The Ultimate EOFY Checklist For Your Small Business

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the end of the financial year is approaching. That means it’s probably time to get your social media marketing in order. But if you really want the end the financial year on a high note, there are some things you’re going to want to do. Below is our ultimate EOFY checklist for small businesses, guaranteed to help you end the financial year with a bang!

Get More Traffic’s Top 10 EOFY Tips

At GMT, we’re helping you get ready for the EOFY. That said, here is a checklist to help make the preparation just that much simpler. 

Review And Coordinate Your Accounts

Do you have any outstanding debts or vice versa? Say you’ve paid for Google Ads in Australia but your account is overdue or maybe you’ve provided a service to someone else who now owes you. Use this period to get on top of what you’ve paid to others and what they’ve paid you. You’ll want to make sure you pay vendors any money owed as well. Sorting all this out means you won’t have to worry about it being taxed next year. 

Keep Records And Back Up Your Data

You’ve heard the term, ‘I’ve got receipts’, and well there’s no hard evidence like proof of purchase. Additionally, we recommend backing up any crucial files or data onto a hard drive independent of your computer. You know, for safe measure. Trust us, if systems fail you’re going to thank yourself for being so proactive. 

Review Your Insurance

While you’re at it, you might as well review your insurance policies for any updates. Doing so will allow you to determine if you’re still on a package that’s right for you and your business. It’s also a great opportunity to update your insurer on any change in circumstance. 

Conduct An Audit

Count and recount your inventory so you know exactly what you have and what you need. Doing so will allow you to match what’s on paper with what’s on hand. 

Use Your Calendar

Planning is key so make a note of all your upcoming due dates, including by when you need to lodge your tax returns. 

Lodge Your Taxes

In Australia, the ATO expects you to lodge your taxes on or before October 31st so we recommend getting ready early. Organise your expenses and other tax deductions so you can have your return ready for submission sooner rather than later.

Rectify Bookkeeping Errors

With the financial year ending, you’ll want a fresh start going into the new year. We recommend going through your bookkeeping and identifying any transaction errors on your bank accounts and credit card statements.

Implement And Update Management Software

Management software makes keeping track of your inventory, finances, and other business assets easy. While we also encourage you to check all of these things manually during this time, implementing and updating your management software will save you time and resources in the long run. 

Prepare Financial Reports

Running financial reports helps point out where your business rests financially. Additionally, they’re fantastic for helping businesses outline and plan their budgeting. There are three financial reports you’re going to want to run this financial year and every subsequent year after. They are:

Balance sheet
Cash flow sheet 
Profit-and-Loss (P&L) statement

Prepare For The New Year

If you’re reading this checklist, you likely want to get on top of everything before the new financial year rolls around. By doing so, you’ll be able to figure out how your company performed over the past year and make an action plan for the future. Take a look at what worked and what didn’t and look for areas in which you can improve. Set goals and establish timelines to help you stay on track. 

Make The Most Out Of Your Social Media Marketing With The Specialists At Get More Traffic

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. One of the leading digital marketing agencies in Brisbane, we’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of social media marketing to take their bookings to the next level. So, if you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn more about marketing, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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Always On Marketing

Are You Missing Out On Sales By Not Having An Always-On Marketing Strategy?

Right now, technology is progressing at such a fast pace for everyone, including online businesses. This progression has led to some serious benefits in the world of e-commerce and digital marketing, but it also means that customer expectations are higher than ever. Statistics show that 75% of smartphone users expect immediate information when using their devices, and 51% believe that businesses should be available to chat 24/7. 

“That’s ridiculous! I’m just one person!” 

We can hear you shout through your screen, and yeah, at first glance it sure does seem ridiculous, but let’s not forget you’re not just one person. You’ve got technology on your side. Technology doesn’t need to take breaks or go to sleep or have a two week holiday in the Bahamas to blow off the cobwebs. Technology is your little workaholic friend. You can use it to develop an always-on marketing strategy that satisfies your customers while also letting you rest. Because, you know, you’re human, and being switched on all the time isn’t a healthy way to be. 

In this blog, we’ll take you through some of the most useful always-on marketing strategies to help you out. Soon enough, you’ll have happy customers and a business that operates 24/7, all while maintaining 8 hours of sleep a night (hopefully). Fasten your seatbelts, drivers! We’re heading out on the road to success. 

What is Always-On Marketing?

We know that customers now expect near-instantaneous responses from businesses when they shop online but did you also know that personalisation has a massive effect on buying habits? According to Accenture, 91% of consumers are more likely to purchase from businesses that provide a personalised shopping experience. Always-on marketing combines 24/7 availability with highly personalised content strategies to create content for customers that serves their exact requirements whenever they need it. 

While other marketing tactics focus on campaigns that push products in short bursts, always-on marketing has an unwavering presence. It helps businesses reach their target audience, retain their customers, and consistently build brand awareness. Even though many always-on marketing strategies are automated, they still require some manual work, not only in content creation but also for market research. 

To keep your content personalised, always-on marketing heavily relies on first-party data collected from your customers. With cookie policies changing soon, collecting this data can require a little more effort and innovation. However, once you have conducted your market research and created your content, the hard work is pretty much over. Simply set up your automations, leave them to run in the background, and analyse the data they produce whenever you need.

The Best Content Strategies for Customer Retention

Okay, so let’s have a look at the most popular always-on strategies used today. You’ll want to implement strategies that are easy to maintain and will make customers feel as though the content is there to serve them and their particular needs. The following marketing tools are easy to personalise and are incredibly effective at helping business owners retain customers while also attracting new ones. They can also be dispersed between multiple sites to help you get the most reach, making it easier for customers to find you no matter from where they are searching. 

Email Automation

Email automation is one of the easiest ways to create a personalised shopping experience for your customers. It utilises your website analytics to help you target people based on product preferences, behaviour, and past purchases. Email automation is a great way to use a customer’s past buying habits to personalise the offers they receive in the future. What’s more, getting people to sign up to receive emails is also a fantastic way to convert new traffic into leads. Simply create a pop up that encourages them to sign up (a 10% discount will usually do the trick) and ask them to select what offers they’d like to hear about in the future. 

These emails also save business owners an immense amount of time as they can create a personalised experience without having to write individual messages to every single customer. That’s because the personalisation of these emails doesn’t hinge on the content inside them. Instead, it comes down to the specific times that customers receive these messages. For example, a welcome email can contain the same message for every customer. The personalisation comes down to it only being sent to them right after they sign up. 

Automations can be triggered to be sent out at any number of specific times. In doing so, these triggers create a shopping experience that comes across as specific to each client without you having to spend forever writing individual emails for every customer. Examples include:

 

• A welcome email when customers first sign up
• Sending a reminder email when they abandon a cart
• Promotion emails when you launch a new product that relates to their past purchases
• Sending them a discount code on their birthday
• Special offers in the lead up to celebrations like Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Easter
• Black Friday reminders

Chatbots

Chatbots are great for providing instantaneous customer support. They’re able to interact with consumers in real-time and give them that personalised, speedy service we talked about earlier. There are a few types of chatbots available but ultimately, they’ll all assist with your always-on marketing strategy. Chatbots are also better than humans at dealing with loads of information and can scan a consumer’s enquiry and provide a solution almost immediately. Whether it’s two in the morning or 6pm on a Sunday, you can rely on chatbots to deliver premium customer support and solutions. 

On-Demand Resources

As we said, consumers crave convenience so if you really want to keep their attention (and their business) we highly recommend implementing on-demand resources. Look, you don’t have to flood your customers with a plethora of information they didn’t ask for or mightn’t find useful, but if there’s anything you think they could benefit from when it comes to your goods and services, make that information available. This could look like:

• Instruction videos
• Size guides
• Downloadable instruction manuals
• Frequently asked questions 
• Tips for choosing the right product

Making these resources super accessible also decreases traffic to your customer support team as studies show consumers often look for their own solutions before turning to customer care. 

Social Media Engagement

This sounds like a given, but you’d be surprised how many businesses either forget or don’t know how to use social media to their advantage. But, there are so many features on social media that assist businesses with always-on marketing. Here are some examples:

• Polls and Questions: You can set polls or questions on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

• Stories: Most social media story features are set to appear for 24 hours. This means you can engage with customers even when you’re getting those eight hours of shuteye we talked about earlier. 

• Contests and Giveaways: “Like, share, tag a friend, and follow us for your chance to win!”. Seriously though, who doesn’t love a giveaway? Plus, you’ll likely end up with a bunch of new followers in the process. Market expansion, anyone?
• Ad Scheduling: AI and automation is your friend. Trust us. You can reach your desired audience anywhere and at any time when you schedule your ads. 

Gain Access to the Best Marketing Strategies for Your Business With Get More Traffic!

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of digital marketing to take their sales to the next level. If you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn how to increase sales and engagement through an always-on marketing strategy, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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How Tradies Can Increase Bookings This Easter

Increasing Your Bookings Over Easter: Advice For Tradies

Do you hear that? It’s Easter, and it’s fast approaching. Don’t panic, though, because we have some tradies marketing advice to help you increase your bookings these Easter holidays. So without any further adieu, let’s cruise right into it.

Advertising For Tradies: The Importance Of Switching Up Your Ads

The truth is, clients know when you’ve done your homework. If you still have your St Pattie’s ads running over Easter, well, then that’s a bit of a problem. Not only does incorrect advertising show potential clients you’re unprepared, but it can reflect poorly on your entire business. ‘If they can’t even update their website, how can I trust them to provide a professional service?’. And look, we know how dramatic that sounds. But, when it comes to beating out the competition, you’ve really got to do all you can to come out on top. So, how do you do that? Well, let us give you some pointers.

Tips For Overtaking The Competition This Easter Period

If you’re keen to fill your books over the Easter holidays, here are some tips to give you a jumpstart:

Get into the spirit. Change your ads to reflect the Easter season. This could look like Easter imagery or some egg-cellent puns sure to capture your audience’s attention.

Promotions/seasonal pricing. You want to start your promotions and offers a little early to ensure that clients know you’re available if your services are needed over Easter. Your ads might look something like: ‘We’re open all of Easter, and because we understand accidents happen, we’re offering our services to clients 24/7.’ ‘Refer a friend this Easter, and we’ll waive your call out fee. That’s our holiday guarantee!’

Use your social media. Engage and communicate with your audience through your social media stories, statuses, and posts. This is not only a great way to strengthen ongoing client/tradesman relationships but is an opportunity to widen your reach.

Implement hashtags. Hashtags don’t need to go viral to make an impact. So making business-specific hashtags you can use over Easter can help increase traffic to your page/s.

Pop-Ups and banners. What better way to increase traffic than through an eye-catching pop-up or banner? No, we don’t mean those annoying ones that clog up your page and deter audiences from engaging. We mean holiday specific banners that are a quick and effective way to relay information to your customers. Like the one below!

Do your research! Finally, look into what your competitors offer and try to do one better. If your competitor is closed over the break, that’s great, but you want to find the best way to come out on top if they aren’t. So, research around to optimise your booking potential.

How Digital Marketing For Tradies Can Help Drive Traffic And Leads To Your Business

Raise your hand if you have a phone on you or within reach. Everybody? Okay, cool. Raise your hand if you have either made a call or sent an email on that phone. Exactly! Most people have. Digital marketing helps put your business at the fingertips of consumers. Here’s how it can help you:

Consistent online presence. Regularly promoting your company on all platforms will help increase your organic reach. This could look like status uploads, images of your work or replies to your reviews.

Local business directories. We can’t say it any louder: PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE. And this one is simple because it requires little effort and maintenance. Fact is, the world is going digital, and consumers want businesses to be more accessible than ever. So, start with Google My Business and then get listed other directories like hipages and Tradif so customers can find you when they need you.

Search Engine Optimisation or SEO. Do you have specific keywords you’d like to appear on Google for? Good news because that’s where SEO comes in. Optimising your website for SEO purposes helps you rank higher on Google. So this Easter, try changing up your website copy to reflect your holiday booking needs.

Facebook Ads. Did you know that consumers use their phones more during the holidays? It’s no wonder either; they don’t have jobs to attend! You can take advantage of this, though, and set up ads on Facebook to reach a larger target market.

Google Ads. A common misconception is that tradies should pause their ads over the holidays. However, during this time, your ads are more important than ever. Plus, if everyone else is pausing theirs, you’ll come out on top. So really, you are the real winner here.

For more information about tradies marketing or to increase your reach these holidays, get in touch with our team of digital marketers today.

Make The Most Out Of Your Digital Marketing With The Specialists At Get More Traffic

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of digital marketing to take their bookings to the next level. So, if you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn more about tradies marketing, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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Omnichannel Shopping Explained – Leverage Your Buying Cycle

Welcome back, drivers! In this month’s blog, we’ll talk about digital trends and how you can leverage your omnichannel to drive traffic and sales to your business. But before we accelerate into the nitty-gritty, we’re going to hit the brakes for a second and discuss what exactly the omnichannel is and how businesses can use it to really increase the consumer journey.

Alright Then. What Is The Omnichannel?

Omnichannel is not a new term but its implementation has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. With Covid-19 changing the way we shop, the use of the omnichannel has skyrocketed, with consumers valuing quality and ease over traditional shopping methods. But what exactly is the omnichannel you ask? Well, allow us to fill you in.

The omnichannel refers to a consumer journey that is seamless and effortless. It’s a comprehensive shopping experience that integrates various shopping modes to help make the consumer journey as easy and convenient as possible. But didn’t you just describe multi-channel? No. No, we did not. It might be a little confusing at first but we’re going to break it down for you:

Multi-channel refers to the use of various shopping modes to make a purchase;

Omnichannel, on the other hand, allows buyers to begin their shopping journey using one mode and complete it using another. Still confused? Watch the video below to help gain a better understanding of omnichannel versus multi-channel.

And How Do I Use It To My Advantage?

Now we’re all on the same page, let’s talk about how you can take industry trends to leverage your omnichannel and increase sales.

Understand consumer expectations. If you want to drive your omnichannel to success, it’s important to understand what it is consumers really want out of your business. It is also worthwhile to find out what they expect out of their shopping experience. This can look like everything from click and collect to applying promotion codes at the checkout. Researching shopping trends, target audiences, and the competition will help you figure out exactly what your average consumer is after.

Upsell on all platforms. You know when you’re shopping at a brick and mortar store and before you finalise the purchase the cashier asks if you’re like to add something extra to your cart? Well, this is a technique you can also use on the omnichannel. What’s great about this is you can tailor each upsell to the consumer’s needs. ‘Oh, I can see you’ve added rollerskates to your cart, why not add these elbow pads, too.’ Taking advantage of this can help increase sales and shows each consumer you understand what they’re after and can tailor to their needs.

Blasts. Maybe you’re short on supply and want to inform your customers of such. Or perhaps your state has flooded, (Queensland we’re looking at you) and you’ve had to temporarily close your store. Using the omnichannel to send out any blasts to your customers is not only efficient, but it shows you value them. Additionally, sending out information that consumers need to know will prevent any nasty surprises in the future. You know, ordering stock when it’s actually unavailable, overpromising on pick-up times, or requesting coffee online when the store’s closed. Getting on top of all your blasts early means you can prevent conflict and upset in the future.

Provide promotions. ‘SHOP ONLINE FOR IN-STORE PICKUP AND RECEIVE 25% OFF YOUR PURCHASE!’ How good does that sound? Offering promotions this way means you can actively encourage consumers to use the omnichannel. Plus, because it’s so easy, they’ll probably continue to shop that way again and again.

Ensure the experience is the same all around. You want to focus on your branding across the omnichannel. Your consumers want to know that whether they are shopping online, in-store or even over the phone the experience is the same. This could be something as simple as logos, slogans and colour schemes. You want to be recognisable no matter where consumers find you.

Got Any Tips For Getting Ahead Of The Competition?

So now you know how to take advantage of the omnichannel, here are some tips for helping you overtake the competition.

Google Ads. Not having Google Ads is like being stuck going around a roundabout but never actually getting to turn off. So you just keep going around and around while everyone else passes you by. Then you run out of fuel, stuck forever while everyone else is already at their destination. Alright, maybe we’re being a bit dramatic, but you really are doing your business a disservice if you aren’t paying for Google ads. See, what Google Ads does is expand your business’ reach. But more than that, it advertises to consumers precisely when they are in the market for whatever it is you’re selling/promoting. It can help to raise awareness, sell goods and services and bring in more traffic to your website or store. Ask our team about how we can help you get your Google Ads up and running.

Google My Business. Google My Business helps put your company on the map, literally. It is a digital phonebook that gives consumers all the information they need, including reviews and photos. ‘What does that have to do with the omnichannel?’ I hear you chime in from the backseat. Well, only everything. It gives customers a way to not only identify you but it is one comprehensive place that lets them know all of the ways to shop or contact you. Right from your website, to your brick and mortar store, and even your social media pages Google My Business is a free and effective technique for getting ahead of the competition.

Automation. Why waste time and resources doing things manually? Automation does the job for you so you can focus on the things that matter. Automation on the omnichannel can be something as simple as notifying customers when a product has sold out. Or, it might look like an auto-fill option for returning customers. Additionally, you can tailor automation to the individual, displaying ads that reflect their personal interests and buying habits. The options are endless, really, and automation helps you to work smarter. Not harder.

Understand sales trends. What good is the omnichannel without an audience to use it? To get ahead of the competition here, you’ll have to go back to basics. Research up-to-date sales trends and advertise your products/services accordingly. We also encourage you to look at your own data. When do people shop online versus how often are they in the store? Who is your target audience and what makes them use your goods/services? When you understand industry trends, you can then work on tailoring the omnichannel to consumers’ needs and expectations.

Make The Most Out Of Digital Trends With The Specialists At Get More Traffic

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of digital marketing to take their sales to the next level. If you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn how to increase sales using your omnichannel, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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How To Use Your Mobile Strategy For Valentine’s Day

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last two hundred years, you know Valentine’s Day is coming up. And what does Valentine’s Day mean for small to medium-sized businesses? Dollar signs, correct. With the world still recovering from economic losses caused by the pandemic, Valentine’s Day is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to make some much-needed profits. That’s where the knowledgeable team at Get More Traffic comes in. To help get you started, we’ve correlated some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your mobile advertising and Google shopping strategy this Valentine’s Day. And for those of you who are familiar with mobile advertising, not to worry because this article is for you, too!

 

Why You Should Boost Your In-App Advertising Before Valentine’s Day

Did you know that some romantics think about Valentine’s Day as early as January? Even if they don’t commit to anything right away, research indicates that people browse for gift ideas weeks in advance. This is fantastic news for you because it means you can get a jump on the competition and begin your mobile advertising early. Showcasing your products and services early also means you can expand your reach, exposing consumers to your business ahead of time, not to mention the opportunity for increased sales!

Additionally, early in-app advertising is especially useful for those companies that offer personalised goods and services. For example, you might be a small business that makes goods to order (let’s say customised drinking mugs). Perhaps these mugs are handmade and require just a little more time to ensure the order can be fulfilled when it needs to be. Let’s be honest; it’s a huge letdown receiving a gift several weeks late. While still exciting, the hype is gone. Done. Finished. Finito. That’s why it’s crucial to get on top of things early to make sure you are 1) making sales and 2) meeting the needs of your customers. You don’t want to be overwhelmed without the stock or manpower to ensure each customer receives their order by Valentine’s Day. See below for some fantastic strategies that’ll help consumers fall in love with your business this romance season.

 

Here Are 6 Mobile Advertising Strategies To Help Your Business This Valentine’s Day

Alright, so you’re on top of it early, trying to get your Google mobile ads sorted for V-Day. We love that! Have a look below for some advertising strategies you can leverage this February.

1. Understand your audience. Okay, so there’s the obvious — couples. So, clearly, you’d want to market towards those who are in love. But are you aware that on Valentine’s Day (especially in recent years), consumers have been opting to purchase gifts for friends, family, coworkers, and even their pets? So, this means you can utilise your mobile advertising to target anyone who loves another. ‘Happy Galentines to my best friend’, ‘Here’s to my honourable work husband’, consumers are shouting from the rooftops. Okay, perhaps that’s an exaggeration. But, you know what we’re saying. So, going into Valentine’s Day, we recommend optimising your mobile ads to cater to everyone you think might have been bitten by the lovebug, romantic or platonic.
2. Valentine’s offers/sales. Who doesn’t love a good deal? Here at Get More Traffic, we find creating limited time, holiday/seasonal offers really help drive sales. They create the idea that stock is scarce, thereby instilling a sense of urgency in consumers. You know what that means? ‘Yes, I’ll take three. Add to cart, please.’
3. Utilise your social media. Huge. Huge. HUGE. This encompasses it all: use mobile ads to attract consumers, post to your business’s social media (story functions are a surefire to get in touch with your customers), run giveaways, limited edition stock, bundles. You name it. But don’t discount the power of social media. Everyone is on it, and if they aren’t, they know someone who is. And if they’re pulling out their phone to Google something, chances are they’re about to scroll their online profiles too.
4. Account for last-minute purchases. Even though people are planning their Valentine’s gifts weeks in advance, trends indicate there is a massive spike in sales in the days leading up. Because you are aware of this trend, though, you can plan accordingly. So have your ads ready to go and target those scrambling for all those last minutes purchases!
5. Push notifications. Pop-up, shmop-up. Not only are they great attention-grabbers, but they’re also an affordable way to promote your business. They’re 50% more effective than your average banner so imagine how they’d work when consumers are on the hunt for some last-minute V-Day inspiration.
6. Landing pages. Or, as we like to call them here at GMT, Go! Pages. Go! Pages are phenomenal for attracting specific consumers, and when it comes to Valentine’s Day, well, that’s almost everyone, baby. Landing pages are also great for building a long-term consumer base. Reel ‘em in with some amazing Valentine’s offers and keep them coming back because they love your business. Everyone wins here!

 

How Get More Traffic Can Help You Fall Back In Love With Mobile Advertising

If any of this sounds overwhelming, don’t even stress about it because the reliable folks here at GMT are here to lend a hand. We’ll be there with you every step of the way, providing expert advice and assistance to help you fall in love with mobile advertising. We’re committed to helping you:

Increase site traffic
We use our expertise to create product listings (on Google Shopping, for example), to help drive and funnel traffic directly to your website.

Mobile visibility
We’re committed to helping your services appear among the first 15 Google search results.

Product focus
We endeavour to group your Google Shopping campaigns into categories to gain more control of bidding strategies.

Catered to your inventory
We’re able to take your large inventory and add them to your Google Shopping campaign to help maximise sales and conversions.

 

Make The Most Out Of Your Mobile Advertising With The Specialists At Get More Traffic

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of Google mobile ads to take their sales to the next level. If you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn how to optimise your Google Shopping feed, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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Driving Your Small Business For Success In 2022

SMB Resilience: How Australian Businesses Are Surviving Amid A Global Pandemic

If Australians are good for one thing, it’s for our resilience. Being able to come together to help those who really need it, even when we’re dealing with our own adversities, is something we’re really proud of. Consider the summer of 2019-20 when a large portion of the country was battling devastating bushfires that absolutely destroyed more than 24 million hectares of land, taking with it more than one billion animals and 450 people’s lives. As heartbreaking as these fires were, they showed us how resilient Australia is as a nation, with individuals donating more than $282 million in relief to the victims. Then came the devastation of COVID-19, forcing thousands of Australian SMBs to close their doors either temporarily or for good. Whether those businesses recovered or not, one thing was certain – we had to adapt. Enter 2021.

SMBs Australia: What Happened In 2021?

2021 was a rollercoaster, to say the least. With vaccination numbers on the rise, it looked as though there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe the country could return to business as usual. But just as soon as the nation opened up, it closed again with the introduction of the Delta strain. Once more, businesses were forced to close as this more contagious, more deadly virus strain forced us back inside. Those of us who were lucky enough moved to work from home, carting computer monitors and other equipment from our offices and setting them up at makeshift workstations at home. However, those of us who couldn’t had to wait it out, leaving thousands of businesses reeling with uncertainty, their employees unsure if they even still had jobs. They moved online, using the internet and social media to stay afloat while SMBs (which make up 55% of National GDP) figured out what to do next. We prevailed, though, as we have many times before, showing the world that even when all hope seems lost, Australian businesses remain more resilient than ever. Here’s what the numbers are saying about it.

Looking Ahead: 2021 In Reflection

Now that we’ve made it to 2022, many Australian SMBs have had a chance to reflect on the past year. While businesses closed and more and more people worked from home, SMBs were able to realign their values and work towards the things that really mattered. What they learned, though, might surprise you as a study conducted by LinkedIn revealed some unexpected findings:

• The majority of Australian SMBs know where to invest for growth
• More than half feel as though the pandemic has helped the futureproof their businesses
• Over 60% feel optimistic about the future despite the majority indicating some uncertainty

With lockdowns in full swing and the state government’s closing borders, 71% of Aussie SMBs were, unfortunately, affected by slowdowns. The part that turned some heads, though, was the data surrounding success, whereby a massive 38% of Australian SMBs actually performed better than an average year (Mi3, 2021). Additionally, a further 40% indicated feeling positive about the outcomes of 2021 as they use their setbacks to prepare for an even stronger 2022.

So, What’s Changed?

For Australian SMBs, online presence has become one of the most important tools in staying afloat amid the pandemic. LinkedIn reports a 44% increase in ‘new SMB Company Pages’, all of which are highly active and more engaged. Additionally, global brand ambassador, Taryn Williams believes consumer values have shifted. She says relationships between SMBs and their clientele are more crucial than ever. Williams also believes social media plays a huge role in building relationships with consumers and heading into the thick of 2022, she encourages all SMBs to utilise their online presence. She says SMBs should leverage platforms they wouldn’t ordinarily use, like TikTok, for example, to increase organic reach. Further, Williams states consumers want to support Australian SMBs but are more inclined if a business offers sustainable goods and services and adhere to ethical practices.

As of now, many SMBs are looking to the future, focusing on costs and opportunities for growth. During LinkedIn’s research, they discovered three main areas in which Australian SMBs have been able to optimise resources and lower costs: rent, operations, resourcing.

These statistics indicate that Australian SMBs have shifted their priorities. Now, they’re putting more effort into their customers’ needs and working to make employee tasks more efficient. Finally, businesses can begin to operate as normal (or as normal as the pandemic will allow).

Efficiency: The New Normal

As Australians discovered more flexible working conditions, they also found areas to increase productivity. Global Commercial Services Vice President and General Manager, Stephen Pendergast says there has been a 12.4% spending increase on technology and automation software investments. Investing in such areas not only frees up space to focus on activities that push the bottom line, but they remove the risk of human error. CEO of Headbox Australia, Ali Lord, agrees, saying digital solutions to complete mundane tasks removes the legwork and saves costs. Employees have come to expect this now too, with the experts at Salesforce finding investments in technology make for both happy employees and satisfied customers. The bottom line is: work smarter, not harder.

Where To From Here? Tips For SMBs in 2022

If the above stats indicate anything, Australian SMBs have learned to adapt, even with the future uncertain. With omicron affecting more Australians each day, businesses need to remain flexible, adapting to change where they can. To continue to succeed in 2022, it’s important to be proactive. Take what we’ve learned and transform it into meaningful opportunities for growth. We’ve broken it all down into ten comprehensive steps:

1. Maximise success by lowering costs where possible
2. Keep up with employee demand and morale by offering flexible working conditions
3. Use what you’ve learned to make your business more resilient
4. Be more open to change
5. Understand what matters most to your customers and employees
6. Realign customer expectations through honest, up to date dialogue – the good and the bad
7. Alleviate pressure on staff and give customers the autonomy to find their own solutions by investing in technology
8. Support local businesses by using or promoting their products and services where you can
9. Follow ethical practices to attract more of the consumer market
10. Stay relevant by regularly using social media to promote your business brand

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Why You Shouldn’t Pause Your Ads Over Christmas

You might think there isn’t much of a point in keeping your Google Smart Shopping ads running over Christmas, but pausing them could have catastrophic impacts on your business. Okay, so maybe it’s not that bad; your business isn’t going to collapse, but pausing your ads really can have adverse effects on your brand, forcing you to put in more hard yards than is necessary to climb back up the Google search ranking ladder. Not really sure how it all works? Not to worry, because our digital marketing experts at Get More Traffic have collated a bunch of information to help you further understand the importance of keeping your Google shopping strategy up and running over the Christmas period. 

GMT’s Hot Tips For Running Your Google Smart Shopping Strategy Over Christmas

Christmas is nearly here, and if you haven’t already figured out how your ads will run over the holidays, don’t stress because there is still time. Below is a list of our hottest Google Shopping management tips to help you overtake the competition this Christmas. We recommend: 

• Regularly reviewing your bids. Not only should you be bidding aggressively these holidays, but it’s crucial to review your bids on a regular basis to ensure you remain above your competition.
• Prioritising high-value products. According to Google, high-value products that appear in the top search results receive up to 3 times the shopper engagement. 
• Research your competitors. Do your best to understand your competition’s ad campaigns and adjust your own accordingly. 
• The earlier, the better. For higher traffic and sales volumes, it’s better to begin planning your Google Smart Shopping as soon as possible.
• Automating your ad placement. This will help you remain consistent and competitive, potentially increasing conversions and leads. 
• Prepare your budget early. This will allow you to align your budget with expected sales, meaning there will be no need to hit the brakes on your shopping ads. 

Benefits Of Keeping Your Shopping Ads Running During The Holiday Period

If you’re here, you’re likely considering pausing your shopping ads over Christmas. We’re experts in digital marketing, and we’re here to tell you to stop right there. You might think bringing your ads to a temporary halt is the best option, but in reality, running your campaign throughout the holiday period will be super beneficial to your business. Running shopping ads over the holidays means:

• There is a reduced bid for keywords. Those of your competitors who have decided to pause their ads will likely hinder their Google ranking. This allows you to rank higher for chosen keywords.
• You will attract more last-minute shoppers. Not everyone can have their Christmas gifts sorted in October. Attract last-minute shoppers by keeping your ads active over the holidays.
• Your business will be exposed to more consumers. Most people take a break from work over Christmas. This means they have more time for scrolling and large Christmas bonuses for spending.
• Revenue. You might think pausing ads will save you money, but in the long term keeping your Google Smart Shopping ads active over Christmas affords you the opportunity for increased revenue. So spend now to save later. That’s our motto. 
• Increased traffic to your site. This is especially effective for tradies who are working over Christmas. Running your ads will allow you to be among the top search results, allowing exposure to more consumers and increasing sales/business.
• Spending increases. People spend more this time of year, that’s just a fact! So it wouldn’t make sense to bury your company during the gifting period.
• ‘Tis the season for new year’s resolutions. Specifically great for fitness and wellbeing businesses, running ads over Christmas can really play into consumers’ new year’s ideals.
• Boxing day sales! Why would people shop around when they can get a great deal at their fingertips? Keep your ads up and running to stay ahead of the game. 

What You Stand To Lose If You Pause Your Shopping Ads Over Christmas

We’ve talked about the benefits of keeping your campaign running this holiday season. But what we haven’t touched on is how pausing your ads might hinder your brand in the long run. What we mean by that is:

• Higher bids after reactivation. Returning to ads after Christmas means you’ll have to bid even higher when you return. This takes time, increases costs and uses unnecessary resources that could be more effectively utilised elsewhere. 
• You’ll miss out on valuable traffic. Not appearing among the top Google results means you miss out on valuable leads and conversions. 
• Your rankings will suffer. Those who keep their ads running surpass those businesses that don’t. This is because Google thinks you are no longer active and prioritises businesses that are still campaigning.

If You’re Looking For A Premium Digital Marketing Company To Help Drive Your Sales, Get More Traffic Can Help

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of Google Smart Shopping to take their sales to the next level. If you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn how to optimise your Google Shopping feed, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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Top Google Shopping Optimisation Tips For Christmas

Can you hear the jingling of bells and the sounds of Mariah Carey defrosting after 11 months in hibernation? That’s right, Christmas is right around the corner, and the team at Get More Traffic are here to make sure your business is ready to boost your traffic and maximise your sales over the most wonderful time of the year. One of the easiest ways to do that is by optimising your Google Shopping feed. However, if you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t know how to optimise my Google Shopping feed! I don’t even know if I have one!’; that’s okay. That’s what we’re here for! So, let’s get your Google shopping strategy sorted out, so you have one less thing to worry about this holiday season.

What Is A Google Shopping Feed?

Simply put, Google Shopping is a service provided by Google that lets customers search for, view, and compare products easily. When you search for a term, say ‘rollerskates’, you’ll be shown sponsored ads at the top of the search;

If a customer clicks on the shopping tab, it’ll take them to the Google Shopping feed. It looks a little like this;

To work on your Google Shopping feed optimisation, you’ll need access to two platforms; Google Ads and Google Merchant Centre. You might already be familiar with Google Ads, where you run your campaigns and control things like budgets, bidding strategy, location, ad schedule, and access insights. The Google Merchant Centre is the place you’ll keep your product feed and upload details about your products. This might include things such as an EAN, prices, colours, ISBNs, etc. 

Your shopping campaign will work a little differently from the search campaign you might be familiar with in Google Ads. In a search campaign, your budget will be used to bid on pre-selected keywords that help get your products and services in front of the people searching for them. On the other hand, you won’t have direct control over which search queries trigger the ads when you launch a shopping campaign. Google crawls shopping advertisers’ sites and feeds to find ads relevant to a given search query. The relevance of your ads depends on the depth and detail of your Google Shopping feed. That’s why it’s crucial you know how to optimise your Google Shopping feed. 

If you don’t have your Google Shopping feed set up, don’t worry; the team at Get More Traffic can work with you to create a campaign that shows off the very best of your products. If you already have a feed up and going but you’re looking for some advice and help with Google Shopping optimisation in time for Christmas, our team can help you with that too. We have some great tips and tricks to help you make the most of your Google Shopping feed this Christmas.

Get More Traffic’s Ultimate Guide To Optimising Google Shopping This Christmas

Did you know that 90% of Australians across all age groups research their Christmas shopping online? These potential customers are all at different stages of their consumer journey. Some will be researching ideas for gifts, some will be comparing prices for specific items. Others will be in the ‘buying’ phase of their journey, ready to spend their money there and then. No matter what stage of the journey your customers are in, you’re going to want a solid Google Shopping campaign to leverage the increased holiday traffic. Lucky for you, the Get More Traffic team have a few tips to help you do just that. 

Use Christmas-related keywords. When planning your Christmas campaign, target keywords such as ‘present ideas’, ‘gifts for teenagers’ or ‘christmas present for mum’. These are the things people tend to search for in their panicked ‘buy’ phase of the consumer journey. This means they’re far more likely to purchase the products that make it straightforward and easy for them. Another audience who tend to search this term are people in their ‘research’ phase of the consumer journey. While they may not necessarily add your product to the cart in a spree of frenzied pre-Christmas panic, your brand and products will be front of mind as they think about what to buy their loved ones.

 

Use your old data to optimise best-selling products. You probably have a good idea of which products will sell well over Christmas, so make sure you do everything you can to promote those items. Don’t waste your budget on poorer-performing or low-value items when you could be investing in higher-value products.

Use product ratings. Reviews and ratings help your product stand out. They drive quality scores, which means you’ll get higher visibility and lower CPC. Additionally, when customers see items with product ratings or reviews, they receive positive reinforcement for their purchase decision.

 

Offer a special deal. If you’re selling an item in a competitive market, you might need to do something to sweeten the deal and entice them to choose your product over your competitor’s. For example, make a special offer promotion, a sale, or a free shipping offer to promote traffic to your site.

 

Provide plenty of information. There’s no such thing as too much information. The more detail you provide when describing your products, the more precisely Google can match your Ads with queries. Make sure you include crucial information like the brand, colour, size, style, model, gender, measurements, and any other relevant attributes. This will give your product the best chance of being seen by holiday shoppers.

 

Choose your category wisely. The Google product category tells Google what your product is, and if you leave it blank, Google will automatically assign it the most appropriate category. If you’re selling embroidery kits as stocking stuffers, don’t just use the tag ‘Arts & Entertainment > Hobbies & Creative Arts’. Instead, make the category as detailed as possible and write ‘Arts & Entertainment > Hobbies & Creative Arts > Arts & Crafts > Craft Organisation > Needlecraft Patterns’.

 

Update your product availability. When a customer sees online that you have something in stock, naturally, they expect to be able to buy that item. If they can’t buy the product online or, heaven forbid, they go into your brick and mortar store to find it unavailable; you’ll lose a customer. 1 in 3 Australian consumers will pick their second-choice brand over their first-choice brand just because it is present when they are ready to buy, so don’t think that your customers will hold out for you to restock!

If You Need Help With Your Google Shopping Optimisation This Christmas, Contact The Team At Get More Traffic. 

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of SEO and SEM to take their sales to the next level. If you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn how to optimise your Google Shopping feed, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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SEO Tips For Local Contractors And Tradies

Getting a first-page Google ranking shouldn’t be a struggle, but if you’re unsure how the whole process works, you might encounter some difficulties. Here at Get More Traffic, we work closely with businesses to help improve their online presence, increase traffic and leads to their websites, and see results in sustainable and quality growth. At Get More Traffic, we often work with contractors from across Australia and New Zealand looking to increase leads through Google Ads and search engine optimisation (SEO). So, to get you started, we’ve developed the ultimate guide to contractor SEO and chock-filled it full of useful tips and tricks to get you on your way to becoming an SEO superstar with a front-page google ranking.  

 

So Then, What Is Contractor SEO?

In short, SEO for contractors involves improving (or sometimes making from scratch) websites to move up their Google ranking. It is essentially an online promotion of your business using marketing strategies on-page and off-page (a process known as backlinking). But it’s more than just going through and tidying up your website. SEO specialists will use specific marketing techniques and spread keywords or keyphrases throughout your website to help Google quickly identify what you’re promoting or advertising to your consumers. Alright, but how will this help me as a contractor bring traffic to my website? We are so glad you asked. Jump to the next paragraph to find out.  

 

How SEO Can Help Contractors Increase Traffic To Their Website

 

Implementing SEO strategies builds trust with Google. Google is more intelligent than most people realise, and if your site feels uncredible, the search engine will leave it behind. Techniques like backlinking and strategic keyword use tell Google’s crawlers that you’re reliable and here to stay.

Helps keep you competitive. Have you ever trusted a contractor you found on the second, third, fourth, or even fifth page of Google? Better yet, have you ever ventured to any of those pages, or do you stick with the first page results? If you answered yes to the latter, then you’re among the majority of Google users. Implementing SEO strategies to your website helps you get seen by more consumers and results in additional traffic and conversions.

Gives your company a longer shelf life. Traffic tends to slow after a campaign is over, but keeping on top of your SEO strategies keeps it relevant and accessible.

SEO brings the clients to you. In the long term, SEO helps consumers come to you. Gone are the days of letter dropping or advertising in the newspaper or yellow pages. Instead, optimise your website and have your next client come right to you. 

 

10 Tips To Assist Contractors With Search Engine Optimisation

 

1. Keep it local with Google My Business. Google My Business (GMB) is a great resource to help you become more visible and credible online, and the best part is it’s free! It lists you as a business local to your area and tells clients who you are and what you do. GMB also allows consumers to review products and services, giving others an insight into how you run your business. Any reviews are good; 5-star reviews are better. They tell audiences that you’re a credible contractor and can potentially increase traffic to your business.

2. Quality content and use of keywords or keyphrases. As we mentioned early, Google is more intelligent than you think, and it knows when content isn’t up to par. Having quality, informative content that contains keywords specific to your business allows Google’s crawlers to effectively trawl your website and help it to appear within the top ten search results.

3. Online presence. You’ve got to engage with your clients online. Respond to their reviews, upload regular content to your socials. Google knows when you’ve been inactive.

4. Make sure your site is user-friendly. Having a mobile phone on hand means more people have access to the internet than ever before. Speak to your website developers to ensure that your site is compatible with all devices, not the just computer.

5. Keeping relevant and up to date. Time moves quickly, especially in the age of social media and internet trends. So it’s important to keep your website optimised and up to date with all the relevant information. This could look like adding your recently won awards to your site, introducing new and improved equipment, missions, values, or even a complete rebrand if necessary. The most important takeaway should be that consistency is key. Staying up to date assures clients that you know what you’re doing and that you do it well.

6. Backlinking. Backlinking is precisely what it sounds like. It’s creating links on your website that link back to other credible sources. For contractors, this might look like backlinking to your supplier’s website or to another source that can offer credibility to what your business stands for. At Get More Traffic, we have spent years building relationships with credible sources, ensuring our clients provide theirs with honest and reliable information.

7. Track leads. This is a big one. Tracking your leads allows you to understand who your clients are and where they are from and enables you to identify trends in your leads, informing your campaigns, ads, services, etc.

8. Know who your target audience is and what they want. This will help you decide which content is best for your website and where it should be targeted. For example, if you’re a contractor for a building company but only work with commercial businesses, then SEO specialists can ensure your website targets that specific audience. This can happen at a keyword level. Say you want to appear on Google for ‘commercial construction Sydney’ instead of ‘builder sydney’. Having ‘commercial construction Sydney’ as your primary keyword ensures you will attract clients seeking commercial construction services instead of more residential works.

9. Leverage your landing pages. What’s a landing page, you ask? At Get More Traffic, we prefer to call them Go!Pages. A Go!Page is a single webpage designed to convert visitors into leads. Often they are tailored to a particular service (or services) of your choice and are designed to bring more traffic to your business. Go!Pages can be altered or cloned to accommodate your individual needs. We often include testimonials and a map of your business location to further add credibility. They are fantastic for growing your client base, increasing brand awareness, and providing an excellent insight into how your business is performing online.

10. Getting local contractor SEO tips from the Get More Traffic team. Operating for five years (two of those through a global pandemic), we really get SEO and understand how crucial optimisation is to businesses across Australia and New Zealand. We’ve built our business on being able to help others grow theirs, so if you’re looking for experts in SEO for tradesmen, get in touch with us at Get More Traffic today.  

 

Make The Most Out Of Your SEO With The Specialists At Get More Traffic

Is your website a highway at peak hour? Because boy, you’ll be getting a lot of traffic with the help of our digital marketing experts. We’re passionate about helping businesses all over Australia harness the power of SEO and SEM to take their sales to the next level. If you’re ready to give traffic to your website the green light and learn how to optimise your Google Shopping feed, contact the team at Get More Traffic today!

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