1351 Marketing Group

How Can Social Media Marketing Benefit Your Business?

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 00:14:43 GMT

Your Competition Is Using It, You Need to Be Too!

First of all, the question to be asked is why should your business be on social media? The simple answer is that’s where your customers are. Nearly everyone in all target demographics that you may want to reach is involved in social media in some fashion. Your competition is most likely there, too, so you want to have your business be visible as well. With the why determined, the question now becomes how can social media marketing benefit your business?

Customer Feedback

Social media is a wonderful tool to get information from customers. Whether it’s offering feedback on what they’d like to see or satisfaction with your business, if you truly listen to your customer base and engage with them, you can procure lots of data. You can use that information to improve or add to your business. When they have a complaint or question about your product or service, people generally prefer to have an easy way to contact you, and social media fills that void.

Brand Awareness

Brand awareness is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get your brand in front of a large audience. You can explain what your business is all about and let potential customers get to know you better. It’s easy to get started with social media. Simply create profiles across the various social media platforms and begin interacting with potential customers. Utilize your human resources, ask employees, friends, and family to like and share your posts to start to grow your audience. Spending a few hours a week creating content and cultivating your social media profiles will pay immediate dividends.

Brand Loyalty

By taking the time and energy to interact with your customers personally and individually, you begin to build relationships that can often lead to them developing loyalty to your brand. Creating brand loyalty takes time, but social media is a great way to build relationships and keep working towards loyalty continuously.

Boost Traffic to Your Website

Each post on each social media platform presents the potential to drive traffic to your website. If they’re piqued by what you have to say, they’ll be interested in learning more. The best way to do that is to go to your website, which hopefully is linked in your post. The more traffic you can generate, the more possibilities you generate for future business.

Increase Rankings on Search Engines

Rankings on search engines play into the last topic on social media posts driving traffic to your website. The next level is getting your website higher on the list when people search for your business. Search engine optimization, SEO, is absolutely crucial to ensure that when potential customers do a search, they find you. Having your website link in your content posts will begin to increase this ranking. Many people use Google to find what they are looking for, and most won’t go past page 10, while several won’t even go past the top few entries.

Generate content across your social media platforms that utilize your targeted keywords. Blogs are one of the most effective ways to accomplish this. Posting studies, infographics, business information, and even employee photos can go a long way to help with SEO. Again, getting people to “like” and “share” your posts boosts your ranking. The more quality content you produce, the more you increase the likelihood that influencers will become aware of your business. These influencers can write about your business and provide linkbacks to your site, which can help.

Now you know why it’s important to use social media, how to use social media, but you may be thinking you don’t have time, so who can help you with this? Contact the team at 1351 Marketing Group to help you develop your campaign with tried and true methods to maximize all the hows to grow your business!

Five of the Top Digital Marketing Tools

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 01:04:29 GMT

How These 5 Tools Can Help Improve Your Digital Marketing

In today’s technology-first world, having a digital marketing strategy is essential to your success. If your customers are online, you need to use online tools to reach them. There’s a multitude of different tools available today across many facets of digital marketing. We will cover five of the best to get you started on improving your digital marketing.

Hubspot

Hubspot is a suite of tools that can help you increase traffic to your site, procure and convert leads, show how effective your inbound marketing capabilities are, and help improve the rate of deal closings while shortening the time frame needed to complete the deal. It can be used for customer relationship management as well as a content management system. It’s also useful to create and monitor email marketing campaigns, monitor social media interaction, and analyze the behavior of visitors to your site. It’s really an all-in-one tool.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics would fall under the must-have category when planning a digital marketing strategy. Google Analytics can tell you who’s visiting your site, how they found it, what pages they visited, and the length of time they spent on each page. This data can show you what methods are working to drive traffic to your site as well as what they are most and least interested in on your site.

Google Analytics is a tool that can get pretty advanced, but the information it provides is worth the time invested in learning it. Google Academy does offer a Google Analytics course to make sure you understand all the nuances of the tool.

BuzzSumo

When considering a digital marketing plan, social media influencers need to be part of the plan. BuzzSumo can determine the top influencers in your market and assist you in connecting with them. You can search for trending topics related to your business as well as evergreen content. BuzzSumo also offers monitoring capabilities utilizing analytics and mentions to see how your content performs. You can also use BuzzSumo to help create content by getting ideas from these influencers and what’s trending throughout the social media world.

Canva

Aesthetics are an essential aspect of any type of marketing, not just digital. But in the digital realm, you need graphics to make things pop. Canva uses drag-and-drop style to design your logos, images, infographics, call-to-action-buttons, graphs, etc., so you don’t need a graphic designer. Any member of your marketing team can utilize Canva. The Canva catalog has various shapes, icons, pictures, and fonts that you can use in whatever content you’re creating. If you don’t have access to more advanced design software like Photoshop or InDesign, Canva is the perfect tool.

Slack

Communication is of the utmost importance in any team, and your marketing team is no exception. Especially in today’s world, where many companies offer remote employment opportunities, having an online way to keep in touch with your team is crucial. Slack is a tool that does just that and is one of the most used communication tools for companies. It’s made to promote collaboration and online meetings while keeping the focus of the conversations on business.

Slack can integrate many third-party apps so that you can share this data in chats or meetings. 1351 Marketing Group loves Slack for our marketing team communications.

It can be difficult for a small business to devote time and resources to purchasing and learning these digital marketing tools. If you would prefer to focus your energies elsewhere and do not have a marketing team, contact us at 1351 Marketing Group . We will provide a comprehensive approach to your digital marketing needs. We can provide you with a customized website that highlights your brand's individuality, social media profiles that allow you to engage with your customers, and optimized content that will make you the go-to expert in your area.

Making the Most of the Four P's in Marketing

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 00:45:09 GMT

Product, Price, Place, Promotion: The Perfect Marketing Mix

In the 1950s, Neil Borden came up with the marketing mix concept, known as the 4 Ps. Several decades later, this concept is still used predominantly to drive consumers to products and services marketed by companies worldwide. Companies can use this methodology to determine consumer wants and needs and determine if the product or service offered meets or fails to meet those wants and needs. The 4 Ps also set the perception of the product or service, how this product or service stands out from others, and how the product or company itself relates to the buyer.

Product

The first of the four Ps is product, the good or service the company is trying to sell. First and foremost, the product should satisfy a want or need in the marketplace. Alternatively, it can also be innovative, unique, and interesting enough to create a new demand just from its very existence. Product type also plays a role in the other Ps as well as it will, at least in part, determine what can be charged, the placement of the product in both cyber and physical space, and the promotion that will be done.

Price

Price is simply what the customer will pay for your product. When marketing your product, consider the overhead costs, and then market the price as it pertains to the real value as well as the perceived value. Also, consideration needs to be paid to what the market price is for similar products so as to price it competitively.

Where that price falls depends on whether you are looking to create a good value to get more people to utilize your product or whether to inflate the price to indicate its place as a luxury product. Discounts should also be considered when setting the price as they can bring more sales, but possibly at the expense of the luxury reputation if you’ve gone that route.

Place

Place is where you do the actual selling of the product and how it’s made available to the consumer. The goal here is to get your product in front of those most likely to purchase it, whether it be a specific store, a display within a store, product placement in movies and tv shows, or online. The more your target market sees your product, the more likely it is they will seek it out, potentially leading to more sales.

Promotion

When people think of marketing a product, this is usually what comes to mind. Promotion is the actual advertising strategy used to tell the customer what the product is and why they need it. Another goal of promotion is to justify the price point determined previously. Promotion and place go hand and hand and often intertwine and interact, especially in today’s online world. Place and promotion are physical presence as well as an online presence.

For online promotion, things such as search engine optimization (SEO) and targeted ads are critical aspects to consider as well. Search engine optimization refers to having your website be found by the search engines and then placed high in the search results. Target ads are when a consumer is searching for something online that pertains to your product, an ad would pop up. Social media presence is also crucial here.

The 4 Ps are called marketing mix for a good reason as it is the recipe for success when it comes to marketing your goods and services. Ensure you have taken care to thoroughly analyze and understand each of the 4 Ps individually, as well as how they interact with each other and intertwine, to maximize impact on the consumer and show why they need your product as well as to differentiate yourself from the competition.

What is SEO?

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:59:29 GMT

Let Google and Bing Find Your Site

Your website and its message for your audience may be of top quality and well-written, but your intended viewers may not see this content without optimized content for searches. This is where search engine optimization steps in. It helps search engines like Google and Bing find your site and move it toward the top of the search results. Learn about how to make your website content discoverable and increase the number and quality of sales leads.

What Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Search engine optimization is a practice that improves online search results. It gives your website three things:

High-quality traffic: visitors who are looking for what your site offers.
High quantity traffic: better search engine results mean more people will be finding your site.
Cost-free traffic: known as organic traffic, is sent to your site without purchasing ads that appear in search results.

Search results are obtained by the search engine’s bot or crawler, gathering information on the Internet and indexing the results. An algorithm matches the gathered data with the searcher’s query. The algorithm, or set of rules for calculating, depends on the quality linking of pages, keywords, relevant content, readability, and other factors.

Optimizing those organic results means making the sites and their content easy for search engines to understand the content being scoured, as well as easy for the searchers themselves to understand. Behind-the-scenes coding of website text can contain tags for titles and keywords and metadata (behind the scenes information about a website). Relevant internal links to pages within your website also optimize search engines to find your site.

How Do You Optimize Your Site?

Optimizing a site begins at the foundation, using an SEO-friendly domain name and carefully linking internal pages using best practices. From that foundation, optimizing a website requires writing SEO-friendly content that uses keywords and behind-the-scenes markup.

Online technology is ever-changing, and SEO is no exception. Changes to algorithms used in search engines lead to changes in how websites are best designed to optimize search result success.

How To Determine If Your Site is Optimized

While behind-the-scenes website structure, metadata, and coding is a vital part of a web-optimized site and is quite complicated, there are other ways to determine whether your website has characteristics that make it easy for searchers to find.

Consider possible identifying terms or keywords you believe search engine users would likely use. Think about what prospective customers may be interested in, what problems they may want to solve, and where they may be purchasing or looking for products or services.

You should create a list of potential keywords and phrases and review similar websites and sites of competitors. If your website is live, you may be able to lookup keyword data from search engine traffic that’s directed to your site already.

What’s the First Step Toward Optimization?

If your website is already built, you can begin by updating the content to focus on targeted keywords and a variety of related terms. Make sure every page of your website has a targeted keyword to drive traffic to that page.

While targeting the wording is high on the list of ways to optimize a website, there are several other ways to increase traffic to your site:

Ensure it has a responsive design to work well with multiple devices, screen sizes, and browsers. It should render well on phones, tablets, and laptops.
Websites and pages should be easy to like and share on social media.
The website layout should be clear and easy to navigate.

Search engine optimization can be very complicated and require behind-the-scenes modification to website coding and design modification. SEO is much more than what websites look like on the screen or a phone. Contact 1351 Marketing Group to ensure your website has the best SEO possible to bring targeted traffic your way.

What Is a Landing Page

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

More Than Merely a “Home” or “Contact Us” Page on a Website

What Is a Landing Page?

While regular pages on a site can serve as landing pages, data-driven businesses use “post-click landing pages” where web searchers arrive at a standalone page with a teaser like a discount or promotion. Post-click landing pages aren’t connected to the website’s general navigation. They serve as an uncluttered location for businesses to focus on a specific call to action.

Whether they are separate or part of the website like the home or contact page, landing pages receive web traffic and have a specific call to action. Web traffic reaches landing pages through keywords that rank the site high on the list of organic or unpaid search results.

Home pages are most often found through links from social media or friends and family. Both home pages and landing pages serve as a gateway to guide users to the rest of the website’s content.

How Do You Make the Most of a Landing Page?

Landing pages have the best impact if they have a clear message and call to action for potential customers. They should be uncluttered and straightforward to keep viewers focused and should use bold colors and be styled to complement the rest of the website’s style and branding. Make the most of your landing page:

Create a sense of urgency through limited times or quantities of an offer.
Have simple buttons for visitors to take action or seek more information.
Provide multiple points of contact such as a survey, contact page, email, or phone number
Physical addresses add confidence that the business is reputable and real.
Surveys are a good way for potential customers to determine whether a website’s services meet their needs.
Use concise headings and text to relay your message. Keywords can improve search results to favor the site, and testimonials can add further credibility.
Exit pop-ups are a helpful and non-intrusive way to provide an additional call to action when a visitor attempts to leave the page. They can reiterate the offers available or direct users to a contact page for more information.
Large, bold, relevant, and quality photos are essential for landing pages as well.
Ensure the content doesn’t require scrolling on users’ devices to see the message.

What Are the Benefits of a Good Landing Page?

In addition to improving prospects for sales or other calls to action by the traffic directed to the landing page, there are other benefits to a well-constructed landing page:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for targeted search terms that bring more web traffic your way.
Promotion of a product, sale, or other events in a way that is also trackable for measuring campaign success and keyword effectiveness.
Improved efficiency of the buying process through visibility and access.

How Do You Change Your Landing Page?

Standalone landing pages can be added to a site and changed as special offers, events, and other calls to action. Landing page builders and templates are available. Home and contact pages can be modified to optimize search-ability as well. Regardless of how the pages are built, ensure they offer access to analytics that track page views, click rates, and other data.

Making your landing page the best way to grab website visitors’ attention can be very complex and require behind-the-scenes modification to website coding and design modification. Landing pages require good visual presentation and navigation features for both mobile and desktop users. Contact 1351 Marketing Group to ensure your website has the best landing page possible to bring targeted traffic your way.

Is Your Website Holding You Back?

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Imagine a young professional with disposable income starts searching for products or services that your company offers. They go to your website, but it’s so slow to load and the content is hard to find. Thinking things might be easier on a mobile device, they go to their smartphone, only to find that your website isn’t really compatible with a smart device.

Guess what? You just lost a client.

According to one study , 75% of visitors to a company’s website report making judgments about the credibility of that company based on what they see at the site. Your website is like the front porch of a house: If it looks inviting, people will come in and stay awhile. But, if it looks and works like something from the Addams Family, you’re going to lose out.

How can you tell if your website is holding you back? Ask yourself some simple questions!

How Old Is Your Website or the Website Content?

The general rule of thumb for any website is it needs to be redesigned within 3-5 years. Code changes fast, especially when you consider websites that need to be functional on increasingly powerful smart devices. With new technology comes the need to recode your website.

You want a website that loads fast, works on multiple devices and offers the latest in security enhancements. Keeping up with those requirements means higher rankings with Google.

Don’t forget about your content, either. If your content is old (i.e. it doesn’t get many hits anymore) or it’s no longer accurate, Google is going to knock you down a few notches. It’s vital to regularly purge old content and commission new content. Redesigning your site to make your content easier to access is a good idea as well.

Is Your Website Functional?

Right now, let’s do an experiment. Go to your website and time how fast it takes to load. If you count more than 3 seconds, you’re dead in the water. Customers report they expect a website to load in 2 seconds or less. 40% will give up on your site if it takes longer than 3 seconds. Speed counts. With today’s technology, there’s no reason to have a slow loading website.

Smartphone technology is improving by leaps and bounds, and Google will penalize your website in its rankings if the site is not functional on most smart devices. Most websites report that over half their traffic comes from smart devices. If the design is too old to be mobile-functional or the design doesn’t translate well to a mobile device, it’s time for a redesign. Your website is definitely holding you back.

Do Customers Find Your Website Easy to Use?

Can potential customers easily find what they’re looking for on your site? 76% of consumers report that they are less concerned about how pretty the site is. They say ease of use is their number one priority.

A website redesign can clean up the clutter and create a more flowing network for information. The easier it is for your customers to find information, the more they will visit the site, which in turn bumps up your rankings on Google.

Is Your Website Message Attractive to Consumers?

Remember, if your business is a house, your website is the front porch. Anyone can put up a website and then advertise “For All Your (fill in the blank) Needs!” Customers are attracted by a front porch that doesn’t look like everyone else’s. That means a nice, clean design married with intriguing content that people want to read.

If your website is holding you back, whether it’s in need of a complete redesign or an upgrade on the content, 1351 Marketing Group can help. Our team has extensive experience with online marketing and content production. You can’t afford to wait. Visa reports that every second, 1,667 online transactions are processed.

Contact 1351 Marketing Group and let us help you get up to speed in today’s online marketplace. We know how to liven up a front porch space so that the whole neighborhood takes notice.

Why Networking Is Important

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

There are countless blogs online about the importance of social media marketing. At 1351 Marketing Group, we believe strongly that a well executed social media marketing campaign can reap countless dividends for your business and increase your ROI.

But, in this blog, we want to talk about the “social” piece of social media marketing. The benefits of online marketing aren’t all about reaching out to customers. They also are about networking with allies, like people who can help provide feedback and ideas about your business and can provide support when it’s easy to think about giving up -- remember your first year?

Let’s take a moment and explore why the networking aspect to your social media is just as important to your business as the marketing piece.

Sharing Is Caring

As a business owner, you can benefit from getting a perspective. After all, there are other people out there who have been through some of the same struggles and who have come out the other side in a far better place. Networking allows you to reach out to people who can provide another point of view.

The thing about owning a business is that so many people have blazed the same trails before you did. While your business may fill a unique niche, the problems that you are experiencing are not new. So, reaching out to other business owners or people in other geographic locations to ask questions is a smart strategy. It allows you to benefit from their special insight so that you can learn from them and potentially avoid some of the pitfalls that they experienced firsthand.

Another reason that sharing with others is a smart business strategy is the possibility of collaboration. Who knows, you might end up with an offer for a business partnership of some kind of a request for your product or service, especially if you are marketing as a B2B business. At the very least, you get a chance to demonstrate that you are a serious business owner, and that might lead to a referral of some kind down the road.

Sharing isn’t just caring -- it’s good for your business and a smart way to network.

Looking Good and Getting Noticed

Let’s face it: if you want your business to grow and be successful, the biggest thing you can do is get out there and talk to people. A business without connections is a business that’s going to die on the vine because no one does business in a bubble.

Networking is all about putting yourself out there and talking to people that you might not normally engage with. However, it pays off with connections, referrals, knowledgeable sources, and an improved sense of confidence as a business owner. When you are networking, you are helping you and your business look confident and knowledgeable. People will take notice.

Getting noticed helps your business. The more you network with people, the more they see you as a smart, effective business owner. The next time they think of a product or service that you can provide, they will simultaneously think of your business because of your networking. You might have the knowledge to offer other people or businesses. By networking, you’re spreading your brand and your business identity, even though you might not be directly marketing to customers.

An Experienced Agency Can Help

1351 Marketing Group is a specialist in creating comprehensive, intelligent marketing campaigns, but we also advise clients on how to effectively network outside of their main campaign. We’ll be the first to tell you why networking is so important to your bottom line.

We’re ready to help you improve your ROI. Contact us today and find out how we can help your business. See, you’re networking already!

Three Reasons You Need to Add Email Marketing in 2019

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

As a business owner, you could be forgiven for thinking that email marketing isn’t really an essential piece of your overall marketing portfolio. Consumers are already getting bombarded with digital advertising, and you’re posting like mad on social media trying to get noticed and maintain brand loyalty with your existing clientele.

Email marketing is a very smart investment, no matter what other avenues you are pursuing. As 2019 begins, it’s time to reevaluate the effectiveness of your marketing approaches and add email marketing to the mix.

1. Numbers Don’t Lie

Billions of people used email last year (3.8 billion, to be exact) and that number is only going up. Studies predict that by 2022, we will have added nearly 0.4 billion more people into the email community.

Email is such a vital part of the daily life of most people. 91% of people with an email account report that they check it daily. More than half check their email with the help of a mobile device. Email is popular, easy to access no matter where you are, and has been proven time and time again to enhance brand loyalty and customer retention.

You’re probably familiar with the statistics that say for every dollar spent on email marketing, the ROI is $44. It’s no wonder that the vast majority of B2B businesses include email marketing as part of their overall marketing campaign strategy.

The reason for email’s ongoing usefulness is that the technology has gotten much better. Technology allows businesses to target and segment contacts, thus enabling a business to easily contact very personalized messages to groups of customers based on their particular needs. We can even target distinct individuals and easily measure the ROI using the appropriate metrics. It’s a brave new world of email marketing, one that is precise, reliable, and profitable.

2. Ease Of Use

Businesses that shy away from email marketing often report that they are put off by emails with lots of fancy videos or ones that are chock full of images. They say it’s too close to advertising which will turn off customers. But, in many cases, especially with B2B clients, a text-only email can work wonders.

In the B2B world, where you are dealing with multiple people who have purchasing power, a text-only email can serve as a direct invitation to come and learn more about your product or service. Instead of a pushy ad, you create an email message that resembles more outreach. With the right writer, you can create an email campaign that is cost-effective and targeted to your clientele.

3. Improve Your Conversion Rate

Today’s consumer is savvy. They know when someone is trying to push an ad on them. Consumers want to see targeted messages that stand out from the deluge of spam and unwanted emails that clog up their box daily.

Acknowledging birthdays with special offers, segmenting your contact list, or incorporating the customer’s name directly into the email are all ways you can improve your conversion rate. Consumers are looking for companies that take a personal interest and there’s no better way than through targeted emails.

If you’re looking to start an effective email marketing campaign for your business, contact the experts at 1351 Marketing Group . We are proud to be a Constant Contact partner , combining years of experience in putting together marketing campaigns that are comprehensive and help improve your ROI.

3 Social Media Tips For Your Small Business

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Small business owners have so much on their plate. From trying to generate leads and marketing the business to actually running the business and keeping a tight budget, it’s no small feat to effectively manage a small business in today’s marketplace. The task becomes even more arduous when you have to face both organic and digital marketing campaigns.

According to the U.S. Small Business Association, two-thirds of small business owners are personally responsible for three or more aspects of their business, be it procurement, marketing, or actual day-to-day retail operation. Here are three social media tips for your small business that can take some of that load off and help boost your ROI.

Social Media Tip #1: Utilize Email Marketing

According to the 2019 Email Addiction Report , 83% of consumers surveyed reported that email was a preferred avenue to receive promotional material, provided it came from a brand that they trusted. It’s a misconception to think of email marketing as unpopular or annoying. It’s truly a vital tool that can connect a business with loyal consumers as well as improve brand loyalty and recognition.

Creating an email contact list is easy. Establish a contact form on your website and encourage people to give their contact information to stay abreast of exclusive offers or in-store opportunities. Utilize giveaways or free samples to further encourage sharing of contact info.

From there, a smart and well-constructed email marketing campaign can not only improve brand loyalty but also encourage spontaneous purchases. Don’t miss out on a potential gold mine by downplaying the effectiveness of email marketing.

Social Media Tip #2: Use An Effective Platform

With the plethora of sites out there, everything from Facebook to Instagram to LinkedIn, you would be forgiven if you played it safe and only used the one you know from your personal account. However, you might not be marketing your business on the most appropriate site.

Here’s where an experienced marketing company, such as 1351 Marketing Group, can help. For example, the needs of a business like a consignment shop are going to be vastly different than an upscale, fine dining restaurant. In the case of the clothing shop, primary marketing may take place on a visual-centered platform such as Instagram. Meanwhile, the fine dining restaurant may want to reach out on Facebook to take advantage of an audience that skews older.

The bottom line is that different social media platforms appeal to different segments of your target audience. To reach the most consumers, and maximize their engagement and interaction with your business, have a marketing expert analyze your business needs and suggest the sites that are going to help you get the most bang for your marketing buck.

Social Media Tip #3: Make Sure the Content Is Good

People (as well as search engines) want to see quality content on the websites they visit. Today’s consumer is looking for educational information, or content that is entertaining and engaging. It’s a mistake to run a half-hearted attempt at a blog and think people won’t notice because they’re not really reading.

Quality content goes a long way toward increasing brand recognition and loyalty. Of course, one of the sure fire ways to get your content quality up, as well as your SEO, is to hire content specialists through a social media marketing firm.

1351 Marketing Group knows what it’s like to run a small business, so we’re here to help. From content generation to market strategy, we have years of experience in helping small businesses breathe easier. Contact us today and see how we can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Asking For Reviews

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

If you’re in the food or hospitality industry, you probably have very little work to do in getting your customers to provide feedback. These days, everyone’s posting on Yelp or Facebook about your service.

But, what if you’re primarily an online retailer? Or in a service industry, such as a spa/salon or an auto repair business? How can you convince customers to leave valuable feedback?

There’s an art form to asking for reviews. It’s very disappointing to be a quality business that provides quality products or services only to have your online reputation be vastly out of touch with your in-person reputation. Here are some of the more effective techniques for asking your customers for reviews. (Make sure that you are aware of each site’s guidelines for soliciting reviews before you ask a customer for one.)

In Person Works Best

Asking in person works best. Marketing experts report that an in-person request for reviews garners 7 to 8 times more feedback than an email request.

Think about your typical sales associate in a retail store. They might spend some considerable time and energy helping a customer. They get to know the customer and create (hopefully) a small bond with that person. By the end of the sales experience, no one in the store is better equipped to ask for a review.

When you’re thinking about in-person review requests, consider who has the most quality time with the consumer and who is most directly involved in relationship-building for your brand. That is the person you want to go to for direct customer review solicitation.

Asking For Reviews Via Email

Sometimes, you have to go the email route. This is harder but can sometimes be called for when you don’t have much face time with a customer.

One of the tricks to doing email solicitation is to pre-screen your customers. Before you ask your customers for a review, solicit feedback with a survey. You can then weed out customers who you know are disgruntled or are definitely going to provide negative feedback ahead of time. If the customer were in your store, you would feel them out first before inviting them to leave a review. An internal survey gives you that same “gut level” feedback, just in an online environment.

Once you decide who will be asked for a review, it’s best to have a real person reach out to the consumer using a real email address. The email should read as if it is a personal request from one person to another. Your goal is to make the email as personal as possible, so get rid of any random social media links or corporate headers and footers.

Make sure to test your email requests to see which approaches produce the best conversion rates. Do you go with a plain text or an HTML email? Does the presence of the consumer’s name in the subject line produce reviews or simply scare them off? What content works best in the body of your request?

This is where a digital marketing firm can help. At 1351 Marketing Group , we have experience in email marketing and solicitation of customer reviews. We can help get you the feedback that will draw people to your business and increase your ROI. Contact us today to see how we can simplify the process of asking for reviews from your customers.

Is Your Website Ready For 2019

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations! You’re about to premiere a new website for your business. It’s a vital step in today’s economy to have an online presence, so this is great. But, is your website ready for 2019?

With all of the time and effort you have already put into making sure your website is done right, everything from registering an appropriate domain name to curating good content, it would be a shame if a detail went unnoticed and distracted from the overall message your business is trying to promote.

Proofread and Back Up All Your Content

The most important thing you can do to ensure that your website is ready for 2019 is to proofread all your content. Every piece of content on your website should not only be jargon-free but also grammatically correct and relevant to your overall branding message.

Many consumers will not be fluent in the jargon specific to your industry. Also, remember that the average person in America reads on an 8th-grade level. So, your content cannot be filled with jargon or hard to understand vocabulary. It needs to read at a level the ordinary consumer can read and relate to.

While you’re double checking your content, it’s also important to back up every major piece of content. You never know what will go wrong when your website goes live, so it’s important to have a Plan B just in case. Trust us: fixing a problem later with a backup copy will be a lot easier than having to make repairs without any assistance at all.

Optimized for SEO

If you intend to have your website stand out on Google, Facebook, Yahoo, or any of the other prominent search engines on the web, you must have your site optimized for SEO. Now is the time to check for all relevant keywords and images, as well as use of appropriate tags and backlinks.

If you’re not familiar with SEO, now is also the time to turn to a reliable marketing expert. A company such as 1351 Marketing Group can take the headache out of SEO by handling your website optimization for you. It’s a wise investment, not only because it will free you up to handle other key aspects of your website launch but also because hiring a trained expert on such a vital task is a smart way to go.

Optimized For Customer Service

There are two things to keep in mind as you prepare your website for 2019. First, today’s consumer accesses the web through various modalities. Your website needs to be accessible not just from a desktop, but also through a variety of mobile devices. Test your site using different browsers, including mobile, and make sure that any and all compatibility issues are taken care of before launch.

Second, today’s consumers want access to a live person for help. Whether you offer a live chat feature or provide a contact form on your site, being accessible is a must if your website is to continue to get traffic and maintain brand loyalty. Check that some form of contact is available on each page of your site.

Getting your website ready for 2019 is not difficult, but it does need to be carefully done with attention to detail. An experienced digital marketing team, such as the staff at 1351 Marketing Group , can help iron out the bugs for your website before you launch, thus making your site debut smooth and worry-free. Contact us today to set up an initial consultation.

Don’t Let These SEO Mistakes Hurt You

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know that 93% of all online interactions start with a simple search engine query? If your business isn’t playing the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) game, then you’re losing out and it’s likely that people just can’t find your stuff online. Imagine what that does to your bottom line.

It’s time to take SEO seriously. There are several key mistakes that can not only cost you in terms of search ranking but also damage your brand and your professional credibility. Customers and sales could go flying out the door and leave you wondering what happened.

1351 Marketing Group has a team of experts that evaluate SEO strategies for a living. Here are some of the biggest mistakes we’ve seen.

Keyword Stuffing

We get it: Keywords are very important, and you’d be tempted to try and drop as many of them in a piece of online content as you can.

But, the Google engineers are wise to this. They continuously update their algorithm so that consumers get the best search engine bang. As part of that process, they will penalize a business for overusing a keyword in their online content.

Google and other search engines are trying to promote quality content. As a business, you need to be focused on making sure your online material is as top quality as possible. That means keeping your keyword usage relevant and organic. Remember, no one likes reading content that is stuffed to the rim with the same keywords, and your search rankings will suffer if Google (and other engines) decide to hold you back.

Link Buying

Businesses, especially small startups, will often see buying backlinks as a way to increase their rank on various search engines. While it is true that backlinks can serve as a barometer for your businesses popularity, Google definitely frowns on purchasing backlinks and can potentially ban you from the rankings if they catch you doing it.

Many SEO improvement sites that purport to offer numerous backlinks are shady and the backlinks themselves are suspect. Links from low-end or disreputable sites are seen as scamming activity by Google, contributing to the problem.

Build your links carefully by reaching out to established sites with authority. That’s the way you’ll build your search result ranking without running afoul of Google rules.

Hating on the Smart Device Crowd

55% of online purchasing conversions occur within one hour of an online search. Increasingly, as the world becomes more mobile, many of these searches are taking place on phones, tablets, and other smart devices.

If you don’t have some kind of mobile strategy, your business is losing out on all those precious conversions. The Google algorithm is primed to emphasize mobile searching, and businesses that have both a desktop and mobile site are going to receive higher search result rankings.

When you are designing your website, do yourself a huge favor and make sure it’s mobile friendly, in addition to being speedy and uncluttered.

Don’t let some simple SEO mistakes hurt your business. If you’re working on a preliminary SEO strategy, or you want to evaluate your current strategy and eliminate costly SEO mistakes, contact 1351 Marketing Group. Our expert team of online marketers can help with your SEO plan so that your business can get the search rankings (and profit) that you’ve been working so hard for. We can help, so contact us today.

Tips For Improving Your Social Media Presence

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

It’s no exaggeration to say that social media has completely changed the marketing landscape. For the first time, you can carefully tailor a message to an almost infinite consumer audience and do it all for free!

But, all of your social media efforts will be for naught if you haven’t done the little things to cultivate your audience. There’s a vast sea of consumers out there, but if none of them are paying attention to what you post, then it’s wasted effort on your part.

Many businesses worry about the content they’re producing to the exclusion of increasing the audience. Big mistake! The more people that tune into your social media posts, the more your brand gets recognized and the more loyalty your consumers will have, not to mention the increase in sales you’re sure to see.

1351 Marketing Group works directly with businesses to improve their social media presence. Here are some of our favorite tips.

Make Sure Your Content Is Top Notch

According to research , 40% of adults report buying items online several times a month. 15% of adults in the United States report buying through a link on social media. There’s clearly a wealth of customers waiting to see your content and make a purchase.

Consumers aren’t interested in reading essays on social media, though. It’s a visual medium. You have seconds to grab someone’s attention and get them to notice your content. So, it’s important to utilize graphics and pictures. It’s also key to have interactive content, such as polls, videos, or GIFs. Visual elements grab the consumer’s attention and the more they interact or watch, the higher the likelihood that they will want to engage directly with your business.

Of course, to put forth quality content, you have to know your target audience. How much demographic and buying behavior information have you compiled? Who are you trying to attract into your business and what’s the best way to appeal to those consumers? Doing your homework before posting content goes a long way toward tailoring that content to the consumers you want to see.

Be Consistently Engaging

Many businesses post on social media when they feel like it. That’s not enough. Consumers want to see regular content. So, make sure that your social media posts are regular. There are numerous programs that will help schedule your posts in advance so you don’t have to worry about it. Your marketing consultant can help with that process.

While posting regularly helps, being engaging is also a must. Think of social media as a way of building a relationship between you and your potential customer. Once that relationship is established, it needs to be fostered.

When a customer replies to a post, make sure to like the reply. If a customer sends an email or uses an online contact form, they need to hear back from you. Ignoring your customers is a good way to lose them. Always take advantage of opportunities for consumer engagement.

1351 Marketing Group Can Help

If you’re looking to improve your social media presence, an experienced marketing agency can help. 1351 Marketing Group is a collection of seasoned online marketing experts who can carefully craft a social media strategy to improve your business outcomes.

We can help, whether you’re just starting or want to reevaluate an ongoing social media campaign. We can also help tailor campaigns for various social media platforms -- they’re not all the same, you know! Contact us today and let us help you improve your social media presence!

4 Reasons You Need a Social Media Expert

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 01:00:00 GMT

Years ago, social media was an afterthought for most businesses. Someone would log on to Facebook on the weekend and post something positive about the business.

Times have definitely changed. With hundreds of social media sites, and millions of dollars being poured into carefully crafted social media campaigns, businesses can’t afford to go without a planned, well-executed social media presence. Let’s take a look at some of the major reasons why you need a social media expert.

It’s About Your Brand

Building up your brand takes time. It also requires that you know how to build relationships with your customers and encourage frequent interactions with your business.

The worst outcome for your social media campaign is that no one pays attention to it. You need someone with experience in designing a campaign that will grab people’s attention. You need someone with the resources to keep your campaign going in a flexible fashion to take advantage of unique opportunities that develop.

By building your brand through online social media engagement, you create a community of customers who recognize your brand and are consistently loyal to it. A social media expert can make that happen.

It’s Cost Effective

Many businesses don’t respect social media. They think if they just take some fresh-faced intern and put them in a room with a computer and a Facebook account, their social media needs are met (in a very cost-effective fashion).

But, the saying is true: “You get what you pay for.” When you employ a social media expert, you get a team of people that have extensive knowledge of marketing and technology. With customer preferences changing constantly, you need someone who is responsive to trending areas and can maximize the message you want to send.

You may save a few bucks on that intern, but given how much business you’re losing out on by not hiring a social media firm, it’s obvious the most cost effective way to go is with an expert. Besides, how long before the intern starts doing a bunch of other stuff in the office that takes them away from your media account? Coffee, anyone?

Engagement With Your Customers

In today’s marketing world, it’s not enough to just advertise. Customers want to engage and interact with their favorite businesses, and social media gives them an outlet to do that.

By engaging with your customer base, you can not only get them interested in new sales and products, but you have an outlet to respond to questions and customer service concerns quickly. You also can immediately take advantage of trends as they occur versus waiting for an ad to get drawn up and displayed.

The more engaged you are with your customers, the more they talk about your business. The more talk your business generates, the more customers you have coming in the door.

It’s All About the Numbers

Millions of people utilize a social media platform every day. Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or any one of the hundreds of social media sites available, your business can take advantage of all that traffic.

By sharing content and articles related to your business, you generate interest and potential word-of-mouth excitement. Research says that the more people are exposed to something, the more likely they are to have positive feelings toward it. It’s why you see the same advertisements on TV over and over.

A healthy social media campaign draws people in and lets them get to know your business. Through daily posts, customers are exposed to your brand and your message. This generates more customers than traditional advertising, which leads to increased revenue for your business.

1351 Marketing Group Is The Social Media Expert You Need

1351 Marketing Group can handle your social media needs. We know you’re busy running the day-to-day operations of your business. Let us help by crafting a social media campaign that promotes your brand and increases your customer base. Contact us today and let’s work together to increase your business.

How Positive Reviews Can Help Your SEO

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

We live in an age of online reviews, where the reputation of a business is heavily determined by what plays out in an online forum. It’s word of mouth on steroids. And it is really important: 93% of consumers say online reviews play a major role in their purchasing decisions.

Since 84% of consumers report that they trust online reviews just as much as family or friend recommendations, it’s vital that businesses take their reviews seriously. It’s not hard to figure out that positive reviews drive customers in the door and increase sales.

Positive reviews can do even more. They can help your SEO.

Online Reviews and Your SEO

Researchers have estimated that online reviews can make up as much as 10% of the criteria that Google and other search engines use to rank search results.

This isn’t hard to understand. Customers LOVE online reviews. They love reading them, and reviews are a major factor when it comes to purchasing decisions. It’s no wonder that search engines want to take those into account when it comes to ranking and posting search results.

Review websites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, Citysearch, or Foursquare are becoming more and more important as customers seek out review oriented websites for information about businesses. As search engines utilize these review sites for information, reviews immediately play a role in whether your business pops up early on in search results. Positive results mean a higher SEO.

How To Manage Your Reviews

One of the first things you need to do is consult with an online marketing firm. Not all review sites are created equal. Often, review policies are different from site to site. Some sites will allow businesses to directly ask for reviews. Others will not. It’s important to talk to a professional who can guide you to a good review site.

Once you have chosen your sites, you need to be proactive. Advertise in your business the various sites that consumers can use to rate you. Positive reviews need to be presented on your website. Staff need to be trained on how to politely ask customers for a review.

Yelp even goes so far as to print materials for businesses that clearly show the business is currently being rated on their site and asks customers to continue to evaluate their service.

In the same way that social media and eCommerce play a vital role in marketing a business today, it’s not enough to sit back passively and wait for reviews to come in. Customers need to be encouraged to rate a business online, especially if the review will be positive.

Also, utilizing a user-friendly platform makes it easier for customers to leave a review.

1351 Marketing Group Can Help With Your SEO

Managing your positive reviews can really help your SEO. It’s too important to leave to someone who is not experienced in online marketing. 1351 Marketing Group has a team of experts that can help craft a strategy to not only solicit online reviews but can help develop a plan to respond to negative reviews when they arise.

There is a direct correlation between positive reviews and your SEO, which in turn drives customer engagement and sales. A large number of positive reviews drives up your search results standings and also lets other consumers know that your business is one that can be trusted to provide excellent service.

If you are interested in ways to manage your online reviews or are looking to improve your SEO strategy, contact the expert team at 1351 Marketing Group . You’ll be amazed at what we can do for your business.

How Positive Reviews Can Help Your SEO

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Positive reviews can do even more. They can help your SEO.

Online Reviews and Your SEO

Researchers have estimated that online reviews can make up as much as 10% of the criteria that Google and other search engines use to rank search results.

How To Manage Your Reviews

Yelp even goes so far as to print materials for businesses that clearly show the business is currently being rated on their site and asks customers to continue to evaluate their service.

Also, utilizing a user-friendly platform makes it easier for customers to leave a review.

1351 Marketing Group Can Help With Your SEO

Why Your Headshot Matters

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

These days, social media rules the roost. According to Forbes magazine, 82% of consumers trust a company if the owner uses social media. 77% of consumers are more likely to buy from a company whose owner uses social media.

For a small business, this is vital information. Your social media profile is going to be viewed by many customers. They’re looking for information about your company and its personality and brand.

Your headshot is part of that information. Your brand is conveyed by that picture. Are you dressed in formal business wear in an office environment (or against a bland white background), signaling intensity and a professional demeanor? Or are you in business casual clothing in an everyday situation, signaling a relaxed demeanor and perhaps a fun outlook? Your headshot speaks for you.

1351 Marketing Group encourages everyone to think about the message their headshot sends. Here are a few tips towards a successful online headshot.

Don’t Lie

If you’re in your 50s but your online photo is one from your 30s, it’s not going to go over well when a client comes in thinking they’re meeting the person pictured online. Keep your picture up to date. A professional photographer can help you Photoshop a few things and still keep your picture honest.

When the photographer tells you to “look up,” they’re not just being ridiculous. When we look upward, our demeanor relaxes and we portray a much more natural-looking, genuine expression. By looking up at the camera, you are much more likely to be yourself.

Be Confident and In Your Element

Remember your mom always telling you to sit up straight because posture matters? Well, when it comes to headshots and online profiles, she’s totally right. Your posture and head position speak volumes as to your business. Want to project a professional attitude and confidence? Then, stand tall and follow the instructions of your photographer.

Also, not every picture has to be a standard headshot that looks like it got taken in a photo studio. Sometimes a more casual shot, especially taken outdoors, looks a lot better. Customers will respond to a picture that is more genuine and relaxed than a standard but boring headshot.

Don’t be afraid to highlight your business in your online photo. Instead of just a simple headshot, a more expansive picture taken in your office or on a job-site can do wonders. Not only is it engaging for your customers, it also shows them how proud you are of the work you do. It’s an easy way to market your brand.

Now Is Not the Time To Cut Corners

At 1351 Marketing Group, we’ve seen way too many small businesses who thought they’d cut corners by taking pictures with someone’s smartphone or adjusting the pictures themselves with an online photo editor.

Customers can tell the difference. For quality online photos, it’s important to pay up and have a professional photographer not only take the pictures and edit them but also consult with you beforehand so that they understand what the message is going to be. A consultation allows them to utilize their expertise in crafting a solid photographic impression.

1351 Marketing Group knows your headshot matters. One of the photographers we recommend is Taylor Anne Photography . She knows how to create just the right images for your online business. For more information about headshots and the importance of a good online business profile, contact the experts at 1351 Marketing Group .

How Email Marketing Can Help Your Small Business

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

You wake up in the morning to the chime of an incoming message on your smartphone. It’s an email from the local coffee house. You gave them your email address and birthday awhile ago, and now, lo and behold, there’s a “Happy Birthday” message in your inbox and a coupon for a free latte. Yum!

So, you get excited about something free (and a nice birthday greeting is something special to wake up to as well). Now, your morning has some pep and you head out the door a little early, straight to your favorite coffee shop to get that free drink in hand.

This is the power of email marketing. This business was able to reach out to its customer, send a personalized message, and give them a good reason to come back in and check out all the new menu items. It’s tailored to the customer, and encourages loyalty and brand recognition.

Studies repeatedly show that customers respond to email marketing. In fact, for every dollar a business spends on email marketing, they get $44 dollars in return business. 1351 Marketing Group encourages everyone to get on board with email marketing.’

Signing Up Can Be Easy

On your website, if signing up for marketing content is hidden on a side page, you can’t expect people to find it. Instead, signing up should be offered front and center. Multiple avenues for customer signup should be ready and available.

Even better, making signing up easy is as simple as providing a reward. Offering exclusive content via a newsletter, coupons, or special deals through email is enough to make most customers readily sign up.

People want to know they’re going to get something (preferably exclusive) if they give you email access. By encouraging email address sharing, you’re welcoming your customers into a world of exclusive deals and special offerings. This in turn encourages customer loyalty and repeat business. It’s a two-way street.

Email Marketing Allows Your Brand To Shine

Every email you send out doesn’t have to be a promotion. In fact, customers get turned off if everything they see is a sales pitch.

Think about some other ways to utilize your email marketing campaign to let customers get valuable information about your business:

New product information. Email is a great way to let your customers know about a new product release or a reminder of old product favorites. Simply informing customers can get them excited to come in.

Events and happenings. If your business is hosting an event, increase turnout by inviting customers via email.

Newsletter. A regular newsletter is a great way to share content, via blogs or general announcements. This is your chance to personalize your business and enhance your brand recognition.

1351 Marketing Group Can Help With Your Email Campaign

At 1351 Marketing Group, we know how much email marketing can help your small business and are proud to be Constant Contact Partner . The old days of blasting out the exact same email to all your customers are over. These days, tailored and filtered marketing campaigns are the way to go.

Your small business can really engage your customers with personalized and targeted emails. Let us show you how we can improve your brand recognition and customer engagement. Contact 1351 Marketing Group today and let’s get an effective email marketing campaign up and running for your business!

4 Reasons Your Business Needs a Blog

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

At 1351 Marketing Group, we get asked about blogs quite a bit. Why does a business need a blog? Isn’t direct advertising and marketing enough?

The answer is a resounding “NO”. If you’re going to keep up with your competitors, a blog must become an essential part of your online media campaign. 60 percent of businesses who blog report increased customer attention and sales. If your business could use a boost in customers, a blog is a way to get that done.

Blogs Increase SEO and Are Vital to Content Marketing

SEO is the name of the game in social media and online marketing. Blogs allow you to put valuable content online, which in turn gets noticed by search engines. Coupled with effective SEO, you can increase your visibility on a results page.

Your blog is also a cornerstone for marketing content. Successful blogs get noticed on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. They are linked through emails and are shared among customers and their friends and family.

This is your company voice. It’s your place to let the world know about new happenings in your business. It’s a chance to market new ideas and products. A blog also effectively gives your brand a character.

Blogs Increase Sales and Customer Loyalty

When you are seen as the expert in a particular field, customers take notice. They want to do business with the best, so a blog enables your expertise, services and products to stand squarely in the spotlight, thus increasing visibility and customer exposure.

But, even more important, a blog serves as a two-way communication device with your customer base. Your customers can engage with your company, by offering feedback or commentary on the various blog posts you have online. When customers feel like they are involved, and their feedback is appreciated, they are more likely to keep coming back for more business.

Blogs Keep Your Business Focused

Maintaining a regular blog schedule keeps the business focused on delivering content that is timely and relevant to customers. In order to generate effective blog topics, the business must be laser-focused on industry trends and customer preferences.

In order to attract readers, you have to provide content that appeals to them. Your blog also needs to be relevant. So, maintaining a blog keeps your business focused on the pulse of the market and what consumers want. It’s a definite sales and PR advantage!

Blogs Are Cost Effective

Every time you post a blog, you are creating a long-term investment that will pay off in greater sales and loyal customers. That’s an impressive return. Customers can search through your older blog posts and reconnect with your company. Newer loyalties will be forged as customers who haven’t done business with you read through your blog.

There are numerous reasons why your business needs a blog. Content marketing through social media is the prime way to get your business noticed, especially among a younger crowd. Blogging keeps rejuvenating your online presence, and it’s the easiest way to engage with your customer base.

If you recognize that your business needs a blog, contact the expert team at 1351 Marketing Group . They’re ready to work with you to take your business to new heights!

Five Reasons Your Small Business Needs Social Media

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know that more than 70 percent of the U.S. has at least one social media account? Did you know that over half the U.S. has at least two or more social media accounts? Did you know that 90 percent of American businesses report that social media marketing has brought in more customers?

So, what are you waiting for? If you’ve been one of those small businesses who thinks they can stay out of the social media game and still be OK, we’re here to tell you you’re going to get left behind. Here are six simple reasons why your small business needs social media.

Social Media Increases Awareness and Loyalty

You’ve worked hard to build up a brand for your business. Social media can increase awareness of that brand, and keep customers loyal once they’ve tried you out.

When you post to your social media, people who are followers will see it and potentially pass it on to their friends and family. That means opportunities to engage with folks who aren’t aware of your brand. That means more potential customers!

Also, think about the fact that, through social media, you’re essentially giving away information, deals, and other helpful items for free. You’re not asking for anything in return. Customers appreciate that level of engagement, and according to research, are much more likely to stay loyal to your brand .

Social Media Connects You With Your Customers

By utilizing social media, you’re able to connect with customers in a way that traditional businesses cannot. Through social media, you have access to your customers’ posts and tweets, which can give you valuable insight into what products they like and what websites they like to frequent.

Understanding and connecting personally with your customers allows you to tailor your marketing strategies, improve your product, and write better content for your media accounts.

Social Media Drives Web Traffic

So, you post a new blog on your website and pop a link to the entry on Facebook and Twitter. Followers of your business see these posts and share them. Your website is getting more hits as more and more people read the blog. The more website hits, the higher Google moves you up on its rankings, and that means more business.

Just because you’ve posted something new on your website doesn’t mean Google is going to automatically notice it. You have to supplement any content with social media to get some momentum in the SEO game. Content drives business, but social media drives awareness of that content.

Social Media Humanizes Your Business

You can use your social media account to connect with your customers on a more personal level. Sharing important information, a new blog link, pictures from the office, even a story about the “bring-your-pets” day at the business that went horribly awry, are all items that your customer base will appreciate, because they realize that your business is made up of people just like themselves.

Social media enables people to see your business as a group of people, not just a faceless business. When people can relate to your business on a human level, they stay loyal to your brand.

Social Media Allows You To Track Your Competition

Want to know what the competition is up to? Simply look at their social media accounts. By following your competitors accounts, you know not only what they are doing business-wise, but you have valuable insight into how to adjust your marketing and content strategies.

There are so many reasons why your small business needs social media. If you’d like to consult with an expert marketing team, call (715)-475-9706 and set up a consultation with 1351 Marketing Group. Social media is such a useful tool in your marketing arsenal. Let’s work together on a campaign that will drive in business and improve your SEO.

Why Your Business Needs Its Own Facebook Business Page

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Sat, 16 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Many people want to get in on social marketing by creating a Facebook page for their business. What many people don’t realize is that Facebook has two different page types: personal and business. Unfortunately, we see people trying to use their personal pages for business all the time. It’s just not a good idea.

A Facebook Personal Profile is just that: a place for you to connect with family and friends, and share important details or fun snippets from your life. On the other hand, your Facebook Business Page is for your brand: It’s a place for you to advertise your services, reach out to potential clients, and market your business.

Potential clients get thrown off when they see your personal life mixing with your business on a Facebook page. That’s why your business needs its own Facebook Business Page. 1351 Marketing Group helps businesses set up effective Facebook Business Pages every day. Here are some of our most valuable tips.

Post In One Direction Only

Information from your Business Page can get posted on your Personal Profile, but Personal Profile information should never be shared on your Business Page. You need to post in one direction.

It’s very likely that a significant event from your business might be something that your friends are interested in. But, you also need to take into account that not every business item needs to be posted on your Personal Profile. There’s a reason why these two pages are separate. Be careful not to overshare your business with your social circle.

We all enjoy posting pictures and videos of good times on our Personal Profile. But, many times, those items are not appropriate for your business. Keep your personal information off your Business Page. You want a Business Page that projects professionalism and reflects your brand at all times.

Censor Your Page

When potential clients are looking at your Business Page, they want to see what you can do to help them. Posting religious or political views may alienate these clients. Remember that many times, your Business Page is your first contact with a potential customer. They don’t know you, so anything controversial may scare them off. It’s best to leave your personal viewpoints on your Personal Profile.

Likewise, you may be fascinated by all kinds of technical jargon or numbers from research studies, but that doesn’t mean that everyone coming to your Business Page shares your passion. Customers expect you to siphon through all the technical knowledge and translate that information into a business plan. Keep it simple on your Business Page.

Hire A Marketing Expert

Keeping your Personal Profile and your Business Page separate reduces confusion, keeps personal and business information within their own circles, and can help bring in clients. Social media marketing can be a valuable tool for your growing business, and that’s why your business needs its own Facebook Business Page.

One easy way to get this accomplished is to hire a marketing expert who can effectively craft a good looking, professional Facebook page for your business. 1351 Marketing Group has years of expertise in the marketing and social media fields. Call today at (715) 475-9706 for a consultation. We can help you set up a Facebook Business Page that looks professional and promotes your brand.

Why Your Business Needs to Give Back

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Many companies these days are beginning to seriously look at their CSR, or Corporate Social Responsibility. Part of a company’s overall brand and image is what issues the company is passionate about, and how much of their commitment to a better society is just talk and how much is action.

Companies like Starbucks and Disney have parlayed their CSR to appeal to people from many different backgrounds. But, it’s more than just image. A strong commitment to volunteerism and social responsibility becomes a way to bring employees together and a recruiting tool for new employees as well.

Find out more about the benefits of a strong CSR program at your company.

Create The Employees You Want

Numerous studies have shown that volunteers share certain traits. They tend to be compassionate, helpful, and humble. They also show higher degrees of empathy toward others, and are gracious and less egocentric. Does this sound like the kind of employee you would like to have at your company? Of course it is!

When you set up volunteer opportunities for your employees, you are fostering these character traits. And it’s no secret that these are some of the character traits that are encouraged during leadership training. Managers with these traits are more likely to inspire employee loyalty and productivity. Overall, that’s good for business.

Also, don’t forget that volunteering helps create employee identity, lowering stress levels and improving overall health. Volunteer opportunities are good for your employees, which makes them great for your business.

Are you looking for a way to improve teamwork within your office? A volunteer opportunity can do just that. A company-wide volunteer effort can facilitate interactions among team members who don’t usually see each other, in addition to giving everyone a good idea of the team’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s valuable information moving forward.

Giving Back Is Important To Every Company

Whether you are sorting medicine at a free clinic, stocking shelves at a food pantry, or allowing your employees paid time off to engage in the volunteer activity of their choice, you are making a big difference in your community.

Giving back on a local level, or even a state or national level for a bigger company, is such an important responsibility. The more a business invests in their community and their customer base, the more the consumers will notice the company’s CSR and respond accordingly. It’s no secret that customers are attracted to companies they feel care about them and give back to the community that keeps them in business.

Many companies choose to interact with the community in ways that reflect their business. For example, it’s not uncommon to see grocery stores donating products to local food banks or pharmaceutical companies running assistance programs for low-income families. There are a multitude of ways that your company can give back, including ways that highlight your business.

Marketing Can Help Your CSR

It’s no secret that your business needs to give back. It’s the right thing to do, inculcates values and teamwork skills with your employees, and increases your CSR, which in turn brings more business. Once you’ve settled on ways to reach out to your community, it’s important to let the community know what you’re doing.

A sensitive marketing campaign can promote your volunteer and charitable efforts in the community without being cynical or overly self-promoting. At 1351 Marketing Group, we spend time every month promoting and participating in local community events. We know how important it is to give back.

If your company is currently giving back, let us design a marketing campaign that will highlight your efforts in your community. Your customers will appreciate it. Call us at (715)-475-9706 today.

Naming Your Business

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Naming your business is probably one of the biggest decisions in the startup process. It certainly was for us! You want a name that clearly defines who you are, and represents the voice and values you want to portray. You also want something that will stand the test of time, as rebranding at a later date can be difficult, time consuming and costly.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind while selecting your name:

Make It Memorable and Timeless

You want a name that will stick in people’s brains — not just this year, but for many years to come. While it is easy to get caught up in current naming trends, remember these will change quickly and often.

Stay Away From Weird Spellings

You want your customers and Google to be able to find you easily. Names that are difficult to spell or use alternate ways of spelling (i.e. stepz for steps) will be more challenging to remember and more likely not to be found correctly.

Tell What Your Business Does

It sounds obvious, but you want your new name to clearly let potential clients know what services you offer. This will not only let them know what you do, but it will make it easy for them to recall you when needing that specific type of service.

Make Sure Your Name is Available

Having the same business name and URL will allow current and potential clients to find you online efficiently. When these two don’t match, however, you run the risk of someone else getting found when they look for you online and losing business. A simple domain search with companies such as GoDaddy , Network Solutions and bluehost can quickly let you know if your name is available as a URL.

The Suffix Matters

Generally speaking, people will assume your business name is the same as your URL without the suffix such as “.com.” When looking to see if your name is available as a URL, it is tempting to go with an alternate suffix such as “.info,” “.org,” or “.co” if the traditional “.com” isn’t available. However, this is risky as many of your clients will not be aware that these suffixes even exist, much less think to use one with your name to find your business.

Don’t Limit Yourself From the Start

It’s hard sometimes to think of the future when just starting a business, but you want to make sure you name isn’t limiting you geographically or service wise. This was a major contributing factor when we were finalizing our name for 1351 Marketing Group.

Finding the Perfect Name

Family is a huge part of 1351 Marketing Group and definitely a main focus. When the idea of starting a local marketing agency first started floating around in Jeanine’s head, she knew she wanted her mother Debra to be part of the company’s legacy. Unfortunately, in the late stages of early onset Alzheimer’s, Debra wasn’t going to be able to be part of the company in the same way others were. Jeanine came up with 1351 Digital Marketing, implementing her mother’s birth day (13) and year (51) as a way to keep her a part of their new adventure.

When Stacia and Robert came on as co-founders, they understood how important keeping 1351 was but felt Digital Marketing was too specific for what the company ultimately wanted to do. After several coffeehouse strategy sessions and naming options were tossed around, 1351 Marketing Group was created.

Starting a new business is exciting, and it’s tempting to just run with that first name that pops into your head, but remember this is just the start of something bigger. Taking the necessary time to perfect and even test out potential names now will save you time, money and headaches in the future.

Which Platform Is Best For Your Business?

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 01:00:00 GMT

Did you know that 81% of people in the US have a social media account? Did you know that 93% of Pinterest users report making a purchase after seeing an item advertised or mentioned on the site? Did you know that some companies have reported a 40% increase in sales after targeting customers through social media?

It’s a brave new world, one in which businesses will get left behind if their social media presence is not up to par. Whether you’re an established business or a start-up, the most cost effective way to advertise and market is through social media.

With hundreds of options to choose from, how can you tell which platform is best for your business? Let’s examine a few of the most business-friendly social media sites.

Facebook

Facebook is the gorilla in the room with 1.32 billion daily active users. No matter what audience you are trying to reach, odds are that Facebook can connect you with them.

For those companies with a social media budget, Facebook offers a specific, business-oriented advertising platform, enabling you to tailor your message based on age, gender, employment, interests or other variables. With a platform that seems made for marketing, Facebook is the go-to choice for many businesses!

Also, consider Facebook Messenger, an app which allows Facebook users to directly message each other. Business pages are included in this functionality, which allows you to start a messaging campaign and link directly back to your business Facebook page. It’s a great and quick way to generate leads.

Twitter

Twitter has 330 million active users, and it’s great for real time updates for significant business events. Twitter also uses hashtags, which enables you to easily find customers who have used a particular hashtag your business has put out.

Imagine looking for customers who say they need somewhere to go after work to grab a bite to eat. Search for the relevant hashtags, then send those customers a discount coupon to your restaurant. It’s possible with Twitter!

Pinterest is a site that has 175 million active users per month, 81% of which are female. 93% of Pinterest users plan purchases by what they see on the site. So, if your business involves any kind of creative endeavor or you would like to reach out to a female audience, Pinterest may be for you.

Pinterest allows businesses to link their advertising to keywords searched on the website. With main topics ranging from recipes to weddings, there’s a lot going on on this site that you can take advantage of with a carefully crafted social media campaign!

Instagram

Instagram was bought by Facebook less than 2 years after hitting the market. It’s no wonder — the site boasts 500 million active daily users. While Facebook is losing some younger users, Instagram boasts impressive numbers among Millennials (age 18-34).

The advantages to Instagram are that you can pursue a more organic advertising campaign than you can on Facebook, especially if you are working with a tight advertising budget. Also, Instagram is visual: posts have to contain both content and pictures. This is perfect for businesses as research says people remember 80% of what they see, a far higher percentage than what they read or hear!

Choosing The Platform That Is Best For Your Business

We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg in this article. There are hundreds more social media platforms out there, including LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube. Each of these platforms offers a different audience and different capabilities.

If you’re looking for a social media platform to enhance your business, kudos! Your decision is going to pay off in increased customer numbers and brand engagement. But, how can you tell which platform is best for your business?

You need to hire a social media company with expertise in various platforms that can work with your company in the strongest way. At 1351 Marketing Group, we help businesses with all of their social media needs. We can design campaigns and help you figure out which sites to target for maximum exposure. Contact us today and let us help your business thrive!

1351 Marketing Group

jeanine@1351marketinggroup.com (Jeanine Nugent) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Ask most business owners and they will tell you of the careful planning, hours of research, and a solid business plan that went into starting their business. In our world a chance meeting, dinner over drinks and scratch paper a local fundraiser was all the start we needed!

1351 Marketing Group is Created

The initial vision of 1351 Marketing Group began by a chance meeting between company founders Jeanine and Stacia at a local Business Leaders Visitor’s Lunch they were both attending in April 2017. A casual conversation led to drinks a few weeks later where they learned of each other’s backgrounds in marketing and sales. Both aware of the need for media services for local businesses the initial thought of creating such an agency was established.

Fast forward to August 2018 when Jeanine was looking for a last minute guest to fill a table at a local fundraising event. Debating several life changes at the time, Jeanine decided to take a chance that Stacia would be free, and hopefully pick her brain on the current environment for local marketing.. Stacia readily accepted, as she too was seeking change and was planning on contacting Jeanine the following week to see if she had given any more thought to a starting local marketing agency.

Over dinner, music from the 1960’s and a performing Elvis that kept popping by their table to serenade them they drafted out an outline of their company vision on scrap paper Stacia thankfully had in her purse. A follow up meeting was scheduled at a local coffee shop the following week and 1351 Marketing Group was created with a September 1, 2018 start date.

Meeting the Needs of our Clients

Recognizing the unique needs of businesses who don’t fit into traditional media packages, we wanted to provide high quality, comprehensive services that focused on the areas most important to them. Excited to combine our personal experiences gained by working with companies and clients at local, national and international levels with the personal values most important to us.

Starting with our in-depth Need Assessment we immediately start to identify the individual marketing needs currently holding them back from optimal success along with the the personality, tone, and overall voice of their personal brand.

This allows us to work with our clients on developing a comprehensive marketing strategy that meets the immediate, short term and long term goals of their business. From website development, content marketing, social media management, online reputation management and email marketing we are able to assist our clients in meeting their marketing goals.

Hidden Gem Employees

Realizing a company is only as strong as its employees, we rely on the hidden assets of professionals who find they work better in the remote rather than the traditional work environment. From single parents of children with special needs, to a military wife, to individuals overcoming disabilities to work in the professional environment we are proud of our ability to provide our employees with a work environment that meets our clients’ marketing needs while providing our employees the ability to continue to make their families and their health a top priority.

We are so excited to launch 1351 Marketing Group. Thankful to our start up clients and anxious to meet our future ones as we work with them in creating a customized online marketing presence that represents the uniqueness of their brand .