What Is Ad Tracking?

What Is Ad Tracking?

No marketer dares to run ads without tracking – ever wondered why? 

Ad tracking is the process of keeping track of how much of an impact your marketing efforts are making for your business. Collecting user behavior and performance insights of online advertising campaigns, such as the number of views, clicks, and impressions. In layman’s terms, it’s a metric that determines the success of your campaign. 

Ad tracking is vital to calculate ROI (return on investment) for ad spending. You can collect immeasurable data related to website performance or customer buying behavior, making it easy to adopt the best ad strategy to improvise sales in almost real-time. Without it, companies (particularly newly established entrepreneurs) would struggle to realize business goals and marketing objectives. 

What can you do with data collected by ad trackers? 

Data collected via trackers is primarily used to evaluate ads’ performance and optimize them for custom-made campaigns and re-marketing purposes. In the absence of ad tracking, you are missing out on the below-mentioned opportunities:

  • Running/managing an ad campaign that connects with the audience based on interest, behavior, likes, dislikes, etc. 
  • Eliminating excessive ad spending. 
  • Maintain precision with ad targeting.
  • Increase ROI with refined and enhanced Ad strategy.
  • Targeting markets under your budget

What Are The Different Formats Of Ad Tracking?

  • URL tracker – In URL tracking, a tracker tag (code) is placed at the end of the URL. This type of tracking is broadly used for PPC, email, and ad campaigns. The code helps in determining which channel resulted in an influx of traffic or the most profitable audiences.
  • Tracking pixels (Social media) – Tracking pixels are small, 1×1 transparent images, often placed over ads, in emails, web pages, or social media ads. These pixels load alongside the ad and maintain a proper record of whether the ad, email, or page has been viewed or not.
  • Global Site Tag (Google AdWords) – Global Site Tag is the most accurate conversion tracking tool available for marketers. It is designed to track and record all kinds of customer activities on a website. The best part, GTAG can be integrated in a rapid turnaround time and streamlines your remarketing & conversion tracking efforts.
  • Cookies – One of the oldest tracking formats, Cookies is still deemed useful for analyzing user surfing habits. Most companies, especially online businesses, use cookies to target consumers interested in their products. Data such as search terms or phrases, current location greatly helps in forming a smart marketing campaign. Even social networking giants like Facebook & Twitter use cookies to show relevant ads.

Ad tracking will help you get to know your audience better. The data you collect via tracking will help you target the right audience at the right time by pinpointing their needs and interests. Undoubtedly, a tracker is an unsung hero of the campaign management industry. Contact us today if you are interested in learning how to get the most out of your digital ad campaigns. We will be happy to help you focus your efforts and determine the right metrics to track based on the goals of your ad campaign.

Differences Between Passive vs Active Marketing

Differences Between Passive vs Active Marketing

Most small businesses engage in both passive and active marketing, but may not always distinguish between them. By better understanding the unique aspects of each, you can make sure to plan and use each strategy appropriately and get the results you need. Marketing efforts are divided into two broad categories: active marketing and passive marketing. Businesses use both these marketing types to get the word out about their products and services. Which format appeals to your potential clients? Choosing the appropriate marketing format comes down to your branding goals, product/service niche, and marketing objectives. 

A passive marketing campaign reaches customers by promoting and positioning your brand. The goal is to make your business visible and be top of mind when your product or service is needed. Passive marketing targets people that are looking for specific information when making a purchasing decision. By anticipating customer needs and planning on how best to reach them, passive marketing lays the groundwork to be considered the best choice. Having good, informative articles on a website, and being listed in industry directories are some of the best forms of passive marketing. 

On the other hand, active advertising is a more hands-on and dynamic approach to marketing that asks for customer involvement. Active marketing strategies do not wait to be found, but rather proactively target specific consumers. Engagement is essential to any ad strategy, especially on mobile screens. Interactive content like quizzes and personality tests are great because they establish a question-and-answer structure with audiences. Instead of trying to dictate a message to users, it offers people the chance to engage, network, and learn something new. The internet and web analytics give us the ability to be very specific and deliberate about who we want to target.

Which One Should You Choose?

The choice entirely depends on your marketing goals and objectives. However, from what we have observed, a good combination of both active and passive marketing will give you a positive outcome in the long run. It is important to remember the differences within both methods and tailor the combination to your specific audience. Both formats serve the purpose of establishing your presence.

With active & passive marketing, you take advantage of available technologies and display the business information before the users in an inexpensive way. If you aim to expand your customer base, an active marketing strategy (such as live chat forums or running ads in local media) will help you reach out to fresh buyers. But if you want customers to find out about your offerings and brilliant products/services, you should definitely go with a passive advertising strategy. 

Passive advertising keeps the promotion user-friendly. Since you’re not pushing users to watch your content, you can expect a friendly response. Instead, your ad will display in front of users purposely looking for specific information and will likely embrace related products/services. 

Active ads are more intrusive and can seem pushier. For example – pop-ups or ads before YouTube videos. We call it intrusive because customers do not expect it. Your marketing message will be displayed to the consumer without their consent. But that doesn’t mean active promotion is useless. On the contrary, it increases sales by informing potential customers about your recently launched products or services. Furthermore, you can inform users of a special offer or a limited discount.

If you would like to learn more about passive and active marketing, and how they can help you and your business, please feel free to contact us. Whether your goal is to expand your customer base or firmly establish your brand, we are always happy to get to know you and help develop a  marketing plan that works.

 

Why Online Reviews are Important for Your Brand

Why Online Reviews are Important for Your Brand

Online reviews are a very important aspect of any business’s online presence today. Your potential customers have become adept at searching and researching products and services before making any purchase decision. Again and again, we find that consumers trust online reviews, as much as personal recommendations from real people. More than half of consumers will only use a business if it has positive online reviews. Online reviews are also critical for your business’s online visibility, for lead generation, and to achieve sales. 

Your business needs to make online reviews a priority. Consumers value what other people have to say about businesses, products, and other people. 90 percent of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. They are a very influential factor, where a positive review can truly set your business apart from your competitors. In essence, online reviews are the modern equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing. And as such, it is imperative that you engage in the conversation.

WHY REVIEWS MATTER

Online Reviews Build Trust – A review says a lot about your business ethics, service quality, and reliability. By helping customers learn more about your business, reviews build up a level of comfort in their shopping decision. Another reason consumers trust online reviews, as opposed to ads, is that the reviewer is seen as a peer that has shared the same shopping experience. Reviewing is a way of helping others.

Increase Conversion Rates – Online reviews can increase your business conversion rate. When consumers have trust in your reviews, they take action. They can be your gateway to generate new and repeat customers. Reviews are a way of taking a crowdsourced approach to decision-making, which allows the consumer to gather data, learn of potential problems, learn from other people’s experiences and spend their money accordingly.

Local Ranking FactorReviews (along with an owner’s response) show that consumers trust a business, and trust is a foundational factor in ranking. When you reply to reviews, it shows that you value your customers and their feedback. High-quality, positive reviews from your customers can improve your business visibility and increase the likelihood that a shopper will visit your location.

Learn About Your CustomersActively generating and interacting with your online reviews is a great way to analyze your market and make improvements to your business. Online reviews allow you to see your business from the outside and get to know what is working and what needs to be improved. When problems do arise, monitoring reviews will allow you to quickly rectify the situation and prove to customers that they are your top priority.   

 HOW TO GET STARTED WITH ONLINE REVIEWS

Before people can start aggregating reviews, you need to take control of your review pages and social profiles. You can request a customer to post a review on your Google My Business page, Facebook, Amazon, Yelp, or Trustpilot. These platforms are broadly trusted and can significantly improve your online presence

Studies have shown that asking for reviews will result in higher ratings than not asking, so make sure to be specific and personalize the request. Go through the review process and make sure it is as easy as possible for the customer. Make sure to monitor the reviews and respond to their comments, both positive and negative. Use the positive reviews to nurture new brand ambassadors and the negative reviews as opportunities to remedy the situation and improve your business. 

Consumers will judge your business based on online reviews, whether you like it or not. So take the initiative and cultivate positive reviews. They are a valuable asset that will serve as organic marketing campaigns and help make your business better. It will take some time and effort, but it’s worth it to grow your business. 

 

 

Digital Marketing Lessons 2020 Has Taught Us

Digital Marketing Lessons 2020 Has Taught Us

The pandemic of 2020 had a huge impact on everything from our private lives to how we work and communicate. Businesses large and small were forced to respond quickly to a new normal and the changing needs of their customers. As we approach the half-year mark of 2021, it is worth a moment to stop and look back at how the digital marketing landscape has evolved. With this in mind, here are some digital marketing lessons that we will continue to carry forward as part of a robust marketing strategy to reach customers.

Conveying Value Via Storytelling 

Businesses need a powerful story to grow because storytelling is essential for memorable communication. It is imperative for your brand to communicate the story of your history, your mission, and your values through your digital marketing. Consumers are more likely to connect with your products and services if they know how you got started and why your brand is beneficial to society. If you are successful in communicating your story clearly and consistently, you are more likely to earn customers’ attention, loyalty, and affection. The goal is to make the audience feel something. Decision-making is more emotional than logical. Telling a good story makes us think and feel, and will help your business stand out in the market.

Stop Taking Customer’s Trust for Granted

Taking care of your existing customers is just as important as attracting new ones. Businesses should not allow themselves to focus solely on growth. Businesses can not allow themselves to believe that customers that are there now will continue to be there tomorrow. No company or product is indispensable. It is time that you stop taking their trust and loyalty for granted and think about retention strategies. To retain customers, it is very important to customize your offerings to fit consumer needs and place an emphasis on service and value. 

Some of the best digital marketing strategies for successful customer retention are: 

  • Promoting your brand value and commitments 
  • Pivoting your product or services into a unique offering
  • Offer virtual services 
  • Create helpful content (blog or video promotion)
  • Run an offer or discount to increase loyalty and client retention

Contest promotion 

Contest marketing strategy persuades people to interact with your brand through the use of contests, giveaways, and sweepstakes. Contest marketing is effective because it entices individuals into interacting with your business by offering prizes. The hope of winning is powerful and exciting. Gamifying promotions are also a fun and exciting way to create brand engagement. They involve tapping into people’s natural competitive instincts through contests and leaderboards.

How do you decide on your contest type? In order to be successful, you need to choose a contest that aligns with your overall strategy and goals. You must make sure the planning for the contest is thorough, taking into account the process for determining winners, delivering prizes, and tracking the performance of the promotion. Some of the most affordable contest marketing formats are event-based contests, polls, giveaways, reward-based quizzes, and trivia contests. 

The Verdict

The past year brought forth a significant change in consumer behavior along with many changes in the marketing industry. People found that many aspects of their lives were forced onto online platforms. Brands that were able to cultivate long-term relationships with their customers & clients will continue to thrive in the post-COVID-19 era. There is no time to lose in planning and implementing a strong digital marketing campaign. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or would like to learn more about making an impactful marketing approach.

 

 

Why Your Business Needs Chatbots

Why Your Business Needs Chatbots

Whether it is for marketing, sales, or customer service, messenger chatbots are one of the most innovative ways to streamline business tasks and foster growth. There is a reason why most vendors, agencies, and consultancies are integrating a chatbot function directly into their website. The fact is that many customers prefer an immediate response or a subtle interaction from a merchant. Through messenger chatbots, you can easily bridge a communication gap and improve your sales process – ultimately providing you with an edge in the market. 

Ever thought of marketing via Messenger Chatbots? Well, you should…

Did you know that a majority of users favor chat apps over submitting a contact page on your website? 

Every business aims to attract, convert, and nurture new and existing customers. Investing in messenger chatbots helps your business and your customers by leveraging your efforts with interaction, product recommendation, sales, and payment gateways. Think of messenger chatbots as a perfect channel to connect, nurture, convert and up-sell directly to prospective customers. 

90% of newly established enterprises plan to adopt or have already integrated chatbots function into their digital-first business strategy. The following are some of the ways that messenger chatbots can enhance your marketing strategies.

Chatbots for 24*7 customers interaction – Your sales team may get worn-out but not chatbots. They are available to new & existing customers 24*7 (even on Sundays) and play a crucial role in 24*7 support, bringing instant answers to frequently asked questions and even helping customers to buy without sales help. 

Better lead generation – A website landing page, when promoted, emphasizes conversion rate performance. But in order to increase the inflow of leads, you need to have a call to action that prospects can’t resist. A chatbot on a landing page promotion is a smart move for better conversion and increased ROI. They can help and guide users instantly. Moreover, with a messenger chatbot, your marketing team can easily collect important information such as contact details, demographic behaviors, and user buying patterns. All this collected information greatly helps in remarketing strategy. 

Efficient and cost-effective – Compared to the manual method, messenger chatbots are extremely cost-effective and can easily handle complex queries. The implementation doesn’t take much of your time. It works spontaneously, and you’ll instantly notice massive savings come from slashing the time and cost incurred from dealing with customer queries.

Humanizes your brand – Messenger chatbots can make your entire website more interactive. They answer questions promptly and effectively, in a structured manner that mimics human interaction. With each question, the bot also provides a list of options making it easy to offer customers options for available queries. This personification is a great way of building relationships with your target audience. 

The verdict – 

Engagement happens when your brand is able to meet your customer where they need you. A messenger chatbot is always on hand can be helpful for site conversion. Furthermore, chatbots also allow businesses to understand customer’s expectations and provide relevant & desirable solutions. In short, the possibilities are endless.

Is Text Message Marketing Effective?

Is Text Message Marketing Effective?

Even though the business world is ruled by countless advertising platforms (such as email, Google AdWords, or Facebook advertising), text-based marketing is still considered a valuable asset to target customers on-the-move. Without it, you are potentially missing out on direct communication with your prospects and an opportunity for an increase in  ROI.

You’ll be surprised to know that many big-name brands offer exclusive discounts & promos via text-based marketing. But why?

As long as people are using a smartphone, Text marketing or SMS marketing will always be a relevant tool to communicate with your customers successfully. Moreover, it is easy to understand and happens to be the most cost-effective & efficient way to reach a large audience in a day.

Text Message Marketing: 3 reasons to use it

  • Build personal connection – The phone is the closest thing to your customers. With text message marketing, you can meet buyers’ personal expectations and introduce newly launched products instantaneously. However, the way you engage matters the most. The most persuasive copywriting usually includes an intimate one-to-one conversation.
  • Very simple & straightforward to launch – Text Message Marketing is about as simple as sending a text. No special app, no additional navigation – you just have to limit your message to 160-180 characters. Thanks to its simple & straightforward process, SMS marketing remains valuable at every stage of the buyer’s journey. 
  • Outperforms Other Marketing Channels – Text message marketing is attention-grabbing, instantly seizes user’s attention, and has the highest open rates to delivery. To some extent, text-based marketing outperforms other marketing channels and gets the most bang for your buck. It has been well-researched that SMS open rates are as high as 98%, and it takes 90 seconds for someone to respond to promotions, offers, or discounts.

How To Make Your Message Convincing

People won’t read your message unless you catch their attention. For this reason, you have to scrutinize each word to get your message to be loud and clear. A compelling message intrigues inform, persuades, or calls to action. It has a sense of credibility, and fervently tells the reason to purchase. Strategies to make your message convincing are: 

  • Create a sense of urgency – Tell your audience about a limited-time offer, limited quantities, or offer coupons they can use right before the end of the deal. 
  • Play with emojis – 90% of users respond positively to emojis, and they are indeed a powerful tool to convey a more diverse message while using fewer words.
  • Send offers in the morning – If you have something exciting to share (for ex- a 50% off discount coupon), try sending your message between 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. The timing works perfectly for people arriving at work, checking messages, and doing quick shopping online.
  • Broadcast in advance – Surprise your audience with early reminders. You can use text message marketing to build hype about sales and promotions in advance and tease out some of the best upcoming discounts.  

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to reach your target audience, text message marketing is the right choice for your business growth. It is being used by some of the largest and most reputable companies around the globe. Now it’s your turn.