:

Skippable Ads

Skippable Ads

Best for: Maximizing Brand Exposure

Skippable ads, also known as TrueView in-stream ads, are one of the most common ad formats on YouTube. These ads appear before, during, or after a user’s chosen video and can be skipped after the first 5 seconds. The key features include:

  • Ad Length: Skippable ads can vary in length, but the first 5 seconds are crucial for capturing viewers’ attention
  • Engagement: Viewers can skip the ad after 5 seconds, so creating a compelling hook in the beginning is essential
  • Cost: Advertisers are charged when viewers watch at least 30 seconds of the ad of the entire ad if it’s shorter than 30 seconds

Non- Skippable Ads

Non-skippable Ads

Best for: Conveying Important Messages

Non-skippable ads are short video ads that viewers are required to watch before they can access their chosen video content. These ads are limited to 15 seconds in most cases. Key features include:

  • Viewing Obligation: Viewers must watch the entire ad, which can lead to higher engagement
  • Message Efficiency: Due to the time constraint, these ads require clear and concise messaging
  • User Experience: While they ensure ad views, non-skippable ads can be seen as intrusive if not well-crafted

Bumper Ads

Bumper Ads

Best for: Delivering A Punchy Message

Bumper ads are short, non-skippable video ads that are limited to 6 seconds. These ads are designed to be concise and impactful, making them ideal for mobile users. Key features include:

  • Limited Length: The 6-second limit encourages advertisers to convey their message quickly and creatively
  • Mobile-Friendly: Bumper ads are effective on mobile devices, where attention spans are typically shorter
  • Frequency: They can be used as a supplement to longer ads to reinforce your message

Overlay Ads

Overlay Ads

Best for: Prompting a call to action (CTA)

Overlay ads, also known as display ads, appear as banner ads at the bottom of the video player. They can be text-based or rich media ads. Key features include:

  • Visual Presence: Overlay ads don’t interrupt the video content and are displayed as a semi-transparent overlay
  • Engagement: They encourage viewers to click through to your website or landing page
  • CTR Tracking: Overlay ads’ click-through rates (CTR) can help measure their effectiveness

Sponsored Cards

Sponsored Card Ads

Best for: Showcasing products

Sponsored cards are interactive, content-specific cards that promote products featured within the video or related products. They appear as small teasers within the video. Key features include:

  • Contextual: Sponsored cards provide relevant information about the products or services featured in the video
  • Interactivity: Viewers can click on the card to see mobile details or visit the advertiser’s website
  • Engagement: These cards enhance the user experience by offering additional value

Discovery Ads

TrueView Ads

Best for: Capturing Intentful Viewers

Discovery ads, previously known ad TrueView discovery ads, are promoted videos that appear in YouTube search results, alongside related videos, and on the YouTube mobile homepage: Key features include:

  • Placement: Discovery ads are strategically placed in areas where users are actively looking for content
  • Viewer Intent: These ads target users who are more likely to engage due to their search or browsing behaviour
  • Thumbnail and Title: The ad’s success depends on an attention-grabbing thumbnail and an enticing title 

Masthead Ads

Masthead Ads

Best for: Broad Audience Impact

Masthead Ads, also known as YouTube’s “Masthead” placement, allow your video to take center stage at the top of YouTube’s homepage on all devices, from desktops to mobile devices and smart TVs. The prime real estate grants you unparalleled visibility and exposure, making it an ideal choice for campaigns aimed at maximum reach and brand impact. Key features include:

  • Massive Reach: Engaging a diverse audience with prime placement, ensure that your message reaches users across various demographics and interests
  • Visual impact: Capture attention instantly with autoplay visuals
  • Clickable CTAs: Direct traffic with overlay CTSs for seamless engagement

10 Steps to Start YouTube Ads

10 Steps to Start YouTube Ads

Starting YouTube ads involves careful planning and execution, but the potential to reach a massive and engaged audience makes it worthwhile. By following these 10 steps, you will be on your way to create impactful and successful YouTube ad campaigns that drive your marketing objectives. 

1.Define Goals: 

Clarify your campaign objectives. Are you aiming for brand exposure, website traffic, lead generation, or sales conversions? Having clear goals will shape your entire strategy

2. Create Channel: 

Establish a YouTube channel for your business. This provides a dedicated space to host your video content and manage your advertising campaigns

3. Link Accounts:

 Link your YouTube channel to a Google Ads account. This integration allows you to manage and track your ad campaign seamlessly

4. Budget: 

Determine your budget for the campaign. Decide whether you want to allocate a specific amount per data or for the entire campaign duration. Google Ads offers various budgeting options to suit your needs.’

5. Audience: 

Identifying your target audience. Consider demographics like age, gender, location, and interests. The more precise your audience targeting, the higher the chances of reaching the right viewers

6. Choose Format: 

Select the appropriate ad format based on your goals. For instance, if you want to create brand awareness, skippable ads might be ideal. If you have a short, impactful message, bumper ads could work better

7. Craft Content: 

Develop compelling video content that resonates with your audience. Start with a captivating hook in the opening seconds to capture viewers’ attention and encourage them to watch further

8. Set tracking: 

Implement tracking mechanisms, such as Google Analytics or conversion tracking, to measure the effectiveness of your campaign. This data helps you refine your strategy and understand what’s working

9. Campaign Details: 

Configure campaign parameters. Specify the campaign start and end dates, ad scheduling (when your ads will run), and geographic targeting (where your ads will be shown)

10. Launch and Optimize: 

Review your campaign settings, content, and targeting one final time. Once you are satisfied, launch the campaign. Continuously monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like click-through rates, view rates, and conversions. Use these insights to optimize your ads for better results over time

As you navigate the world of YouTube advertising, understanding these various ad formats is essential for tailoring your campaigns to your audience’s preferences and behavious. Each format offers unique advantages, and by strategically using them, you can create compelling and experiences that resonate with viewers and drive your marketing goals. 

The key to a successful YouTube ad campaign is not only choosing the right format but also crafting engaging content that captures your audience’s attention and encourages them to take action.

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