Are you torn between using long-form or short-form videos for your small business marketing campaign? Well, you are not alone. Despite 89% of consumers wanting to see more brand videos, there is no one-size-fits-all answer about the ideal video length.

However, this should not deter you from creating an effective video strategy. In 2023, people watched an average of 17 videos per day, highlighting the influence of video content in today’s digital landscape.

Both short-form and long-form videos offer unique advantages and come with their set of challenges. Join me as I uncover the benefits and limitations of each video format to help you make informed marketing decisions.

What are Short-Form Videos?

Short videos typically range from 30 seconds to less than 10 minutes long. They are popular on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.

Short-form videos deliver brief yet engaging messages that quickly capture the viewer’s attention. Here are some popular types of short-form video content.

• TikTok Challenges
• Instagram Reels
• Snapchat Stories
• YouTube Shorts
• Twitter Video Ads

Benefits of Short-Form Videos

A previously cited report shows that 39% of marketers find short-form videos, ranging from 30-60 seconds long, more successful. The same study reports that 44% of customers prefer watching a short video to learn about a brand’s offerings.

So, it is evident that short-form videos have their benefits. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.

Attention-Grabbing 

Short-form videos capture attention quickly, making them ideal for the fast-scrolling nature of social media platforms. Your audience is more likely to watch them in their entirety compared to longer content.

Cost-Effective Production 

Creating short-form videos requires less time and resources compared to longer videos. As a small business owner with a limited budget, using short-form videos can be cost-effective. 

Increased Engagement

Short-form videos engage viewers due to their crisp and concise nature. This results in more likes, comments, and shares that boost your content’s visibility and increase brand awareness. 

Integrating short-form videos into your influencer marketing campaigns can further amplify your reach to new and diverse audiences. 

Highly Shareable

Short videos are highly shareable. This makes it more likely for your viewers to share them, increasing their virality. 

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There are multiple benefits of adding video to your website including increased engagement, improved SEO, and enhanced user experience.

Limitations of Short-Form Videos

While short-form videos offer many advantages in content marketing, they also present some challenges.

Limited Message Depth

Due to their brief duration, short-form videos may struggle to convey complex or detailed messages. Longer videos might be more suitable if you need to communicate intricate information.

Competition for Attention

Standing out on platforms flooded with short-form video content can be challenging. You must create content that stands out to avoid becoming lost in the sea of other videos.

Shorter Lifespan 

Short videos may lose their relevance with time. They can quickly get buried in users’ feeds, leading to a shorter visibility and engagement period than longer, evergreen content. 

This means you must consistently create short-form videos to maintain audience interest over time.

Limited SEO Impact

Short-form videos may be more challenging to optimize for search engines than longer, more keyword-rich content. This can affect the discoverability of your content outside the social media scene.

What are Long-Form Videos?

Long-form videos are typically longer, ranging from a few minutes to several hours. They extend beyond a few minutes to several hours, providing ample time for in-depth topic exploration and detailed content. 

These videos are particularly suitable for educational content, product demonstrations, and narrative-driven storytelling. Long-form videos are common on platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. Common types of long-form video content include:

• YouTube Series
• Webinars
• Educational Tutorials and Courses:
• Behind-the-Scenes Content 
• Interviews and Conversations

Advantages of Long-Form Videos

Long-form video content is the fastest-growing segment, with videos above 30 minutes experiencing tremendous growth over the years. Let’s explore some of the benefits behind this growth.

Establishes Expertise and Credibility

Long-form videos allow you to provide in-depth information about various subjects, establishing your brand as an authority. Potential customers will likely trust and rely on your insights when you consistently deliver valuable content.

Builds Strong Audience Connections 

The more your audience watches your videos, the more they become familiar with your content and brand. This consistent engagement promotes trust and loyalty, helping you create deeper connections with your audience.

Provide SEO Optimization Opportunities

Long-form videos keep your audience engaged for a longer duration than short ones. This signals search engines that your content provides value, resulting in higher rankings and increased visibility. 

Besides, these videos provide opportunities to optimize for relevant keywords. This Attrock guide offers more insights into the value of SEO for your small business. 

They Are Sustainable

Unlike short videos, well-produced and valuable long-form videos have an extended shelf life. They can continue to attract views and engagement over an extended period, contributing to a sustainable content strategy.

Instagram reels are also a part of short videos and you can get benefits from this platform by integrating it with your website. You can learn how to embed Instagram Reels on websites and get extra benefits from your Reels.

Drawbacks of Long-Form Videos

Despite their benefits, long-form videos also have certain limitations, including:

Attention Span Challenges

Between distractions, juggling tasks, and information overload, user attention span quickly diminishes. Viewers may lose interest and disengage from your long video before its conclusion.

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Complex Production Process

Creating high-quality long-form videos requires more resources, including time, equipment, and skilled personnel. This can be disadvantageous, especially for small businesses with limited budgets.

Platform Limitations

Some social media platforms and video hosting sites may limit video length, making it challenging to distribute long-form video content. You may then be forced to repurpose your content to suit various platforms. 

Short-Form or Long-Form Videos: Which Are Better?

Now that you know the benefits and limitations of each format, which one should you choose? Short-form or long-form videos?

Well, it all boils down to considering several factors, such as: 

Content Objectives

What do you want to achieve from your video marketing campaign? Short-form videos are highly effective for quick brand exposure and generating buzz. Long-form videos, on the other hand, contribute to a more in-depth understanding of the brand.

Target Audience Preferences

Audiences with short attention spans likely prefer short-form videos, while long-form videos appeal to those seeking a more immersive experience.

Similarly, short-form videos may appeal more to younger audiences, while older demographics may prefer the depth of long-form content.

Platform Dynamics

Various platforms support different content formats. Short-form videos are well-suited for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. On the other hand, platforms like YouTube and Vimeo are better for hosting longer videos.

Industry Type

Short-form videos would be ideal if your industry thrives on trends, entertainment, and quick messages. However, long-form videos are effective for industries requiring in-depth explanations or educational content.

Bottom Line 

Ultimately, choosing short-form or long-form videos depends on your business’s specific needs and goals. Since both formats have advantages and limitations, making a choice may prove difficult. 

However, it doesn’t have to be an uphill task. The key lies in recognizing when to incorporate each video format into your marketing strategy. Understanding your audience and its needs allows you to combine both formats strategically, maximizing the benefits of each. 

Continuously analyze performance metrics and adapt your video marketing strategy accordingly to ensure optimal engagement and conversion rates.

The post Navigating the Video Marketing Maze: Short-Form vs. Long-Form appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

The digital marketing software market is valued at $60.3 billion. And it’s expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.5% over the next decade.

With a plethora of digital marketing tools in the market, choosing the right ones can be a daunting task.

However, it’s essential to invest in the best tools to enhance your digital marketing efforts and help you stand above the inevitable competition from your peers.Competition is a significant challenge for 27.1% of digital marketers today, as revealed in a survey conducted by Influencer Marketing Hub.

So which tools should you use to get an edge? 

You don’t need to spend time researching the best tools. In this article, I’ll introduce you to five digital marketing tools that can boost your efforts and give you an edge over the competition.

5 Digital Marketing Tools to Drive Better Results

Here are five digital marketing tools that address different areas of digital marketing. 

They range from tools that enhance website speed to ones for improving landing pages and enhancing overall user experience.

1. TinyImage

TinyImage is one of the digital marketing tools you need to invest in. It’s an image compression tool that reduces the size of your PNG and JPG images online by over 75%.

You don’t have to worry about the security of sensitive image files as well. TinyImage uses a secure 256-bit encrypted SSL connection. It also deletes your images within a few hours of uploading them.

How can TinyImage improve your digital marketing ROI? 

Larger-sized images take up a lot of bandwidth, which slows down loading times for your visitors.

Research by Digital.com shows 21% of online shoppers are dissatisfied by slow-loading pages. Half will abandon their shopping cart if a page fails to load fast enough.  

This app is most helpful for agencies that provide custom app development services. It helps them to compress images in a few seconds and convert apps into fast loading for their clients.

Use TinyImage to:

• Compress images without losing image quality
• Compare the file size of the compressed images to ensure you have the optimal file size
• Save time by compressing multiple images at a go

Price

• Free

2. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is one of the best social media marketing tools in the market. It helps you manage all aspects of your social presence.

You can analyze the performance of your posts and Reels to find the best Instagram Reels to embed on your website. Also, you can also monitor your competitors, manage conversations with your audience, and plenty more.

Sprout Social boosts your social media marketing efforts. And according to research, effective social media marketing results in higher sales for 55% of businesses.

What you can do with Sprout Social:

• Analyze the performance of your campaigns and get insights into areas of improvement
• Uncover current trends and opportunities to engage with your target audience through social listening
• Schedule and publish posts across multiple platforms

Price

• Standard: $249 per month
• Professional: $399 per month
• Advanced: $499 per month

Enterprise: Custom

3. Zendesk

Customer support plays a crucial role in creating a better customer experience for your e-commerce store and optimizing your digital marketing efforts.

And Zendesk is one of the best tools you can use to ensure provide personalized customer support.

It’s AI-powered AI chatbot, live chat, help desk ticketing system, and other solutions help you provide instant and right customer support.

Why is it one of the best digital marketing tools to boost your ROI? 

Zendesk has helped generate numerous leads, sales, and signups for its customers with its low-cost ownership offers.

How Zendesk can help your business achieve better marketing results:

• It offers an AI-powered chatbot and live chat that answers instantly to customers’ questions.
• It offers the right reporting and analytics software that help you get real-time insights for your business.

Price

• Free: $0
• Starting: $19 per month
• Suite Team: $55 per month
• Suite Growth: $89 per month
• Suite Professional: $115 per month

Suite Enterprise: Reach out to them

4. Ahrefs

Keyword research tools are important for any digital marketing strategy. And Ahrefs is one of the best there is. It’ll help boost your SEO strategies to improve your website’s visibility and ranking in SERPs.

It’s not just a keyword research tool, but an all-in-one SEO toolset that analyzes the ranking difficulty of keywords, simplifies backlinking, and more.

You can use it to scan your website for technical and on-page SEO problems that may be holding back your ranking.

Ahrefs also lets you keep tabs on keywords your competitors are ranking for and get insights into the SEO strategies they are implementing. 

Additionally, you can use it to get content ideas that have the potential to draw traffic to your site and find link prospects from a database of over 14 billion web pages.

Ahrefs also provides access to other free digital marketing tools like a backlink checker and AI writing tools

What you can do with Ahrefs to boost your digital marketing ROI

• Find keywords for YouTube, Amazon, and Bing and generate additional keyword ideas using AI to reach a wider audience
• Find backlink prospects to increase your SERP ranking and enhance your credibility
• Visualize your SEO progress using interactive graphs

Price

• Lite: $99 per month
• Standard: $199 per month
• Advanced: $399 per month

Enterprise: $999 per month

5. Hotjar

Google has clearly stated that it rewards content that provides a good page experience. Hotjar is one of the best digital marketing tools you can use to gain insights on ways to improve user experience and also optimize your store for conversions.

It provides heat maps that you can use to see your website visitors’ activities and identify friction points. The heatmaps show you how your visitors move, click, and scroll.

You can also compare user behavior across different devices using Hotjar to identify opportunities to increase conversions.

And if you serve video ads on your website or any other type of ad, you can conduct surveys and collect feedback from your customers to learn how they’re affecting their user experience.

What you can do with Hotjar to improve your ROI:

• Watch full recordings of your visitors’ journey on your site to find and fix user experience issues
• Access all user data from a single dashboard, including feedback, metrics, and session recordings
• Automatically generate relevant surveys using AI and get automated summary reports of the responses

Price:

• Basic: Free
• Plus: $39 per month
• Business: $99 per month
• Scale: $213 per month

Start Leveraging the Best Digital Marketing Tools Today

Leveraging digital marketing tools is crucial if you want to enhance your ROI. And these are the 5 best tools available in the market that you can use.

They all serve different aspects of digital marketing but with similar goals—improving audience engagement, driving conversions, and maximizing your marketing efforts.

Go ahead and give them a shot to take your digital marketing efforts to the next level and boost your ROI.

The post 5 Must-Have Digital Marketing Tools for 2024 to Skyrocket Your ROI appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

Imagine a world where Sherlock Holmes has the sharpest mind but no intriguing mysteries to solve. Or Iron Man without his tech-suit. They are simply incomplete without one another. 

In the same way, lead generation is the lifeline of businesses. Without a consistent inflow of customers, even the best business idea will fail to flourish. And you don’t want that, do you? 

This is where we come into the picture. Today, we bring you the top 10 lead-generation strategies that work like a charm in 2024. Each one, when done right, can help you achieve your goal without any difficulty.

So, let’s jump right into it!

1. Content Marketing

7.5 million blogs are published each day. There is a reason why more and more businesses are jumping on the content bandwagon.

This is because the content is just not the king but the entire kingdom! And if you look at it, truly look at it, you will know how true the statement is.

Content is everywhere. From the billboards to radio ads and pop-ups and more, there is no escaping it. But when you have enticing content by your side, that’s a whole other story.

Content marketing goes beyond promoting products. When done right, it helps provide information that solves problems or addresses the needs of your audience. Inclusive content plays a pivotal role here, as it ensures that diverse voices and perspectives are represented, resonating with a broader audience and fostering a sense of belonging.

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When you consistently deliver quality content, you can position yourself as an industry authority. This is super crucial because it helps you stand out and build trust and loyalty among your audience. This trust is a key factor in lead generation.

Why? 

At the end of the day, potential customers are more likely to consider and choose a brand they perceive as knowledgeable and reliable. It is seen that companies that post 15 blog posts a month generate almost 1200 new leads per month on average.

When it comes to content marketing, the sky is the limit. From blog posts to infographics, content marketing serves as a powerful tool.

2. AI and Personalization

Have you ever noticed Amazon telling you when your favorite product is back in stock? Or Maybe you receive an email from your favorite store with a whopping discount just because they miss you.

So, how does this make you feel? It feels incredible, doesn’t it? This is the beauty of personalization. And they leverage AI to run the personalization process.

Now, put yourself in the shoes of an ecommerce store owner who deals with hundreds of consumers every day. Personalization becomes a bit difficult, understandably. But what if AI could help you out?

Unlike putting in manual efforts, AI uses advanced algorithms and data analysis, which intelligently predicts user behavior and customizes your approach to offer your audience a unique and engaging experience.

This personalized approach not only captures attention but also establishes a deeper connection with potential leads. In fact,  89% of marketers say that personalization fetches them positive ROI.

By understanding and responding to each customer’s needs, AI personalization makes conversion an easy possibility.

Whether it’s recommending relevant products, delivering targeted messages, or predicting user intent, AI makes every interaction meaningful.

And 2024 is a tech-savvy era. With so many OpenAI development companies assisting businesses create their own generative AI model, there is no shortage of tools that can be used for personalizing communication throughout the customer journey. So instead of shying away from technology, it’s high time that you embrace it.

3. Social Media Marketing

From the time of its inception, social media has changed the way we humans communicate and consume content. Today, 66% of marketers generate leads from social media by spending only six hours per week on social media marketing.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn hold so much potential. The key is to come up with a well-structured marketing campaign plan and have engaging content that fully resonates with your audience.

When you come up with a consistent and interactive approach, it builds brand awareness and trust where you easily convert social media users into potential leads.

With social media lead generation tactics, you can check how your content plan is fairing with in-depth insights through analytics. It lets you tweak your approach as you go.

4. Free Demo

Picture this. You are looking to explore a new tool. Everything sounds good on paper but something is holding you back. At the same time, the competitor with similar features offers you a free demo. Which is more enticing? The free demo one right?

Offering product or service demos is a potent lead-generation strategy. It offers firsthand experience, which lets potential customers interact with your offering.

You no longer have to go on and on about how great it can be. Instead, your consumers can go through its functionality to see if it aligns with their requirements.

Remember, with free demos, you are engaging prospects in a practical, immersive way. Demos cut through all the noise and make a lasting impression.

5. Email Marketing

Don’t shun email marketing just because it has been around for quite some time now. It is still powerful and going strong in 2024. It generates $42 for every $1 spent.

Email marketing makes use of targeted campaigns to nurture potential customers. However, plain old boring emails won’t cut. This is the era is all about being different. Don’t hesitate to experiment if you must. The end result must be alluring and personalized messages that solve the specific needs and pain points of your audience.

Strategic segmentation is a must to make sure that each email resonates with its intended audience.

Most importantly, don’t forget to implement calls-to-action and exclusive offers to push your audience to take the desired steps to move them through the sales funnel. Consider incorporating engaging email newsletters to regularly deliver valuable content and updates, nurturing your relationship with subscribers. Again, don’t create emails for the sake of it. Analyze metrics and fine-tune your approach as you go.

6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Your website and SEO go hand in hand. When you amplify your website content, meta tags, and backlinks, you are taking care of SEO. These efforts are rewarded by elevating your online visibility. This is the first step to conversion.

This visibility captivates organic traffic and can convert casual browsers into potential sales leads. Keyword optimization is still a strong SEO tactic in 2024 that aligns content with user intent. This is super crucial to strike a connection between your brand and your target audience.

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As your SEO efforts start making a mark, your website ranking starts climbing upward and soon reaches the first page. However, it is important to be patient with SEO as it can take at least six months.

7. Paid Ads

As aforementioned, social media is a powerful lead-generation strategy. However, if you are looking for quick results, paid ads are incredible.

50% of people arriving at a retailer’s site from paid ads are more likely to buy than those who came from an organic link.

Paid ads are like a shortcut that lets you reach specific audiences with precision and in no time. Platforms like Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Instagram Ads, and Facebook Ads offer robust targeting options.

Additionally, tapping into ad networks such as the Google Display Network or Twitter Audience Platform expands your campaign’s reach across a wide array of websites and apps. What does this mean? It’s simple. Your message reaches users interested in your products or services.

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But paid ads are no magic. It is all about the strategy and efforts you put into it. With careful keyword selection and demographic targeting, paid ads maximize visibility.

The beauty of paid campaigns is that they generate likes in its immediacy. It offers quick results, which drives potential leads to your website or landing page. 

The best part is that you can keep an eye on the metrics and adjust campaigns in real time. You can leverage an AI Ads generator to create compelling ads that will get you better results.

8. Chatbots

Chatbots can be your secret weapon when it comes to lead generation. Why? Because they provide instant and personalized interactions on websites.

As mentioned earlier, we live in a tech-savvy world. So, an AI-driven virtual assistant can engage visitors, answering queries, and guiding them through the initial stages of the sales funnel.

Your AI assistant can also collect user data and preferences. The immediate response and 24/7 availability can improve user experience. After all, if someone is there for you whenever you need them, it just makes you feel good!

9. Influencer Marketing

The influencer marketing industry is now at $21.1 billion, and it has only seen upward growth since it became popular in the recent decade. So, in this era when everyone relies on social media, influencers can help you reach your goals quite effortlessly.

Here, you partner with influencers whose ideologies resonate with your brand value. You use the trust and credibility these influencers have built within their niche and tap into their established audiences.

For instance, let’s say you are a skincare product. You can collaborate with a well-known influencer for an authentic endorsement. This type of social proof can do wonders.

By strategically partnering with relevant influencers, you can generate high-quality leads who are already interested in your products or services, making influencer marketing a powerful tool for B2C lead generation.

10. Webinars

When it comes to lead generation, webinars may be the last thing on your mind. But it’s time to give this idea some merit. 89% of marketers say that webinars perform better than other channels when it comes to producing qualified leads.

One of the reasons why it strikes the right cord is because it combines education and engagement. Hosting webinars positions your brand as an industry authority. When the quality of your webinar is high, it helps attract a targeted audience looking for valuable insights.

During your webinar, make sure you address queries in real-time. This instantly creates a direct and personal connection.

Also, attendees willingly provide contact information to access the event. It helps you with a set of engaged prospects for post-webinar follow-ups.

Bonus: Use Q & A Platforms Like “Quora”

Quora has over 300 million monthly visitors. You might have logged in too in search of a solution. We all do. However, the platform is still underestimated in marketing circles.

If you are wondering how Quora can help you, well, it helps businesses understand the audience’s problems by providing a space for users to pose questions and seek answers.

Let’s say, you are an agency. You come across a question about content marketing. Now, avoid fluff and advertisement-like content at all costs. Instead, be genuine and write authentic answers. In the end, direct users to your website. Do it strategically to convert a Quora user into a qualified lead.

Final Words

As a business owner, you already know how crucial lead generation is for you. But the key lies in choosing the right set of strategies that align with your business needs.

Remember, what works for business X may not work the same way for business Y. Lead gen is never a one-size-fits-all solution. That said, when you implement the top tips we have discussed in the above article, you are bound to make a mark.

The post Mastering Lead Generation in 2024: 10 Strategies to Propel Your Business Forward appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

Want to grow your business faster?…without paying crazy amounts on paid advertising?

Organic marketing is the answer. (Keep reading for my secrets).  

My name is Connor Gillivan. I’ve been an Entrepreneur for 12+ years scaling multiple businesses to 6, 7, and 8 figures w/ an exit in 2019. Today, I run marketing for my portfolio of 4 businesses. 

The majority of my success in business has been through organic marketing. 

In this article, I’ll share my top 7 organic marketing strategies.

1. SEO
2. Partnerships
3. Podcast interviews
4. Social media
5. Content marketing
6. CRO
7. Email marketing

By the end, you’ll have a headful of ideas to execute for growing your business. 

Let’s dive into it! 

My 7 Organic Marketing Strategies

In this section, I’ll define the 7 organic marketing strategies that I mentioned and give examples of each so that you can fully understand how they can help grow your business. 

1. SEO

SEO is the act of creating content on your website (pages & blog articles) that rank for specific keywords your ideal customer is searching for on Google and other search engines. 

For example, let’s say that you run an eCommerce business selling baby clothes. Your baby clothes are organic, custom-made, sourced from the US, and fashionable. 

With SEO, you’d want to rank for keywords like: 

• “Organic baby clothing”
• “Baby clothes made in the US”
• “Fashionable baby clothing” 

By investing in SEO, you can optimize your website, pages, and content with the goal of ranking on the 1st page of search results. 

This will drive traffic to your website where you can convert users into email subscribers and customers. 

2. Partnerships

Partnerships is a marketing strategy where you team up with other companies in your industry where you’re not competing with one another, but you’re targeting the same ideal customer profile (ICP). 

For example, one of my companies is AccountsBalance, a monthly bookkeeping service for agencies, service providers, & SAAS companies. 

We have a Partner Program where we partner with 100s of other digital service providers, softwares, tools, and influencers. 

To start, we add each other to our Partner pages (exchanging backlinks), we feature each other in our newsletters (brand awareness & lead generation), then we find other ways to send leads both ways on a quarterly basis.  

Relationship building turns into brand awareness, visitors to your website, referrals, leads, & customers. 

3. Podcast Interviews

Most people know podcasts for listening to them, but there’s another side to it that is extremely beneficial for organic marketing. 

When I say “podcast interviews”, I’m referring to the marketing practice of getting interviewed on podcasts within your industry where you can share your expertise, establish yourself as a thought leader, and attract new customers to your business. 

For example, my business partner, Nathan Hirsch, has been interviewed on 500+ podcasts in the past 5 years. We have a system where we research top podcasts in our niches where our ideal customers are reading then we reach out and pitch them to interview Nathan. He goes on the podcast & drives leads to our businesses. 

When you do this consistently for months, you create a lot of “buzz” around you and your business. 

That “buzz” turns into new website traffic, leads, and customers. 

4. Social Media

Yes, we all know what social media is, but there’s a specific way to do it for organic marketing that can drive lots of interested customers to your business. 

I encourage you to look at social media as a platform where you can establish yourself as a subject matter expert (SME), build a following, and turn followers into paying customers. 

Here’s an example. I own and run marketing for 4 businesses and I use LinkedIn as a social media channel to establish myself as an SEO expert & entrepreneur, which drives customers to our companies. 

My ideal customer spends time on LinkedIn. I build trust with them through my daily posts & teaching them the SEO & marketing methods that are working best for me. 

It takes time, consistency, a good process, and dedication, but social media is an amazing place to reach your ideal customer.

5. Content Marketing

Content marketing is the organic marketing practice of creating high value content that speaks directly to your ideal customer and pulls them into your email list so that you can continue “talking” to them. 

Here’s some examples of content marketing: 

• Infographics
• Ebooks
• Checklists
• White papers
• Webinars
• Free trainings

Content marketing helps to “pull” your ideal customer into your business so they know you’re an option as they look to solve different problems they have. 

6. CRO

CRO stands for conversion rate optimization.

CRO is the act of optimizing your website and all of its pages for converting as many website visitors as possible into email subscribers or paying customers. 

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Let’s look at an example. You figure out the first 5 organic marketing channels and you start driving 1,000s of visitors to your website every month. Congrats on that first of all! But does it really matter if none of those people convert into email subscribers or customers? 

That’s where CRO comes in. You dive into the design, content, and performance of each page on your website to see how you can convert more visitors into subscribers and customers. 

7. Email Marketing

Last, but certainly not least is email marketing. Email marketing is building an owned email list of people that are interested in your business, you, and the products/services that you offer. Then regularly communicating with those people through a newsletter and automated email campaigns to convert them into paying customers. 

It’s great to get people to sign up for your email list or newsletter, but if you’re not communicating with them, it’s worthless. You need an email marketing strategy where you’re communicating with them, getting to know them better, answering their questions, and building trust with them. 

For example, one of my companies, Outsource School, is focused on teaching business owners how to hire and scale their business with virtual assistants and freelancers from the Philippines. We run a weekly newsletter that provides free advice and strategies on outsourcing to 5,000+ potential customers. We build additional trust with them each week and over time many of them become members. 

How to Get Started (w/ Each) 

Now that you know the 7 organic marketing strategies that you can use to grow your business faster, let’s talk about some simple, actionable steps you can take to get them started. 

1. SEO

Ideas to get started: 

• Build a Blog page on your website. 
• Commit to writing & publishing 1 new blog each week. 
• Target 1 keyword with each blog. 
• Make your keywords what your ideal customer would search to find you. 
• Make all of your content high quality & value for your customer. 

2. Partnerships

Ideas to get started: 

• Open a new Google Sheet or Trello board.
• Make a Partner 100. Your top 100 ideal partners. 
• Find contact information for all 100. (Or have a VA do it) 
• Reach out to them on social media & email. 
• Work to build a relationship with them.
• Run content exchanges together. 

3. Podcast Interviews

Ideas to get started: 

• Similar to the Partner 100, make a Podcast 100. 
• Research 100 top podcasts where your ideal customer is listening. 
• List out your areas of expertise & value you could add to the podcast. 
• Reach out and pitch hosts to interview you. 
• Record the interview with the host. 
• Improve your interviewing skills as you practice. 

4. Social Media

Ideas to get started: 

• Choose 1 channel to start with. 
• If looking for B2B customers, use Twitter or LinkedIn. 
• If for B2C customers, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. 
• Post 1x per day
• Reply to comments that people leave. 
• Build a personal brand around your expertise. 

5. Content Marketing

Ideas to get started: 

• Brainstorm a list of 5 lead magnets your ideal customer would like. 
• Over 6-12 months, make the 5 lead magnets.
• Feature them on your site. 
• Post about them on your social media. 
• Ask your partners to share them.

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6. CRO

Ideas to get started: 

• Once you have website traffic, set up tracking with Google Analytics. 
• Measure how many visitors you’re converting to email subscribers. 
• Once you have a baseline, make a list of improvements you could make. 
• Implement them and repeat this every quarter. 

7. Email Marketing

Ideas to get started: 

• Choose an email marketing software to use: Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, etc. 
• Start a weekly newsletter that you send out. Same day, same time each week. 
• Build a content calendar and get ahead of the schedule. 
• Schedule newsletters and get feedback from your subscribers. 

Take Action

Organic marketing is a valid and proven way to drive potential customers to your website that you can then work to convert into paying customers. 

I’ve been using organic marketing strategies for scaling my businesses for the past 10 years and I continue to be a huge proponent of them today. 

You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grow your business. All you need is proven processes, consistency, and the drive to keep at it for months on end. 

TL;DR:

1. SEO

2. Partnerships

3. Podcast Interviews

4. Social Media

5. Content Marketing

6. CRO

7. Email Marketing

Sit down and plan out how you’ll get these started for your business.

Take 1 at a time, perfect a process for it, delegate, and then move onto adding another. 

By the end of 1-2 years, you’ll have a fully running organic marketing machine that is driving 1,000s of leads to your business every single month. 
Have question? Follow me on LinkedIn and DM me with questions!

The post 7 Organic Marketing Strategies to Scale Faster in 2023 appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

As a marketing mogul, you’re probably no stranger to the importance of creating content that stands out and keeps your reader hooked. However, brainstorming ideas, crafting and editing content, and promoting it can be time consuming, overwhelming, and let’s face it: you’d rather outsource it or, at the very least, get some help. 

You may have heard of it (in reality, who hasn’t?), but let me reacquaint you with ChatGPT, everyone’s new favorite AI-powered content marketing assistant. 

How ChatGPT Works 

If you know me well enough (and if you’ve started to follow me on LinkedIn), you’ve seen me talk about ChatGPT like it’s Jarvis to Tony Stark—because, hey, it really is! 

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, uses machine learning algorithms to produce human-like text based on your prompts. It’s a game-changer for anyone creating some form of content. Just input a prompt and let ChatGPT work its magic! 

How to Maximize ChatGPT for Content Marketing 

But, like every other tool, not everyone fully understands or grasps exactly how to use it—which is why most of the time, a lot of business owners tend to give up and question why people rave about this tool so much. 

Well, take this as your Crash Course to ChatGPT  

6 Strategic Ways to Effectively Integrate AI Into Your Marketing Strategy: 

1. Identify Your Objectives  

Be clear about what you hope to achieve with ChatGPT – maybe you’re aiming for increased website traffic or social media engagement. 

Whatever it is, you need to be crystal clear about WHY you want to use ChatGPT in the first place. This’ll help you figure out what prompts to use and what type of content you’d like it to help you write. 

(Key term here is: help) 

2. Decide the Type of Content You Want to Create 

Whether it’s blog posts, social media captions, email newsletters, or video scripts, ChatGPT has got your back. Looking to captivate readers? ChatGPT generates brilliant ideas for engaging articles. (goodbye writer’s block) 

Need attention-grabbing captions? ChatGPT whips up creative wording that stops the scroll. (as long as you know what prompts to give it ) Eager to connect with subscribers? ChatGPT crafts persuasive subject lines and captivating content. 

Dreaming of visually stunning videos? ChatGPT can help you write scripts with compelling narratives and outlines captivating scenes. 

3. Set Up a Schedule for Using ChatGPT 

Plan how often you want to employ the tool in your workflow. Take control of your content creation process by setting up a schedule that works for you.  Determine the frequency of how often (or seldom) you plan to use it and integrate it seamlessly into your workflow. 

4. Experiment with Various Prompts & Settings  

ChatGPT is flexible and customizable, so don’t hesitate to test different prompts and see what brings the best results. I always tell my readers and clients: review, revise, and refine. This doesn’t just go for the content you actually write, but it also applies to the prompts you give ChatGPT.  

5. Monitor & Track Your Results  

Don’t just create content and hope for the best, take charge and monitor your results like a boss.  AKA – stop “winging it”. Your insights will serve as your content marketing compass to show you if the content you’re putting out there is working or not. 

Want to get certified in Content Marketing?

Leverage the tools and channels to predictably and profitably drive awareness, leads, sales, and referrals—EVERYTHING you need to know to become a true master of digital marketing.​ Click Here

Utilize powerful tools like Google Analytics to track and measure the impact of your ChatGPT-assisted content. Stay informed, make data-driven decisions, and watch your success skyrocket.  

6. Integrate ChatGPT Into Your Overall Marketing Strategy

Aim to make ChatGPT a core part of your comprehensive marketing plan—aka, turn it into your very own Virtual Writing Assistant. You can still have copywriters and editors and integrate ChatGPT as one of the steps in crafting your content. 

Always remember: ChatGPT + Human Element = GOLD. 

Prompting ChatGPT the Right Way  

It gets more exciting, because here are 6 types of prompts you can use to leverage ChatGPT in your content marketing, complete with detailed prompts and breakdowns  

1. Brainstorm Blog Post Ideas 

Engage ChatGPT in a brainstorming session to come up with blog post ideas. This can save you hours of guessing what to write about next (writer’s block is a normal thing, and I totally get it. When you write for a living, your creative juices run out eventually. This is where ChatGPT can definitely help!) 

ChatGPT prompt: “Generate 10 blog post ideas about digital marketing trends in 2023.” 

2. Craft Compelling Social Media Posts 

Of course, ChatGPT can help you draft your posts. (if it can help with blog posts, why not social media captions too, right?) Some additional tips: make sure you specify what platform you’re writing it for. You can even throw in the tone of voice, as well as the word count you’re aiming for.  

ChatGPT isn’t perfect, and sometimes it won’t nail these things on the first try. This is why I highly recommend being patient and going through the iterative process to eventually nail your post. 

ChatGPT prompt: “Write a LinkedIn post introducing our new online course for small business owners. Here is landing page for the course: [Add your link here]” 

3. Develop Email Marketing Campaigns 

ChatGPT can help you develop email marketing campaigns, from creating engaging subject lines to drafting the body of the email. While the prompt below isn’t as specific as you’d like it to be, you can definitely experiment and add more details.  

And if you really want to amplify your email marketing, you can use other tools in your arsenal like CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer, which could help you craft catchy email subject headers to boot. 

Want to get certified in Content Marketing?

Leverage the tools and channels to predictably and profitably drive awareness, leads, sales, and referrals—EVERYTHING you need to know to become a true master of digital marketing.​ Click Here

ChatGPT prompt: “Draft an email announcing a flash sale on our new product. Get details about the product here: [Add your link here]” 

4. Script Video Content 

If video content is part of your marketing strategy, ChatGPT can help write scripts or create outlines for your video content. You can also include how long your video is going to be and add an outline of what you’d like to talk about.  Again, specificity is KEY The clearer you are with your prompts, the better ChatGPT’s outputs are going to be. 

ChatGPT prompt: “Create an outline for a YouTube video on how to use our product. Here as some steps to consider: [Add your steps here]” 

5. Write Out Content for Landing Pages & Sales Pages 

You can also employ ChatGPT’s assistance to generate compelling copy for your landing pages and sales pages, improving conversion rates. 

If the product or service you’re selling deals with a lot of information (say, you’re writing a sales page for a health supplement), bear in mind that the free version of ChatGPT’s knowledge base only goes as far as September 2021. Make sure you double check the details you’re including on your landing page so that you feed readers and potential buyers accurate info! 

ChatGPT prompt: “Write a persuasive landing page copy for our new e-book. Here are the topics discussed in the ebook: [Add in details here]”

6. Churn Out Ideas for Video Scripts & Outlines 

Like I said, as creatives and marketers, we can only churn out enough ideas for content—and that includes video. If you’re leveraging video content in your marketing, ChatGPT can generate ideas for video scripts and outlines, saving you precious brainstorming time. 

ChatGPT prompt: “Generate 10 different ideas for a video script about the benefits of our service. Here is my website: [Add your website here]” 

These 12 ChatGPT tips are literally just the tip of the iceberg. The more you use ChatGPT, the more you’ll discover how you can leverage its power and use it to boost your content marketing strategy. 

The number 1 tip I could leave you is this: The key to unlocking ChatGPT’s full potential is by being clear and specific in your prompts. The more precise you are, the better the output! 

Ready to level up your content strategy with AI?  

Stay in the know and never miss out on the latest AI-driven tips, trends, and strategies in the world of content marketing. Join my newsletter, Dopamine Dose, and get ahead of the game with artificial intelligence. Subscribe here. 

The post 12 ChatGPT Tips to Boost Your Content Marketing Strategy appeared first on DigitalMarketer.

Social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses in today’s digital age. You need it to connect with your target audience, boost your brand’s visibility, and drive sales.

But most businesses and even beginner marketers don’t fully understand how to use social media for ecommerce.

If you’re one of them, we’ve got you covered.

Whether you’re new to social media or looking to enhance your existing social media strategy for ecommerce, this blog is here to help.

We’ve compiled ten effective social media ecommerce strategies that can propel your brand to new heights. So, grab your favorite snack, sit back, and get ready to unlock the potential of social media for your ecommerce business.

Let’s get started!

What is Ecommerce Social Media Marketing?

Ecommerce social media marketing refers to the strategic use of social media platforms to promote, sell, engage, and support customers in the context of ecommerce.

Some of the most common ways brands use social media for ecommerce marketing include:

• Setting up online shops and selling products directly on social platforms (this is known as social commerce)
• Promoting brands on social media accounts and driving traffic to online stores (ecommerce websites)
• Replying to customer queries and engaging with potential customers to build trust
• Offering customer support before and after sales
• Using customer insights and data to revamp marketing strategies

But why do brands do all of this? What’s the benefit of having a social media presence? Let’s try to understand.

What Are the Benefits of Using Social Media for Ecommerce?

Social media is a game-changer for ecommerce businesses, offering a wide array of benefits, such as:

1. Increasing Website Traffic & Generating Leads
2. To Build Brand Awareness
3. Building Customer Loyalty & Trust
4. Acquiring New Customers
5. Creating Opportunities for User-Generated Content (UGC)
6. Improving Customer Service
7. Engaging with Target Audiences in Real-Time
8. Enhancing SEO Efforts & Search Rankings

Fact: Did you know that online stores leveraging social media networks drive 32% more sales than those that don’t? (WPForms)

This stat alone should get you excited about crafting an effective social media strategy for your ecommerce business!

So, now that you know what ecommerce social media marketing is and the benefits it offers let’s look at how to use it.

10 Powerful Social Media Ecommerce Strategies

Here are ten powerful social media ecommerce strategies you can employ to drive sales for your brand:

1. Set Clear Goals

Setting clear and measurable goals should be the first step in your social media ecommerce strategy. Goals will provide you with direction, help measure success, and hold you accountable.

But what kind of goals should you set?

The most common ones can be:

• Drive Sales on Your Social Profile
• Drive Traffic to Your Ecommerce Store
• Get More Customer Queries/Leads

Other than these, you might want people to subscribe to your newsletter or loyalty programs.

These and other similar targets could all be part of your e-commerce social media goals.

But the important thing here is to decide whether you want to do social selling, social commerce, or social media ecommerce marketing.

Social Selling vs. Social Commerce vs. Social Media Ecommerce: What’s the Difference?

Social selling is the practice of using social media to attract your target audience, engage with them, and nurture your relationship with them.

You don’t actually sell them anything but make them remember and trust your brand or business. So, when they’re in the buying mode, they know who they’d be calling – that’s social selling!

Social commerce involves marketing and selling your product (or service) directly on social media platforms.

Social media users can stay on their social profiles, read about the product/service, and buy it — all of this without leaving the platform.

Facebook, TikTok, Instagram Shops and Pinterest Product Pins are typical examples of social commerce being executed.

Social media ecommerce marketing is what we’re studying in the blog right now: marketing your product, generating leads, and helping future prospects on social media but then driving them to your online stores.

So, first, decide what it’s gonna be for you and then move forward.

2. Build Your Social Media Strategy for Ecommerce

After you’ve set your goals, build a comprehensive ecommerce social media marketing strategy that helps you achieve them.

Your strategy should include the following:

Define Your Target Audiences

• Who are your potential customers?
• Are they millennials or Gen Z?
• What do they like and dislike?
• What interests them?

These insights will help you create relevant content, campaigns, and offers.

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Create Relevant Content

• Research the type of content that resonates best with your target audiences — blogs, videos, images?
• Study your target market and see what kind of content attracts them.
• Use this knowledge to create content that will help you engage with them.

But before you can do any of this, there’s an even more important decision to make: “What platforms should you choose?”

3. Choose Your Preferred Social Media Channels

Which social media platforms should your business have an active presence on?

This largely depends on who you’re targeting. For example, Gen Zee tends to be more active on TikTok and Instagram, while millennials prefer Facebook and Twitter.

But don’t depend on our or somebody else’s opinion. Study your target audience and see what the data suggests.

For instance, if your target audience primarily comprises women, it might be a good idea to have a Pinterest profile. Why? Because women make up 60% of all Pinterest users!

Similarly, you can study age demographic stats and see where your audience spends the most time and choose a platform accordingly.

Besides your target audience, also consider each platform’s features and ROI. It doesn’t make sense to invest heavily in a channel that won’t give you the desired results.

So, think carefully and choose wisely!

4. Optimize Your Profiles

Once you’ve chosen the platform(s), it’s time to optimize your profile.

Make sure that all your social media profiles have the necessary information about your brand and products, such as its logo, contact details, website URL, etc.

This will help customers get to know your business better and trust you more.

Also, don’t forget to do proper keyword research. It will help you figure out the best words to use in your descriptions and hashtags to use in your posts to get more people interested.

5. Have a “Mobile-First” Approach

Out of 4.48 billion social media users, 99% access the websites or apps through a mobile device – backlinko.

What does it tell you?

You must adapt your ecommerce strategy accordingly and make sure that all content looks great on small screens too.

Here are some tips to optimize your social media accounts:

• Invest in creating high-quality visuals that look great on small screens.
• Make sure your website is mobile responsive, and the checkout process is easy to complete.
• Utilize mobile advertising tools like Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, etc.
• Use shorter hashtags and URLs to make them easier to tap or type on mobile keyboards.
• Use a clear call-to-action in your posts so that users can take action right away.

Important: Having a responsive and easy-to-navigate ecommerce website is super important – don’t sleep on it!

6. Employ Chatbots

Chatbots are like your brand’s trusty sidekick in the world of social media ecommerce!

Did you know that around 50% of people are totally on board with making a purchase through a website’s chatbot using conversational marketing? That’s right! These friendly virtual assistants can offer personalized and real-time assistance to your customers, making their shopping experience a breeze.

Need product recommendations? Chatbot’s got you covered!

Have a question about shipping? Chatbot’s got the answer!

By having chatbots as part of your social media ecommerce strategy, you can provide instant support, boost engagement, and, most importantly, drive those all-important sales.

So, why not harness the power of chatbots and make your customers’ journey even more enjoyable?

7. Leverage UGC (User-Generated Content)

UGC refers to content created by your customers, such as reviews, testimonials, photos, and videos featuring your products.

It’s one of the most powerful tools for driving engagement and boosting sales.

Why?

• It’s like having an army of brand advocates who are eager to spread the word about your offerings.
• UGC showcases real-life experiences and authentic customer interactions with your brand.
• It builds trust and credibility among your target audience as it comes from real customers.

Plus, it’s not just about showing off your products – it’s about making customers feel part of a community. It shows that you value their input and recognize their contribution to the brand.

So, why not include UGC in your social media ecommerce strategy?

Encourage your followers to post pictures with their purchases, use relevant hashtags, and provide incentives for doing so.

8. Publish Short-Form Content

Today, short-form content reigns supreme! With dwindling attention spans, social media users prefer watching short, 30sec-1min videos instead of reading text.

This is exactly what brands need to capitalize on and capture their audience’s interest quickly and effectively.

But what kind of short-form content can you create to engage your social media followers? Here are some ideas for short-form content:

1. Tips & Tricks: Share bite-sized advice and hacks relevant to your industry.
2. How-Tos: Break down complex processes into step-by-step guides.
3. Behind the Scenes: Offer glimpses into your brand’s inner workings.
4. Quick Product Demos: Showcase your products’ features and benefits in short videos.
5. Inspiring Stories: Share stories that evoke emotions and inspire action.

Remember to keep your content visually appealing, concise, and shareable.

Try different formats like Reels, Stories, or TikTok-style videos to maximize engagement and captivate your audience instantly!

9. Collaborate with Influencers

Did you know that a whopping 72% of Gen Z and Millennials are avid followers of influencers on social media? That’s right!

Influencer marketing has taken the digital world by storm, and it’s an incredible opportunity for ecommerce brands like yours to connect with your target audience in a meaningful way.

Here’s how you can incorporate influencer marketing into your ecommerce marketing plan:

• Find Relevant Influencers: Look for influencers who align with your brand values and target audience.
• Set Clear Objectives: Define your goals for the influencer campaign to guide your strategy.
• Prioritize Authenticity: Encourage influencers to create genuine content that resonates with their audience.
• Foster Creative Collaboration: Involve influencers in the creative process to showcase your products in their unique style.
• Track Performance: Measure the success of your campaigns using tracking tools and unique discount codes.
• Consider Long-term Partnerships: Build strong relationships with influencers for ongoing brand integration and audience connection.

By collaborating with influencers, you can amplify your brand’s reach, enhance credibility, and drive meaningful results in the competitive ecommerce landscape.

10 . Track Progress & Evolve

Tracking and analyzing the results of your social media ecommerce strategies is vital for ongoing success.

Analytics tools can give you valuable insights into audience demographics, reach, and engagement.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter provide built-in analytics dashboards to assess post performance. Use them to understand audience behavior and analyze what’s working for you.

Similarly, monitoring ad performance is especially important if you’re selling directly on social media. Tracking metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and sales will help you assess the effectiveness of your ads and make data-driven decisions.

Besides analyzing your social media posts, keep a close on your website analytics (Google Analytics) to measure the impact of your social media campaigns. See which platform gets you the most traffic and which one’s not doing the job.

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But remember, tracking progress isn’t just about numbers; it’s about understanding your audience and their preferences.

Use the data to identify patterns, trends, and customer behaviors that can shape your future strategies. Adapt and evolve your approach based on these insights to ensure continued success in the dynamic world of social media.

Supercharge Your Ecommerce Journey with Social Media

So, this is it — use this 10-step strategy to build an effective ecommerce marketing plan on social media and drive real results for your brand.

If you find tracking progress and analyzing data challenging, consider completing Digital Marketer’s Social Media Certificate.

This short but in-depth program can help you master the art of creating an effective social media strategy for ecommerce to drive engagement and revenue for your business.

Sounds like too much work? Mongoose Media is an award-winning, modern digital marketing agency. They can develop & execute effective strategies to maximize your brand’s online presence and drive sales.

Don’t hesitate to reach out and take your ecommerce business to new heights!

The post 10 Strategies to Mastering Social Media for Ecommerce appeared first on DigitalMarketer.