All posts by April Heavens- Woodcock

About April Heavens- Woodcock

Author: April Heavens–Woodcock , is the Chief Buzz Officer Touching Clients a Digital Marketing Firm that specializes in strategic online marketing development for businesses. She is passionate about helping businesses grow their bottom line with effective tools. She speaks regularly on social media, email marketing, and marketing around the East Coast.

3 Ways to Improve Communication at Your Company

Improve Communication at Your Company

Improve Communication at Your Company

When it comes to running an efficient and productive business, one of the most important factors to address is that of communication. Effective communication practices allow you and your team to facilitate effective business practices. That said, even though communication is vitally important, it can be a difficult piece of the puzzle to get improve upon at times.

Without the right processes and practices in place communication can fall by the wayside. This can create difficult situations for your business. In order to avoid being placed in a situation where you are playing catch-up with your operations, you should look to improve the communication practices at your company as soon as possible.

In that light, here are three things that you can do to improve communication at your company.

1. Implement the Right Tools

There are times when a breakdown in communication can be attributed to the workers don’t have the right tools available. In this day and age, companies need to equip their employees with more than just a phone and internet access to communicate properly internally.

The first thing is to ascertain what the right tools for your workers are. As such, you should evaluate the manner in which communications are already being handled. Your evaluation should tell you how well your workers are getting on with the processes that you already have in place. Thus, what tools would be a better fit for the purpose.

Once you know what your employees need internally to successfully communicate, you can start your search for the right tools that also fit your budget. Software like Slack alternative communication platforms can be great choices that can truly improve communications at your company.

2. Conduct a Survey

Surveys can sometimes be seen as hindersome and unnecessary by your workers. However, they can also provide valuable insights into those things that you don’t necessarily see as the boss. The key is to not overuse surveys by conducting them too often. When you see a breakdown in communication happening and are unaware as to the source, that can be the right time to send out a survey.

It’s a good idea to ask employees for their honest opinion and thoughts on how communication works at your company. You can then use that information to identify where the breakdown is occurring. This allows you to make any necessary adjustments that can correct the situation going forward.

3. Get Everyone on Board

Once you have the insights of your workers and implement the right tools, your next step is to get employees all on board with the new protocols. Without everyone’s cooperation and compliance, you won’t be able to successfully fix the broken ship. Therefore, involve everyone to correct the breakdown in communication that has been going on.

You might need to conduct additional employee training in order to ensure that everyone knows how to use your new communication platforms and what the new protocols are. Training is the best time to emphasize to workers how important effective communication is for the success of your company.

Make sure your employees know that they can come to you with any questions or inquiries about communication going forward. This can help to ease any uncertainty. Additionally is ensures that you have everyone on board to effectively streamline communication at your company.

3 Top Benefits Enterprises Stand to Gain by Embracing Technology in Their Business Operations

3 Top Benefits Enterprises Stand to Gain by Embracing Technology in Their Business Operations

3 Top Benefits Enterprises Stand to Gain by Embracing Technology in Their Business Operations

With the prevalence of the internet and digital era, businesses have been able to reinvent themselves into household names. Thereby taking over their industry operational niches as market leaders. Embracing technology has been made possible due to the availability of  computer software and programs that have offered varied businesses a competitive edge.

Your business no longer has to be the biggest name or amalgamate with larger corporations to establish yourself as capable in the business environment. In the present day and age, all it takes is carefully embracing and integrating technology solutions that are tailor-made to suit one’s business operations. This will allow your business to emerge and overtake its competitors.

Thus, if you run and operate a business and want to appeal to new prospective customers, you should strive to ensure that your business is keeping up with the latest technology trends. Additionally this will help retain existing customers, and allow your business to remain sustainable.

How Information Technology Can Benefit Businesses Today

It doesn’t matter the size of the business. It could be a startup, large corporation, or even a medium-sized business.

Nonetheless, the pros of information technology are far-reaching. Business owners and executives should strive to find avenues of inculcating IT into the operations to maximize the streamlining of their operations.

This guide is to enlighten businesses and business managers on some of the benefits information technology can provide.

  • Productivity and Automation.

Make the active decision to embrace technology and include automated processes in your daily business operations. You will then stand a chance to compete with larger corporations on an equal footing. Additionally, your business may experience increased flexibility by being proactively responsive to business changes more swiftly.

Often this is because technology is known to help a business boost its efficiency by eradicating some human errors. Using contact management software platforms such as SalesForce can boost your clientele’s communication ability. Whereas accounting software such as QuickBooks can help you to eliminate accounting mistakes. Technology helps your business provide its customers with a positive customer experience.

Sorting out the expertise of information technology experts such as Iconic IT can help you increase the focus on your business’s core competencies. You may be wondering how this happens. Automated systems can help process redundant business tasks, enabling your staff members more time to focus on the business’s goals.

  • Improves Collaboration and Communication

Technology offers not only human beings but also businesses a wide array of communication options to empower them to communicate more effectively.

The swift adoption of software such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and Skype enable businesses to communicate with their suppliers, B2B customers, and B2C customers in a more efficient and timely fashion.

Geographical limitations are no longer a constraint to business operations as staff members can collaborate and communicate across different time zones.

  • Reduction in Company Expenses

Both big companies and small businesses enjoy a reduction in their financial expenses as a result of embracing technology.

This is for the mere fact that technology enables businesses to improve their productivity with lesser employees. In turn, big firms and corporations experience a reduction in their payroll budget.

The capital saved can then be invested back into the company enabling the business to scale its scope of operation. This helps ensure its sustainable business growth in the business environment.

Final Remarks

A business that chooses to embrace the use of technology in their day-to-day operations is securing their success. Technology enables businesses irrespective of their operational size to improve their brand recognition.

Also, through technology, businesses can release more creative product and service offerings to increase customer satisfaction.

Retain the SEO Rankings: Ways of Keeping the Competitors in Their Place

Retain the SEO Rankings: Ways of Keeping the Competitors in Their Place

Retain the SEO Rankings: Ways of Keeping the Competitors in Their Place

If you have acquired that coveted number 1 spot on the Search Engine Results Pages, that does not mean you can now sit back and bask in the glory. Maintaining the SEO scores is crucial to make your keyword targeting a success story. Safari SEO Services tell us that SERP rankings require constant diligence; rankings constantly change and holding the top spot requires continual adjustments making it incredibly challenging. The reason is that the SEO algorithms keep changing; this makes it hard for companies to keep up with the latest developments. Thus, driving your Google rankings from unseen to the top of the page asks implementation of top-notch strategies to give your competitors a tough time.

We have compiled a precise guide for organizations on the lookout for ways to retain their SEO ranking and keep their competitions in their place.

1 – Focus on Meta Description & Title Optimization 

The factor that could give you your favorite spot on the SERPs is your frequent maintenance of quality-optimized content. It is vital to remember that when competitors work to counter your rank for the same keyword, they will pull out all the tricks to surpass your score. It makes it necessary for you to work on your website by making your links more clickable and up to date. You can achieve it by optimizing your content and Meta descriptions regularly.

2 – Establish Authority with Informative Content 

You can effectively maintain a high rank on search engines by ensuring competitive research for your site’s keywords. A fine example of this is the Amazon website. If you search ‘books’ in the Google search bar, your first non-advertised result would be the Amazon website. The reason is that the company set itself as the ‘go-to’ site for purchasing books by working precisely on competitive research.

Competitive analysis for implementing best SEO practices includes research on authoritative links, target keywords, and analyzing SEO competitors. Besides, it is equally important to use reverse engineering tactics to achieve successful SEO strategy results.

So, if you aspire to rank high for a particular keyword, be consistent with competitive research and producing relative content to hold your spot in the race.

3 – Add Featured Snippets to Show on Top-tier 

Pages that appear on search results are much more than just a list of links. When you type something in the search bar, the search engine presents results. It splits the results into several categories, such as featured snippets, image results, recommended websites, sidebars, and sponsored links. Featured snippets are small chunks of information pulled from websites that Google finds relevant to the searched query. For instance, if you develop a site about bookshops’ history, Google will take a snippet to quote the search results. Thus, it is a bright idea to include a blend of tables, lists, and paragraphs relevant to your content to secure better SEO ranks.

4 – Get an SSL Certificate

Back in the day, website developers had the choice to create website URLs with or without it. However, as of 2018, Google addresses URLs created without the additional SSL as ‘not secure.’ Therefore, if your web URL starts with ‘HTTP,’ people might feel weary clicking on your website, whereas some browsers might block access to the site. Therefore, switching your site’s address to HTTPS will safely keep your spot on the search engines.

5 – Backlinking is Vital

An effective way to ensure that your content ranks high for a particular keyword is through judicious internal linking. It includes links in your content to maintain your SEO rankings. The internal linking technique is one of the best ways to retain the score; you must be mindful not to go overboard.

Your website’s position at the top of SERPs is also because of your efforts in building the backlinks. Backlinks can make your SEO game very strong; therefore, you should not stop incorporating this practice when creating content. The key is to avoid making your website look plethoric with backlinks, and approach other websites within your industry – except your competitors – and offer them guest posts. Another brilliant way to incorporate backlinks is to feature case studies to your potential clients and encourage them to backlink from their sites in return. Make sure to run a regular check on the internal and external links to avoid any broken links.

6 – Monitor Your Progress with SEO Tracking Tools

When it comes to retaining rankings for SEO, you might want to run a check on your keyword patterns and top terms. When your keyword’s visibility index starts to get low, your website eventually starts to lose ground. Using tracking tools and utilizing the conventional SEO techniques, you can steer your way back to the top.

If you have managed to rank high in the SERPs, it is implausible that you would not know about Google Analytics. The depth of riches offered by this tool is something mainstream marketers have not explored yet. It provides a well-known feature called Intelligence Events, which allows you to monitor any significant changes in your analytics data. This tool does not only help in tracking any alterations but also alerts you of the spike or exhaust in traffic.

Conclusion

Well-optimized websites are visible from a distance as they receive more traffic over time, which brings about increased sales and more leads. SEO rankings are vital to any website’s functionality because the audience or potential customers will not find your website prominently on the search engine pages without it.

How to Recover Your Business in 2021

Recover your business

Recover business

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense financial constraints for thousands of individuals, businesses, and organizations all over the world. This is due to the resulting lockdown that prevents businesses from opening and customers from visiting retail stores. As a result, more businesses have suffered great losses. This, in turn, made several of them close, while the remaining few are scrambling for survival. If you’ve been hit the hard, you need to recover your business for 2021. Here are two major ways to do so.

Hire top-notch Business advisors

When you need a job to be done right, you usually look for an expert in that field. This should be the same case when managing your finances. As mentioned earlier, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to reduced sales. As a result, businesses have been forced to spend extra money to sustain and keep their businesses running. Therefore, with the little money earned, you need to spend it wisely. You should know what to increase and what to reduce. That’s where a business advisor comes in.

A business advisor is a person who offers personalized professional insight and expertise on how to choose the best investment area. They’ll help you in determining the proper allocation of assets to fit your business level. Additionally, a business advisor can help in evaluating your current investments and gauge how appropriate they are. Furthermore, a business advisor can be a specialist in particular areas of business. For example, there are plenty of expert financial advisors available for hire. You can hire CPA services from Brown Smith Wallace, an individual business advisory firm with over 300 employees.

Spruce up your website

With the current technological advancements, people no longer have to visit physical retail stores to purchase different stuff. This is because more businesses have moved to the online platform. There are plenty of online stores all over the world. As a result, people can access the wide catalog of products, alongside their respective prices. They can also make orders using their phones or desktop computers. Therefore, to attract a larger client base, you need to ensure that your website is up to scratch.

From e-commerce functionality to SEO strategies, your website should be perfectly crafted. In anticipation of a successful 2021, now is the right time to make the necessary improvements and tweaks to your website. Check the speed of loading the web pages and make the necessary enhancements. Additionally, ensure that the site is accessible via both desktop computers and mobile gadgets. This can be done by adding the responsive feature to your site. All these will improve the user experience and increase the flow of traffic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, every business is trying to recover from the great losses encountered in the past few months. Therefore, you need to do better if you want to stand out among the crowd. Additionally, you need to be ready for any challenges or opportunities that 2021 will bring. For the challenges, have ways to minimize the effects. For the opportunities, devise ways to maximize them. If you keep this in mind, you will be ready to rise to the occasion no matter what comes your way.

Reckoning Digital Marketing Best Practices For Startups

Reckoning Digital Marketing Best Practices For Startups

Reckoning Digital Marketing Best Practices For Startups

Digital marketing allows businesses of all sizes and budgets to carve out brand integrity and credibility. Digital platforms offer companies budget-friendly avenues to expand their target audience and explore new market segments.  And digital marketing best practices ensure that the right paths are followed that can lead to the best results.

Have you recently started your businesses? Or perhaps, you’re trying to acquire new customers for your existing small business. Digital marketing is a vital tool to expand your startup’s reach to build a formidable brand image that commands attention. Startups typically struggle with budgeting challenges, and they seek cost-effective marketing avenues that higher returns on investment. 

Digital marketing is one such avenue that can help you carve out a competitive edge with creativity and originality. A startup must position itself in the consumers’ minds to differentiate the brand. Carving out a unique and masterful digital identity will help you set your brand apart in the industry. 

In 2020, digital marketing is no longer a luxury; it is a sheer necessity to gain credibility and integrity. Modern-day consumers do not trust businesses without a thriving web presence and social media engagement. This article will walk you through the best digital marketing practices you can adopt for booming startup success. 

GAINING CREDIBILITY 

As a startup, your brand faces a greater struggle to carve out credibility in the eyes of consumers, search engines, and competitors. Luckily, various techniques can help you build credibility and enjoy success in the digital arena. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the key to building brand integrity, and it introduces marketers to various practical strategies. 

For instance, link building is a simple trick to signal Google and other search engines that your website commands quality and credibility. It is the process of encouraging bloggers, marketers, and other websites to link back to your website. This simple SEO tactic will help you cement your website as a quality resource. 

However, link building requires content curation and networking, which can prove challengingly burdensome for entrepreneurs. It is wise to seek out digital marketing firms and SEO experts to do the job for you. Every professional claim to be a digital marketing expert in this day and age but fail to deliver results. 

It is crucial to seek reliable and experienced professional services, such as https://www.linkbuildinghq.com/, who has a flourishing clientele and compelling portfolio. 

DEVELOPING MARKETING PERSONAS 

Developing marketing and buyer personas is instrumental in identifying and refining your target consumer audience. Digital marketing emphasizes two essential elements: your brand and your target audience. Before you begin your campaign, it is crucial to specify your target audience and identify the right marketing channels. Developing buyer personas is vital to gain actionable insight into your target audience’s preferences and interests. 

It is crucial to meet your audience through platforms they use and provide the content that they enjoy. As a startup, you must understand the solutions and advertisements your audience prefers to offer a personalized experience. Identify their favorite social media channels so you can enjoy higher returns on investment and build a flourishing clientele. 

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (SEO) 

As discussed above, SEO is the most integral facet of a digital marketing strategy to build credibility and expand exposure. Billions of users access Google to seek information, and Google algorithms rely on SEO to deliver search results. 

SEO optimization increases your website’s chances of emerging at the forefront when people search for solutions associated with your brand. In simpler words, SEO is the key to gaining more visitors and converting these visitors into revenue-generating customers. Want to know how? you can visit this SEO  blog for some tricky guides.  

Keyword research will help you enhance your website’s visibility across search engines. It will help you identify the keywords your potential customers use to search relevant products and searches. As a startup, using long-tail keywords is advisable to expand your reach and boost visibility. You can make use of various platforms and keyword generators, such as Ubersuggest. 

Using long-tail keywords will clarify your intent and allow you to gain top spots in search results by lowering the competition. More importantly, long-tail keywords make up a big chunk of online searchers. If you run a local store or hair salon, be sure to optimize your store for local search. 

Be sure to set up professional-looking profiles in all the local listing platforms, notably Yelp and Google My Business (GMB). It is crucial to upload high-resolution photos of your outlet and provide links to all your digital media. You can also encourage your customers to give reviews to build credibility. 

INFORMATIVE & CREATIVE BLOG 

Running a creative blog that offers information and inspiration allows a startup to provide value to their audience. It is also a great strategy to combine SEO and keyword utilization with creativity. Your blog is the official mouthpiece of your website. All consumers need guidance and inspiration to encourage buying decisions. 

A marketing report reveals that 47% of customers review three to five blog posts before reaching out to a sales representative. It is ideal for creating a content schedule at the start of each month to streamline your content curation initiatives. Running a blog requires consistency and regular updates to keep your audience engaged with creativity and information. 

PERSONALIZED EMAIL MARKETING 

Email marketing is one of the oldest, traditional marketing strategies that continue to be relevant despite rapid digital evolution. Emails allow you to reach out to potential customers with a personalized touch, which is endearing and highly engaging. Customized email campaigns offer greater returns on investment. 

However, before you begin your campaign, keep in mind that email marketing has transformed in recent years. Today, consumers seek highly personalized emails that offer the value and solutions they seek. By adding personalized subject lines and consumer-centric information, you can increase open and click-through rates dramatically. 

You can infuse emails with videos, immersive graphics, discount coupons, and other creative mediums to offer value. It is a great email marketing strategy to ensure that your consumers look forward to your emails and open them with great enthusiasm. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Social media marketing is a vital component of digital marketing initiatives. Platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn, offer numerous advertising tools. In recent months, Facebook and Instagram Live has emerged as a popular medium to humanize your brand and boost audience engagement. 

A startup needs to expand via digital footprint by focusing on all social media platforms, and it needs to do this with digital marketing best practices. It is essential to build an audience and acquire customers from each forum. Create content regularly to connect with your audience. Social media success comes from regular content updates and visuals, such as videos and images. Video marketing offers more significant returns on investment, as it promotes higher engagement.